Ipod U2 - Not responsive after rockbox upgrade

[r4gnar]

Ok, so here's what happened. I've downloaded new version of RB (r16989) and upgraded the software with no problem. Ipod rebooted and it was working fine. Ive disconnected the cable and after some time i wanted to upload some music and this was the point where the magic happened. First my system (winxp) recognized it as toshiba device but i could still access it and browse folders. So ive tried to make a new folder for new music and it crashed (i use totalcommander) TCM was frozen. After hard resetting the ipod all i saw was apple logo, and after a few seconds it changed to "sadipod" with x's for eyes and a link to apple support page. Further resetting doesn't work, i cant access diskmode. Battery is 100% full. Any ideas?

edit:
By "Further resetting doesn't work" i mean that i keep getting the same sadipod screen.

edit2:
I managed to switch on the disk mode, but after connecting the cable i still get sadipod screen, duh...

edit3:
Ok after 3 hours of struggle i managed to "convince" the Ipod to work by (belive it or not) using my fist, yes thats right. Argument of phisical strenght fixed the problem. However im still curious what caused the malfunction. Im pretty sure it was the hard drive but it all hapened after installing latest software. I think that someone should update some common fixing guides with a note "If nothing helps introduce your ipod to Mr. Fist"

[Chronon]

Telling people to smite their electronics is not sound advice.  How do you disconnect your iPod from your system?  You might have file system damage if you do not properly eject it from your system each time.  I would suggest running

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chkdsk /r

[dreamlayers]

Smiting electronics does work sometimes.  Consider the stereotype of people hitting their TV when it misbehaves and the TV working right for a while after that.  In that case it's almost certainly due to a bad solder connection.  In this case it might be a bad connection or mechanical issues with the hard drive.  I don't recommend hitting devices with spinning hard drives however because it could cause a head crash and make things worse.

Hitting an iPod won't rearrange data which was corrupted due to improperly disconnecting from the computer, so I doubt that was the problem.  chkdsk /r is a good idea because it will search for bad sectors.

[Chronon]

I agree that cases where it helps often correspond to bad solder joints.  I think that pressure waves from the impact can temporarily improve the electrical contact through the joint.  Then, current flow leads to thermal expansion which maintains force across the joint.  I think this is what happens in one of my speakers on my home stereo.  

If you have a device that's not working, instead of hitting it, it's probably better to open it up and inspect all of the cables and clean surface contacts.  If I recall correctly, the sad face often indicates HD problems -- possibly a partially unseated cable.

*edit -- For fun I Googled for "sad ipod icon" and 3 of the 5 first hits mentioned people resolving this in exactly the same way -- getting frustrated and whacking their iPod.  

[Llorean]

Bashing your electronics, while possibly temporarily improves the situation, puts sudden new stress on joints, connections, etc, and tends to have a cumulatively negative effect on said electronics over time. It sounds like this problem could've possibly been fixed by simply opening it and re-seating the disk.

[r4gnar]

I know that wasn't the best solution but this final act of desperation fixed everything. After i managed to power it on i ran the diagnostics and it passed all the tests with no problem. Well anyway thanks for your answers.