iPod: The Missing Manual, 8th Edition

Chapter 13. What to Do When the iPod Isn’t Working Right

It’s bound to happen sometime: your iPod locks up, freaks out, or just isn’t its usual cheerful self. Luckily, you can solve many iPod problems with a button-tap here or a battery charge there. Then your portable Pod Life is back to normal.

Of course, an iPod is a little mini-computer in its own right, and there can be bigger issues that are more involved or require the help of a technical expert. Figuring out what your iPod is trying to tell you when it’s sick is the first step in getting it back to good health. This chapter explains what to do if your iPod starts acting weird—and where to go if you need more information or can’t fix it yourself.

Apple’s Alphabet: The 5 “R"s of iPod Repair

As posted in the growing iPod support section of its Web site (www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs) Apple recommends trying “The 5 Rs” when you encounter trouble with a Classic, Nano, or Shuffle. The Touch, unique among iPods, has its own “R"s—listed here at the bottom of the page.

Here’s what each “R” stands for, along with a few more helpful details:

• Reset your iPod, as explained on the next page.

• Retry your iPod connection by plugging it into a different USB port on your computer.

• Restart your computer and check for any software updates you may need to download and install.

  

• Reinstall your iPod and iTunes software with fresh versions downloaded ...