iPod's gone except from My Computer

[Arrakeen Sun]

Ok, I searched around the latest posts and I haven't seen a problem quite like this one yet, but if it's a redundant post I apologize in advance:

Here's my problem:
I use ml_ipod a lot. It's worked well for me. Last night, however, I started Winamp and the ipod appeared over in the "Devices" section along with all my playlists below it. In just a few seconds it dissappeared, though the other devices remained. When I right-click items and go to "Send To", the iPod is gone from that list as well. I tried to access it with iTunes, but when I plug the iPod in when iTunes is running, iTunes crashes. After all this I decided to give up and go about my day, listening to my iPod. Unfortunately, all evidence that there are any songs/artists/playlists is gone as far as the iPod itself is concerned. When it's plugged in, Windows still sees the iPod in My Computer though, and when I browse it I can see that all the songs and files are still there.

Here's what I've tried:
1. Reinstalling the iPod and iTunes software. It goes through smoothly with the exception of an error message appearing saying a registry failure for the "iTunesMiniPlayer.dll". It no longer crashes when I plug in the iPod, but gives me a message saying to reinstall iTunes because the "software that communicates with the iPod is not installed correctly". I've tried about three reinstallations and no luck.

2. Reinstalling Winamp and ml_ipod. Again, luck be a bastard tonight.

Here's my specs:
1. 60GB iPod Photo.
2. The latest version of iTunes.
3. The latest version of Winamp.
4. ml_ipod v1.20

I'm guessing it has something to do with the software on the iPod, but I'm not versed well enough to figure out what.

Thanks for your time.

[YUTARO]

My iPod does this sometimes... what i do to get around it "thinking" my ipod wiped (which i always used to think was the case), i found a bypass for it...

1. go to DRIVE:\iPod_Control\Music (You might need to enable viewing of hidden files/folders)
2. copy the whole Music folder to your desktop or anywhere else, since this is where all the songs are held...
3. After #2 is finished copying, Format the ipod via plugin options/preferences
4. It'll detect the new ipod...
5. right click Music folder on desktop, choose play in winamp
6. open the playlist and select all, add to library
7. edit anything if you need to
8. click All Artists, highlight all songs and send to ipod
9. your ipod detects songs again, allowing you to listen on your headphones or whatever...ml_ipod detects the ipod

Success.

[Wipe0ut]

I've experienced this exact problem twice already. Is there any other way around it (besides YUTARO's suggestion; thanks, by the way)?

[Arrakeen Sun]

Wow, thanks YUTARO!
I'm transferring my music back as I'm typing this. All seems to be well.

[YUTARO]

np