Corrupt iPod, cannot format
 

I have a 20 gig iPod photo, I was syncing songs to it until it stops saying that a file could not upload.

No big deal, this happened before, I close the program, redoc the iPod and try again, but this time everything lags down and iTunes says that the iPod is corrupt and may need a restore, I click on the restore button to format it.

The formatting bar starts to fill until it stops saying "The iPod cannot be restored because it contains files that are in use by another application"

I rebooted numerous times and I do not have anything open excet for iTunes (unless there is something in the background that I am missing)

any ideas?

Do you hear some clicking noise? That means trouble.

I did a search and everyone seems to have the same answer: Go to An Apple Store.

This sounds familar sadly enough.

As Xiaowei (is that pinyin there in your name?) said, it sounds like bad news for your iPod. Most likely, the hard drive is failing.

This happened to me a few months back. I went to put a fresh set of songs on my iPod. I looked at the time and knew i'd have enough time to get them on before i had to go somewhere. About ten minutes before I had to leave, I noticed it was still going. Very strange I thought, but I thought maybe I miscalculated. I took note of the file name and went back to business. Five minutes later, I looked again and noticed it was still on the same file. After holding my iPod up to my ear, I could hear a ticking sound, basically the computer trying to write to the iPod and failing. Things went downhill from here.

Long story short, my iPod is now a paperweight. I would advise one of the following options: 1) If under warranty, get it to an Apple store, 2) if not under warranty, see if you can either buy one of those hard drives for it online or send it in to one of those third party repair shops, or 3) bite the bullet and buy a new iPod since they just released the new versions. Given the cost of 1 and 2, I suggest option number 3 (sorry to say that).

Didn't think that this was looking good, however it dose not click at all, I can still listen to the songs that are currently on it no problem.

I am going to try and figure out what file is running that is in use by another application.

I'd say running it in safe mode, but I do think iTunes/iPod works in safe mode.

Try it on a friend's computer.

I think I will do just that, if that proves fruitless... I guess I will have to settle for having a iPod that I cannot add new songs to.

The iPod is fixed. I was able to format it on a friend's computer though I did have to fight with it a little. After the format I was able to place it back on my computer and put all the songs plus the ones I had trouble with on the iPod with no issues. Good as new!

Thanks for the advice peoples!

It's only temporary, going to come back. It's not that a harddrive recovers miraculously from mechanical damage (I think that's waht xiaowei meant with the clicking noise)

Well, if it isn't clicking, he MIGHT be lucky. However, I'd advise keeping an eye on it. And deals for iPods (if you can find any). these days, you can get a 16 gig one with flash memory for 400 so...

I don't know, I mentioned that the hard drive did not click at all, so far I think it was the software on my computer, it was using a file that my iPod had... it worked on my friend's computer.

Time will tell guess.