Mac Forum / General / Hardware / January 2005

Same problem.  I only had to do up to #23 (couldn't format) and #29 through
#33.However, I canceled out of the musicmatch and audible part.The 2.0.1
updater ran fine, then I downloaded the 2.1 updater and ran it
successfully.While I was on a roll, I installed and ran iTunes for windows,
which finally worked.Only then did I reboot.What a nightmare, glad it's
over.  I wish I were rich and could afford a Mac.From: greenEggs@noSpam
(Frank)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware.misc
Subject: How to unhose a Windows iPod that is completely hosed
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2003 23:38:07 GMT
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Problem:

PC cannot connect to iPod.  Bringing up iPod Manager returns "iPod
Service Error".  Bringing up the iPod Updater returns "iPod Service
Error".  iPod can mount and be seen in Windows Explorer.  The iPod
Manager vanishes after a few seconds and it does not report an iPod
name.  MusicMatch cannot find iPod. Reinstalling iPod software does
not fix problem.  Running iPod updater does not fix problem.
Searching Apple's web does not result in a solution.  Reading Apple's
troubleshooting advice does not result in a solution.

Analysis:

Your system is completely hosed and will take the next two hours and
26 reboots to fix but it can be done.

Acronyms used:

MM=MusicMatch
RC=Right Click
LC=Left Click
DC=Double Click

What you need:

A fully charged iPod.
iPod cable.
iPod CD shipped with iPod.
Any iPod updater files that you downloaded.
Two hours.
A marker to check off all of these ridiculous steps that you have to
go through.

Steps to fix it:

1.      Logon to your machine with an administrator account.

2.      Backup your mp3 files to c:\timbuk3.

3.      LC start->run and type in regedit and press enter.

4.      Browse to the key
HKLM->SOFTWARE->MICROSOFT->WINDOWS->CURRENTVERSION->RUN key.

5.      Delete the iPodManager key value.  (this is the only way to
disable the service on a hosed system)

6.      Close regedit.

7.      Reboot.

8.      LC Start->settings->control panel->add/remove programs.

9.      Uninstall all references to iPod.

10.     Uninstall all references to MM.

11.     LC Start->search for files.

12.     Type in iPod, LC search now.

13.     Delete all references to iPod found (the uninstaller may not
completely uninstall).

14.     Type in MusicMatch, LC search now.

15.     Delete all references to MM found (the uninstaller may not
completely uninstall).

16.     Close search.

17.     On the desktop, RC My Computer, select manage.

18.     Select device manager.

19.     DC on the 1394 entry.

20.     RC on the 1394 entry below it and select uninstall.

21.     Reboot.

22.     After Windows reboots it will install the 1394 card using a
Windows driver.

23.     Wait until step above is complete and reboot.

24.     Connect the iPod to your PC and wait a minute for it to stop
crunching the drive.

25.     On the desktop, RC My Computer, LC disk management.

26.     RC on the iPod drive and select format.  Format it for FAT32.

27.     Wait 20 minutes for the format to complete.

28.     Reboot.

29.     Whip out your iPod CD and run setup.exe.

30.     Install the iPod software and MM.

31.     When it asks you if you want to reboot now, click NO!!!!!!!

32.     If you forgot to click NO per the step above, restart at step
#1.  If you try to take a shortcut, you'll spend six hours and not fix
it.

33.     Browse to your iPod updater file and run it.

34.     Reboot.

35.     Your iPod should now be fixed.  If it isn't then toss it out
the window and drive over it with a MACK truck.