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Microsoft Fixes iPod Issues in Vista

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

March 27, 2007, 7:48 PM

Microsoft is working hard to ensure users of Apple's iPod music player do not experience difficulty when trying to use the device with Windows Vista. Among several patches released for the new operating system was one designed to address iPod issues that have appeared. Users had complained that their iPods were becoming corrupted after using the "Safely Remove Hardware" option to eject the player.

While Apple itself had addressed several of the problems with Vista in the iTunes 7.1 release earlier this month, it warned that the hardware removal issue was a Microsoft problem and advised users not to access the option. Even with the fix, however, 64-bit versions of Windows XP and Vista still remain incompatible with iTunes.

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By callisto1313

posted Oct 13, 2007 - 6:25 PM

There is an issue that I believe is within iTunes, for some reason it does not bring up one set of purchased music when I search my library
http://www.audiophile.pl

Score: 0

By lonnysmith@gorge.net

edited Apr 11, 2007 - 10:16 PM

I have a new HP Pavilion with Vista installed; i-Tunes does not run consistently on this system. Vista will knock me off-line about every 2nd session, especially when I am in the i-Tunes store "browsing" mode.

is there a fix?

Score: 0

By makemelaugh

edited Apr 10, 2007 - 5:46 PM

I am running Vista Ultimate 64 and iTunes ruined my ablility to write cd's in windows let alone in iTunes. I can write with Nero just fine! Am I going to have to reinstall or does anyone have a trick to this mess? 3 hours on MS tech line and no fix yet.

Score: 0

By thatdidnthurt

edited Mar 28, 2007 - 4:41 PM

I am running Vista Ultimate 64 bit and iTunes works fine for me right now. I am running the 7.1 ver. of iTunes and the only issues I have were the burner drivers weren't in iTunes, which I added and Vista's Safely Remove Hardware option doesn't work at all. Like not even a little. It doesn't eject thumb drives, iPods, memory cards, or any other removable media device I have tried. Whatever you do, don't plug in a u3 device that is password protected into a Vista machine or you can kiss all of your data goodbye.

Score: 0

By zoma4

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 12:23 PM

Is it just me or does this not show up in Windows Update?

Microsoft supposedly released several patches yesterday, and I don't see any updates available. Does it usually take longer to appear on the update site?

Score: 0

By frankwick

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 12:55 PM

patches usually appear on the second tuesday of each month. are these critical enough to appear earlier?

Score: 0

By zoma4

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 1:44 PM

Ahhh, ok thanks. I thought it was every Tuesday.

Score: 0

By muka3d

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 9:59 AM

What iPod problem? I've been using Winamp on Vista and syncing my iPod with no trouble at all!

Score: 0

By frankwick

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 11:20 AM

Most of the problems were addressed by Apple in iTunes itself. This last known problem could only be seen if you use the "Safely remove hardware" option in Windows. This option basically writes any dirty cache files before you unplug a storage device.

Score: 0

By frankwick

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 11:23 AM

Which, by the way, if the safely remove hardware action caused a problem with the ipod, then it may cause a problem with another mass storage device. I'm glad this was fixed.

Score: 0

By Program86

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 9:54 AM

Remember when everyone was saying it was Apple's fault that iTunes wasn't working in Vista?
---> I hate to say I told ya so.
Nice to see MS is fixing things for once.

Score: 0

By THZGryphon

posted Mar 29, 2007 - 12:29 PM

Read the story, not the headline genius.

Score: 0

By testman

edited Mar 28, 2007 - 11:07 AM

This isn't iTunes though, this involves the IPOD and the SAFELY REMOVE HARDWARE feature of Windows Vista. Ejecting within iTunes works perfectly fine and has always done.

It STILL is Apple's fault iTunes isn't working fully (as you will find by searching for issues with iTunes 7 and Vista on Google) as they have had a lot of time to get it working.

Score: 0

By cap737

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 11:45 AM

MS put's out a new OS that is not fully software compatible with XP software and EVERYONE KNOWS that not all of the software that runs fine under XP will work properly. Magazines that are publishing articles telling you how to work around the known issues, such as itunes and the ipod, are saying just unplug the ipod to prevent the drive from getting corrupted. This problem needs to be worked by both companies.

Unless this is a plot to push the sale of zunes.

Score: 0

By vcorvinus

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 8:56 AM

Thanks MS. We need more company like MS, just takes the responsibility and get their products to work. Unlike some company out there, who always accuse other for their own problems.

Score: 0

By sfraider24

edited Apr 2, 2007 - 10:52 PM

You nailed it! It's very rare that Microsoft passes the blame on to someone else. It would be great if every industry leader would emmulate Microsoft.

-SF
http://www.wasatchsoftware.com/blog

Score: 0

By sdf

edited Mar 28, 2007 - 2:03 PM

Absolutely right. Next time, that other company should do the responsible thing and release a patch for Microsoft's OS!

Score: 0

By testman

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 5:02 AM

Link

http://www.microsoft.com...c395&DisplayLang=en

Score: 0

By testman

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 5:08 AM

And 64-bit link

http://www.microsoft.com...d009&DisplayLang=en

Even though you can't use iTunes with 64-bit Windows, you can use any other compatible app, or just use it as a storage device and (hopefully) have no more issues using the Eject Hardware option.

Score: 0

By Shadowkahn

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 11:04 AM

I'm just curious about this not being able to use iTunes with 64-bit Windows, I'm using Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit and iTunes - I had to download the Gear 64-bit driver (which can be found here: http://www.gearsoftware.com/support/drivers.cfm ) to get CD burning within iTunes to work, but other than that and the rather poor performance of purchased videos in iTunes (jumpy etc) every thing seems to be working fine. There is an issue that I believe is within iTunes, for some reason it does not bring up one set of purchased music when I search my library, even though the Playlist I made shows the tracks and I can play them, I cannot seem to bring them up in the main library window - could be a bug with Vista or iTunes in that regards really.

Score: 0

By smarterthanyou

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 2:24 AM

How does your website pertain to this article? Or are you just posting the fact that you just learned how to design a web page in random forums on the internet?

Score: 0

By spongy-poo

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 6:47 PM

Spam?

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 12:30 AM

Use SharePod instead of that bloated iTunes. You can share songs (even iTunes) with anybody you like.

It works with Vista just fine because it runs off the iPod itself.

Score: 0

By CyberDoc999

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 12:21 AM

Just one more reason to stay away from Vista!

Score: 0

By templar™

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 1:26 AM

...or iTunes.

Score: 0

By shy_one

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 12:02 AM

People actualy use that safely remove hardware feature.

I hook up mp3 players cameras and phones to my computer and never had a any problems from just unplugging devices when i'm done with them.

Score: 0

By Banquo

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 7:24 AM

Removeable devices like that usually use the FAT file system, which as you may know can become corrupted quite easily. If you remember Windows 9x it didn't like being shut down improperly and would need to run scandisk every time you did so. Likewise just yanking out one of these devices is just asking to lose your files.

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 2:26 AM

Keep trying. Eventually you'll lose a file table. ;)

Score: 0

By Paul Skinner

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 8:26 AM

I'm not too sure you will, as there's a lesser known setting in Computer Management about Safe Removal.

It has two options (the default being the first):

Optimise for quick removal: ... so you can disconnect the device without using the safe removal icon.

Optimise for performance: ... to disconnect this device from the computer, click the Safely Remove Hardware icon.

So unless you play with that setting you should be safe, as long as it's not transferring files when you yank it out.

Score: 0

By asellus

posted Mar 27, 2007 - 10:56 PM

No link?

Because the update is not available in Microsoft Update.

Score: 0

By Sexbarril

posted Mar 27, 2007 - 9:38 PM

Eating what? The fact that windows wasnt compatible with a product?

MS is again to blame for THEIR program not working with 3rd party peripherals?

ANd then they improve their softwares compatability, and it is seen as though they were trying to stiffle the competition?

But i digress...guess ill just plug my zune into this Mac here... :p

Latz, SB

Score: 0

By petgamer

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 1:06 AM

You know... That's exactly what I was thinking when I read this.

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted Mar 27, 2007 - 10:25 PM

Can't believe you got conned into buying a Zune! That speaks volumes right there. :P

Score: 0

By smarterthanyou

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 2:26 AM

Let's see, the Zune has a bigger screen than the iPod and also better sound than the iPod. Who would want an inferior product like the iPod?

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 2:28 AM

And the Zune is overpriced, incompatible, harder to use and doesn't have the functionality they claim in the brochures. But that's somewhat the status quo, isn't it? :P

The iPod certainly is fairly basic in function compared to the better media players out there - but the Zune does not fall into the 'better' category.

Score: 0

By terminalx

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 1:09 PM

its also the first version of their media player...ipod was junk when it first came out...anytime a new product comes out no matter WHO makes it there is going to be some kind of issue.

Score: 0

By sdf

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 2:14 PM

I didn't realize "it's the first version, later versions might be better" was a good defense for buying that first, crappy product.

Score: 0

By terminalx

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 3:43 PM

its not a defense its a fact...ANY product you buy has its problems on first second heck even third. But there is no way to know the first product is going to be bad or good. I personally wait for the 2nd or 3rd generation of a product. I am not a early adopter maybe I miss out on the intial wow factor but oh well

Score: 0

By vcorvinus

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 8:55 AM

dude, I understand you are an apple fanboy in denial. Let's get the face straight, iPod is the most overpriced mp3 device on the market. Want proof? Just look at their annual report and see what is the profit margin for iPod. In turn of functionality, there is none. When it come to compatible, its suck. This is the only portable devices I have that broke after disconnected from the computer.

Score: 0

By Pixelsmack

posted Mar 27, 2007 - 9:35 PM

I still can't play DRM vids purchased from the Store. Apple is making me want to beat small kittens.

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted Mar 27, 2007 - 8:32 PM

Those who were saying it was all Apple's fault that there are problems with the iPod in Vista are now eating their words. :P

Score: 0

By id242

posted Mar 27, 2007 - 10:45 PM

From the above article:
"Apple itself had addressed several of the problems with Vista in the iTunes 7.1 release earlier this month"

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 2:29 AM

"...it warned that the hardware removal issue was a Microsoft problem and advised users not to access the option."

Score: 0

By theyipper

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 4:36 AM

... which is one of "several of the problems".

Score: 0

By Floodland

posted Mar 27, 2007 - 8:31 PM

Nahhhh! Microsoft never broke competing products on purpose. I don't know why I though that..

Score: 0

By snakes200

posted Mar 27, 2007 - 11:37 PM

Microsoft's zune is better IMO anyways. I have had 2 ipods and everyone of them broke on me. Apple was either too slow at fixing them or they outright refused to fix them. Zune FTW.

Score: 0

By phenomnaruto

posted Mar 28, 2007 - 4:51 AM

macfixitforums.com ... I found this website while trying to fathom the sheer perfection of Apple OSX and thier computers. LOL ..... and the website is real

Score: 0

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