My iPod 30g wont run.. (No really.. it won't!)

[harryett]

Hi!
I've been running Rockbox on my 30gig video for about a year now.. To give you a better chance to answer me directly I'll give you every bit of the story.

I used my iPod for listening yesterday eve and everything worked as it should (inkl. turning off the normal way) .. However when I was about to start it today it wouldn't start.  
I estimate the battery power to have been at least 70% considering the very recent recharge and only a short time of usage.

I have "updated" Rockbox several times.. last time was about a week ago.

I tried to recharge the ipod but with no result.. it's as dead as can be.

Ofc. I've tried to reboot  several times.




The Ipod won't Start as usual, It won't start when connected to computer (the USB cable is alright and I've got several iPods and Cables at hand. None of them work)

I Rule out 'low battery power' and 'Rockbox file damage due to "update"' but what do I know..


Symptoms: The screen wont "turn on" and I would rule out LCD failure as the major problem as I cant hear the HD running.

I would be perfectly alright with reseting the iPod completely but as it wont' run I can't do it in my computer..


Please Help me!

Peace!
/Simon M

[GodEater]

Past claims of this nature have been as a result of a faulty iPod cable not charging it properly. Do you have :

a) another cable you could try
b) a proper power charger that plugs into the wall rather than your PC (just to rule out USB power issues).

[harryett]

I have several power cables of witch some are not USB

To clear things up... I have four original Apple iPod-to-USB cables and three non-USB solutions

The cables all with our other iPods inkluding the G5 videos and the G1&G2 Nanos

[GodEater]

So have you actually tried charging this "dead" iPod straight from the mains then? For a good couple of hours at least ?

[harryett]

Yes I have..

for at least 6 hours

[soap]

How are you attempting to "boot" your iPod?

[harryett]

the ways i have tried to start the iPod is the normal way and rebooting using menu+select. With the hold button in unhold position

The iPod usually starts when connected to computer.. however mine don't after the "crash"

[patwa]

Sorry, you've probably tried this already, but have you tried Menu+Select whilst the ipod was connected to the usb power?  I've had a couple of times where my own 30GB went a bit lala for no reason and wouldn't start, but leaving it connected to the usb power and trying the emergency boot fixed it.  It powered up, detected the USB, powered down and appeared as a drive on the computer.

Again, sorry if you've already tried it.  Of course, it could be pure fluke and it could have died of mechanical failure.  I hope this isn't the case, the pain of losing 30GB of music which wasn't backed up elsewhere is not nice, I can tell you.

G'luck.

[Llorean]

We tell you to turn Hold on and off not just because it assures it's in the off position, but because sometimes this seems to actually be necessary to make things work. Make sure to turn hold on then off before holding Menu+Select (preferably while the USB cable is plugged in to assure power).

[harryett]

I've tried that already I'm afraid

I simply can't understand how a mechanical failure possibly could accrue since i haven't droped it or anything..  i used it as usual. then turned it off and went to bed. When I woke up it wouldn't start.


Actually I happened to back up all my music just before the crash so losing my music is not possible that way.  However I'm afraid repairing/replacing the iPod will dig a hole through my already empty wallet.

huua..  


Thanks guys

[Llorean]

Mechanical failure can happen without abusive behaviour.

Every time you press a button, stresses are put on the device. These are stresses it's intended to survive, but there is a failure rate just because of imperfections in manufacturing process, etc. A mechanical failure's entirely possible.

If Hold On/Off, then a whole 30 seconds of holding Menu+Select, tried 5 times, doesn't work, your iPod is suffering some form of hardware failure.

You'd actually be the first case I can think of that has turned out to definitely be irrecoverable failure (other than HD failure, which is far too common in portable devices like these). In all other cases I can remember off the top of my head, usually the problem has just been that they didn't hold the buttons long enough, or wiggled their fingers.

For hardware failure, you may still be able to get it replaced under warranty. Apple seems inconsistent as to whether Rockbox voids the warranties on their devices, though according to the terms I believe it does.

[GodEater]

We tell you to turn Hold on and off not just because it assures it's in the off position, but because sometimes this seems to actually be necessary to make things work. Make sure to turn hold on then off before holding Menu+Select (preferably while the USB cable is plugged in to assure power).

The instruction to turn hold on then off is actually in Apple's instructions for doing the procedure too.

[kdsh7]

The same thing has just happened to my ipod30Gb. I installed rockbox yesterday lunchtime, and had a lot of fun trying out the different features.

I then left it to charge overnight - in the morning everything was fine. I shut it down (held play button for 5 seconds) got on the tram on my way to work and the ipod wouldn't start. The reset combo doesn't work, even after doing the hold-on/off menu+select for up to several minutes!

I've been charging it again since I got to work to try and get it to reboot but to no avail. "argh".

[GodEater]

Out of curiousity, how are you trying to turn it on again ?

[kdsh7]

Hi GodEater,

Initially I tried switching it on by pressing 'select'. Then when that didn't work I tried the reboot (hold-on/off menu+select) several times. I've tried plugging it into the PC but it didn't even detect it. There appears to be be no reaction from the ipod to anything.