[absolut78]

My wifes iPod has a Sad Face in the display - anyone know what this means? She is panicking and crying, and I need a quick answer. No time to research while at work.

Joe

[Barry]

the sad ipod icon means the ipod is no longer useable. If it hasn't been dropped, and it is within the 1 year warranty, apple will replace it with a new service unit. if it is older than 1 year, the best place to go is www.ipodresq.com they offer resonable rates to repair ipods...

[micahgartman]

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61771

[budster101]

Joe,

Bring it into APPLE. Let them look at it.

Try pressing the "Select + Menu Buttons simultaneously for 8-10 seconds" to reboot it. See what happens.
If it under a year, they'll replace it for her.

What kind was it?
When was it bought?

Mark

[absolut78]

It is the silver mini - we bought it off of Ebay, so we dont have a purchase receipt. I guess we send it in for repair.

Joe

[budster101]

If it was registered you can do this:

Write down the serial number, then go to http://www.apple.com/support

Scroll down and in the right side of the page you will see a window to enter the SN. Do so, and hit go.
If you are registered you'll see the date of purchase and time remaining on the warranty. If not, then register the iPod and then check it.

[drhawkins]

I suspect you have already sent this off for repairs, but for the daring, try this:

Crack the case. Unplug the battery. Replug the battery.

My 2G used to get--occasionally--the "folder with exclamation point" when it's battery went beyond empty. After I put a replacement Newer Tech battery in, that icon sometimes turned into the dreaded "Sad iPod." The procedure above brought it right back.

Good luck. (Hey, it's an iPod not a Faberge egg, and with a Sad iPod on its face, it's only a paperweight.)

[ipodGuru]

Try doing this and provide your feedback if you have resolved the issue

In most cases, the sad iPod icon indicates a hardware issue
More..
Found this solution here