iPod Doesn't Appear In iTunes or Finder

[Mayo]

Here is what happened, more or less...

1.  Connected my wife's new Classic iPod under manual syncing; it didn't show up in iTunes or the Finder.

2.  Connected my iPod via automatic syncing; it showed up. iPod software was updated.

3.  My iPod stalls while syncing at #23 of 41 files.

4.  Tried to force-quit iTunes but it would not work.

5.  Restarted iMac.  Verified volume.  OK.

6.  My iPod successfully synced; My wife's still doesn't show up...

7.  Logging-out stalled so I did not try another account.

8.  Restarted using Tiger but Still No Dice...

9. Reset iPod using its controls; no change.

10.  Tried switching the port on the powered USB hub but the same port/cable worked fine with my iPod.

11.  Trashed old iTunes and then reinstalled iTunes.

Restoring the iPod is not an option because it isn't showing up in iTunes...

Leopard 10.5.2
iTunes 7.6.1

I went to Apple tech support and discovered that there is no telephone support for iPods under the regular warranty and that iPods sent it for service will be replaced with a functionally-equivalent iPod that may be a new or refurbished model.  Since I purchased the iPod at Costco I am still within the three-month return period so I might as well return it for a new iPod rather than go through the trouble of sending it back to Apple.

Any suggestions?

UPDATE:  I put the iPod in Disk Mode and it still wouldn't appear and now it is stuck in Disk Mode... I guess that this puppy is going back to Costco tomorrow.

[krissel]

Only other thing I can think of is to start up with an OS or DW disk and see if it shows up in Disk Utility. If so you could run repair on it.

Here's the basic Apple pages but I think you tried most of these already:-)

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60950

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61705


There have been a lot of problems with that version of iTunes. Wonder if a reversion to an earlier one would help?

[Mayo]

The iPod does not show up in Disk Utility on my iMac or iBook so I am at a dead-end... Apparently the drive is hosed.  My iPod shows up and except for the syncing incident appears to be functioning normally, so I figure that it is just a coincidence that my wife's iPod chose this time to expire.


I'm off to Costco...

[Paddy]

That's weird...I posted in this thread earlier today (or thought I did)...anyway, was going to say that we had an iPod with a defunct drive and it displayed exactly the same behaviour. Because it was bought from Apple and engraved, it went back to Apple and we got a new one shipped out to us, within 10 days or so.

[Mayo]

Hi Paddy.  We went to Costco today and the return took all of one minute... She just peeked in the box to make sure that the parts were all there and sent us off with a Costco cash card so we wouldn't have to fool around with cash at the check-out.  She told me that she sees the small iPods come back but not the larger ones very often.

You can't beat Costco for customer service; I bought the iPod 2 1/2 months ago and they she took it back with a smile. Too bad they don't sell Macs.

The iPod is still in its box but I may get around to hooking it up later this evening.

[Paddy]

QUOTE

Too bad they don't sell Macs.

Ah...but they do, occasionally. Usually just end-of-lifed iMacs, but once in a blue moon, there they are.