# iPod reads as B drive instead G **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 22, 2007, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-reads-as-b-drive-instead-g/430892 "2007-12-22T02:29:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ethanwinfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/96bed5/32.png) [@ethanwinfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethanwinfield)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-reads-as-b-drive-instead-g/430892/1 "2007-12-22T02:29:28Z")
I got a new Nano for the kids for Christmas. The problem is that when I plug it in to the USB port, the computer reads it as a B drive external storage device. I have to manually go in and change it to the G drive each and every time I plug it in. My ipod opens in itunes as an ipod every time I plug it in (unless I use it on a different computer) so I don’t understand why I’m having this problem. What do I need to do? How do I tell the computer to always read it as an iPod instead of an external storage device? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-reads-as-b-drive-instead-g/430892/2 "2007-12-22T02:42:15Z")
I don’t quite get the problem. I read your questions as: a) You want the computer to recognize the Nano as a disk drive labeled G: b) You don’t want the computer to recognize the Nano as a disk drive at all, you want it recognized as an iPod. These two don’t seem like compatible outcomes. Can you clarify, please? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-reads-as-b-drive-instead-g/430892/3 "2007-12-22T02:49:39Z")
If this helps, [here’s](http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/nano3gen/#) the “five R’s” page on the Nano. Also in iTunes, choose Help menu -\>“iPod Help”, which is usually pretty helpful. ---
**Author:** ![ethanwinfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/96bed5/32.png) [@ethanwinfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethanwinfield)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-reads-as-b-drive-instead-g/430892/4 "2007-12-22T05:09:14Z")
[QUOTE=squeegee] I don’t quite get the problem. I read your questions as: a) You want the computer to recognize the Nano as a disk drive labeled G: b) You don’t want the computer to recognize the Nano as a disk drive at all, you want it recognized as an iPod. These two don’t seem like compatible outcomes. Can you clarify, please? [/QUOTE] I want it to recognize it as an iPod, which for the computer seems to be the G drive. When I plug it in, the computer recognizes it as a B drive which is a “removable storage device.” If the path is G, it shows up in iTunes, if it is B, it doesn’t. The default seems to be B, how do I change it to default to G or some other letter that will tell iTunes there’s an iPod plugged in? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-reads-as-b-drive-instead-g/430892/5 "2007-12-22T05:19:24Z")
I think you may be mixing up the causation – on my (XP) machine, my iPod doesn’t show up as a drive at all\*. Nevertheless, the iPod still shows up in iTunes. Are you using XP, or an earlier Windows (which perhaps does the drive masquerading you’re describing to get the device to work, and I wasn’t aware of that) ? \*There is a setting in iTunes that you can turn on to let you use the iPod as a disk drive, but this is independent from the iPod’s use as a music device. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-reads-as-b-drive-instead-g/430892/6 "2007-12-22T05:24:04Z")
[Instructions on how to assign a drive letter to a device in Windows](http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/33cc9af7-f68c-4656-af97-82e804a9c1e01033.mspx?mfr=true), which I’m not sure will solve your problem, but what the heck its worth a try. Although perhaps this was already the procure you were using. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2007, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-reads-as-b-drive-instead-g/430892/7 "2007-12-22T05:30:54Z")
From Apple’s site, [this](http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93499) may be applicable. “Windows confuses iPod with network drive or hard drive and may keep iPod from mounting or songs may seem to disappear” ---
**Author:** ![Rad619619](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rad619619](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rad619619)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-reads-as-b-drive-instead-g/430892/8 "2011-03-02T01:01:52Z")
I have a similar problem. My brother’s computer reads the drive as F and works perfectly fine. Mine reads it as G and does not work properly. It will freeze during syncs, constantly say my iPod Nano 6th Generation needs repair but when I tell it to repair it crashes, and other things of the sort. Does anyone know how to get my iPod to be read as F? ---
**Author:** ![Rad619619](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rad619619](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rad619619)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-reads-as-b-drive-instead-g/430892/9 "2011-03-02T01:40:08Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > From Apple’s site, [this](http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93499) may be applicable. “Windows confuses iPod with network drive or hard drive and may keep iPod from mounting or songs may seem to disappear” This doesn’t solve my problem. I set my letter to F, like my brother’s, but it still won’t work. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-reads-as-b-drive-instead-g/430892/10 "2011-03-03T22:51:36Z")
I’d try uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes.