Help!I can't get my PC to recognize my ipod?

Question

I took my ipod to work and connected it to the PC there.Now I can not get my home computer to recognise my ipod and the memory on ipod has emptied.I need to put all m music back on ipod from my itunes at home

Answer 1

What? That's funny. When you first connect the iPod to your office PC, did it ask you about your music library? (your iPod is not linked to this music library, do you want to link it to this music library? or sumthin like that). I assume you picked yes when iTunes asks you wether or not you want the iPod to be linked with the office PC's music lbrary. That's why all the music on your iPod was erased. Cos the music library on your office PC is empty.

iTunes doesn't allow more than one music library. It's one of their anti piracy policy. Though if you set the music library to manual like Andrew suggested (edit > preferences > ipod), it won't delete the ones on your iPod. The catch is from now on, you'll have to copy new songs from your library by yourself (been there, done that, waaaaay too annoying). Remember, even in manual mode you won't be able to copy music from your iPod back to iTunes.

What's even funnier is that your home PC doesn't even recognize your iPod. U sure you connected the USB? Did your PC recognize it as a disk drive? When you connected the iPod, did it appear on myComputer? Try turning on iTunes first, then connecting your iPod. If nothing happens, wait a couple of minutes. It should give you the same warning that I mentioned above about the iPod's music library. I recommend linking back your iPod to your home PC's music library. It'll copy all the music from your original music library. And then, change the iPod setting on your office PC to manual. This way, you can plug the iPod into your office PC but iTunes won't delete the songs on your iPod. And you can play the music from your iPod database in your office PC (as long as you plug in the iPod).

One important thing to remember is that everytime you want to add new music to your iPod, you'd best do it on your home PC. Because if you add new music manually via the office PC, every time you connect the iPod to your home PC, it'll erase those new songs cos they're not in your home PC's music library.

Hope it helps!

Answer 2

Okay, if you want to use your iPod on two computers at once, you'll have to make some sacrifices in usability.

Go back to work, and re-synchronize your iPod.
In iTunes, go to the Edit menu, then Preferences, and click on the iPod tab.
When the options come up for how you want it synchronized, select "Manually update all songs and playlists"

Do the same for your home computer.

Now, you can use it on both your home and work computers, but whenever you have new songs or playlists, you'll need to drag them into the iPod, rather than iTunes doing it for you.

Answer 3

You need to format your iPod, you can't use it on 2 computers. Plug in your iPod & just ignore everything iTunes says, then right click it in My Computer & format it. You may have to go to the iPod icon on Start Menu. I'm not for sure which. But you need to format it. I had that trouble with my iPod before too.

Answer 4

Invite them both to dinner and introduce them to each other....."PC, this is IPOD, IPOD, PC", and let them take it from there. Match maker, match maker, play me a song.....