is my iTunes library at fault?

[nicwhite]

This week I took delivery of 2 new 3g 4gb nanos, and have been dismayed to discover they have just well, failed entirely to work. There is no problem with it at all, until I eschew the '*my name*'s iPod Selection' smart playlist it automatically puts on there, and just add the rest of my folders and playlists by manually selecting them.

When I do this, and it attempts to automatically disconnect, it uniformly fails. It hangs at the 'Ejecting...Please Wait' screen, and when I give up after waiting an AGE, and reset it, it just hangs at the apple logo.

The thing is, both iPods did this, and a replacement sent by apple, so three have exhibited this precise problem.

I can get some life out of it by going into disk mode and restoring the software, but then when I add my music again, the exact same thing happens.

I really don't know what to do - just give up on the idea of having one? what could cause my itunes library to basically destroy the software? The library is about 4 years old, and has migrated from a PC to a mac in its time, but has given me absolutely no problems with a previous ipod shuffle and ipod mini, nor in general day to day iTunes operations. Would be wonderful if someone could give me a clue as to what I should do, or what is going on.....

[Sancroff]

Holy crud. It's time to experiment. Try putting ONE track (song) on one of your iPods and see what happens. If the iPod goes bonkers, try a different track. Try a track you've ripped from a CD using iTunes. Try a track you've bought from the iTunes store. Do they all cause the iPod to go bonkers?

It might not have anything to do with the files. Maybe simply connecting the iPod to your computer makes it go nuts. If all else fails, try completely restoring the iPod and connecting it and disconnecting it from your computer (without loading any music). Still go nuts?

Hopefully a firmware update and/or iTunes update will fix all these problems.

[studogvetmed]

You need to include your operating system and iTunes version information.

[nicwhite]

You need to include your operating system and iTunes version information.

I'm using OSX 10.4.10, iTunes 7.41 (2).

I'm really lost with this, I don't know what's going on - it's fine when it just puts its own smart playlist on, as soon as I add my folders it dies though.

I've successfully played music, I really don't think there's anything wrong with the iPod hardware, just the software or iTunes.

If I put it into disk mode after it hangs, and plug it in, I can restore the software and get it working again, until of course I try to add my stuff to it...there's nothing iffy on there that I can imagine, all the files are either 128kb AACs I've ripped from CDs or those I've bought from iTunes :o

[studogvetmed]

Hmm. Very odd.

You say it is fine if you let it automatically add a playlist, but messes up if you try to add stuff. Are you switching it to manually manage?

Switching back and forth between automatic and manual can be a little crazy sometimes.
If you keep it in automatic, but turn on disk mode I wonder if that would drecrease hang. Perhaps the problem is in the iPod trying to autoeject....

See if it hangs in trying to transfer purchase music. If it does, perhaps trying to deauthorize and reauthorize iTunes will help.

You could attempt to reinstall iTunes... Perhaps there is something about the install that is wonky.

[JazzyMac]

Bad ipod. (Yes, it's possible). :)