Force factory restore AppleTV ?

*Here's how to FORCE RESTART an Apple TV:*
http://methodshop.com/gadgets/tutorials/appletv-fix/

1. Unplug the Apple TV.

2. Wait 10 seconds (Try cursing at your Apple TV if that helps pass the time).

3. Plug-in the Apple TV.

4. Immediately point the remote at the Apple TV and press and hold both Menu and down ➖ on the Apple Remote. Continue to hold the buttons until the Apple TV has restarted itself 2 or 3 times. You will probably see a green flash on your TV screen when the Apple TV restarts.

5. You should now see a screen where you can select one of the following: Restart, Run Diagnostics or Factory Restore. Select Run Diagnostics from the Apple TV Recovery menu. If there's something wrong with your Apple TV, the diagnostics will tell you. Hopefully it's nothing serious like hard drive failure.

6. If the diagnostics say your Apple TV is fine, then select Restart. If your Apple TV fails the diagnostic tests, it probably has a hardware issue. Unfortunately there really isn't anything else you can do. If you recently purchased your Apple TV, then you can take it back to the store and return or exchange it. Also, your Apple TV might still be under warranty. Check your receipt. You might be able to get Apple to repair or replace it.

if that didn't work and you still need to FACTORY RESTORE your Apple TV, then read step #5 on this page:
http://methodshop.com/gadgets/tutorials/appletv-fix/

To repeat the original question of this post which is still unanswered: How does one force a factory restore when it won't start from the menu within AppleTV and when a menu of choices (i.e., diagnostics, factory restore) are not given when rebooting? That is to say, the options provided by this posting http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1560 are not working or available.

So, any ideas how to force a factory restore when a factory restore won't start?

Alley_Cat wrote:
Hold down menu and the down button on the remote until it reboots, then choose the option from the list provided.

which is exactly the same as what my post told the OP to do.

A little late this but for anyone still looking for a way to force factory reset. I just had this problem. I unplugged the power. Plugged it back in and held the menu and - buttons as soon as ATV started booting, it did work.

So, any suggestions when none of the suggestions above won't work? I can't run updates and I can't start the factory restore from within Apple TV--it acts like it's going to start by showing the black screen with the silver apple logo, and then returns to the menu asking me if I want to run the factory restore. I also can't get the diagnostics to start when rebooting as accarrino suggests, no matter how long I hold down the remote buttons. So, again, how does one "force" a factory restore? Not, how does one start a factory restore in accordance with the menus and reboot options provided? Is there nothing I can do other than live without updates?

Hold down menu and the down button on the remote until it reboots, then choose the option from the list provided.

AC

Message was edited by: Alley_Cat

Oh dear, what a pity, never mind.

Thanks guys, I had the same problem. A slightly modified ATV would loop when attempting a restore from the main menu. Your advice did the trick.

Thanks

Paulc

If after removing all the cables and powering the tv down the tv will not let you navigate to the restore option, I fear you need to return the device.