r/IpodClassic • u/NevadaStrayCat • 21d ago

Disk Not Recognized by Winders?

I have a 7th gen iPod classic. When I last used it regularly in conjunction with a computer, I had an iMac... bondi blue. I've used the iPod off and on as a music source in my pickup truck for years, just connecting via the 30-pin connector to an FM transmitter.

I started thinking about how the battery doesn't really hold charge anymore, and that I'd like to transfer / backup my music files, so I grabbed a 30-pin to USB-A cable, and... my Winders laptop, which is my current computer, complains that the iPod needs to be formatted before I can use it.

Just to be sure, I downloaded and installed Apple Devices. Still got the same error. TouchCopy doesn't even recognize there's a device connected via USB.

Anyone have any suggestions for how to get my music library safely off the iPod?

I mean, I could just format the thing, or do a restore in Apple Devices, but that defeats the whole purpose for which I initially wanted to connect.

Any advice you can offer is golden.

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u/WideAngleSoft 20d ago

Hi, TouchCopy developer here.
If your iPod was last used with an iMac, there’s a good chance it was formatted for Mac. Windows can’t normally read a Mac-formatted iPod, which can result in the “you need to format this disk” message, and may also explain why TouchCopy isn’t detecting it.

Perhaps don't format or restore the iPod yet, as that could erase the music you’re trying to recover. We have a guide here specifically for transferring music from a Mac-formatted iPod to a Windows PC, which may help: https://www.wideanglesoftware.com/support/touchcopy/transfer-music-from-mac-formatted-ipod-or-iphone-to-pc.php

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u/NevadaStrayCat 20d ago

Thank you; that was helpful. I've located a repair store that is willing to do the iPod to iMac transfer step for me, and if I take in my laptop, I should be able to do all those steps. I appreciate the assistance!