iPod Nano won't charge on my computer

[Kagger]

I opened up my 3rd Gen nano this morning. Haven't gotten to use it because the thing will not charge. I have had all of my music on there at one point, latest driver etc. The charge icon is there on both iTunes and the iPod. I do not know if it is supposed to be flashing if it is charging or not. It just sits there gray (does it do anything while it charges?)

Thing is, I took it downstairs, plugged it in there, and got 1/5 charge in about 20 minutes. I've tried all 4 of my USB ports. I've checked their drivers.

Does anyone have any ideas on how this could be fixed?

I had just seen I had an error Code 31 for my iPod as a portable device. When I unplugged it and put it back the error is gone, but I doubt it is charging.

Any suggestions?

[KingGorilla]

While it is plugged in, reset the ipod. I believe that is done by holding the Menu and Center buttons until the Apple logo pops up. I have only had this problem with Nanos not being recognized by my computer, which had previously used iPod classic and 5Gs, but this fixes matters.

[Kagger]

I've done the reset thing and never have had it do much. I think in an hour it moved up a hair.

Is there some setting on my computer that isn't allowing this to charge. This computer used to be used for my shuffle. Could that be something?

Is this a problem with Nanos? One that has lasting effects?

[Whunpo]

Have you tried using another computer to charge it? Find out if it's your computer or the Nano. If it's the Nano, call Apple to send you a new one. If it's your computer....hmm. I don't think it will be your computer. But if it is, come on back here.

[Kagger]

Have you tried using another computer to charge it? Find out if it's your computer or the Nano. If it's the Nano, call Apple to send you a new one. If it's your computer....hmm. I don't think it will be your computer. But if it is, come on back here.

It is the computer...that's my point. I plugged it into my dad's computer for about 20 minutes and it did more than mine did all day. His is an XP Dell, mine is running Vista Ultimate built.

[Kagger]

Just tried it again on my dad's and in 10 minutes it had noticeably charged, where as it has done nothing plugged into mine. Lightning bolt is there, the screen is lit the whole time. I've transferred music and movies onto it, but no charge is being stored.

[Whunpo]

Hmm. You've got me stumped then. Does the computer detect it at all?

[Nuggsy]

this might be a stupid question but, does your computer have powered USB ports? my old laptop didn't and nothing would charge that way.

[Kagger]

this might be a stupid question but, does your computer have powered USB ports? my old laptop didn't and nothing would charge that way.

I previous had an iPod shuffle that charged. Still have it...but don't use it anymore. So I'd assume so.

I have an MSI K8N Diamond motherboard.

[Stmfuller]

well, you could just go out tomorrow during the sales and buy a 2-4 port usb card for your computer. That would likely solve your problems.

[KingGorilla]

Oh, it's the computer. Then either you do not have USB 2.0 ports, you do not have correct USB 2.0 drivers, or a faulty drive.

What is the make, model, and year of your computer? If it was a custom build, what is the Mother Board manufacturer and model?

[Kagger]

Oh, it's the computer. Then either you do not have USB 2.0 ports, you do not have correct USB 2.0 drivers, or a faulty drive.

What is the make, model, and year of your computer? If it was a custom build, what is the Mother Board manufacturer and model?

Home built. MSI K8N Diamond motherboard. It charged my shuffle and works with my printer, webcam, mouse, etc.

Edit: Crap, looks like the Circuit City ones are going to be ridiculous. Any brand recommendation for a card?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815124007

would that work? It's 10 dollars shipped.

[Kagger]

I pulled the trigger and bought that 10 dollar one. We'll see how that works. Wish I could be sure just so I didn't have to worry.

[KingGorilla]

I forgot to add the more USB devices you have installed, not connected mind you, the more installed(as in drivers) the more likely you are that a device will not work properly. Also, the more devices you have on each hub the less power to each port. If you are charging a lot of devices on the same hub(Camera, phone, MP3 player) the more likely that one will not get the juice it needs.
You could just check the device manager to see how many installed devices you have, remove the ones you do not use. And see what is drawing power.

[Kagger]

This is what it looks like:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/KaggeR/usb.jpg

I remember for the longest time my USB ports were not working at USB 2.0 originally. I had to do that manually like a year after I got the machine. Now...since I upgraded to Vista I haven't done anything, but on my XP machine they were not high speed to begin with. Perhaps they are missing something now?

There are 4 ports on the back I use. I've never hooked up the additional front end ports because I never got them to work back on XP. I went through and made sure all the drivers were up to date earlier in the day.

As I said, for a while the iPod as a personal media device was showing Error Code 31, then I unplugged it and it didn't post that.

I tried plugging my dad's in here to see if it was something weird about mine, and it would show connected, then "connect to power source", then restart and do it again. It's like it knows there is a PC, but not how to get power from it. Somehow my machine may be just giving it bear minimum because it wouldn't be restarting when I was using mine.

[Stmfuller]

wait, are you plugging into a usb port via a hub or directly into the computer?
If computer, then yeah sounds like you just need to take those ports offline and go with the card. Faulty USB ports happen all the time, and from the sounds of it that's probably what it is. I agree with KingG, disable the ones that aren't working.
If hub, then you need to not be plugging your ipod into the hub. There's a good chance that the ipod will draw too much power to not be connected directly into the computer.

[Kagger]

wait, are you plugging into a usb port via a hub or directly into the computer?
If computer, then yeah sounds like you just need to take those ports offline and go with the card. Faulty USB ports happen all the time, and from the sounds of it that's probably what it is. I agree with KingG, disable the ones that aren't working.
If hub, then you need to not be plugging your ipod into the hub. There's a good chance that the ipod will draw too much power to not be connected directly into the computer.

Not a hub, directly into the back. No ide what the USB root hub is.

[Stmfuller]

KingG is right then.
Disable your non-working USB ports and use the card you just bought.
That'll solve your issues.

[Kagger]

While at work I picked up USB wall charger (to use with my cable). It charged my ipod totally, and I can transfer from my computer.

I still ordered the USB card to fix my computer though.

How would I disable my on board ports?

[resikel]

In your BIOS setting.

[KingGorilla]

Just a pro tip, those wall chargers are not supported by apple. And most will not automatically stop charging once the battery is full. You need to be careful as you can start a fire, or worse.

[Kagger]

Just a pro tip, those wall chargers are not supported by apple. And most will not automatically stop charging once the battery is full. You need to be careful as you can start a fire, or worse.

Yeah I noticed it never said "Charge Complete" until I unplugged it. Which is fine...it takes like 2 hours to charge. Hopefully the new USB thing will fix it all together.