iPod won't play music from iTunes

[Halcyone]

My iPod won't play songs purchased from iTunes anymore. It's a 4gen 20gb model. The last time I used it, it worked just fine. Now when I try to play a song that I purchased from iTunes my iPod will just cycle through all of the songs in the playlist/album as if someone were skipping through them. There are no available updates for my iPod, and the songs still play in iTunes. What should I do?

[jre]

I have the exact same problem. Have you figured out why it's not working? I have the U2 ipod and itunes 4.6. Does any one know what's up?

[jerryedw]

I've seen this many times here is the resolution:

1. Search for any ipod updaters on the system other than ipod software updater 2004-11-15 and remove them
2. If you didnt find 2004-11-15 then download it at http://www.apple.com/ipod/download and install it on your system
3. restart
4. launch iPod software updater 2004-11-15 and RESTORE your ipod (not update)
5. even if using firewire after the restore disconnect from computer and connect to power outlet
6. If you get the main menu go back to the computer and cloase all windows/programs including the updater
7. Connect iPod
8. allow iTunes to update the songs to it

This should resolve the issue. Its due to iTunes not always grabbing the newest updater and trying to install an old updater on the new iPod. This causes the iPod to not be able to understand songs newer than about 1 year, since the music store changed the encoder they use and the iPod will skip those songs.

[jre]

Thanks Jerry,

I tried that solution it didn't work but, I noticed that the latest ipod update requires itunes 4.7. I updated itunes and it works now, so that may have been the issue all along.

Thanks again.