Apple TV stuck at Apple logo after software update

Question

Level 1

9 points

Apple TV stuck at Apple logo after software update

I've owned the Apple TV 2 for a couple of weeks and everything worked fine until I installed the software update.

I'm using a 37-inch Samsung (550), if that matters. The device is stuck at the Apple Logo. I'm really, really unhappy about this. What the heck happened to QA at Apple? This is ridiculous. Clearly this is a problem with the update, as this worked fine until I made the mistake of updating the software.

MacBook Pro (17-inch), Mac OS X (10.6.5), Apple TV, iPhone 3g, Iphone 3Gs

Posted on Nov 25, 2010 8:21 AM

Reply

Answer 1

imgmkr

Level 1

43 points

Nov 25, 2010 8:44 AM in response to microfud

having a similar trouble.
trying to update and restore but stuck at downloading takes 4 hrs
and stuck with apple logo.
i dont think download would take that much time.
what should i do?

Reply

Answer 2

MarkJones

Level 6

10,065 points

Nov 25, 2010 10:03 AM in response to imgmkr

Reply

Answer 3

imgmkr

Level 1

43 points

Nov 25, 2010 10:28 AM in response to imgmkr

tried reset all and all is well.
it took two minutes to download and updated after
several minutes. try reset all or restore bro~

Reply

Answer 4

microfud Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 25, 2010 12:20 PM in response to microfud

Well, Reset and nothing I could do via the device itself worked (as I was stuck at the Apple menu). Luckily I had a micro USB cable and was able to get it working that way. But if this is something that Apple anticipates users being able to do to fix a problem, wouldn't make sense for the company to include a Micro USB cable with the device?

I've been accused of being quite the Apple fanboy by friends. (I've been that way since the 1980s). But this is fairly ridiculous. Apple needs to make sure their customers are aware that they might need have one of these cables handy in the event of a problem. (I've owned the device about two weeks and already have had to use it).

Reply

Answer 5

microfud Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 25, 2010 12:21 PM in response to MarkJones

uh. it is kind of difficult to try doing it again when, as I noted in the original thread, the device was stuck at startup displaying only the Apple menu. There is no way to reset or restore from the device itself when it is in this condition.

Reply

Answer 6

jupe69

Level 1

0 points

Nov 27, 2010 5:24 AM in response to microfud

got the same problem and no micro-usb cable. I unplugged the ATV but still the problem persists. Stuck at the apple logo screen.

Reply

Answer 7

Nov 29, 2010 5:12 AM in response to jupe69

I had the EXACT same problem and tried EVERYTHING to no avail. The ONLY solution appears to be the Mini-USB cable. I got the cable and used iTunes to Restore the firmware. So it appears that once you get the cable you will be golden.

Reply

Answer 8

Nov 29, 2010 10:24 AM in response to Daniel Sass

I had the same problem only just this morning. It's the first time the unit has gone completely unresponsive on me.

Unplugging and replugging, it boots, the Apple logo comes up, then the screen goes black, but nothing ever reappears. Every 15sec or so, the light on the box blinks, but nothing else. I'm leaving it unplugged all day today and if the same thing occurs this evening, I'll do a restore via my iMac.

YES -- Apple should have included a micro-USB if this behavior was even a remote possibility. Very uncool.

I should note that I updated the OS the day it came out, but only had a problem just today.

Message was edited by: Michael Duffy1

Reply

Answer 9

Nov 29, 2010 3:52 PM in response to Michael Duffy1

Update from me: Restoring from iTunes worked (though it took two attempts). Note - you do not need the power cord, the Apple TV will get juice via the micro USB (not sure, but that may have been the issue with my first restore).

I sure hope this whole thing is related to something in the OS they can tweak to make it more stable in the future.

I say again: Apple should include this cable!!! Since I didn't have one (thought I did), I ran out to Radio Shack and got ripped-off on a $25 cable (ugh). So, now my Apple TV has cost me $127+tax (admittedly, $20 of that is not Apple's fault).

Reply

Answer 10

vazandrew

Level 8

40,948 points

Nov 29, 2010 4:16 PM in response to Michael Duffy1

They didn't include an HDMI cable, that would be more helpful. To be safe you should connect via ethernet while updating. Any interference will cause an error like this.

You can get cables for cheap online, retail will always rip you off.

Reply

Answer 11

Nov 29, 2010 4:37 PM in response to vazandrew

I agree that an HMDI cable would be more widely used. However, an HDMI cable, isn't nearly as obscure as the micro USB. And since the micro USB is only needed to resurrect an already malfunctioning Apple TV, it is particularly insulting to make you buy one.

Also, note that if you are trying to perform a Restore on a non-responsive Apple TV, an Ethernet cable will do you no good. Only via the micro USB can you externally initiate a restore (via iTunes).

Reply

Answer 12

vazandrew

Level 8

40,948 points

Nov 29, 2010 4:42 PM in response to Michael Duffy1

As I said you can get them cheap online.

I wasn't suggesting a restore via ethernet. I was stating to update via ethernet in the first place so you don't get an error because the update wasn't applied properly.

Reply

Answer 13

Nov 29, 2010 4:47 PM in response to vazandrew

Agreed, it stinks that I couldn't wait a week to order a cable online. The big boxes and the small ones now seem to make all their money from cables!!!

Ethernet:
That's the crazy part, my Apple TV is always connected via Ethernet, so the last update was applied via Ethernet. And what's more, I've been running just fine since the day it came out -- until this morning. Here's hoping this takes care of it.

Reply

Answer 14

vazandrew

Level 8

40,948 points

Nov 29, 2010 4:55 PM in response to Michael Duffy1

Ohh that's strange. So you just turned it on this morning and you got the logo with the USB?

I agree, cables are cables and the big stores are ripping people off. I guess they rely on people buying new gadgets and wanting the cables right away.

Reply

Answer 15

dougjz

Level 1

0 points

Nov 29, 2010 10:54 PM in response to microfud

Amen! I must have 50 miles of USB and other cables, but until I remembered that the charger for Jabra Bluetooth speaker in my uses a Micro USB, I was lost, and I live over an hour from anywhere I could find such a thing. If connecting directly to iTunes is a potential solution, which it appears by these posts that it certainly is, then Apple needs to up the price 5 bucks (probably 30 bucks since it's almost a proprietary deal) and include one, or provide a warning at the point of sale--not to mention providing a hardware update that doesn't crash the device. This is ridiculous (but the Micro USB solved the problem).

Reply