Thread: iPod Touch comes up as "USB Device not recognized"

Alright, here's the deal: I purchased an 8gb iPod Touch used for ridiculously cheap because the seller was having trouble connecting it to iTunes. The Touch is jailbroken and is in need of a restore (has a habit of freezing), but like the seller said, the iPod won't connect to iTunes. Here's what I've tried:

-Multiple computers w/ multiple USB ports (no connection, no charge, USB device not recognized)
-Desktop w/Firewire (charges, no connection)
-Reset iPod in every different configuration including recovery mode
-Reinstalled iTunes on both computers
-Turned off and turned back on Apple Mobile Device
-Checked USB Serial Controller, appears to be working properly, says there is no driver installed for the iPod (which is inaccurate, I have iTunes installed)
-Wiped iPod clean and reset everything through General Settings

Am I missing anything? Because it is jailbroken I fear Apple won't look at it, but unfortunately I cannot restore it if I cannot connect it. Otherwise this thing seems to work just fine, but I'm starting to wonder if the connection port is messed up somehow. It CHARGES in firewire but doesn't show up in any format, and with USB is does not charge but comes up as "USB device not recognized". Does this signify a hardware problem or a software problem?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

I wish I could help you, unfortunatlely I don't know what the problem is. But just wait a bit longer and I am sure someone on the site will help you.

I understand your problem, but unfortunately, I am not sure what to tell you lol. Hmmm. Hopefully someone else will know what to do. I feel your frustration!

i have your answer my friend

1) open device manager, either by right clicking on computer, and then clicking manage, and then finally on device manager, or by typing
devmgmt.msc in the search (or run) box on the bottom of the start menu and hitting enter.

2) find the ipod, it (should) be listed under digital cameras (or something to that effect), right click it and choose "update driver software"

3) choose "browse my computer for driver software"

4) for the location (you must have itunes already installed) use C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers (substitute C: for whatever your system drive letter is) and click next, windows should find the CORRECT driver in that location and proceed to update the driver

5) after the update is complete click finish to close the dialog box, then unplug the ipod and plug it back in. itunes should now recognize the ipod.


hope this works, and if it does then yay!! if its wrong then im sorry

Thanks for the help Jimmy, unfortunately when I plug it in it only recognizes it as "unknown device" in the usb universal controller. When I try to update the driver with the method you gave me it told me "Windows could not find a better driver for this device than the one already installed."

Oh well, I barely payed anything for this, time to throw it on eBay. It was worth a shot, thanks for the help all!

lol time to pass the brick onto another person, i like ur style haha

sorry we coudlnt help ya mate, but buy another touch so u can stay on our forum

I ended up getting $147 on eBay. Wow! I was completely honest and forward about it's condition, and made sure to to state there are no guarantees on the device, but apparently someone deemed it worth the money. Now I can get that 64gb when it comes out in September.

lol i hope it comes in that size at some point, even tho i couldnt afford one btw 64gb is believed to be the largest possible size for a flash memry device so nothing larger will be available

my ipod is identified as an unknown driver in device manager and doesnt come up in my computer or itunes. i have tried to update drivers and uninstalled then reinstalled itunes about 5 times. it still doesnt work. HELP PLEASE!

I got the same problem, but I don't want to sell my iPod on eBay

When I was attempting to install the new update, a power failure occured and then my iPod is left without any firmware, not recognized even by iTunes and by my computer (USB unknown device)

Do I need to reinstall the iPod firmware by my own ? Without iTunes' help ?

PS: I've tried the recovery mode, the "hold & main" buttons trick, without success...

Please help me !! Thank you so much