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KaeSun Author

Level 1

12 points

Diagnostics Test: Please plug FW?

Ok, so I had been having some problems with my iPod in that when I tried to connect it to my computer, iTunes would freeze, "My Computer" wouldn't see it, etc. So one of the things I tried to do to solve this problem was see if there was something wrong with the iPod itself. I currently have the 80GB silver iPod classic. I reset the iPod using the menu and action buttons, and then put it into diagnostic boot with << and action button. I first selected the auto test, passed the quickscan, passed the keypad test, passed the wheel test, then the hold switch test comes on. I turn the hold switch on, then off, and test detects it with the 0 and 1, then hit menu to continue. Then the HP detect test, I plugged in the headphones until it said 1, and then uplugged them. Pretty much, all you do to go through these tests is do what it says so that it can read that the function is there, and then read that you removed that function, such as the HP (headphones). However, now I get to the Accessorize test. Plug in the USB cord to a power source (computer or wall outlet works) and USB_DETECT=1, and then to 0. But then it asks me to please plug FW. Which I'm assuming is FireWire. But isn't that usually used for older models? I don't have and never have had a FireWire cable for this iPod. How to pass this test? All other forums I've looked up concerning this message, most people were not trying to do the diagnostics test and had no clue what it was and what to do with it. Am I supposed to go buy a FireWire adaptor just to do this diagnostics?

Studio 1500, Windows Vista

Posted on Feb 13, 2011 8:15 PM

Top-ranking reply

turingtest2

Level 10

274,788 points

Posted on Mar 21, 2011 11:58 AM

You can select which tests to run manually, however this is probably the one that really matters...

*Check your iPod with Diagnostics Mode*
It's possible that your iPod's hard drive has started to fail. Take your iPod and place your right thumb on the centre SELECT button and your left on the top MENU button. Press down both thumbs for about 6 seconds until your iPod reboots. Immediately move your left thumb around to the rewind button |<< on the left and hold this down together with SELECT for a further 6 seconds. Your iPod should now switch into Diagnostic Boot mode. Press MENU for *Manual Test*, then select *IO > HardDrive > HDSMARTData* to reveal your stats. For comparison here are mine for my 2 year old 6th Generation Classic:

Retracts: 889
Reallocs: 12
Pending Sectors: 0
PowerOn Hours: 2202
Start/Stops: 894
Temp: Current 24c
Temp: Min 10c
Temp: Max 50c

Take a note of your results. When finished press *SELECT & MENU* for 6 seconds to reset the iPod again.

With modern disc drives sectors are no longer marked bad by a disc scan, if the SMART firmware detects a sector it has trouble accessing it will attempt to invisibly reallocate it to a spare area of the disc.

Note that I've only 12 remapped sectors and none pending. To help explain what the numbers mean here is an extract from the Wikipedia S.M.A.R.T. article:

*Reallocated Sectors Count*
Count of reallocated sectors. When the hard drive finds a read/write/verification error, it marks this sector as "reallocated" and transfers data to a special reserved area (spare area). This process is also known as remapping, and "reallocated" sectors are called remaps. This is why, on modern hard disks, "bad blocks" cannot be found while testing the surface – all bad blocks are hidden in reallocated sectors. However, as the number of reallocated sectors increases, the read/write speed tends to decrease. The raw value normally represents a count of the number of bad sectors that have been found and remapped. Thus, the higher the attribute value, the more sectors the drive has had to reallocate.

*Pending sector count*
Number of "unstable" sectors (waiting to be remapped, because of read errors). If an unstable sector is subsequently written or read successfully, this value is decreased and the sector is not remapped. Read errors on a sector will not remap the sector (since it might be readable later); instead, the drive firmware remembers that the sector needs to be remapped, and remaps it the next time it's written.

Large numbers of Reallocs or Pending Sectors would suggest your drive is failing and that you may need to repair or replace your iPod. Check your stats after another attempt to update your iPod. If the numbers increase that again points to hard drive failure. While it won't be good news at least you'll know it isn't some random software problem and you can decide what to do next.

tt2

View in context

115 replies

gyandev

Level 1

6 points

Nov 30, 2011 3:02 PM in response to turingtest2

Thank you, KaeSun, for the initial question, as I found myself in the same position: No FW.

And thank you, turingtest2, for your explanation. I see that with 205 Reallocs and 42 Pending Sectors, I have more than a wee bit of hard drive trouble.

Now I have to decide whether to replace the hard drive (costly to hire it done, and DIY seems damage-prone), or replace the entire iPod with a Nano. (I don't think I want to get into the iPod hard drive world again.)

May 1, 2012 8:05 PM in response to turingtest2

i have a almost new ipod classic it is maybe 4 months old it was a replacemnt for my old classic the HD failed in that one. this one was working fine about a week ago now when i plug it into itunes it comes up as "untitled" and itunes can't restore it because " the ipod could not be found" or something like that. so i tried the test and it asked me for fw after that i tried what you suggested and mine says:

Retracts: 0

Reallocs: 0

Pending Sectors: 0

powerOn Hours: 27

Start/Stops: 925

Temp: Current 23c

Temp: Min 7c

Temp: Max 50c

I'm not sure if having 0s on those first three are good but please help!

turingtest2

Level 10

274,788 points

May 1, 2012 11:32 PM in response to Brandon Fairbanks

The stats say the iPod's hard drive is fine. Unless you a have FireWire connection cable you can't complete the FW test. Chances are there is an issue with the connection rather than the device. Things to try are an alternate cable, alternate USB port, updating USB drivers, reinstalling iTunes, checking for fluff in connectors.

tt2

May 25, 2012 6:23 AM in response to turingtest2

I've had the same issue to a point. I tired your (turingtest2) suggestions, and got as far as "

Press MENU for *Manual Test*, then select *IO > HardDrive > HDSMARTData* to reveal your stats." At this point my results diverge from what you recieved. I get two messages. One up higher onthe screen that reads "[Can't Open Device] and then the second at the very bottom that reads and flashes "ERROR! Diag Halt."

Of course I don't fully know what any of this means, but I fear that my iPod Classic, 160KB, and less than a year old, is in serious trouble.

Any advice?

turingtest2

Level 10

274,788 points

May 25, 2012 7:41 AM in response to Gene Medway

The hard drive is dead. 😢

You can investigate the options for having the drive replaced or start saving for a new device.

If it is less than a year old, and you've not been confirming the laws of gravity with it, then you should be able to get it replaced under warranty.

tt2

turingtest2

Level 10

274,788 points

Jun 20, 2012 7:29 AM in response to James Rothschild

If the reformat did its job properly the pending sectors that don't read/write reliably will have been mapped out for fresh ones. Of course there is still a risk that there are some other bad sectors somewhere on the drive, in which case you may have to repeat the process once or twice. As long as the numbers don't start spiraling upwards however it should be OK.

tt2

Jun 29, 2012 8:21 AM in response to turingtest2

turingtest2 wrote:

Your iPod should now switch into Diagnostic Boot mode. Press MENU for *Manual Test*, then select *IO > HardDrive > HDSMARTData* to reveal your stats.

What if stats are not revealed? My ipod classic simply shows "[Open Device...]" and seems to freeze there. Is this just as bad as Gene's "[Can't Open Device]"?

I've been able to access the iPod in Disk Mode, but have not had any luck repairing the disk (with Disk Utility), or restoring it with iTunes (error 1434).

Adt192

Level 1

0 points

Jul 31, 2012 6:33 PM in response to turingtest2

thanks for the input, although the link f the super fix leads to a page cannnot be found, I have already tried it, the problem that im facing is that my ipod froze a couple weeks ago, i plugged it in and nothing, it just froze and i couldnt do a thing, i reset it and it went to restore mode, but after that every time i try to resotre it an error occurs, specifically error 1439.. and ive done a bunch of things but none seems to work

turingtest2

Level 10

274,788 points

Aug 7, 2012 2:51 AM in response to Adt192

Then I think it is time to decare the iPod dead. 😟

Did you successfully format the drive? Were the pending sectors cleared afterwards? Were there more pending sectors following an attempt to restore? It could be worth trying another computer and/or another lead just to rule out problems there, but if the pending/reallocs figures just keep climbing then it is the drive itself that is shot.

tt2

Fifthsis

Level 1

0 points

Aug 13, 2012 4:06 PM in response to turingtest2

Hi tt2,

I've looked through a few discussions dealing with problems like mine, and you seem to be the most knowledgable. 🙂

My problem started about a week ago when I bought some new music. I had just plugged it in that afternoon, and trimmed my content. I put a few things in new, but took much more out. I left the iPod to charge after the transfer, and it worked fine after disconnecting. I bought new music, plugged the iPod in, and was chagrinned to find my computer doesn't recognize my device. I tried several cables... none worked.

I went on Youtube and figured out how to restart my iPod (Classic, 30gb, gen- I don't know... second hand. 🙂) Now I've been running tests. All the tests are cleared, some of my USB cables didn't work, and some did. I can't get past the FireWire test, but all other aspects are functioning fine.

Is it the computer? No, I've plugged it into three computers it had been previously connected to, and one it hadn't... no change.

IO>HardDrive>HDSMARTData:

Retracts:22

Reallocs:0

Pending Sectors:0

PowerOn Hours: 505

Start/Stops: 22268

HD Info:

Model #, HDSN, (I figure you don't want those.)

Total LBA:

58605120

Total Size: 27gb

Temp: current 35c

min 252c max 49c

(No idea what these^ mean.)

Is there a way to wipe/format/SOMETHING my iPod? It runs just fine, but it is un-recognized. Or, is there a way to manually tell the computer that there's something in its drive?

I'm totally up for putting commands/etc. in to get through the back doors, if you know any. 🙂

turingtest2

Level 10

274,788 points

Aug 13, 2012 4:14 PM in response to Fifthsis

The stats all look good. You can't test FireWire without access to, um, a FireWire port, so don't worry on that account. Reset the iPod again. Power down, then restart your computer. Any better? If not put the iPod in disk mode. Does it show up in Windows Explorer/Finder? Still no joy and you've tried other cables I'd check for fluff in the iPod docking port, extract gently with a toothpick or needle if that's the case. If not, test connectivity on a different computer.

tt2

Fifthsis

Level 1

0 points

Aug 13, 2012 5:39 PM in response to turingtest2

Yeah, I was just saying I tested averything except FW. I don't have any need for it and know it's irrelevant.

I've reset it numerous times, just did it again. Powered down/restarted, no change. No fluff, blew out a tiny bit of dust. No change. Tried it on the other pc... no change.

How do I put it in/what is disk mode?

jaksinap

Level 1

0 points

Jan 4, 2013 12:20 AM in response to turingtest2

Hi tt2,

I could really use some help.

iPod was dead in bag last week (iPod Classic 160gb), so threw it on speakers/charger. It started up & there were no files music or vid on there, but was working fine to set an alarm. Minor freak out to which I reset the ipod - it got stuck in startup loop.

Have tried connecting to laptop (Win7, all USB 2.0 or 3.0 ports) using 3 different cables & all ports. Am getting it recognized in Disk Mode only, not in normal mode - screen shows apple nonstop in normal mode & won't connect.

Ran diagnostics and Smart Data has the following:

Retracts: 899

Reallocs: 4

Pending Sectors: 1

PowerOn Hours: 998

Start/Stops: 589

Temp: Current 29c

Temp: Min 13c

Temp: Max 52c

Am running the most current iTunes, but whenever I try to restore iPod it comes up as a fail, also tried to format in Windows & that too failed.

I can feel the HDD starting up whenever i reset, and the fact that I can get it connected in Disc mode tells me it's not a HDD failure - fair assumption or not?

Would really appreciate any help you can give me! Feeling very lost without my iPod.
Thanks,
Jaksinap 🙂

royvella

Level 1

8 points

Jan 6, 2013 12:54 PM in response to Gene Medway

TT2,

VERY helpful. Thanks for the thorough responses. I had the same issue of not being able to get to the diagnostics on the HD... but was able to get to Disk Mode. That said, the iPod never show up as accessible on my Mac. The iPod says "Do Not Disconnect", shows the little sync icon in the upper left corner, etc. but nothing shows on the desktop... any secrets on that ends to see if I can reformat somehow?

Thanks again!

turingtest2

Level 10

274,788 points

Jan 6, 2013 1:18 PM in response to royvella

Try a DFU restore. Connect to the USB lead, then do a reset by holding down Menu+Select, but keep holding until the screen goes black after it has restarted and shown the Apple logo. (Should take around 12 seconds). Now start iTunes. It should detect a device in "recovery mode" and offer to restore it. With luck this time it will be successful.

Other things to try are a different lead, a different computer or a different operating system. i.e. ask a friend with Windows to try restoring it if you have a Mac, or vice versa.

tt2

Diagnostics Test: Please plug FW?