iPod Retrocomputing: iPod 3G & PowerMac G4 (OS X 10.3.9)

[qubex]

Hello.

I'm indulging in some retrocomputing.

I have restored my 2002-vintage PowerMac dual G4 to perfect health and I have it running 2003/2004-era 10.3.9. (That is as far as I am willing to go in terms of OS updates since 10.3 was the current OS when I retired the machine from active service.)

I have also dug out my first iPod, a 20GB 3G unit, which I have connected to the FireWire port with an original cable.

The iPod turns on, goes through its boot sequence, and then presents the dreaded blinking broken folder icon. I have gone through the usual steps of booting it with Menu and Select pressed and now I have the Disk Mode Do Not Disconnect icon.

The problem is it isn't showing up on the Mac. There is no sign of it in Disk Utility either.

The bewildering thing is that System Profiler shows a correct device (iPod unit spec id 24734, unit software version 10483, firmware revision 1.53) connected to the FireWire controller.

So, what would you do?

(Oh, I'm posting this from Safari 1.3 (v312), and it is working perfectly.)

 

[GreatDrok]

Did it ever work with that Mac? What about other firewire devices? Have you also tried USB? The 3rd Gen supported USB syncing but not charging.

 

[qubex]

Yes, it worked with this Mac all those ages ago. That's why I'm rescuscitating them both: because they're a "period pair".

Other FireWire devices: iSigh working fine, including on the same port (if I plug it in there).
USB: USB with this iPod is a bit of a mixed bag: it doesn't even boot that far when plugged into USB.

Speaking of which, I'd better mention the battery's almost 100% dead: even after several hours of 'charging' it lasts at most fifteen seconds if unplugged. This is clearly never going to be anything but a museum piece, but I'd like it to be a working museum piece.

 

[GreatDrok]

Yes, it worked with this Mac all those ages ago. That's why I'm rescuscitating them both: because they're a "period pair".

Other FireWire devices: iSigh working fine, including on the same port (if I plug it in there).
USB: USB with this iPod is a bit of a mixed bag: it doesn't even boot that far when plugged into USB.

Speaking of which, I'd better mention the battery's almost 100% dead: even after several hours of 'charging' it lasts at most fifteen seconds if unplugged. This is clearly never going to be anything but a museum piece, but I'd like it to be a working museum piece.

OK, after all this time the battery is likely the culprit. I had to replace the battery in mine just to get it to boot but once it did it sprung back to life. Batteries for 3G iPods are widely available and fitting isn't too bad because the kits come with a spludger to prise the back off and once you've done that, fitting the new battery is easy.

 

[qubex]

Ah, OK, thanks... I'll try that then and I'll get back to you. Thanks.