iTunes has detected an iPod in recovery mode - Use iTunes to restore

Products Affected

iPod, iTunes 7 for Windows, iTunes 8 for Windows, Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and Vista

Symptoms

Some customers may experience an issue where iTunes 7 or later displays the following message on a Windows PC:

"iTunes has detected an iPod in recovery mode - Use iTunes to restore"

Resolution

In most cases, the connected iPod needs to be restored. Follow the steps in one of the following articles to restore your iPod:

Restoring iPod to factory settings
Restoring iPod shuffle to factory settings

If you've restored your iPod and the message described above re-appears, the iPod drive letter may need to be reassigned. To assign a different drive letter follow the steps for changing the Drive Letter

Note: If you're not able to restore your iPod, refer to iPod displays "Use iTunes to restore" message for additional troubleshooting steps.

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple’s recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.
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