iPod itunes/ipod resetting/re-installing issue/question

[gallagb]

so- a friend of mine sent me this quandry and i'm not sure where to start in givin her advice:


So here's a summary of the problem: A few weeks ago my i-pod froze in
the middle of a song. It had not been dropped or anything. I tried to
restart it and all I got was an unhappy face telling me to go to apple
tech support. I tried what tech support said - restarting several
times and then restoring the i-pod. However, my i-pod does not show up
on my ibook when it is connected. So I called apple support and they
suggested I uninstall and then download the new itunes. Then hopefully
it would recognize my i-pod to restore it. What I'm not sure how to
do, is properly uninstall itunes and save not only my music, but also
my playlists. Neither apple support or the local mac store were
helpful.

Specifics:
I-pod - 4GB mini that is out of warranty
iBook - 2001 500MHz PowerPC G3 running OS 10.3.9
iTunes - version 6.0.4 (3)
-------------


i'm aware that her itunes music won't be lost if she re-intalls itunes
but i'm not sure about her playlists

further- do we really think this will work?

the 'local mac store' is not an apple store
it is, however, apple certified-

they tend, however, to rip folks off-
i've gone to them more than once looking for help- and they really tried to screw me over- so i'm not surprised they weren't so helpful...

anyhow- any ideas?

 

[mad jew]

She won't lose her playlists but I doubt it'll work. The playlists and playcounts are kept in the iTunes Library data file, which is in her Music folder by default.

Rather than reinstall iTunes, I'd try seeing whether Disk Utility in the Utilities folder can recognise it. If it can, then verify the disk and if errors are returned, repair it. After this, I'd try reinstalling the firmware with the latest version of iPod Software Updater and seeing how it goes from there.

 

[gallagb]

thanks mad-jew--

'bump' to everyone else?
any ideas?

 

[mad jew]

So Disk Utility didn't recognise it? Has iTunes been reinstalled yet?