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Kay Browne

Q: Exclamation point and folder and nothing else

Hi... I have an older 20 g iPod. I dropped it (only 3 feet but hard surface) last week and after that it malfunctioned and then stopped functioning. I have tried the reset several times without success. My Mac does not recognize it either in the information about this Mac or the disk utility or the iPod updater. I would love to be able to revive it but had assuimed it dead. I can get an apple on the screen when I do a reset and the battery icon shows that it is charging ... and then the exclamation point with the folder comes up.

Any thoughts would be more than appreciated. Kay

iBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.6), also use with Harmon Kardon drive and play

Posted on May 14, 2006 2:54 PM

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Q: Exclamation point and folder and nothing else

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  • by Bowmey,

    Bowmey Bowmey Aug 27, 2006 8:20 PM in response to BoniJean
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 27, 2006 8:20 PM in response to BoniJean
    Holy zoinks....that worked! I was going nuts, trying everything.....Thanks!!!
  • by Hootykid-,

    Hootykid- Hootykid- Sep 6, 2006 4:04 PM in response to Kay Browne
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 6, 2006 4:04 PM in response to Kay Browne
    no ****** way? did the same **** and boom worked. ***? wall + ipod =
  • by gunnar rogne,

    gunnar rogne gunnar rogne Sep 13, 2006 11:04 AM in response to Hootykid-
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Sep 13, 2006 11:04 AM in response to Hootykid-
    I spent two weeks with growing irritation of not being able to fix my ipod, I tried absolutely everything and was about to open the ipod and disconnect the harddisk from the battery when I banged it the magic four times against my rubber-coated steel desk

    ...

    and you all know what happened!


    thanks for the great advice!!

    gunnar
    oslo

    IBM thinkpad R50e   Windows XP  
  • by CrazySkier,

    CrazySkier CrazySkier Sep 20, 2006 5:20 AM in response to Mitch 751
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 20, 2006 5:20 AM in response to Mitch 751
    As much as i like that people's ipod are fixed by going caveman style on it i was wondering what i should do if the HD Scan says FAIL !and i still have a 3 year warrenty from bestbuy. Should i go and trade it in? ALso does the diognostic thing void my warrenty or should i go and punt it out my second story window onto the parvment? Thanks
  • by Mitch 751,

    Mitch 751 Mitch 751 Sep 20, 2006 6:28 AM in response to CrazySkier
    Level 6 (11,544 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 20, 2006 6:28 AM in response to CrazySkier
    HS scan says Fail does not mean it is dead, it can be bad sectors or the head get stuck at a certain point.

    Please try the suggestions above, and hope you can format the HD to fix the problem.

    But if you still have 3 years warranty from bestbuy - why not bring it back
  • by simonrdixon,

    simonrdixon simonrdixon Sep 21, 2006 7:52 AM in response to Kay Browne
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Sep 21, 2006 7:52 AM in response to Kay Browne
    How can you reformat the iPod using a start disk? I don't even know how to put my computer in boot mode or whatever. I'm learning a lot about computers and electronics through the issues I've had with my iPod, but I'm still pretty much ignorant about most things electronic.
  • by Mitch 751,

    Mitch 751 Mitch 751 Sep 21, 2006 8:31 PM in response to simonrdixon
    Level 6 (11,544 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 21, 2006 8:31 PM in response to simonrdixon
    Have a try

    Go to folder “My Computer”
    Hope you can see your iPod there and right click on the iPod
    Choose “Format”. Ensure the settings are at “Default” and that “Quick Format” is not checked
    Now select “Format”
    Eject your iPod and do a Reset
    Open the iPod Updater and click “Restore”
    In case you do not manage to do a “Format” on a window computer, try to use some 3rd party disk utility software, e.g.“HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool”.
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=501330&tstart=0
  • by Jimmy Z,

    Jimmy Z Jimmy Z Oct 15, 2006 12:59 PM in response to Manbass
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 15, 2006 12:59 PM in response to Manbass
    Well, I was scared that I was going to scratch my ipod by banging it on my desk, so instead I banged it THREE times on my bed and BAM... I just performed CPR on my ipod and have given it LIFE!!!
  • by Garth Hoyman,

    Garth Hoyman Garth Hoyman Oct 23, 2006 11:15 AM in response to Kay Browne
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Oct 23, 2006 11:15 AM in response to Kay Browne
    I have a 4gb mini.
    I use it everyday.
    I'm an industrial mechanic.
    I weld, grind, hammer, crawl under over around, work on ladders.
    I've dropped it [pod] from 20+ feet more than once.
    I flicked it on the ground while taking off my coat.
    The dreaded folder/! message.
    I tryed every fix, Including taking it apart.
    Started pricing a replacment!
    Came here, banged it on the right side on the floor [corner not required]
    This fix must reset the arm on the hard drive
    Success
    This thing is far & away the best music player so far!
    Admin contact me & I'll send a pic of the case, so you can use it in a ad.

    hp a 710n   Windows XP   mini
  • by unreliable ipod,

    unreliable ipod unreliable ipod Oct 25, 2006 12:03 AM in response to Kay Browne
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 25, 2006 12:03 AM in response to Kay Browne
    Could not get it to recognize the ipod, hit the upper right corner several times against my palm, plugged it back in... recognized and synced up. What a piece of c$#p this thing is.. If I could get my money back and buy a Sony player I would.
  • by iain Allsop,

    iain Allsop iain Allsop Oct 26, 2006 11:54 AM in response to Kay Browne
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 26, 2006 11:54 AM in response to Kay Browne
    Genius!

    macbook   Mac OS X (10.4.8)   ipod photo 40gB (still working!)
  • by etche,

    etche etche Oct 27, 2006 3:17 PM in response to Kay Browne
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 27, 2006 3:17 PM in response to Kay Browne
    I'd say: question answered..apple should replace their 423523 pages of "what you should do to try fixing your ipod and get you even more and more frustrated", with wazman simple words: JUST GIVE IT A QUICK BANG TO THE DESK AND IT WILL WORK.. thanks man..worked grat with my ipod.
  • by Saxman Nola,

    Saxman Nola Saxman Nola Oct 27, 2006 5:11 PM in response to Wazman21
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 27, 2006 5:11 PM in response to Wazman21
    I've tried hitting it numerous times, all over the iPod, but it still has that annoying exclamation point. What should I do?

    Dell Dimension 3000   Windows XP  
  • by Mitch 751,

    Mitch 751 Mitch 751 Oct 28, 2006 3:17 AM in response to Saxman Nola
    Level 6 (11,544 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 28, 2006 3:17 AM in response to Saxman Nola
    ] Windows users having trouble with their iPods should locate a Mac user. In many cases when an iPod won't show up on a PC that it will show up on the Mac. Then it can be restored. When the PC user returns to his computer the iPod will be recognized by the PC, reformatted for the PC, and usable again. By the way, it works in reverse too. A Mac user often can get his iPod back by connecting it to a PC and restoring it.
    Tips
    a. It does not matter whether the format is completed or not, the key is to erase (or partly) the corrupted firmware files on the Hard Drive of the iPod. After that, when the iPod re-connected with a computer, it will be recognized as an fresh external hard drive, it will show up on the iTunes 7.
    b. It is not a difficult issue for a Mac user to find a window base computer, for a PC user, if they can’t find any Mac user, they can go to a nearest Apple Shop for a favor.
    c. You may need to switch around the PC and Mac, try to do several attempts between “Format” and “Restore”
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2364921&#2364921
  • by Kaisha Johnson,

    Kaisha Johnson Kaisha Johnson Oct 31, 2006 12:22 PM in response to etche
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 31, 2006 12:22 PM in response to etche
    I truly appreciate this forum but unfortunately the banging thing did not work. Trust me, I paid to God before I did it. Before banging all I had was OK to disconnect check mark in disc mode. After banging all I have is the Apple logo alternating between the folder with exclamation point and a constant whirring noise as if the iPod's searching for something.

    I did all the R's and everything else listed here except the disc utility. My MacBook is not even recognizing the iPod so that does not seem to be an option. I have a 2 1/2 year old model 20G scroll wheel iPod that I love and really don't want to give up on. Any suggestions???

    20G scroll wheel with dock connector   Mac OS X (10.4.7)  

       

       
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