Missing GB's "other"

[EMPSI]

I barely downloaded the newest update of Itunes. It shows how much audio and video Im using. Then on the "other" section it says I am using 8.21 GB's. What in the world is that? So I opened it up in My Computer and I had nothing saved on the disc. Then I checked 4 hidden stuff and nothing. You guys have any idea what is using 8.21 GBs. Any thoughts would help. Could I have 8.21 GB's corrupt or something? Has that ever happened?

[jhollington]

"Other" normally includes such things as the iPod operating files and album artwork. However, 8.21Gb is far too much for these things.

If you haven't stored anything on the iPod yourself, then this is most likely the result of "orphaned" files on your iPod. These would be music and other media files that are on the iPod but not actually in the iPod's database (or index) of content. Therefore, they are not recognized by iTunes as being audio or video (and or not accessible from the iPod itself).

This is usually the result of disconnecting your iPod without ejecting it properly, or some other problem which may result in a sync being interrupted such as iTunes crashing. The issue is basically that iTunes copies the actual media files to the iPod first and then updates the database at the end of the sync process. If it doesn't get a chance to update the database on the iPod, this will result in those files being orphaned.

The only easy way to deal with this is to completely erase and restore your iPod and then reload it from iTunes. Since the files are stored in the same place as legitimate files, it would be very difficult to otherwise tell the orphaned files apart from those that are supposed to be on your iPod.

[EMPSI]

Gotcha, you hit the problem on the nose. Everytime I go to Eject my Ipod I always get an error saying it cant be ejected that it is still being used by Generic Volume. I wait and I can never get it off so I eventually just disconnect. Thanks for the help. Man that sucks I have alot of songs rated. Is there another way I can go about this or is this the only way.