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iPod Classic

I have an iPod classic and I cannot download any songs on it. It is constantly freezing my iPod when it is connected to my computer and it is constantly freezing my iTunes. I have reset my iPod and tried to restart my iTunes but nothing is working. I even followed the instructions on this site and I cannot even get 2 songs to show up on my iPod. What do I do now?

iPod classic

Posted on Mar 6, 2012 3:42 PM

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420 replies

May 28, 2017 12:04 PM in response to turingtest2

Hi so i have an iPod classic 5th gen 30gb (model-A1136) from 2006. I bought it used about a bout two years ago and it was working perfectly until i dropped it from about 3 feet on to hardwood floor. I think my computer (iMac late 2008, running Os x 10.11.6, and iTunes 12.6.1.25) used to recognize it but it currently does not recognize it at all. I read most of this thread and tried (mostly) everything you said. I think my situation is quite unique as no one I've seen has the same issues.

here are the stats:

first time- Retracts: 9 second time: Retracts: 9 third time: Retracts: 9

Reallocs: 9 Reallocs: 9 Reallocs: 9

Pending: 4 Pending: 4 Pending: 5

PowerOn hours: 2182 PowerOn hours: 2182 PowerOn hours: 2182

Start/Stops: 12,679 Start/Stops: 12,682 Start/Stops: 12,697

oh yeah and the temp stats were under HD info so here: Temp current: 25c Temp Min: 5c Temp Max: 54c


So when i plug my iPod classic in my mac with a genuine Apple iPod-Usb cable iTunes just spins its rainbow wheel for like 30secs and nothing happens. I even checked the disc utility thing and the iPod doesn't show up. Any suggestions? I don't want to just throw $60 away if it could be fixed. I just tried it on my other mac (mid-2007) and got the the same results. I even tried disc mode with nothing different happening.ss

May 28, 2017 12:14 PM in response to 13th planet from the sun

Ok i just tried that DFU restore and it got worse the screen when blank for about a second then the apple logo showed and then back to "connect to iTunes to restore" so i tried again and this time it started making these loud scratching clanking noises and it showed the little iPod with a face and Xs for eyes with "ww.apple.com/support/ipod" thing. I think I killed it...

May 28, 2017 2:32 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks for the diagnosis, the spanking trick didn't work despite all the hopeful comments on it. I might try that hard drive replacement procedure but it looks quite tedious. I also tried spanking my dads old iPod 4 20gb (model-a1059) because it has the same problem (he dropped his too) but no use. Actually it was really weird because he dropped his many years ago. About the time I dropped mine I got his out and charged it and it worked fine. So I loaded an album on it just to make sure it worked and it worked perfectly. So I loaded 2000 songs on it and half way through the sync it crashed and died. Maybe i'll let the iPods undergo hard drive replacement but for now I think i'll save up to buy an even better one off of craigslist

Mar 6, 2012 4:16 PM in response to familyfishn

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 taken when my 6th Generation Classic was about 2 years old:

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.



Assuming the diagnostics give the drive a clean bill of health it may still be worth checking the drive for logical file system errors.


Check iPod hard-drive for errors

Hold Select+Menu on the iPod for about 6 seconds until it resets, then hold Select+Play as soon as the Apple logo appears, again for about 6 seconds to put the machine in disk mode. Open iTunes and in the Sync tab of the preferences menu check Disable automatic syncing of all iPhones & iPods. Now connect your iPod to the computer, wait until it connects, then close iTunes.


Windows: Browse My Computer and right-click on the drive for the iPod, click Properties, then click Tools. Under Error-checking, click Check Now. Under Check disk options, select Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors (Optional - takes ages but a good idea if you've reason to suspect physical damage). Click Start.


Mac: Run Disk Utility / Repair Disk for the equivalent process.


This should find and correct any errors in the logical & physical structures of your iPod's hard drive. Once these have been fixed you can reset the iPod (hold Menu+Select) and should stand a better chance of a successful restore. It might also pay to check the status of the source drive containing your media, particularly if no errors were found on the iPod.


And if that still doesn't help try Erase your iPod - The Super Fix for most iPod Problems. Basically a low level format of the iPod’s hard drive to get around whatever problems are stopping iTunes from restoring it properly.



Once you've restored your iPod don't rush to dump all the data back exactly as it was before. I have found that lots of large or complex smart playlists can sometimes trigger constant reboots or dumping of the iPod's library. In addition, larger transfers can fail leaving data in an inconsistent state. Try this technique for populating the iPod in stages.


Break up large transfers

In iTunes select the menu item File... New Smart Playlist. Change the first drop-down box to Playlist, the next to is and the next to Music or whatever playlist holds the bulk of the content you want on your device. Tick against Limit to, type in say 10, then change the drop-down to GB, and set the last drop-down to artist. When you click OK you can enter a name for the playlist, e.g. Transfer.


User uploaded file


Now sync this playlist to your iPod rather than your entire library. When the sync is complete modify the rule (File... Edit playlist) to increase the size by your chosen amount, then sync and repeat. You can experiment with different size increments, if it doesn't work just choose something a bit smaller until it works each time. Before long you should have all your music on your iPod. Once that's done you can move on to other media such as podcasts, videos, photos, playlists


tt2

May 24, 2012 6:58 AM in response to turingtest2

i tried to do this but my screen showed only 'error.'I haven't been able to use my ipod in weeks....someone please help me.When I try to put it into 'Normal mode' I get 'Use Itunes to Restore' but it doesnt show in Itunes and I believe it only shows in windows 7 as 'Removeable disk.'I have tried to uninstalling and reinstalling Itunes,uninstalling Apple Mobile Device,and I tried formatting it with temporary success or nothing @ all...Should I invest in a new one?

May 24, 2012 8:39 AM in response to bluewolf89

As I said above...


Large numbers of Reallocs or Pending Sectors would suggest your drive is failing and that you may need to repair or replace your iPod.


If the system on device is just corrupted now but the hard drive is basically sound (even if there are some reallocs) then it should be possible to give the hard drive a low level format and restore it, provided everything else in the system is OK, e.g. cables, ports, drivers, iTunes etc. Often checking the behaviour when connecting to a separate computer can help determine if it is worth investing more time in trying to resolve things.


tt2

May 24, 2012 4:53 PM in response to bluewolf89

I think it's time to call it. The hard drive has failed. Your call whether to try to get the drive replaced or replace the whole unit. As to why, all hard drives fail eventually. How long each lasts is a combination of factors from the final build quality through how many times you dropped it and how hard, let it get too hot and/or cold, jogged with it etc.


tt2

Jun 7, 2012 11:45 AM in response to TomDfromCT

TomDfromCT wrote:


I have over 12,000 reallocs.


Is it possible that not using the "safely remove hardware" or not ejecting the device from iTunes could cause such a problem?


No


If the hard disk is damaged, can it be replaced/repaired by Apple or is it more sensible to just get a new device?


I don't think Apple do a hard disk replacement service as such, but they might offer a refurbished product at a discount over the new price. There are third parties that will do hard drive replacement, or you can attempt to do it yourself. Having replaced batteries in a couple of iPod video aka 5th generation models in the past I can tell you that the hardest part is getting the case open. Almost impossible to do without some damage to the case unless you are skilled, careful, and have the right tools.


A new machine obviously has the benefit of being new. For each of the other appraoches the cost & warranty protection will be different. It is up to you to weigh the options against each other and make a decision as to which suits you best.


tt2

iPod Classic

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