problem with recognizing iPod

I'm getting the "no unfamiliar iPods" message.  I have the iPod in disk mode.  I'm running Vista Ultimate 32 bit and am using a 5g 80 gig.  Am I missing something?  Also, if I try to sync to iTunes, I can move feeds to the various columns all I want, but the sync button never becomes activated.  If I try to add iTunes to the devices, it says the "iTunes Library was previously configured for synchronization.  See the synchronization Target Panel for more info."  What is that?

Silente,

If HF doesn't recognize your iPod try using the "Look for devices" item on the Options menu.  You can delete the hidden hf.dat file at the root of your iPod and start over.  Is this one of the newest generation of iPods?  If so there may have been some changes that prevent HF from interacting with it.  This happened several times over the past year when Apple released new versions of iTunes.  They made changes to some of the code libraries that required me to recompile HF using the new code.  I noticed a few days ago that a new firmware was released.  I have avoided installing it for fear that it will break my setup.  So the punchline is that there are several potential issues at work here.  You can try syning to iTunes and then moving the content from there to your iPod - not as good but it may hold you over until the new version is out next year.  Regarding iTunes, you can (and based on your error message it sounds like you have) set up HF to sync content to your iTunes library.  It should show up as a device in the device menu under which you can set up a sync profile like any other device.  I hope this helps.

Regards,

Will

this is a 5th gen ipod.

 I can't seem to find hf.dat on the ipod.  I do have show hidden files enabled.

 Regarding syncing through iTunes, the podcasts don't show up in my podcast categories, just as music.  Is there any way to change that?

Silente,

Under the feed settings you will find an option for changing ID3 tags.  I think iTunes uses that list for managing any iTunes podcast subscriptions so I don't think you can add things to that list.  You can use a smart playlist to collect things or you can use the options under the sync profile to sync podcasts to playlist based on genre or feed title. 

As for the hf.dat file, if it's not on your iPod and you're either using the most recent iTunes or the newest firmware on your iPod that may indicate that Apple has changed the underlying libraries.  I'll have to recompile if that is the case.  I'll try to do some testing over the next week and let you know.  Sorry I can't get to it sooner.  I'm slammed at work.

Regards,

Will