Stuck on Apple, will not go into disk mode - iPod 5th Generation

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Level 1

96 points

Stuck on Apple, will not go into disk mode - iPod 5th Generation

My fifth generation iPod is stuck on the startup Apple. I have tried this: "Putting iPod into Disk Mode" http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1363. Following these instructions I can reset, ie reboot, my iPod but it will not go beyond the Apple or into disk mode. Please note that I have tried every possible way (at least 20 attempts, including running down the battery) to get it into disk mode. It simply will not do it. My guess is that the hard drive damaged and therefore my iPod has reached the end of its life, ie not worth repairing. Can anybody offer any other options?

Thank you.

MacBook 13-inch Aluminum (Late 2008), Mac OS X (10.5.7), 2G 1GB Shuffle, 30GB 5G Video, 8GB iPhone 3G

Posted on Jun 28, 2009 4:11 PM

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Answer 1

Madam Author

Level 1

96 points

Jun 28, 2009 5:24 PM in response to Madam

I also tried to put my iPod into diagnostic mode. It wouldn't do that either 😟

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Answer 2

Jun 28, 2009 8:08 PM in response to Madam

Can you force it into recovery mode and restore it?

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Answer 3

Madam Author

Level 1

96 points

Jun 29, 2009 1:38 AM in response to B_Schmidt

Sorry I don't understand. I am familiar with "disk mode" and "diagnostic mode". How do I force "recovery mode" on a 5th generation iPod? I can find support documents for forcing recovery mode on iPhone and iPod touch, but not iPod 5th generation.

Thank you

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Answer 4

PT

Level 7

20,888 points

Jun 30, 2009 5:52 AM in response to Madam

Is the iPod making any noises while stuck like the hard drive spinning up, stopping with a click noise, then restarting? Anything like that?
Patrick

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Answer 5

Madam Author

Level 1

96 points

Jun 30, 2009 6:19 AM in response to PT

Patrick, I can hear the hard drive spinning, a couple of clicks, then just spinning until the battery is flat. No restarting.

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Answer 6

PT

Level 7

20,888 points

Jun 30, 2009 8:30 AM in response to Madam

Have you tried giving it a good smack? Seriously, sometimes the drives get "stuck" and good smack can get them going again. One method is to simply slap is flat against the palm of your other hand. Hard enough to jar it, not so hard you could actually break the LCD or something like that. Another is to slap it down onto a firm (but not hard) surface, like a thick phone book flat on its back.
Patrick

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Answer 7

Madam Author

Level 1

96 points

Jun 30, 2009 12:50 PM in response to PT

Thank you Patrick, that worked. I had tried gently tapping the unit, but taking your advice I slapped it HARD against the palm of my hand. I was then able to get it to boot normally and restore (well it was more complicated than that because at first it would not restore - I did have to fiddle about a bit - but I can remember the exact sequence of events).

Anyway the unit has now been restored and the content is being copied. Thank you again.

Paul

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Answer 8

PT

Level 7

20,888 points

Jun 30, 2009 1:38 PM in response to Madam

Great to hear! Sometimes a good spanking of the child is a good thing, despite all the PC people who would say otherwise.
😉
Patrick

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Answer 9

Sep 27, 2009 4:31 PM in response to PT

mine does that exact thing what you were on about its like its trying to read the HDD but just cant do it

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Answer 10

Diana R

Level 1

0 points

Sep 27, 2009 7:07 PM in response to PT

I tried hitting it very hard and that didn't work. the apple is still on. Tried troubleshooting,reseting, restarting, THE WORKS, and nothing is happening. should I let it die out again, or plug it to a power outlet or my computer?

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Answer 11

chiff

Level 1

9 points

Nov 24, 2009 2:33 AM in response to Madam

I have a 5g 80GB iPod here that's doing the same thing, but the 'hard slap' method doesn't appear to make any difference - it still refuses to go into disk mode. I can get into diagnostics okay, but not disk mode.

Any other ideas?

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