Apple TV keeps restarting/rebooting in an almost endless loop
So this is the second ATV I have setup in the last two weeks. All iTunes/Mac OS software is up to date. ATV comes installed with 2.4. I have been able to set it up, stream, sync, control with Remote, etc. However this time the problem occurred about four days into it running smoothly as opposed to one day last time. My problem is it just sits in an endless rebooting loop. I see the Apple, then the menu in which it is frozen for about 5 seconds, then the apple, etc. Anyone else having this problem? Two units, the same problem in two weeks, I can't be the only one right? Thanks in advance for the help.
I'd be inclined to consider whether 2 similarly faulty tv's is actually the most likely reason for your problems. I'd be tempted to consider the possibility of something the tv is connected to being the source of your problem.
Continuous rebooting is likely the result of hardware failure. If this is the second one with the same problem, I suggest taking it back to the Apple store for evaluation. It's possible they have an inventory from the same production run where there could have been faulty components. Also make sure that you're not setting them up too close to something that might be generating enough static electricity to zap components, like a gas heater igniter.
capaho wrote:
That hardly seems possible short of a bad NIC in the ATV that is actually causing the reboots when it's active (i.e., hardware failure).
What is it that you find hardly possible caps?, that removing the network connection has stopped the re-booting loop or that or that other users have posted to that effect.
You said that some people have reported that their networks cause their ATVs to reboot. I think that's extremely unlikely. It's more likely such a condition, if it occurs at all, results from hardware failure in the ATV.
A couple of quick updates. First, I am using component connection not HDMI(yet). I did read about some of those posts. Here is a second potential cause of the problem that maybe needs to be explored. If you unplug the power source from the AppleTV and leave the cord plugged in, when you plug the cord back in, there is a little 'electrical hiccup' in the form of a small 'spark' almost. When it was in the loop both times, I unplugged it from the machine not the wall.
One more update and it just gets weirder. So I perform a factory restore yesterday and go through the motions and everything works fine just as it did before. This morning I get up and the screen saver is working with all the pictures I have synced to ATV, I am able to view the moves I have synced to ATV. However when I try to play the music that is streaming from my iMac over the wired network it is all connected to, I get a message saying 'Apple Tv cannot play the selected song'. It happens like this with all songs. So, I put the ATV in standby, unplug ATV from the wall, replug it in and voila, we are in the endless reboot/restarting cycle again. Same thing happened the first time this unit failed. I get the cannot play message, I put it in standby, unplug it and then the reboot/restarting cycle happens again. Same thing happened the first time this unit failed. I get the cannot play message, I put it in standby, unplug it and then the reboot/restarting cycle happens again.Same thing happened the first time this unit failed. I get the cannot play message, I put it in standby, unplug it and then the reboot/restarting cycle happens again.Same thing happened the first time this unit failed. I get the cannot play message, I put it in standby, unplug it and then the reboot/restarting cycle happens again.Same thing happened the first time this unit failed. I get the cannot play message, I put it in standby, unplug it and then the reboot/restarting cycle happens again.................................................................
As a last attempt, I reset the cable modem, reset the router, rebooted the computer, restarted the ATV. Nothing. Will power is draining, Rage increasing, Need to smash ATV nearing.
So are you ready for this one? In two steps that I didn't quite track in the right way I did two things. The first was to go into iTunes and remove the AppleTVs that were connected to my computer. After that happened, simultaneously after rebooting so many times, it asked me to select the language, resolution, etc and then I chose 'restart'. ATV then showed up in my devices list and I went through the setup process. It erased all the content on the ATV which suprised me because it has the most recent software which is consistent with 'restarting' it and not selecting 'Factory Reset'. So, this is definitely a software issue. Now, we'll just have to watch to see how long this lasts.
...when you plug the cord back in, there is a little 'electrical hiccup' in the form of a small 'spark' almost.
That's an arc as current jumps across the air gap before the contacts actually meet. It's not unusual when plugging in a device that's already "switched on" as the ATV always is. Unfortunately, the static discharge from that arc could theoretically damage components, so it's better to unplug/plug it from the wall outlet rather than the back of the ATV.
You said that some people have reported that their networks cause their ATVs to reboot. I think that's extremely unlikely. It's more likely such a condition, if it occurs at all, results from hardware failure in the ATV.
The numerous users that posted successfully resolving a continuous reboot scenario and the specific step by step procedure posted seemed pretty conclusive to me.
