iPod Shuffle 1G Alternate Firmware

[Geschpooklichkeit]

Somehow I have become the owner of a slightly worn iPod Shuffle (long variant, 512 MB). I want to flood it with reduced quality music, but I don't want to bother with iTunes. Is there a method for mounting it as a standard mass storage device?

[Edit]Actually, before that, I need help getting it detected by Windows. Plugging it in to every available USB port shows nothing in Device Manager, yet it turns on, plays its music, etc.

[t('' )]

no. not for the shuffle.
the shuffle is a ums player but not in the sense that the songs will be recognized by the player.
you have to use external software to make songs be recognized by the shuffle.

[Geschpooklichkeit]

Which is?

[t('' )]

uh external software?
things like itunes, winamp, media monkey, "ipod shuffle database builder".

the one in quotation marks is pretty small and makes the ipod shuffle more like a ums (or MSC, but you're pretty good with computers right?) player.

iPod shuffle Database Builder

[Geschpooklichkeit]

Is something supposed to happen when I connect the Shuffle into a USB port, then? Nothing happens at all. It still functions as it should (i.e., not disabling itself like the manual says it should).

[t('' )]

so the autorun dialogue box doesn't come up? does any new drives pop up in "my computer"?

edit: read op more thoroughly.

perhaps this thread might better answer your question?

DEAL BREAKER : Can it Play mp3s without using iTunes? [Archive] - iPod - iPhone - iTunes Forums at iLounge

[kimcicle]

If you're running XP, it should say that you've attached a USB device, with the "Safely Remove Hardware" prompt in your system tray.

[Geschpooklichkeit]

That has yet to happen. I don't get the "connected device" sound.

[kimcicle]

Hmm, I'm guessing the USB connector is shot. I get the hardware is connected sound any time I connect any iPod I own to my computer (2nd gen iPod shuffle, 5th gen iPod video).

[Wan]

If the iPod isn't recognized when connected, there are 2 options:

· The USB port of your computer is dead, or
· The USB connector of the iPod is dead.

Tried connecting it in another computer?

[Geschpooklichkeit]

Three computers, actually. There's no way I'm dropping $30 for servicing on something I got for free. Oh well.

[Edit]After six hours of being plugged in without any activity, it suddenly decides to connect for about three minutes, just long enough for me to run the Reset tool so it can return a disk write error.

[Wan]

Originally Posted by Excel-2007

Three computers, actually. There's no way I'm dropping $30 for servicing on something I got for free. Oh well.

[Edit]After six hours of being plugged in without any activity, it suddenly decides to connect for about three minutes, just long enough for me to run the Reset tool so it can return a disk write error.

With that info, there's no doubt that the iPod's USB connector has gone kaput >.<

[Geschpooklichkeit]

At any rate, given that the USB plug is at fault, I have everything else figured out in the short time that it stays connected. I see no reason for this thread to exist any longer.