macbook doesn't recognize ipod

November 27, 2006 10:15 AM

Plugged my iPod into my MacBook, the iPod lights up and then... nothing happens. WTH?

I have an 80 gb iPod and an iMac. They work together fine. However, the iMac's currently in the shop so I plugged my iPod into my MacBook to charge and the iPod lights up and then and nothing happens. It doesn't charge, it doesn't appear on the desktop... nothing. What gives?

I tried it with the laptop running, with it closed, in the firewire slot, in both usb slots, and with multiple usb cables...

Any suggestions?

posted by Manhasset to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

If you launch iTunes, does it see the iPod at all? If you launch Disk Utility, does it see the iPod?
posted by willnot at 10:21 AM on November 27, 2006

You don't have Parallels or other virtualization software running, do you?
posted by rsanheim at 10:22 AM on November 27, 2006

Response by poster: iTunes and Disk Utility don't see it.

I am not running any virtualization software (though I own Parallels, it's off).
posted by Manhasset at 10:35 AM on November 27, 2006

You might try resetting it; doing so fixed some weird problems with my Nano. To reset, hold Menu and Select down at the same time for about 5 seconds.

Resetting doesn't delete your music.
posted by thinman at 10:54 AM on November 27, 2006

try just leaving it plugged into the laptop for a while - say, an hour. When this has happened to me in the past it was because the battery on the ipod was very low and needed to charge a bit before it would resume functioning.
posted by peppermint22 at 11:24 AM on November 27, 2006

Here is the Apple page on the ipod fully discharged problem I have experienced... they say "it may take up to 30 minutes for iPod to have enough charge to turn on and be recognized by the computer and iTunes."
posted by peppermint22 at 11:30 AM on November 27, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks peppermint. It was about 1/4 charged so I don't think that was the issue. Also, thinman, I'd tried rebooting it and the laptop prior to asking the Q so that wasn't it. Thanks, though.

So, I ran Software Update and it found a firmware update for the MacBook and I installed it. Now everything works fine. Weird.

Thanks, all!
posted by Manhasset at 2:04 PM on November 27, 2006

next time, make sure to check system profiler (apps-utilities). this will scan your usb/firewire ports for attached items.
posted by filmgeek at 6:09 PM on November 27, 2006