Sad iPod

August 25th, 2006

I use my iPod every day–on the train, walking to work, sometimes in the car. Every once in a while it malfunctions. Sometimes it appears I no longer have any content loaded. Other times I get a sad iPod icon. Sometimes the apple symbol stays on the screen and nothing happens at all.

The basic, and I think only, fix is to reset your iPod:

1. Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.)
2. Press and hold the Menu and Select buttons until the Apple logo appears, about 6 to 10 seconds. You may need to repeat this step.

The most important thing to remember in these fairly simple steps is “You may need to repeat this step.”

After tying these 2 or 3 times, I started to worry that something was wrong. I tried connecting with my computer to see if that would jolt it back to life and eliminate weak battery power as the culprit.

I was about to take it to the flagship Apple store here in NYC, but being lazy, and a man, I decided to keep trying. (Did I mention that I work in the same building the Apple store is located?)

After a few more resets, I felt the hard drive spinning and signs of life. A few more resets and my iPod was alive again. I just wonder if this is a predictor of an early death for my iPod.

Apple - Support - iPod

Entry Filed under: iPod, Digital Living, Technology

Send to a Friend