iPod won't restore, is stuck in recovery mode

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iPod won't restore, is stuck in recovery mode

This is the email I sent to Apple on Sunday night, they wrote back long enough to say it was being forwarded to the tech department, and I haven't heard anything since:

Hello,
I'm writing about a problem with my sister's iPod.
She was on her iPod touch 8GB tonight, and her iPod suddenly brought up this alarming screen. Attached is a picture of what that screen image looked like. It will not let her do anything whatsoever on her iPod. It appeared it needed and was asking to be plugged into the computer by the image it showed.
We plugged it into the computer and as soon as iTunes pulled up on the computer it gave a message reading:

"iTunes has detected an iPod in recovery mode. You must restore this iPod before it can be used with iTunes."

We tried to restore it, and it would not let us restore it. Everytime we tell it to restore, it goes through the motions as if it is going to try to restore, then blinks a white screen that goes back to black with the Apple logo on the iPod, while at the same time the computer iTunes displays this messsage:

"The iPod "iPod" could not be restored. An unknown error has occured (1611)."

It gave me the option of clicking Ok or More Information. I clicked more information which lead me to this page on your website: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1275 - The picture of what came up is on this page.

It also gave me an "unknown error (9)" when I tried to plug it back in and restore it after restarting the computer.

I have done all I know to do to try to fix this issue. It is 1 am, and I've been trying to fix this problem for over 2 hrs. It doesn't seem fixable from everything I've done.

The computer has been restarted, the iTunes is the most recent version out (matter of fact I downloaded it while trying to figure the problem out, I think it's the 10.1 version), and the software on the iPod is current and up to date. I have tried it on a different computer and it says the same thing. I have tried my best to get it worked out, and I don't konw what else to do.

I'm writing to ask some questions and get some help. First off why did the iPod suddenly do this? Are there any precautions to take to prevent if from happening again? And finally and most importantly right now, how can I restore and fix it? My sister is lost without her iPod!

Thanks so much for any help you can give me on this matter!
Have a great day!
Sharon

Does anyone know what to do?

Inspirion 600M, Windows XP, Laptop

Posted on Nov 23, 2010 5:31 PM

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Answer 1

buddy27

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Nov 24, 2010 12:25 AM in response to 4pawsforever

same thing happened to me.. can someone help us please?

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Answer 2

Nov 24, 2010 6:26 PM in response to 4pawsforever

I too am getting the same error, specifically 1611 is the error code. I have read the description for error code 1611 and it says something to the effect that there is issue with the hardware on the device. I am not certain of what that means and am only drawing my own conclusion that there is something wrong with the ipod, maybe it was dropped or has just developed an issue.

I have gone through all the suggested steps to correct the issue to no avail.

In short, we all seem to be in the same boat and none of us can get this one figured out. I will keep looking into resolving this issue and if I find anything I will repost here.

Good luck to us all!

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Answer 3

wijody

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Nov 24, 2010 7:45 PM in response to 4pawsforever

I had this happen to me - I think it was the same error, but I don't remember the exact error #, but it wouldn't restore. I tried a couple times. Got message again. I then took my ipod to my DH's computer and restored it on his computer, that did work! Then I brought it back to my computer and synced it back with my itunes.

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Answer 4

Jfriesen

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Nov 24, 2010 8:59 PM in response to 4pawsforever

I get the same screen on my IPod. I was updating the software and it gave me an error message. Now my computer won't recognize the ipod and my ipod has that screen that says to connect to the computer. I dont't know what to do! And I really don't want to pay the $30 to talk to someone because they screwed up my ipod! HELP

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Answer 5

Jfriesen

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Nov 26, 2010 9:33 AM in response to 4pawsforever

Hey, this is what I did
I used a different computer to restore my ipod to it's original condition because my computer wasn't even recognizing it anymore. Then, when I plugged it into my computer I was able to sync it and get all my stuff back again. Now I'm hesitant to update it because that's what caused this mess in the beginning. Hope you get your sister's ipod working again. =)

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Answer 6

Maholz

Level 1

4 points

Nov 26, 2010 11:19 AM in response to 4pawsforever

I had similar problem on a friends gen 1 Ipod. I got error #6 message. I turned off the firewall on my computer while doing recovery and it seems to have worked. Just remember to turn the firewall back on. Some software programs won't allow connection to Apple servers for this type of transfers.

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Answer 7

kerck

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Nov 27, 2010 1:50 PM in response to Jfriesen

Hey!
I am willing to try your solution that worked for you...my question is did you lose all of your apps, music, etc because you sync with a different computer? And, it worked later on yours?...hummmmm Thanks, look forward to your reply.

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Answer 8

Nov 29, 2010 6:39 PM in response to 4pawsforever

For the original author...I hope you get a reply from someone knowledgeable. I am having the exact same problem you describe. I was able to restore mine to the original factory settings with another computer, but all my music and apps are on the computer that stopped working. I'd like to see a good response before I go through the hassle of completely uninstalling all the Apple products recommended on one of the solution pages.

It may be a complete coincidence, but I am using the exact model computer (Inspiron 600M) and OS (XP) you are.

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Answer 9

Nov 29, 2010 7:11 PM in response to 4pawsforever

I have a 3rd Generation iPod Touch that bricked shortly after 4.2 update. It did not even exist to my Macbook. I was finally able to un-brick using my old PC by totally uninstalling all current apple software, including registry entries. Then installed older version of itunes and downloaded a restore program from apple that was made for version 2 iPod. It was working good until I plugged into my Macbook and tried to sync. It again restored to newer software. Worked a short time and became a brick again. Since then I have restored it again on my PC. It works great except I can’t get all my data which is on my Macbook tied to the new screwed up software. I hope this helps some at least un-brick your ipod. Any advice on how to get my data onto my ipod would be great.

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Answer 10

Nov 29, 2010 9:15 PM in response to fredbearhuntr

I did some more playing around tonight. The Ipod wasn't connecting (but charging) so I uninstalled the Apple Media support program. When I plugged the iPod in, I found it as a camera, but still wouldn't work in iTunes.

Rather than uninstall everything in order, as suggested in one of the support articles, I just uninstalled iTunes, downloaded the same package I had just uninstalled, and reinstalled. Waddya know...it worked. I had previously been able to do a factory settings restore with another computer, so the iPod was clean when i plugged it in. It took quite awhile to restore it from the backup, but everything is back to normal. It even recovered the passwords for several wireless networks.

After the backup finished the reinstall, I disconnected the iPod and reconnected. iTunes launched right away.

There's no reason it should have stoped working the way it did, but mine is back up and working.

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Answer 11

4pawsforever Author

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Dec 7, 2010 7:05 PM in response to 4pawsforever

Thanks everyone for trying to help! I'm sorry for all of those of you that are having issues, or have had issues. Technology is a wonderful thing WHEN it works.
We ended up taking it to the Apple Store, they said it was unfixable. However told us if we had a guarantee it may be under that. Since the iPods were got at Best Buy with a 2 yr. guarantee, the guarantee was still in use, so we checked with them on it. They said it WAS fixable, so we sent it off. Ended up being that they weren't able to fix it, and they replaced it with a new one. The new one doesn't have the apple logo on the back, but it says it's a iPod touch, and is suppose to be the same kind my sister already had. I'm currently restoring it, so we'll see how it goes.

Itunes support was NO help. They are lowsy when it comes to support! I do appreciate everyone's help and advice on this. To those of you still having problems I wish you the best!

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Answer 12

4pawsforever Author

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Dec 7, 2010 7:07 PM in response to 4pawsforever

Also I did try different usb cables, different computers, and a little bit of everything.

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