Vista is just too smart for its own good. I spoke with a member friday evening that said after setting up Vista home premium his computer would give him an error to Scan and Fix his IPOD. However when he would plug his IPOD into his wife’s Windows XP machine there was no error.
I was able to recreate the error by forcibly ejecting my own ipod from a Windows XP machine. The reason for the error is that his IPOD was formatted FAT32 on Windows XP; this can affect thumbdrives, cameras, smart cards. What happens is the device was not properly dismounted by Windows XP and there is an archival bit set that Vista needs to reset before it will stop reporting there is an error.
At this point if you don’t read anything else read this: don’t click the “Scan and Fix” button.
Instead open up a command line prompt by clicking on the windows logo key and then clicking on the command prompt icon:
At the command prompt type the following command.
chkdsk (device drive letter): /f
for instance my ipod was mounted at drive l so I typed
chkdsk l : /f
Once the chkdsk process is completed you should not see the “Scan & Fix” dialog for your ipod or other device again.
- Mark Flavin
{ 3 trackbacks }
{ 152 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
I have tried all of the above “fixes” and I have not found one that works for my laptop. When I plug in the Ipod it gives me the standard “Scan & Fix or Continue” message. Then Itunes always opens up and starts to sync. I cannot change any setting to prevent it the next time I connect. It always goes back to the “original” settings. I’ve tried the chkdsk command but it does not let me access the drive (G in my case). I have also tried all the updates in both Vista and Itunes. Do you have any more suggestions?
I am also getting the message “Ipod cannot be synced. The required file cannot be found.” every time.
Man this has really turned into the support IPOD random issues thread
Steve regardinging your issue please try the following
To force a manual sync hold down Control and Shift and keep holding it until iTunes starts
This will force iTunes to initiate the iPod connection wizard. You will be prompted to confirm the name of your iPod. Simply deselect (un-check) the option for “Automatically update” your iPod.
I would then choose to manually sync everything and attempt to update your iPod if that does not work below are some suggestions.
1. If you are syncing photos go to the folder you are syncing photos from (generally my documents/pictures) and delete the folder named “iPod Photo Cache”
Try to sync if that does not work
2. Open iTunes and choose
2. Check to ensure that you are running the latest firmware and try renaming your ipod to a generic name like “music” no special characters like apostrophe this has been linked syncing errors and worth a try.
Try to sync if that does not work
3. Try uninstalling and reinstalling itunes
Finally if those do not work use itunes to restore your ipod to factory settings you will lose your music, photos and contacts but it should resolve the issue.
I type in the chkdsk thing but then I get invalid parameter. Am I maybe typing in the wrong drive or something?
I actually got it to work however I am getting a message that says unrecoverable error in the Ipod control folder and it asks me to convert the file to a folder then i say yes and the whole process stops
I do CMD stuff and it works fine i get everything you got. But my ipod still doesnt show in iTunes and I cant eject is normally.
ok i did what you did and i got the message the type of filse system is fat32 and the thing about the volumserial number but after that it just stopped and i could not press anything on the command prompt
i did what you did and i got the message the type of filse system is fat32 and the thing about the volumserial number but after that it just stopped and i could not press anything on the command prompt
Hi
I tried to chkdsk with /f and /r options.
H:\>chkdsk h:
The type of the file system is FAT32.
The volume is in use by another process. Chkdsk
might report errors when no corruption is present.
Volume ANUVUPPALA’ created 8/1/2007 10:35 PM
Volume Serial Number is 5B99-A10A
Windows is verifying files and folders…
File and folder verification is complete.
Windows has checked the file system and found no problems.
29,191,840 KB total disk space.
912 KB in 57 hidden files.
384 KB in 24 folders.
22,591,104 KB in 3,138 files.
6,599,424 KB are available.
16,384 bytes in each allocation unit.
1,824,490 total allocation units on disk.
412,464 allocation units available on disk.
The volume is in use by another process. Chkdsk ??????????????????
Why do i get that error ?
1) I have enabled the disk access and selected the manual selection of the sync
2) exit of the itunes
3) Run the chkdsk with /f option and i get the above error.
4) re-open itunes and try to sync
5) my iPod shows do not disconnect
6) but my library does’nt show as if its sync-ing up
All your help is appreciated in resolving this issue.
Thanks in advance !
im just gonna dive right into it
ipod 5 gen with itunes (latest update) hp pavilion media center with vista ultimate installed
problem: ipod shows up momentarily in “my computer as drive letter M then this error message pops up (do you want to scan now blah blah). i recently formatted my ipod and i KNEW i had this message because of a reminant error file. when i choose the yes scan now it says: windows cannot access the disk. so the error message dissappears and so does the visible disk drive M!! i try no answering the error message and the M drive still disappears. itunes does not see the ipod what so ever. i choose device manager, i see disk drives, i notice i have several disk drives for (cameras and media cards… etc) a total of four disk drives that i dont ever use. i so i disabled them now the only ones that are enabled are: C drive and Apple Ipod. another thing! The windows WPD filesystem shows a yellow ! and when i open properties for this device it says error code 10. i’ve this entire post and many more like it. i just can seem to get my ipod to be recognized by windows vista. i tried the chkdsk but because it doesnt see the drive it wont do a chk. ipodservice is running in the background and all other storage devices work fine via usb ports. and the ipod works on almost any other computer but my own! also. i have choosen to update my driver for the ipod manually and choose [diskdrive] as there were no other choices, it restarts, and for a brief moment i can see the drive, open it, access the files, and then boots me out with “the {path …. etc} is inaccessible, make sure the drive is connected properly blah blah… so what can i do about all this? i cant rename the drive if its not there right?
by the way i appreciate any help you or anyone has to offer
Nakia,
Checkout Bob’s work around it worked for me
I typed in the command you recommended and it says Cannot open volume for direct access. What do I do now?
I attempted to rund the chkdsk command and I get a message that states cannot read boot sector can you help
Thanks
I’ve been looking for a solution for my iPod, and this one worked perfectly. Thank you so much.
After searching in futility for ways to whip my 80GB back into working order (all my data remained on the iPod, but iTunes wouldn’t recognize it and the iPod itself claimed there was “no music”), I stumbled across this site, thinking, “what the heck is real estate gonna do for my undernourished ears?” Well, Mark, thanks a billion–my iPod’s gone from an expensive wannabe paperweight to an actual functioning digital music device again! Seriously, you’ve made my day!
Awesome Ryan! Seriously with all the reads and comments this one post has gotten I should just blog about ipod support
Hi Mark & everyone else.
Thanks for all your comments & assistance. I’m stuck on “cannot open volume for direct access”.
I want to try Bob’s solution, but am unsure as to how to run chkdsk as administrator.
Please could someone advise me.
Many thanks!
Thanks, Mark, the chkdsk seems to have done the trick for my Shuffle. It was made a bit difficult because of Vista’s “helpful” way of quickly removing the Ipod from the “Devices with removable storage” folder after it’s plugged in, but I set it up to run quickly while it was still there.
Wow!! Teh problem I was having was that when I would run the command prompt to run the chkdsk, I’d get a message saying that the drive could not be found. I know I entered the right letter. But then I realized that after I’d hit “continue without scanning” and once itunes would open up (I had it set to automatically open when I’d connect the ipod) – the ipod would literally disappear from “My computer” or any other place I’d try to view it.
I finally changed my itunes so that it would not open when I connected. I kept the error message box open and noticed that the ipod was still apearing on “My computer”. So while the drive was still recognized I ran the command prompt and the “chkdsk _: /f” command & it worked like a charm!
Thanks so much for the tip!
Hi, I did everything that you said to do, except that I got this error saying “cannot open volume for direct access” What should I do?
How long does the iPod say connected eject before disconnecting? If it takes an hour or so should I just do it via iTunes?
Typically it will only take a few minutes at most. If it is not disconnecting make sure you close any folders or windows that are reading a directory on the ipod then try ejecting it again.
Thanks a lot that was annoying. Any clue on why my Ipod didn’t want the scan and the wifes did?
Nice. Worked like a charm.
I’m glad I never scanned it too.
Thanks for the crystal clear explanation.
Worked perfectly – thanks for posting the solution.
When i plug my ipod into my laptop, it comes up that scan and fix pop up, but ive tried the disk check and nothing works! And due to this pop up, songs dont sync to my ipod anymore but the ipod is in full working order. This has been since i pulled the ipod out of the USB too qucikly before i got the OK to disconnect sign. Help!:(
chkdsk:/k
is not recognized as an internal or external command., operable program or batch file.
I’ve tried typing chkdsk 1: /k several way’s to no avail. I’ve tried with iTunes connected and with my ipod connected and without both. Still nothing.
Any help getting this command to work would be greatly appriciated.
You Rock!!! That message has been bugging me for months! Thank you SO much!!!
cannot open volume for direct access….
is there any way you could tell me what to do in layman’s terms?
Hi
I’ve done what it says to do in the command prompt but it comes up with the below :
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6001]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Users\Michael>chkdsk f: /f
The type of the file system is FAT32.
Volume MARK’S created 25/12/2007 19:51
Volume Serial Number is 3141-5926
Windows is verifying files and folders…
Unrecoverable error in folder \iPod_Control\gamedata_RW.
Convert folder to file (Y/N)? Y
I clicked yes but it just seems to stay on 0% and does nothing and returns to users/Michael
Any ideas?
heyy when i do the boot in the command prompt it says file is fat 32 then under it, it says cannot boot sectors, is there anything i can do ?
Worked like a charm. Thanks for your time and help.
WORKED!!!
Thanks
When I run the chkdsk I get the following:
The type of the file system is FAT32.
Volume Serial Number is 3141-5926
and then it stops…any thoughts?
Hi ,
have run all the steps,
and it comes up with
“Windows is verifying files and folders…
\iPod_control\artwork\F1060_1.ithmb is cross-linked on allocation unit 8302″
any ideas mate?
I ran the quick format after this stage and it completed properly…this was after uninstalling itunes
iPod is good to go thanks. great help.
Hey Mark, maybe I should just try to explain what has happened to my iPod. When I was trying to sync or to change some of my music’s information, suddenly iTunes stopped working, I tried to close it, and safely remove the iPod so I could start again, however I couldn’t, and I had to force the removal.
As soon as I plugged my iPod again Windows Vista gave the “Scan and Fix” message, and i dismissed it cause I know it doesn’t work. I then found this forum, and tried the solution, however it gives me the message:
“The type of the file system is RAW.
CHKDSK is not available for RAW files.”
The iPod and iTunes still freezes, and I really don’t know what to do.
I would seriously appreciate any help.
Thanks, and greetings from Mexico.
Thanks Mark, I have been having issues with my new Ipod Classic(120 gig) and Vista, getting that annoying pop up recently, EACH time the ipod was plugged into computer and synced.
It worked a treat, after doing some fine tuning(first time I did it – it failed).
Thank you so much. I’ve had this problem before where I’ve tried to transfer songs to my iPod, and I’ve gotten a (-69) error. After this check, it is now back to normal. The “chkdsk g:/f” worked great. Make sure not to have a space after the colon, that was a problem for me.
Thanks man, that was really annoying message to dismiss all the time.
I have a 160gb WD1600 external usb hard drive I have reformated it with Vista to NTSC then
again with fat32format.exe in cmd prompt to FAT32 originally came formated in NTSC. I’ve
tried to copy and paste a .CFG file and others from my Laptop running Vista to my external
USB HD and or change their file names wich is successfull. The problem is after I unplug
the USD HD and reconnect it the files and or their name changes are either not there or not
changed as if resorting back to before the change/transfer. I am unable to figure out what
to do to fix this problem.
No errors pop up other than Vista promping me “Do you want to scan and fix local disk?”. I
am running as true administrator account and I also tried with and without write caching enabled/disabled/ still same problem. If you have any suggestions let me know thanks in advance.
When I typed chkdsk j it said “Access denied as you do not have sufficient privileges.
You have to invoke this utility running in elevated mode”
What does that mean?
Nevermind, I figured it out!
i still cant do it i type it right im sure im spacing it right i type chkdsk k: /f but its just say other messages like pervious people have been sayin they get wat am i doin wrong what am i typing wrong help plz?
it keep sayin somethin about a raw drive advie anyone?
is the ipod suppose to be connected or dis connected when you do this?
it recognize it as fat 32 but why it keep sayin can not determine the number of volumes on this sector
it work but b4 it finishes its askin me do i want to convert lost chains to files? what that mean?
never mind i did it
← Previous Comments