Can't find THIS problem!!!

[jaschultze]

Well, I seem to be having big-time problems here! After buying a 30GB iPOD from a co-worker about a month ago, and enjoying it solidly for that time, I'm about ready to throw it in the creek after the past 24 hours or so.

It started 3 days ago. I was listening to some tunes, when all of a sudden the iPod froze in the middle of playback. Resetting it brought the folder and exclamation point icon. Searching through these forums, I found to restore the OS. Easy enough, however it got to about 98% complete on the desktop, but didn't go past that. Again, another search on iPodLounge Forums show that seems normal enough on Windows 2000, so I removed the iPod from the firewire cable. Nothing. Did a reset, immediately came to the folder and exclamation point icon. Another reset put me at the point that I'm at now. As soon as I reset, there immediately begins a constant beeping (more a clicking, as it seems to be the same sound that comes from the speakers when I select a song, only its non-stop for about 2 minutes, then it changes pitch to be slighly higher for about 1 more minute, then it resets to the Apple logo, then freezes again. Tried putting it into forced Firewire mode as seen on these forums, as well as the disk-check mode that I read on these forums, but the only button combination that works is Menu and Play/Pause, which resets and starts the whole thing over again. Sometimes after a reset, I get the folder and exclamation point icon when it freezes, other time nothing but a blank screen.

Any ideas? I've run through my limited thoughts, and don't know how Apple repair works since I am not the original owner and don't have a receipt. Can someone please help?

[ashawley]

jaschultze:

Hm...when you do the Restore and you get to 98% done, do you reconnect it to a powered source? Meaning your firewire (if it provides power) or to the AC adaptor?

It sounds to me like the restore isn't finishing completely. Are you getting any message from the Updater when you restore it? Like "Can unmount iPod"? If so, then you should pull it out of the dock and connect it to a powered source. If you're not getting that message, then the restore hasn't finished.

Curious, you haven't been able to put it into Disk Scan mode? Since it died w/o it being connected to a PC, that tells me something could possibly be wrong w/the hard drive. If that's the case repair is your option. I didn't need a receipt, as long as the iPod is registered w/Apple you should be fine. Check that out from your co-worker, see if they registered it.

Regarding disk scan, you want to try and get that working, since the Reset works, you should be able to. To do it, do a reset at the Apple logo press the "Previous" "Next" "Action (center button)" and "Menu" buttons.

Adam

[jaschultze]

Restore Problem: I don't get any message from the Updater at all, it just sits there stating not to remove the iPod while the Restore is taking place. I can leave it there overnight without it changing from that.

Update to other problem: Well, last night when I came home after leaving the iPod sit for about 24 hours, the battery was fully discharged and that infernal beeping did not happen. I was finally able to get it into disk scan mode; that completed and I received the little check mark icon that means no problems. Reconnected to my computer, reset, and put it into forced firewire mode. That worked fine, except that my computer recognized the connection and immediately dropped it again. Hmmmm... Ok, tried again. Won't go into forced firewire mode any more. Ok, time to leave it over night as I was getting so frustrated I wanted to throw it. This morning, went down stairs to try it again, and now that beepings back. When that happens, no keypresses other than a reset are recognized. I'm guessing that repair is probably my only option at this point?

Thanks very much for your help, by the way. It is GREATLY appreciated!

[ashawley]

One last thing to check and this only applies if your firewire does not supply power to the iPod (i.e. you're on a laptop)

When it says to leave it plugged in while it finishes the restore, pull it out of the dock and connect it to the AC Adaptor.

See if that does anything.

Sorry, but if that doesn't work, or your card does power the iPod, then I'm w/you...ship that puppy off to be fixed/get a new one.

Adam

[jaschultze]

No, my firewire card is powered.

Thanks for all of your help, I opened up a case # with Apple. Should be getting the shipping box for the repair on Tuesday.