The Disk in drive C is not formatted

[agenttriplex]

I have just purchased my new ipod and my OS is XP pro and have just upgraded the system with a firewire card so that I can attach my Ipod. There are other posts that have the same problem as I mention but they did not write down the solution only that they had figured it out:(

My OS has detected the Ipod as I can see it as a removable drive via my computer. If I double click that drive it will say, "The Disk in drive C is not formatted." It offers me the option of doing a format but Im not about to do that with a brand new piece of equipment. Also when I load the Ipod software and it asks to configure the Ipod it will give the message of cannot mount Ipod. The online troubleshooting from apple does not resolve the issue. All I ever get on my Ipod screen is do not disconnect but when I do remove it I find there has been no data transfered onto it.

I would be very greatful of any advice as such an expensive piece of equipment should not come with all these difficulties.

Ben.

[msolok]

I don't believe the iPod's HDD comes formatted. This alows it too be used with either a Mac OS or Windows based machine. What you need to do is go about installing the iPod software and when it asks you to plug in and configure your iPod it will format the HDD so it can be used. You have to do this. If you already have the software for the ipod installed go into iPod updater and use the 'Restore' option.

[rhodeswood]

I've got windows Me.

the blumming thing shows up on windows explorer ("this drive is not formatted, do you want to format now") but when I run the updater, it can't find the iPOD....HELP!

On the iPod all i get is "do not disconnect". iTunes won't work.

Help! PLease! #2!

Steve

[Blue_Dawg]

install the iPod software first and follow the directions that came with the iPod. It does need to be formated to use with a pc so it is not a problem, but again FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS THAT CAME WITH THE iPOD. sorry for shouting but it is very important to do this.

[agenttriplex]

I'm thankful for any of the advice I have already received from my post on here but I'm sorry to say it did not work.

I updated my ipod system software from the website and I also updated my Itunes software from the apple website. I ran the software and followed the instructions exactly at the point in the system software where it is going to configure the ipod. I now understand that it formats it and places some file directories on there. Mine will say cannot mount the ipod.

After reading hundreds of posts and I do mean hundreds there are a lot of people with the same issue. I have since formatted my Ipod via the windows computer management tool. I am now able to open up the Ipod removable drive via the my computer Icon in windows. I configured the Ipod and put the directories on there using ephod software. I would not suggest anyone else do what I've done as it has not yet solved my Ipod problems. My current situation is My Ipod screen will show the apple Icon and then a folder with an exclamation mark in it, this will continue until the Ipod runs out of power.It will allow me to reset it but not do anything else. The only function I have is that I can use it as a hard drive and the ephod software does organise my music on the Ipod. The current problem on my Ipod is happening to many users. The following url is just a small sample: http://www.guttedgeek.com/CC256C7A00828100/0/CWIS-5NA4ME . Im getting very frustrated with the Ipod and am wishing I'd not wasted my money. Any further help would be very much appreciated
:)

[rhodeswood]

ok, so i downloaded the setup from apple com, so the ipod manager is now on my system tray (but with a little red cross thro' it).

unfortunately, although windows explorer sees it as an extra drive (unformatted), neither the ipod manager or updater recognises it.

Win Me, USB connection.

[msolok]

agenttriplex: I had a similar when i first got my iPod (it constantly showing the Apple logo then the Folder with exclamation mark). The way i fixed this was by plugging the iPod into the computer with the update software installed. Now what i had to do was reset the iPod, by pressing both the Menu and Play keys for about 4-5 seconds, and once the Apple logo came up put it into disk mode, by keeping both the Forward and Backward tracks keys pressed for around 10 seconds. Once this was done i opened the Update software and selected 'Restore'. Try thisd and see if it helps.

[agenttriplex]

Thank you for your help. Unfortunately this solution did not work for me. I did exactly what you said. When I got to The Ipod software 2.1 updater v2 and open it and it starts to initialize, the restore and update options are greyed out and I will get a cannot mount ipod and ipod manager internal error on my computer screen. Thanks again:-)

[Blue_Dawg]

I would go to the store where you bought it and exchange it. Sounds like it could be a bum unit.

[anacas]

rhodeswood, I've got exactly the same specs as you do and it seems I just solved the same problem. I'm pretty sure iTunes will not work with Windows ME and USB... try downloading EphPod 2.58 and seeing if that works. Have you formatted the iPod for Windows yet? Whatever you do, DO NOT (and I mean to shout), DO NOT let the Windows utility format the iPod. You'll end up with the infamous folder with an exclamation point, and nothing else.

The only way I found to get things working was borrowing a computer with XP to format the iPod for Windows using the software from Apple that came with the thing, and then using EphPod to transfer music on my comp that has ME.

Gluck.

[rhodeswood]

anacas, thanks - i guess i'll just have to take in the whole kit and caboodle to work to format it. sheesh.

whyohwhyohwhyohwhyohwhyohwhyohwhyohwhyoh don't apple sell the blumming things ready-formatted (with the ability to re-format if needs be) then all i'd need would be the ephpodthingywahtsit.

[agenttriplex]

I gave up and phoned apple technical support .After them going through all the suggested fixes that I'd already done from the advice given on here the 1st line technical agent went to ask his supervisor what to do next. They asked me to format my 40 GB hard drive with the windows utility so I can confirm that they do ask you to do this at the apple support desk. I had to tell the agent that windows XP will not format in fat32 for a drive of this size. My Ipod never worked from the start. I followed all the support given on here which was safe to do and as a last resort I formated it but I formatted it with a different file system of NTFS. I know big mistake .My advise is dont format it who ever tells you to. If the apple software wont format it on your computer then try it on a friends computer which is what im going to do to try and restore my ipod.

I found the following url a good resoure:

http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/articles/iPodHacks/index.stm

If I cant get mine to format with the apple software on a friends computer as well as mine then apple are going to have a look at it.

Thanks for all the support received on here.

[msolok]

Originally posted by rhodeswood
anacas, thanks - i guess i'll just have to take in the whole kit and caboodle to work to format it. sheesh.

whyohwhyohwhyohwhyohwhyohwhyohwhyohwhyoh don't apple sell the blumming things ready-formatted (with the ability to re-format if needs be) then all i'd need would be the ephpodthingywahtsit.

I think you will find that almost no HDD's (for PC's anyway) are actually sold formatted. This is because they have no idea what OS you will be using or what Files System you will be using. It is a much better for them to be sold unformatted as it actually saves a large amount of troubles. It saves them a whole heap of problems just getting you to format the things to run on your OS rather than hoping everyone will know if they need to format them or not.