iPod and iTunes: The Missing Manual, Third Edition

Chapter 16. Troubleshooting

The iPod is a fairly uncomplicated device, at least compared to towering desktop machines with printers and scanners attached, or even one of your more sophisticated microwave ovens. But a number of things can temporarily trip up your iPod—hard-drive glitches, wonky cables, or a wrong turn at the crossroads where hardware meets software.

At least five hardware generations of iPods and two Mini-Mes now stalk the earth. Some problems may apply only to certain models, but many of the hardware-oriented issues are universal. You can remedy some problems by simply pressing a couple of buttons, but others require a little more time and effort.

This chapter covers all of the above, and includes a section devoted to troubleshooting the iTunes Music Store. And if you don’t find the answer, turn to the last section, which lists iPod repair resources.

The iPod’s Self-Help Modes

If you’ve used a computer for any length of time, you know that hard drives can sometimes crash, lock up, or have days when they’re just not feeling well. Unlike most MP3 players, which use memory chips to store 64 or 128 MB of music, the iPod uses a hard drive to store its music and data. Accordingly, sometimes you need to use hard disk diagnostic and repair tools, like ScanDisk or Disk Utility. All you have to do is push the right sets of buttons.

Note

Starting with the iPod Mini, Apple fundamentally changed the iPod’s hardware by placing the control buttons directly on the scroll wheel and turning ...