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Nodnarb · Oct 31, 2004, 10:51 PM

I have a 3g iPod and the other night I started using it and the apple logo came on and it started at the main screen asking for a language. I left it alone over the weekend and just tried to reset it by switching the hold switch on and off then pressing menu and select. After the hold switch was switched on and off, the hold logo still remains on my iPod and no buttons work. I tried resetting it from the computer and it went fine, except the hold switch is still off but for some reason the iPod is acting like it's on. I need this iPod on a day to day basis (not just for music, for school files etc.) so this is extremely important that i fix it, or I'll have to shell out $300 for a new one. Anyone know what the deal is or at least how to contact Apple about it?

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Oct 31, 2004, 10:52 PM

Can you reformat it?

Nodnarb · Oct 31, 2004, 10:53 PM

Originally posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO:
Can you reformat it?

How would I reformat it?

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Oct 31, 2004, 11:03 PM

Use the iPod updater and hit restore.

Nodnarb · Oct 31, 2004, 11:05 PM

Damnit I think I just screwed it up even more. I was trying to figure out what reformatting it means so I went into disk utility and erased the thin on there "Brandon's iPod" which replaced it with "Untitled". After that was ejected, my computer won't recognize that anything is being plugged in when I try to plug in the iPod, and the iPod won't respond to any buttons because I'm assuming it still thinks the hold switch is on even though I can't get anything to show up on the screen. If someone could help me with this, they would be officially dubbed the coolest person ever.

Nodnarb · Oct 31, 2004, 11:06 PM

Originally posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO:
Use the iPod updater and hit restore.

Yah that's what I was saying I did in the first post but after it restored it still said the hold switch was on. But now it seems as if I'm in a bigger pickle if you read my about post...Damn, by reformat I thought you meant something with Disk Utility.

phantomdragonz · Oct 31, 2004, 11:22 PM

if you did it with a third party restore software you have to send it back to apple... you messed up some special code on the ipod... this was a common mistake when people would try and partition their ipods so they could boot from them.,... you have to send it in for it to work again...

I hope i am right here... I am not 100% sure...

Zach

MindFad · Oct 31, 2004, 11:28 PM

Originally posted by phantomdragonz:
if you did it with a third party restore software you have to send it back to apple... you messed up some special code on the ipod... this was a common mistake when people would try and partition their ipods so they could boot from them.,... you have to send it in for it to work again...

I hope i am right here... I am not 100% sure...

Zach

Damn, I didn't know that.

demograph68 · Nov 1, 2004, 02:08 AM

1. Pray
2. Repeat if needed

Sorry

CharlesS · Nov 1, 2004, 02:17 AM

Originally posted by phantomdragonz:
if you did it with a third party restore software you have to send it back to apple... you messed up some special code on the ipod... this was a common mistake when people would try and partition their ipods so they could boot from them.,... you have to send it in for it to work again...

Well, that is certainly lame.

The Restore app should restore the software that runs the iPod. If it doesn't, what are you supposed to do if that software gets corrupted somehow?

Eriamjh · Nov 1, 2004, 04:54 AM

Originally posted by CharlesS:
The Restore app should restore the software that runs the iPod. If it doesn't, what are you supposed to do if that software gets corrupted somehow?

I agree.

proton · Nov 1, 2004, 06:50 AM

Restart the iPod and start it in Disk Mode (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93651)
- Connect iPod to power adapter
- Switch Hold On on iPod
- Switch Hold Off on iPod
- Hold Menu and Play/Pause
- Right after the iPod switches off, start holding Fast Forward and Rewind

The iPod should boot into Disk Mode.

Now disconnect from the power adapter, and connect to your Mac. Run the iPod Software Update to Restore the software for your iPod. Note that you'll end up erasing all data on your iPod, but it should work again afterwards.

You may need to reset your iPod when you're finished to get it to boot into the iPod Software again. Just follow the first 4 steps above.

- proton

MilkmanDan · Nov 1, 2004, 07:29 AM

Try slamming against someone's head for a bit. This may solve all issues.

hayesk · Nov 1, 2004, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by CharlesS:
Well, that is certainly lame.

The Restore app should restore the software that runs the iPod. If it doesn't, what are you supposed to do if that software gets corrupted somehow?

He said "third-party" software, not Apple software. Although I don't know of any third party restore software.

phantomdragonz · Nov 1, 2004, 10:24 AM

well from what i remember about the 1st gen (the one i have, so i only know about them, not the other generations) is that people tried to re-format them, with any software. It would make it so apples special file structure or something was no longer, and at the time there was no software to fix that... I would imagine that apple got fed up with doing simple software restores and included it in the next updater file...

in other words, I think i am totally wrong...

Zach

Nodnarb · Nov 1, 2004, 11:42 AM

Originally posted by proton:
Restart the iPod and start it in Disk Mode (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93651)
- Connect iPod to power adapter
- Switch Hold On on iPod
- Switch Hold Off on iPod
- Hold Menu and Play/Pause
- Right after the iPod switches off, start holding Fast Forward and Rewind

The iPod should boot into Disk Mode.

Now disconnect from the power adapter, and connect to your Mac. Run the iPod Software Update to Restore the software for your iPod. Note that you'll end up erasing all data on your iPod, but it should work again afterwards.

You may need to reset your iPod when you're finished to get it to boot into the iPod Software again. Just follow the first 4 steps above.

- proton

I just got home from school and plugged the iPod into my iBook. It started up and says disk mode at the top already and then software restore put the iPod software back on there so it is no longer untitiled and iTunes recognizes it.
Now, the iPod is still in disk mode and I can't do anything with it because the hold icon is still in the upper left even though the hold switch is off (and has been switched back and forth repeatedly trying to fix this). I can't find any articles on Apple's support site about this hold issue either, does anyone know about it or has heard about it?

Nodnarb · 12:03 PM

Also, after this last restore, iPod updater says "Your iPod has been restored and must be restarted to complete the restore process." On the iPod screen it says "OK to disconnect." with the big check mark and up top it says Disk Mode....if any of that helps anyone to diagnose this, just thought I'd throw that out there.

Edit: After looking at Apple's website, since my iPod is over it's warrenty (13 months) I'd have to pay $250 to send it back to them since it's not a battery related issue? Here's the link in case I'm reading it wrong, but if that's the case I'll just get a new one for $50 more (as I'm sure everyone would.)

This is just so weird that it's been working prefectly forever and all the sudden craps out on me completely and Apple won't do anything unless I give them $250...

Xaositect · Nov 1, 2004, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by brandon420506:
Also, after this last restore, iPod updater says "Your iPod has been restored and must be restarted to complete the restore process." On the iPod screen it says "OK to disconnect." with the big check mark and up top it says Disk Mode....if any of that helps anyone to diagnose this, just thought I'd throw that out there.

OK, you have formatted and restored your iPod. Realize now all data is gone. Also, the iPod can be formatted with the Drive Setup in OS 9.22 or the Disk Utility from OS 10.1.5 or higher and have the OS 9 drivers installed, but will require the restore be done to use it as an iPod again. This will leave the OS 9 drivers intact if they are Apple's drivers. I have done this many times, gen 1 through 4.

Now to fixing your problem - your unit is out of warranty per your above posts, so you can do this and not have a much worse situation unless you slip badly:

1. Get a razor blade or a very thin knife.
2. Slide the blade between the white and silver parts on one side, angling down toward the silver part. To those whose warranty is still valid, you are now voiding the warranty.
3. Pop the white part out of the silver part of the case. Show some care not to let everything just fall out, but it's not very tricky, just a little care needed.
4. Locate the slider/button that signals hold and clean it out (delicacy required on most models - this time I mean delicacy, ham handed do not try this!). If it's broken, it may need to be remounted or replaced.
5. Reassemble and test.

If you are good at electronic repair, a broken button at step 4 isn't difficult to repair, but don't try to learn circuit board repair on this job. The various buttons/sliders used in the iPods over the revisions are all available at Radio Shack (some special order only), at least here in the US. Not sure where you are as your location doesn't specify (note: if you are following the political threads, you may interpret the location empty comment as an insult - here it was not meant to be, it's just an observation). Anyway, you said school, so taking this to a friend in an electronics course may be beneficial if you are not in one yourself.

Post back if you need more help, or PM if you need more lengthy clarifications.

Nodnarb · Nov 1, 2004, 04:58 PM

Xaositect, you are the man (or woman). I have absolutely no technical backround or anything, I'm only 15, and I followed your instuctions and fixed that hold switch. Then I did the easy part (restored it, updated it, etc.) and now it is up and running as good as new. Thank you so much, I almost spent $300 for something I fixed in less than 1 minute.

phantomdragonz · Nov 1, 2004, 11:01 PM

Originally posted by brandon420506:
Xaositect, you are the man (or woman). I have absolutely no technical backround or anything, I'm only 15, and I followed your instuctions and fixed that hold switch. Then I did the easy part (restored it, updated it, etc.) and now it is up and running as good as new. Thank you so much, I almost spent $300 for something I fixed in less than 1 minute.

only 15? pretty well spoken for a 15 year old... now to dig out my 1st gen that i have not touched in months... it's been in my car through cold and hot...

Zach