iPod Touch completely dead after attempted update to 3.0

Question

Level 1

12 points

iPod Touch completely dead after attempted update to 3.0

Not only during update to 3.0, but also during update to 2.2.1 and during a restore attempt 6 weeks ago. All 3 "dead" iPods have been replaced by Apple - I'd like a solution...

I have videoed the update taking place and the iPod dying during it - sadly it is in MOV format (439MB) and I cannot convert to an uploadable version for Youtube... By DEAD, I mean, no power and will not display ANYTHING on the screen. Simply won't power up again.

This is what happens: Download update using iTunes... Extracting software... Backing up iPod... Preparing the iPod for the software update... (iPod shows USB plug and CD - then apple logo...) then the updating progress line appears on iTunes and on touch. Updating iPod software... Verifying updated iPod software... Updating the iPod firmware... White progress line on iPod disappears after a few seconds and screen goes black. Error message displays on iTunes - "The iPod xxxx could not be updated. An unknown error occurred (6)"

iPod is now dead and needs to be replaced,

1) Has anyone experienced this?
2) Has anyone SOLVED it?

Maybe related is a problem with some videos that have happened recently (and were the cause of me trying to restore the iPod last time it died) MP4 (or MPV files) play for about 20-30 minutes, then screen goes white, then black, then apple logo appears, then iPod returns to home screen after about 30 seconds. My usual solution to this has been to remove all videos, photos (which are corrupted by this time), audio, and then re-sync back.

I'd appreciate ANY help please. I intend buying an iPhone soon and would like to know that the problem won't occur on that, every time I try to restore.

Cheers!

Martin

Message was edited by: The-Organist

Quad-core Pentium 2.26 GHz, Windows Vista, 2nd Gen iPod Touch v 2.2

Posted on Jun 21, 2009 10:31 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 21, 2009 10:56 PM in response to The-Organist

Were you using iTunes version 8.1? I was using iTunes 8.1 to update my iPod to 3.0 and totally crashed it(I think you need iTunes 8.2 to do it and even then it could still mess up), but I've since restored my iPod back to 2.2

If you can wake it up, you can restore it again with iTunes 8.1 like I did. iTunes 8.2 will not recognize your iPod if it's in DFU or the "dead" mode. Try pressing the on/off button or restart it by pressing the on/off button and the home button together. Also search youtube for help videos if nothing's working.

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Answer 2

The-Organist Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 21, 2009 11:27 PM in response to rokkuramu

No. On this occasion I was using the latest version (8.2) of iTunes. And, no, there is NO WAY that it wakes up! Thanks.

I have searched YouTube already and no videos. Mine would be a first video if I could convert it. This whole thing HAS happened to others in the past, although I am not sure how widespread.

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Answer 3

luvlabs

Level 4

3,620 points

Jun 22, 2009 1:16 PM in response to The-Organist

It really sounds more like a USB hardware issue on your computer. This is not a wide spread problem but since you have killed 3 iPods, I would be looking at your computer. BTW, does your computer go into sleep mode, a screen saver, or anything like that when you are trying to do these updates?

I would suggest you get a 2.0 USB card (they are cheap) and use that instead of the ports that already exist.

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Answer 4

Jun 22, 2009 3:07 PM in response to The-Organist

I've had a very similar experience.

Finally got it working again by connecting to the pc and when the pc says unknown drivers, pressed home and power button together until the iPod disconnected then imediately released the power button, still holding the home button. The Apple drivers then install and the iPod connects to iTunes. iTunes tells you need to restore the iPod, you do this and get the same error (6) problem repeat.

I went through the cycle a few times, then sudddenly it worked and now updated to 3.0

All is not well, I keep getting errors saying it can't read or write disc and I'm missing a lot of album art, but I do have a working iPod, with music, video and apps and 3.0 installed.

At least the apparently dead iPod is just very poorly, but at least there is signs of a recovery.

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Answer 5

The-Organist Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 22, 2009 9:37 PM in response to luvlabs

Thanks for that idea. I am a little concerned by that considering my computer is such a new model and super-over-powered - to add a "card" to it would be like, well, adding an Apple IIE diskdrive onto your Mac to load the OS!!! 🙂

Seriously though, because mine is such a "modern" motherboard, I SUSPECT that it would be near imposible to find a USB 2.0 card that fits into it...

I suspect that I will end up using my work laptop to do the Syncing in the future and do all my iPod things from there 😟

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Answer 6

The-Organist Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 22, 2009 9:38 PM in response to Ian Linton

Thanks Ian for the advice. The iPod is COMPLETELY dead and can not power up.

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Answer 7

Jun 22, 2009 11:56 PM in response to The-Organist

The-organist,
my iPod gave the impression it was completely dead too, but it takes about five or more seconds for it to respond to the button holds. It must be connected to your computer via USB although you will get amessage from your pc saying it is an unknown device. Hold both buttons and it will disconnect and then release the power button it says it is connected. Until this point, your iPod will continue to appear dead. Once iTunes asks you to restore, life will reappear, hopefully.

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Answer 8

The-Organist Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 23, 2009 2:20 AM in response to Ian Linton

Thanks for the advice, Ian. I had previously seen the "hold for ages" solution, but in my case it hasn't worked. The iPod is at an Apple Repair Centre and I expect to get my 3rd replacement by the end of the week.

I have decided NOT to use my home machine again with my iPod. I hardly need it really, except for upgrades and loading photos (oh and Audio books!) - and movies (but I'll give up on Movies because they crash the thing too).

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Answer 9

Jun 23, 2009 5:37 AM in response to The-Organist

I had the same thing after attempting to update to 3.0. I'd updated iTunes to latest version the night before but couldn't connect to buy (servers busy I guess). So I thought I'd update before I went to work in the morning. I left it updating, but when I came back it was completely dead. Nothing woke it up, my pc tells me 'attached USB device has malfunctioned' (tried in xp and vista; says that if iTunes installed or not). I rang apples tech support and tried a number of things (mostly re-installing everything) to no avail. It's now been sent back to be repaired/replaced.
Was extremely frustrating, but the support was helpful, and they got my Touch today, and are already looking at it (I think).

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Answer 10

The-Organist Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 23, 2009 12:18 PM in response to PeepingTom

THANK YOU VERY MUCH PT for letting me know that I'm not the only person out there with this problem still. Can you answer two other questions for me?

1) Do you watch movies on your iPod touch (Sorry - DID you! 🙂 )
2) Do you have an ASUS motherboard on your Vista PC. If so, which model?

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Answer 11

Jun 23, 2009 1:13 PM in response to The-Organist

Nope, I have a Gigabyte mobo. Videos? I had a few music videos that used to be on my old ipod video. Other than that, only watched streaming movies.

I'm happy apple are going to replace my iPod (I only shipped it yesterday), but i don't understand how an update can totally destroy an iPod. Can't they be flashed with a new OS or something?
I take it trying to update to 3.0 will kill it again; was that replacements you lost or 3 at once? You think apple will give me the money back I paid for the update?

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Answer 12

The-Organist Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 23, 2009 5:02 PM in response to PeepingTom

Based on my experience, the replacement iPod will update perfectly fine (that's what my first replacement did and I thought the problem was solved).

My second replacement was after trying to do "RESTORE" - when I started having my photos corrupt while videos were exiting strangely I went to restore it on iTunes. Went through firmware installation process and died.

Recorded this update on video so have the MOMENT that the 2nd replacement died and have sent that along with the iPod to the service centre for replacement.

When my third replacement arrives, I will transfer everything to my work laptop and run my iPod from there.

Thanks for info about not being limited to ASUS motherboards.

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Answer 13

Jun 23, 2009 5:19 PM in response to The-Organist

I am a new mac user and have a new iTouch now. I tried to download the 3.0 update and it crashed my player as well, but did not "kill" it. I took it to the local store and they were able to restore it - something I had been unable to do at home (Error 14), brought it home, tried the update again, crashed again. It stayed on but showed the picture that was asking me to connect to iTunes and was frozen and unable to be restored. Called Apple, and the guy had me disconnect from the computer, set up a new Apple account and open iTunes and then plug in my iTouch again. Doing this, I am able to restore the unit and re-load everything from there but this update crashes it every time. The Apple guy said it was because so many millions of people are trying to download this at the same time, it's crashing and I should wait 2 days and try again. That was Friday...tried tonight and crashed again. I have rejuvenated it once again by opening a new account but am perplexed by this download issue. I am hoping Apple gets it fixed soon...also, I have been charged for the download as well, so it's registered somewhere to me...any answers out there?

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Answer 14

The-Organist Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 23, 2009 7:22 PM in response to newmacusermatthewsnc

Can I suggest you start a thread regarding the download of the update and then people can specifically reply to that.

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Answer 15

Jun 24, 2009 11:00 PM in response to The-Organist

Just happened to me about 5 minutes ago. I got an Error 6 and it bricked my brand new replacement 16GB iPod touch. I just came back from the Apple store with a replacement one after my previous one got bricked during the update from 2.2 to 3.0. Like how you explained it, everything looks good until the very end when the updating progress bar on the iPod almost reaches the end then it stops and the dreaded "error 6" pops up on itunes. I need to go to the store and get a another one and try updating it on another computer.

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