Resolve Vista Scan and Fix Error When Plugging in IPOD or other Devices

Vista is just too smart for its own good. I spoke with a member friday evening that said after setting up Vista home premium his computer would give him an error to Scan and Fix his IPOD. However when he would plug his IPOD into his wife’s Windows XP machine there was no error.

error_ipod.jpg

I was able to recreate the error by forcibly ejecting my own ipod from a Windows XP machine. The reason for the error is that his IPOD was formatted FAT32 on Windows XP; this can affect thumbdrives, cameras, smart cards. What happens is the device was not properly dismounted by Windows XP and there is an archival bit set that Vista needs to reset before it will stop reporting there is an error.

At this point if you don’t read anything else read this: don’t click the “Scan and Fix” button.

Instead open up a command line prompt by clicking on the windows logo key and then clicking on the command prompt icon:

cmd_start.jpg

At the command prompt type the following command.

chkdsk (device drive letter): /f

for instance my ipod was mounted at drive l so I typed

chkdsk l : /f

cmd1.JPG

Once the chkdsk process is completed you should not see the “Scan & Fix” dialog for your ipod or other device again.

- Mark Flavin

Comments

  1. Rawnie says:

    Oooh, I thank you. My newest iPod recently came up with the error so I had to look and see if there’s a way to fix it. Thank you! This worked. I had to close iTunes to run chkdsk properly, but it went on without a hitch after that. Again, thank you. Glad there’s a solution for the problem.

Trackbacks

  1. [...] how put an end to the Vista ‘Scan and Fix’ dialog issue with an iPod. This was written by Mr. Zero. Posted on Thursday, June 11, 2009, at 1:22 am. Filed under General. [...]

  2. [...] being written incorrectly sometimes and thus creating the prob when tried to be read in Win 7. Resolve Vista Scan and Fix Error When Plugging in IPOD or other Devices I'll careful and backup all data and then do a "Scan and Fix" in Win 7. [...]

  3. [...] ETA: Another interesting data point: If you just disconnect, the archive bit could be set resulting Windows to ask you to “Scan and Fix” the iPod. Here’s what to do if you get that message. [...]

  4. [...] If you’ve just been disconnecting the iPod without formally ejecting it in iTunes, it could just have a Windows bit set wrong. This could result in Windows asking you to “Scan and Fix” the iPod. Here’s what to do if you get that message. [...]

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