Secrets of the iPod and iTunes (Fifth Edition) [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Configuring Your PC

If you have a fourth-generation iPod, iPod Photo, or iPod mini and a fairly new PC, you're in clover. These iPods can be charged by a high-power USB 2.0 port (you can use this port to swap data between the iPod and PC as well), and Apple includes a cable in the iPod box that sports a USB 2.0 connector on one end and the iPod's proprietary data/power connector on the other. With the iPod software installed on your PC, just string this cable between the iPod and computer, and you're well on your way.

If you have an earlier iPod or an older PC, things get trickier. For example, although third-generation iPods can transfer data via a USB 2.0 port, you can't power these iPods by such a port. If you have one of these iPods, you must use Apple's $19 iPod Dock Connector to FireWire and USB 2.0 Cable. On one end of this cable sits the proprietary data/power connector that plugs into the bottom of the iPod or the iPod's Dock. From this connector extend two cablesone that sports a USB 2.0 plug (for transferring data to and from the iPod) and another that bears a FireWire connector (for plugging into a FireWire port or the iPod's power adapter).

But what happens if your PC lacks a USB 2.0 port, or you have a first- or second-generation iPod that doesn't support USB 2.0?

You have a couple of options:

If you have a third-generation iPod, you can add USB 2.0 to your PC with an inexpensive PCI card, or you can skip USB 2.0 altogether and add a FireWire PCI adapter. Such an adapter provides power to your iPod, works with many digital camcorders, and obviates the need for Apple's special USB 2.0 cable.

If you have a first- or second-generation iPod (these models don't support USB 2.0), you must add a FireWire PCI adapter. When doing so, be sure that you add an adapter that bears a 6-pin FireWire port. Some FireWire adapters include a 4-pin port (the kind of port you usually find on digital camcorders). Although such ports can be used to transfer data, they won't power an iPod.

Making the Connection: Hardware

The means to get FireWire on your PC is a FireWire host adapter card.If you have a desktop PC, this card will be designed for your PC's PCI slots (Figure 5.1). If you have a laptop with a PC Card slot, look for a FireWire PC Card. These FireWire cards are made by such companies as Adaptec ([www.adaptec.com]), Belkin ([www.belkin.com]), Keyspan ([www.keyspan.com]), and Orange Micro ([www.orangemicro.com]). PCI FireWire cards cost $35 to $75, and FireWire PC cards hover around $100.

You might also consider purchasing a PCI card that carries both FireWire and USB 2.0 connectors. The vendors I listed earlier offer such cards priced at just over $60.

To add a FireWire, USB 2.0, or FireWire/USB 2.0 combination card to your PC, that PC must have an available PCI or PC Card slot (FireWire/ USB 2.0 combination cards aren't available in PC card configurations) and should be equipped with a 266 MHz or faster processor. (A 350 MHz processor really is the base limit if you also plan to use this card for digital video.) You must be running Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), Me, 2000, or XP (both the Home and Professional editions support FireWire and USB 2.0).

If you're running Windows 98 SE, consider upgrading. FireWire made its first appearance in Windows 98 SE, and quite frankly, Microsoft didn't do a terribly good job of implementing it. Transfer rates can be slower than in later revisions of Windows, and these early FireWire drivers don't always see eye to eye with the iPod.

Installing a PCI card

Now that you're sure that your PC is up to snuff, here's how to install the card in a desktop PC:

1.
Turn off the PC, and disconnect the cables running into it: video, mouse, keyboard, USB, modem, Ethernet, sound, and power.

2.
Open the PC.

See your PC's manual if you're unsure how to do this.

3.
Touch the PC's power supply (that big silver box on the inside) to discharge any static electricity you may be carrying around with you.

Static electricity can destroy delicate computer components.

4.
Remove the PCI card from its static proof bag.

5.
Locate a free PCI slot (Figure 5.2)it's probably white with a single notchand remove the metal cover that blocks access to the slot from the back of the PC.

6.
Insert the card, and screw it into place (Figure 5.3).

7.
Close the PC.

8.
Reconnect any cables you disconnected.

9.
Restart your PC.

Installing a PC Card

The PC Card slot was designed so that adding devices such as Ethernet, modem, USB, media reader, and FireWire cards to your laptop would be a dead cinch. It is. To install a FireWire or USB 2.0 PC Card, simply shove the card into the PC Card slot. You should be able to do this with the laptop running, but check the instructions that came with the card, in case the manufacturer wants things done differently.

Chapter 9.)

You can power a fourth-generation iPod, iPod Photo, or iPod mini from a PC laptop if that laptop bears a high-power USB 2.0 port. Note, however, that Apple suggests that you'll get better results if your laptop is plugged into a power outlet before connecting your iPod to your laptop.

Completing the Connection: Software

You may have to do a little or a lot to configure your new card, depending on the card you get and how Windows likes it. Windows can be the tiniest bit unpredictable, and you may have to install some kind of driver software to make your PC work with the card. Or Windows may be more than happy to do the job for you by installing its own drivers. Please let the manual be your guide.

After you install your card and reboot Windows (or, in the case of a laptop and PC Card, insert the card), Windows may see the card and install the appropriate drivers automatically when the PC boots up.If Windows does install the drivers, it may ask you to reboot your PC. Do so.

Thereafter, these are the steps you're likely to take in Windows XP:

1.
After Windows has rebooted, right-click My Computer, and choose Properties from the resulting contextual menu (Figure 5.4).

The System Properties dialog box opens.

2.
Click the Hardware tab and then the Device Manager button, and look for the appropriate entry for your card.

On my PC, my FireWire card is listed below SBP2 IEEE 1394 Devices.

3.
Click the plus sign next to the 1394 entry to reveal the name of the FireWire card you've inserted (Figure 5.5).

If you've installed a USB 2.0 or FireWire/USB 2.0 combo card, you'll find the USB portion of the card listed under the Universal Serial Bus Controller entry.

4.
Right-click this name to reveal the contextual menu, and choose Properties from this menu.

In the Device Status section of the resulting window, you should see the message "This device is working properly" (Figure 5.6).

If you see anything other than this message, check the manual that came with the card, and pray that it features a troubleshooting section. If no help is offered there, check the card manufacturer's Web site for help. You may have to get an updated driver or reconfigure Windows.