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Possibly restart a hard-crashed iPod System
I have a third generation 15GB iPod. One day I left it in my car, and it was moderately cold out, but nothing to where I was concerned about it -- the iPod was only in there for 15 minutes. But when I went to use it, it was dead. So I tried the various restart mechanisms that I'm aware of, and none of them worked. I tried to reset it numerous times, but it was crashed even harder than the usual crash (probably hardware vs. software).

Three weeks later, I bring it into an Apple store just to see what they have to say, and of course it powered on once the tech plugged it into a power source. And then of course he says "oh, it looks like it's working fine."

So the fix was to let the iPod sit for however long it takes for the clock to drain a fully charged battery (about a week?), then it will power itself completely off. Better than trying to take it apart and unplug the battery -- whoever in their crazy mind would do that?

[robg adds: Leaving a stuck iPod unplugged for a while may or may not help. As a method of last resort, it's certainly worth a shot, though.]
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Possibly restart a hard-crashed iPod
Authored by: dabeatles on Nov 15, '05 07:12:05AM

The trick that I've found works best is to plug it in to a FireWire power source, toggle the hold switch back and forth a few times, and then tap the center button. If it doesn't come on, then hold down the menu and play keys (all iPods without a click wheel) or menu and the center button (all click wheel 'pods) for around 5-10 seconds. Some can be a little finicky when you hit the reset keys, so you may want to try holding it in various positions with your fingers or even laying it down flat on a table and pushing down directly.



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Possibly restart a hard-crashed iPod
Authored by: BrentT on Nov 15, '05 11:27:48AM

There is some contradictory information on Apple's sites about whether or not to plug the iPod to a power source when it refuses to restart. I tried the usual methods with it plugged in without success. I then saw that Apple recommends leaving it unplugged for 24 hours. I did that and found it began to start but is seemed very weak on power, I quick plugged in the firewire plug and let the startup continue. All was well with the world again.



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Possibly restart a hard-crashed iPod
Authored by: macslut on Nov 15, '05 12:01:02PM

This trick works on many things. It's like zapping the PRAM. In some cases, there is no button or button combo for doing a reset, and in some cases there's no easy way to disconnect the battery, but often you can let the device drain and then give it power to reset. I've "fixed" several digital cameras by removing the battery and then letting the internal battery drain. Heck, I was once able to reset the speed limiter on a rental truck I was driving across country by disconnecting the battery over night.



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Possibly restart a hard-crashed iPod
Authored by: riffraf on Nov 15, '05 01:39:20PM

I accidentally discovered this "trick" in July with my 60gig iPod Photo (After trying everything the Internet and I could think of.) I was getting ready to return it under warranty, but decided to plug it in one more time - I don't know why. And it worked - fine ever since! I chanced upon the "trick" again in September with, of all things, a Frigidaire gas range that someone was throwing out "because the computer was broken and it would cost $850 to fix." Knowing that I could get the computer module cheap, and replace it myself, I asked if I could have it. It sat unplugged in my house for a week while I waited for the part to arrive. Before taking the old module out, I decide to plug the thing in and run it through diagnostics - which it passed - 100%. Didn't need to be replaced - just needed a 'rest from power.' I don't know why it works or how, but whenever something electronic stops working for reasons unexplained and apparently unfixable, I unplug it, take out all batteries, wait a week and try again!



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Possibly restart a hard-crashed iPod
Authored by: MacMuse26 on Nov 15, '05 07:37:21PM

Could also have beeb condensation. Moisture may have condensed while it was in the car. Letting it sit for so long gave the moisture time to evaporate.

Just a possibility.



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Possibly restart a hard-crashed iPod
Authored by: bdog on Nov 16, '05 11:11:02AM

That is a good thought, although moisture would have probably shorted out the board.



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