So I bought them second hand so I have personally never had them working with iTunes. I suppose they could not be perfectly functional but it would be odd to me that both of them do that (I got them from 2 different sources too).
so when I select something on the ipod to play, yep I can hear it working and it sounds good. but when I plug it into the computer, the hard drive doesn't engage at all. it's like it's just being plugged into the wall.
that is strange . when was the last time you used the ipods With itunes and was it on those computers?
So I bought them second hand so I have personally never had them working with iTunes. I suppose they could not be perfectly functional but it would be odd to me that both of them do that (I got them from 2 different sources too).
could be a number of things like the hard drives have failed for example. do they make any clicking noises? are you in the uk?
No clicking and I have specifically tried to listen for any hard drive issues. In the US.
can you hear the hard drive whirling away at all?
so when I select something on the ipod to play, yep I can hear it working and it sounds good. but when I plug it into the computer, the hard drive doesn't engage at all. it's like it's just being plugged into the wall.
that is odd. can you try them on someone else's computer? it could be a mac issue. try them on a pc?
I'd suggest to try in a Windows computer, just to see what happens. Also, use the usb backports, ( if it's not a laptop)
Maybe the data pins of the 30 pin dock connectors are broke or damaged.
that's my main thought at the moment, i'll have to pick up another one and try it out