Apple TV Crashing / Resetting Itself

Bump. This problem has been plaguing us since August. I don't know if hard-wiring the device through ethernet could solve the problem because my house isn't run in such a way to make this work. I tried going to a factory default screen saver, as some have suggested, and this has mildly improved things (I think, but I can't quantify it). It isn't fixed by restoring to factory default. I tried that, with no result.

Some other clues: I have the same issue as everybody else, with the crash every five minutes or so, but I have noticed one other thing. It seems like it crashes the last time when a movie I am watching finishes queueing up. After that reboot, it lets me finish my movie without interruption.

The problem doesn't seem to be with not queuing fast enough, because I seem to always have plenty of my movie queued past the point of the movie I am watching. It is really weird that finishing the queue process is enough to cause the crash. Its almost like the problem is in writing to the file system, and the added activity of closing out the file is enough to send it over the edge.

Can we please get a patch to fix this?

Just to add my voice to the list. My up to date, vanilla, ATV2 is crashing randomly whilst watching Netflix and YouTube content. It drops back the menus quite quickly, displaying just three menus before returning to the full set after a few seconds. Fortunately Netflix remembers your last location so getting back to where I was is not too hard... but it should not be happening.

I'll try connecting over a wired link next to see if that solves the problem.

Yep. Since installing the update my Apple TV will be playing some music, then say there it cannot play some media, I restart playing and it's fine for a song or two and then it reboots itself. Never had any problems before the latest software version?

Any solutions? Reset Apple TV to factory defaults and hope for the best?

Same exact problem as XRayLexx.

Just started recently, since last update. Would really love to get it fixed.

Does anybody know if this problem is also on the Apple TV v3? I'm wondering if it has to do with the ammount of RAM available to the programs. This would explain why, after updating to the newer version, the problem doesn't go away, and may never go away, as there is no way to increase the available RAM. I would be willing to buy the new one, if I was sure it would solve the problem. I watched a program last night, and it crashed three times before the opening credits were done.

This is becoming the first Apple product I wouldn't recommend Since the Gil Amelio days.

I experienced problems with the apple tv2. I purchased the apple tv version 3 the day it came out and have had zero problems so far.

Same problem here with ATV2.

My ATV2 has been on a wired network (ethernet over power) for just over one month... no more crashes!

Looks like I found my problem.

FYI My Wifi network was a BT Infinity (UK) HomeHub.

Add me to the chorus. 10.6.8 - ATV3 - lastest firmware 5.0.1 - Wireless Network (Airport extreme) - I will be watching a movie and it suddenly restarts pauses/then restarts without warning. It would happen with roughly 7 to 15 minute intervals each time.

I will try the screen saver trick.

Message was edited by: chirpie

I had hopes when a movie made it all the way through, but alas, 12 minutes into another it's resetting again. Good grief, oi-vey.

I'll try a factory resest next.

Well, I tried a factory reset and re-downloaded the update. Things were working (fairly) well for the past week. I don't really watch a lot of TV, so we watched two movies (streamed wirelessly from my Mac Pro Tower) since doing the reset and that went fine. Then on movie #3 (off of Netflix) it bombed and started resetting. Tried watching the movie again (resume from previous spot) and it bombed again a few seconds later.

(Sigh)

So I tried the screen saver trick, the digitial audio trick, the reset, the factory reset... anything else left?

What can I say, color me disappointed. It's unreliable as a playback device when guests are over so I'm back to "the bag of hurt" known as Blu-ray for the foreseeable future.

Is your ATV using wifi to access content? If so, try switching to a wired connection if possible.

I started to use an ethernet over power solution and since then the crashes have stopped.

Appreciate the idea. It'd only be possible if I run a 30 ft cord from my office to my bedroom and a 45 ft cord from my office to my theater room.

I mean, I COULD do that, but I might as well just use my ipad w/netflix and the iPad/HDMI adapter I have vs having cords strung around the house.

I guess I'm just surprised that an issue that's been around for over a year is still around, that's all.

I was able to solve the problem after a year of dealing with this and following all the little tricks and tips people posted not only on this thread but other related support forums. I even went so far as to buy another apple TV to see if the issue was just that unit but continued experiencing the same issues. The only thing I could find that solved this issue was switching to an airport extreme. I was able to grab a used one and try it with my setup. Since upgrading I have not had either of the 2 apple TV’s crash or reset. I do not have cable TV. We stream everything and at the highest quality possible and still no issues. I have 2 kids that use the living room apple TV to stream and I have tested running both apple TVs at the same time, streaming HD content with no issues. The problem seemed to be all with my router. I suggest anyone that is having this issue to look at upgrading their router. After looking at the router my cable company provided I found that the unit was rated really low and was several years older than I had assumed. I know it's not going to be a happy solution for some. The thought of dropping 100 bucks on something that will require another potential 150 dollar purchase seems depressing, but if you can score a used one like I did it could be a viable solution.

Darn. I am already using an Airport Extreme. Which model are you using? Thanks.