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TICKET ARCHIVE -> ipod repair

idis - Jun 29, 2006 - 10:16 am

I have a 20GB 4th generation iPod that displays the folder icon and support URL and keeps shutting itself down. The reseller tells me it is dead and not repairable. This ipod is only 7 months old but since it was a replacement under warranty, I didn't get a new one. The ipod is in very good condition so I thought I should double check before I sell it on eBay for parts and buy a new one.

I returned to the apple/support guides and came across a step I had overlooked, which was to reset the ipod while connected to the computer. When I tried this, the ‘do not disconnect’ signal flashed on the ipod and the computer tried reading the disc. A dialogue box tells me ‘you have inserted a disk containing no volumes that Mac OS X can read. To continue with the disk inserted, click ignore’

And the options to Initialize—ignore—eject

When I choose initialize, Disk Utilitiy opens up and the ipod appears in the disk column as a yellow nameless drive icon. No options are available in ‘first aid’. But 'erase' is available.
My questions are:
A) Is there a way of repairing the disk through disk utilities by erasing the disk and running ipod update?
B) If I do erase the disk will this make it unusable by someone who would buy it off eBay for parts? will this make available to be intialized and perhaps restored?
C) Why are all these people making such high bids on faulty ipods? Are they just using them for parts or is there a way or restoring the disks to resell them as refurbished ipods?

Thunderthud - Jun 29, 2006 - 4:44 pm

There is nothing wrong with your iPod that a little bit of TLC won't cure.

In Disk Utility have it erase the iPod's drive. Choose Mac OS Extended.

Then have the latest (out today) iPod Updater restore it to factory settings.

Eject the iPod and start iTunes then plug your iPod back in and let iTunes synch it to your playlist(s).

You should be back in business.

Somewhere along the line the iPod or your Mac may tell you to plug the iPod into its standalone power source in order to complete the initialiation.
If this happens, do it and then proceed.

idis - Jun 29, 2006 - 9:38 pm

Thanks for getting back to me. Your answer is a big relief. However...
I followed your instructions and erased the ipod disk in disk utility succesfully- but then realized I had formatted it Mac OS extended (journaled)- so I erased it again with just mac OS extended. (would this have mattered?)
but on the second erase disk utilities engaged but never finished when it was connected to the iPod for over an hour. I force quit disk utility and unplugged the iPod. Do not disconnect was still flashing on the iPod. I tried resetting the iPod which was not successful and once while I reconnected it to the mac.
I am guessing I have to wait till the iPod's battery runs down before I can reset and try again. (Please say yes)
OR would I just follow the instructions from restoring factory settings?

Thunderthud - Jun 29, 2006 - 9:45 pm

Try it again from the beginning.

idis - Jun 30, 2006 - 5:32 am

I've let the iPod run till the battery is powerless and have connected the iPod while holding down the menu key. Connection no longer initiates the dialogue box that asks to intialize and if I launch disk utilities, it is not amongst the drives.
Now the sad face iPod icon appears, followed then by the flat battery icon and a blank screen. This repeats untill the iPod is disconnected and returns to the folder icon when you touch the click wheel.
would charging the battery help get me back on track?

Thunderthud - Jun 30, 2006 - 11:58 am

This is directly from Apple's web site...

Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.)
Press and hold the Menu and Select buttons until the Apple logo appears, about 6 to 10 seconds. You may need to repeat this step.
Tip: If you are having difficulty resetting your iPod, set it on a flat surface. Make sure the finger pressing the Select button is not touching any part of the click wheel. Also make sure that you are pressing the Menu button toward the outside of the click wheel, and not near the center.

If the above steps did not work, try connecting iPod to a power adapter and plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet, or connect iPod to your computer. Make sure the computer is turned on and isn't set to go to sleep.

If this procedure doesn't accomplish anything then I'm afraid your iPod really is dead. You could take it to an Apple store and have a Genius look at it but that's about all I have.

I will reopen this item in case another tech may have more for you.

idis - Jun 30, 2006 - 9:06 pm

nope- tried all that- even was able to set it to disk mode with the tick icon for charging- but now it looks like I can't even get it back to that mode. the apple logo appears but doesn't reset and brings up the sad face ipod. I'd appreciate it if you could reopen it for any one else to have a crack at before sell it on Ebay for parts. Does anyone know why this happened?

peter_ob - Jul 10, 2006 - 10:34 am

Sounds like a dead drive or defective board. You can have it replaced but iPod replacement parts are expensive.

idis - Jul 11, 2006 - 1:09 am

Okay- So that would explain why all these people are buying faulty ipods off Ebay- to get cheaper parts. Thanks.

idis - Jul 17, 2006 - 8:40 am

Hi again guys,
Thanks for your help... but a colleague of mine sent me the most surprizing solution! I thought it was a joke and doubted its success- but as I had tried everything I really had nothing to loose... check it out:
http://www.spillingcoffee.com/2006/0...sad-ipod-icon/

Please pass this on to anyone who has tried everything else.

My sad little ipod is now being updated to my iTunes. How I can't wait to take this and rub it in those M*F* resellers' faces!
Cheers

peter_ob - Jul 21, 2006 - 7:56 pm

I'm more of the pry open type of person. I've done it a number of times too.