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t6hawk · Mar 20, 2004, 11:06 PM

My PC friend is getting me to fix his PC 3rd generation iPod but he doesn't have the restore CD handy. Is there any way to get around that? The scroll wheel and buttons are only working a fraction of the time. Can the iPod be updated on the Mac if it's a PC one?

Ideas?

mdc · Mar 20, 2004, 11:31 PM

i think if you plug in a pc formatted ipod into a mac (or vice versa) it will ask if it can format it for you.

you can get the ipod 2.1 restorer off the apple website.
restoring an ipod will format it completely... aka. losing all your songs.

t6hawk · Mar 21, 2004, 04:32 AM

The iPod is relatively empty so reformatting isn't a problem

chipchen · Mar 21, 2004, 02:07 PM

no no no... if you restore it with mac software you end up with a mac iPod. just download the PC software on a PC. You have access to your friend's PC right?

Download the latest iPod software from Apple at:

http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/

For some Apple iPod troubleshooting techniques... go to:

http://www.info.apple.com/usen/ipod/tshoot.html

t6hawk · Mar 21, 2004, 06:55 PM

Well it sounds like he may sell it to me if I can get it working right. So I'll try the PC way first, then the mac reformatting. I have a PC here pretending to be a doorstop so I could try that if he has the USB cable. His cd was left at his parent's place which is a good hour trip on the highway outside town - one way.

kpne1home · Mar 21, 2004, 07:51 PM

Originally posted by chipchen:
no no no... if you restore it with mac software you end up with a mac iPod. just download the PC software on a PC. You have access to your friend's PC right?

Download the latest iPod software from Apple at:

http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/

For some Apple iPod troubleshooting techniques... go to:

http://www.info.apple.com/usen/ipod/tshoot.html

Aren't the 3rd generation ipods compatible with PC and Macs. I don't think that there are 2 different formats for them, they just work with either.

t6hawk · Apr 3, 2004, 04:00 AM

Ok, iPod restore worked. The buttons still don't work right if at all. Nothing on Apple's support site or manual covers this problem. I can't reset/reboot the iPod and it's stuck at the main screen. Any ideas?