DISQUS

Reginald · 1 year ago

Hey man thanks a lot for that post you saved my life. I was desperate for such a long time i cant ever repay you for that post man. Hey people this thing realy works.

Mark · 2 years ago

Hi
Care to share with the rest of how to get it working then? :-)
Mark

adamahirsch · 2 years ago

Mark, the post is on how I solved the issue... I had to manually search my computer everytime the prompt came up... If the Vista prompts come up for New Hardware Installation, Choose manually search the computer each time it comes up(make sure you have the newest iTunes installed)....

Gerry · 2 years ago

Mark,
I have had this problem numerous times with quite a few usb products. All I did was to make a bookmark of my windows/system32 folder on my desk top. I select it when I browse for the driver. You will go through three installation prompts of drivers and vista will not bug you again.

adamahirsch · 2 years ago

Thanks Gerry, that definitely could come in handy...

Jivepfnk · 2 years ago

Ok, I'm totally not computer savvy. Can someone walk me through this process? If this is even the same problem I'm having. I installed Itunes. I plugged up my ipod. Can't find drivers anywhere to install. Don't have the disc that cme with the ipod.

elbenjo · 1 year ago

i'm having a similar problem with my new iPod classic i was just wondering how i would make a bookmark of the system 32 folder which gerry said to do?

matthew · 1 year ago

i just got a new ipod and i installed itunes, but my usb doesn't even recognize that anythings plugged in. i can't find windows/system 32 on my windows vista.

Matt · 1 year ago

I am having the same problem. I called Apple and HP (my computer company) several times and HP was able to help more. Basically Apple is worthless. I will let you know if I can get this to work and give you instructions because I know how annoying it is. For now the first step is to UNPLUG YOUR IPOD!!!! and go to your start menu --> control panel --> classic view --> programs and features

here you will uninstall ALL quicktime and apple related programs. for the apple part, towards the top you should see a bar that says name .. and publisher etc.. click publisher and under publisher look for apple. after unistalling it all go to apple.com and reinstall itunes (quicktime should be installed as well). now plug in your ipod and click manually search and follow the advice of the original posts. hope this helps.

Carl · 1 year ago

I'm having the same problems. Have installed and uninstalled itunes and Quick Time several times now. After plugging the ipod in i get two messages: Ipod driver - ready to use" and then... "Searching for windows update - Unidentified device - Failed" At that point I have the option to manually direct Vista to the System 32 folder (and sub directories). I then received the following message - "Windows found driver software for your device but encountered an error while attempting to install it. Generic Volume. The system cannot find the file specified." After that I can't get any further and any subsequent unplugging and plugging in of the ipod is not recognised at all by the computer. Help...! Any more suggestions??

Lennyboy · 1 year ago

here's what you can do to resolve that issue AND FOR ALL OTHER USB DEVICES THAT WON'T BE DETECTED: (vista)
(make sure the device in unplugged first)

1. make sure all hidden files can be viewed
2. go to Windows folder and find the 'infcache' file.
3. right click then choose properties
4. in securities tab, make sure the access is in full control.
5. delete the infcache file
6. plug the device back

Danijel · 1 year ago

Same problem as Carl. Any solutions yet??

Stimon · 1 year ago

I had an interesting situation, trying to install one of the new classics for my dad. we are both running windows vista, and when i plugged it into his, we had the problem that some of you had, but when i plugged it into my pc, it auto installed it, and everything went smooth as a baby's butt.
maybe it has something to with the version of vista being used, i'm using premium, and my dad is using ultimate...
just another perspective

shabs · 1 year ago

same problem as you all had, matts thingy workes a charm, just do wat he said in his post and u shuld get ur ipod up n running in no time,
thanks, shabs

slave · 1 year ago

Hi there. I think I solved a similar problem a moment ago.

Plug in your ipod and go into device manager in Vista, look for Universal service bus controllers (or something like that, I have Polish version of Vista) and find an unknown device. Update your driver, but you should manually choose what device you just connected. You have to find that window where you choose a manufacturer and choose Apple and nextly iPod USB driver. That will install drivers for iPod, but it will be still in the device manager with that yellow exclamation mark. Nextly you should disconnect iPod and reboot your computer. After reboot you connect your iPod and Vista should install all the drivers and it should work from this moment on.

Sorry for my english. Haven't written anything for a long time.

Samantha · 1 year ago

I've been having this problem for a month and I just found a solution. I looked for drivers in c:\windows\winsxs and it worked!

Jimmy · 1 year ago

I had the same problem, Then tried Samantha,s Worked perfect straight away.
Cheeres

cassy · 1 year ago

thank you so much for your post it worked straight away!!!!!!!!!!

Migol · 1 year ago

Big thanks Samantha, it worked just fine for me. BTW, you forgot to mention that thius driver isn't signed.

Arlene · 1 year ago

Samantha-I LOVE YOU! Thank you for the fix!

Sebastian · 1 year ago

That worked prefectly. Thanks so much Samantha!!! Have been trying different files but with no luck. Worked first time.

Jaicon · 1 year ago

i tried so many ways, but ur way worked so quickly thanks samantha

Krabban · 1 year ago

This actually worked, couldn't believe it at first. I've tried soooo many things before this. Thanks a lot!

Adam · 1 year ago

Exactly, what was the name of the driver file you found in winsxs?

Ryan S. · 1 year ago

thanks a lot. I was planning on downgrading to XP before school started again, this problem made me want to do it immediately. maybe now I can wait until later. much thanks samantha. by the way, the sum of 5 and 6 is not 11. it's 1011... stupid wordpress

Marco · 1 year ago

winsxs worked for me too! Thanks a lot Samantha!

Tom · 1 year ago

Samantha....thanks!!!

L DuLac · 1 year ago

Samantha a big thanks! It's finally working

Nista92 · 1 year ago

I've been trying to fix this problem for quite a while now, and everybody's saying go to :\windows\winsxs but there are so many files in that section, i don't know which one to go to.. anyone help?

Dani · 1 year ago

Oh my goodness! Samantha, you saved my life, nearly had a heart attack when my new ipod didnt work. Thanks chick!
x

Arnie · 1 year ago

What exactly are we to do Samantha? Is winsxs a folder name? If so then what is the name of the driver file? What do we do with the driver file?

Thomas Polder · 1 year ago

in my case it turned out it was a combination of restarting the ipod service and using a good, apple cable. my dx.com $2,60 replica seems to have borked communications for a while. just as a hint :)

abdalla · 1 year ago

i didt thanx thomas
i just changed the usb cable and used the orignal and it worked like magic

Josiah · 1 year ago

I love you samantha, I searched for this answer for upwards of 5 hours.

dilly boi · 1 year ago

jeeze dont you geet it anyone?? just select winsxs the actual folder thanit shuold search the entire thing and will eventualy find the driver software from there on its smooth sailing...

Jeff · 1 year ago

Tried the winsxs folder and it said I already have the best available driver installed. Now what?

Stefanie · 1 year ago

I have the same problem as Jeff. I don't know a thing about computers and this is my first ipod so if there is something else I need to be doing, can someone spell it out for me. I went to the device manager and selected the option to find a driver on my computer and selected c:\windows\winsxs and I get the you already have the best available driver installed message.

Hex · 1 year ago

Same as Jeff ipod get recognized, goes to logo screen then reboot, then when connected to pc via usb keep doing it. tried to turn it off then quik hold, doesnt works ipod keeps on rebootin!


what that hell! IPOD CLASSIC 160g

JoeD · 1 year ago

Hey, I have a similar issue for windows xp service pack 3. I have the latest version of Itunes, the pc recognizes that the ipod is plugged in, but when the set up process goes it says it can't find the proper software. Does anyone know where to find the proper driver? Also, what would the name of the driver be?

Gary · 1 year ago

Same thing as Jeff and Stefanie, it tells me that best drivers are installed yet I still don't see my ipod under my computer or in itunes,
is there anyone out there that know what to do now other than throw my pc and ipod out of the window and get out the vinyl records!!!!!

sel · 1 year ago

hiii!! well how come my computer doesnt reconize my ipod n da driver?? i cannot even syn music all it does is charging n nothing else!!! :( help!!!!

Nigsey · 1 year ago

I have bought an apple ipod 160 gig and i transfered my songs from pc to ipod and i cannot play them on the ipod!!! if i plug the ipod into the usb and go start>my computer> ipod> it shows the songs but wont play them from the ipod alone but will play them from ipod through the pc. Do i need software to make them play from the ipod alone???

Brandon · 1 year ago

I have an 30GB IPOD classic 5th generation. I WAS using my ipod on my dads computer that has windows XP. I just finished building my new computer which has windows vista 32 bit and i plug it in and the computer or itunes does not recognize it. What do I need to do? And yes I do see that it is getting charged by the computer. Just what do I need to do to get it to work on my computer now?

Linda · 1 year ago

installed itunes 8. when i plugged in my ipod 4th generation it told me to restore. i did so and it erased all my songs. then it said that my ipod is corrupt and whan i tried to update everything but still it says usb device not recognized. also when i go to computer management it says my ipod does not have a driver......
help......... tried the 5 r's from apple does not work. also uninstalled but doesn't work..... help

Ralph · 1 year ago

I used to have the same problem. Windows Vista did't recognize my 80GB ipod. Having your iPOD connected: Go to device manager, right click on your ipod (under Universal Serial Bus controllers), do "update driver software", select "browse my computer", go to C:\Windows\winsxs, just highlight the folder and click ok. Windows will search for the driver inside that folder and install it, iTUNES will immediately recognize it. Hope this helps

Cristin · 1 year ago

I tried all these solutions which really sounded like it would work, but it didn't unfortunately. When I clicked on Control Panel then Device Manager then Universal Serial Bus Controllers, my iPod didn't show up as one of the USB controllers. So I finally gave in and called Apple. Here's what they had me do that resulted in a complete fix within a minute. While the iPod was turned off and not plugged into the computer. Hold down the Menu button and the center button at the same time. A grey screen shows up with the Apple logo. Immediately hold down the play button and the center button at the same time. Something else was supposed to happen after that and it didn't for me. Instead my iPod just turned itself on. We didn't think it worked, but then I plugged in my iPod to my computer and it beeped. It had never done that before (because Vista didn't recognize it) then a few seconds later iTunes opened by itself and a few seconds after that my iPod showed up in the devices section on the left side. It all worked. I'm very amused and thankful that I didn't take a hammer to my iPod and my new computer like originally planned ;-) Good luck!

marleni9350 · 11 months ago

I have literally tried everything under the sun (and on the internet) to get this thing to work. I bought my IPod 5th Generation 30GB on Ebay and when I first got I used it with my HP laptop with Windows XP, but my HP was stolen and I purchased a new Gateway Laptop with Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit Operating System and I can't get it to work. I installed my cousin's IPod Nano and it immediately recognized it and just zipped thru everything (which really pissed me off)!!! I don't know what else to do, and I'm not sure if the Apple CSR would help me since its a second (or possibly 3rd hand) and I don't have any paper work or anything. I know it worked for me before cause I had it on my HP but I don't know what to do :-(
Can someone please help me PLEASE I am desperate, my workout has gotten weaker and Oh Lord driving to work?!!! I have a 30 minute commute and no radio :_(

Theresa · 11 months ago

I just bought an iTouch but haven't been able to use it because my computer doesn't recognize it.

The first time I plugg it in after installing iTunes, it says that it has successfully installed the driver software and that the device is ready to use. However, iTunes doesn't recognize it. I have reinstalled iTunes several times and unplugged the iTouch.

In Device Manager, under Universal Serial Bus Controller, there is nothing listed about an iPod or Apple or an unknown device. When I went to the winxsx folder, nothing happened. What other things could I try?

Julie · 10 months ago

Thanks so much Cristin - your solution worked for me!

Ellie · 10 months ago

Just bought a 4th generation ipod nano (myself and my partne for Chrisrmas) windows vista recognises them as a USB mass storage device but itunes will not download. We can't even sync music onto the ipod straight from the computer, without itunes - as I have previously been able to do with other ipods and XP. We've tried everything but no luck!!! Two ipods and no tunes :o(

adamahirsch · 10 months ago

Hey Ellie, not sure if this helps or not, but you really have to download and install iTunes first...

Star · 10 months ago

i have had my ipod classic 30g for 4 years just started having this unkown device prob with it. ive done everything on this thread and others. i reall y thought the winsxs thing would work but when u click on it, it dont give the option to click ok it wants you to search file in the folder and there is nothin in it. if there is another option out there please help.

S.Gecko · 9 months ago

I tried something similar to what Cristin said to do with a slight change. While the ipod was plugged in, I held down the Menu and Center button on the ipod. The grey logo screen appeared, and now my ipod is registered as connected. Just another piece of the puzzle, I guess.

Annabelle · 6 months ago

I came across this via Google, since I was trying to find some help to the same problem that everyone else has had on here with drivers/iTunes not seeing a new iPod etc. I have just now finally got it to work via a combination of suggestions on here, and one key step which is not mentioned here - and which should help some of the users who were/are stumped (as I was).

1. I uninstalled all Apple software, and reinstalled iTunes from the Apple site.
2. I then connected my iPod to my pc - and hey presto, the driver was found straightaway. However, iTunes still didn't see the iPod, so:
3. I went to Device Manager (from Control Panel), and here is the key part: listed at the first level was something like 'Unknown Device' with another item below it called unknown something-or-other (can't remember) with a yellow exclamation mark next to it. The various solutions above state to select the iPod under 'Universal Serial Bus controllers' - this was where it was going wrong for me, because if I did this and updated the driver software here - I just kept getting the messages that others have mentioned about the drivers being fully up-to-date, yet iTunes still didn't see the iPod). I right-clicked on this unknown device, selected 'Update Driver Software', then selected 'Browse my computer for driver software', then selected C:\Windows\winsxs, then clicked on 'Next'. After a short process completed, as if by magic Computer opened with the iPod showing as a drive; and after opening iTunes - the iPod was recognised straightaway, and is currently synching.

Hope this helps someone. I was going out of my mind, after having wasted hours and hours! Thanks to all the posters who contributed to this page who helped me; without them, I wouldn't have had a clue where to start.

Tim · 4 months ago

Sorry guys but nothing you said worked for me.