testbenchdude
asked on
iPod and USB hub compatibility
Recently I started getting the following message when I plug in my 80GB 5th gen iPod with software version 1.2.1.
----
iTunes has detected an iPod that appears to be corrupted. You may need to restore this iPod before it can be used with iTunes. You may also try disconnecting and reconnecting the iPod.
----
As you may guess disconnecting and reconnecting is not helpful. Trying to restore yields an error 1415 as described at the following link.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304508
I eventually traced the problem to an incompatibility between my iPod and a D-Link USB hub model DUB-H7. A link to a description of the offending hub is below.
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=149
If I disconnect the D-link hub my iPod and iTunes are happy. If I plug in the D-link hub I get the errors described above. These is very repeatable. It does not matter which ports the HUB is plugged into or which ports the iPod is plugged into ... the symptom is always the same ... if both devices are present I get the errors described above. The iPod always works fine when the hub has been removed.
Here is my question. Where can I find a list of USB hubs that work with an iPod? I would like to buy a USB hub that is compatible with my iPod.
I would really like to have a USB hub on my desktop. I have an older computer and all of the USB ports are on the back. It is very inconvenient to have to crawl under my desk and fumble around in the dark with a flashlight in the mess-o-wires behind my computer every time I want to plug in my thumb drive.
Thanks!
----
iTunes has detected an iPod that appears to be corrupted. You may need to restore this iPod before it can be used with iTunes. You may also try disconnecting and reconnecting the iPod.
----
As you may guess disconnecting and reconnecting is not helpful. Trying to restore yields an error 1415 as described at the following link.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304508
I eventually traced the problem to an incompatibility between my iPod and a D-Link USB hub model DUB-H7. A link to a description of the offending hub is below.
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=149
If I disconnect the D-link hub my iPod and iTunes are happy. If I plug in the D-link hub I get the errors described above. These is very repeatable. It does not matter which ports the HUB is plugged into or which ports the iPod is plugged into ... the symptom is always the same ... if both devices are present I get the errors described above. The iPod always works fine when the hub has been removed.
Here is my question. Where can I find a list of USB hubs that work with an iPod? I would like to buy a USB hub that is compatible with my iPod.
I would really like to have a USB hub on my desktop. I have an older computer and all of the USB ports are on the back. It is very inconvenient to have to crawl under my desk and fumble around in the dark with a flashlight in the mess-o-wires behind my computer every time I want to plug in my thumb drive.
Thanks!
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Hi xema,
Thanks for your comment.
I have 4 USB ports on the back of my Windows XP Pro PC. I think you are suggesting that I plug the hub into one port on the PC and plug the iPod into another port on the PC. I already tried this and I get the following error.
----
iTunes has detected an iPod that appears to be corrupted. You may need to restore this iPod before it can be used with iTunes. You may also try disconnecting and reconnecting the iPod.
----
A) Hub plugged into port on PC and iPod plugged into port on PC. Error message.
B) Hub plugged into port on PC and iPod plugged into port on hub. Error message
C) Completely disconnect hub and plug iPod into port on PC. iPod and iTunes work.
I have ordered the Belkin hub and it should arrive in a few days. I will post my findings when the Belkin hub arrives. I hope my iPod will work with the new Belkin hub.
If the Belkin Hub does not work I might try a USB repeater cable.
http://www.usbgear.com/USB_Repeater_Cable/
But I hope the Belkin hub will work so that I don't have to buy more stuff and waste more time.
Thanks for your comment.
I have 4 USB ports on the back of my Windows XP Pro PC. I think you are suggesting that I plug the hub into one port on the PC and plug the iPod into another port on the PC. I already tried this and I get the following error.
----
iTunes has detected an iPod that appears to be corrupted. You may need to restore this iPod before it can be used with iTunes. You may also try disconnecting and reconnecting the iPod.
----
A) Hub plugged into port on PC and iPod plugged into port on PC. Error message.
B) Hub plugged into port on PC and iPod plugged into port on hub. Error message
C) Completely disconnect hub and plug iPod into port on PC. iPod and iTunes work.
I have ordered the Belkin hub and it should arrive in a few days. I will post my findings when the Belkin hub arrives. I hope my iPod will work with the new Belkin hub.
If the Belkin Hub does not work I might try a USB repeater cable.
http://www.usbgear.com/USB_Repeater_Cable/
But I hope the Belkin hub will work so that I don't have to buy more stuff and waste more time.
testbenchdude
I don't think you need the repeater cable, with a 3-4 feet cable it's not necesary.
As for your USB ports, normally the ports are in pairs, so if you connect the HUB on one port in the back of your PC, skip the closest to it an then connect the Ipod in the other, does it show error messages?
I don't think you need the repeater cable, with a 3-4 feet cable it's not necesary.
As for your USB ports, normally the ports are in pairs, so if you connect the HUB on one port in the back of your PC, skip the closest to it an then connect the Ipod in the other, does it show error messages?
ASKER
Hi xema,
I attempted your suggestion. I discovered that I do not have 4 USB ports on the back of my PC. I really have 2 USB ports and 3 firewire ports. (It is dark under that corner of my desk. I kept having trouble plugging into the other two USB ports. I finally unplugged everything and pulled the PC out from under the desk to get a better look and I discovered that what I thought were two more USB ports were really three firewire ports.)
My new Belkin USB hub arrived today. My iPod is plugged in. The hub is plugged in. My thumb drive is plugged in. iTunes is working. I am very happy.
I can say that the hub at this link works with my iPod.
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=198333
I can also say that hub at this link does NOT work with my iPod.
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=149
I think your suggestion would work. I could have purchased a regular USB extension cable for the thumb drive to allow me to plug in both my thumb drive and an iPod. But I was really wanting a hub on my desktop. With a desktop hub I'll have easy access to plug in other gadgets.
xema, thanks for participating. I did not use your suggestion. But since your suggestion would have worked I will award the points to you anyway.
Thanks!
I attempted your suggestion. I discovered that I do not have 4 USB ports on the back of my PC. I really have 2 USB ports and 3 firewire ports. (It is dark under that corner of my desk. I kept having trouble plugging into the other two USB ports. I finally unplugged everything and pulled the PC out from under the desk to get a better look and I discovered that what I thought were two more USB ports were really three firewire ports.)
My new Belkin USB hub arrived today. My iPod is plugged in. The hub is plugged in. My thumb drive is plugged in. iTunes is working. I am very happy.
I can say that the hub at this link works with my iPod.
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=198333
I can also say that hub at this link does NOT work with my iPod.
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=149
I think your suggestion would work. I could have purchased a regular USB extension cable for the thumb drive to allow me to plug in both my thumb drive and an iPod. But I was really wanting a hub on my desktop. With a desktop hub I'll have easy access to plug in other gadgets.
xema, thanks for participating. I did not use your suggestion. But since your suggestion would have worked I will award the points to you anyway.
Thanks!
Thanks
ASKER
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=198333
I like the way it has one port on top for a USB thumb drive. Unless somebody says they have seen an incompatibility between an iPod and this Belkin hub I'm likely to buy it online within 24 hours.