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Apple TV Death after update?

Seen quite a few people with this problem. After the update the light just blinks. After unplugging ethernet, it can't find router. Some people reset the router and said that worked. Others restored by plugging into iTunes and got it working. I did all of the above multiple times, still death. Going to have to take it into the Apple Store tomorrow I guess. Unless another update comes that fixes this.


Also the weird part, I know it's under warranty since it isn't even a year old, but I went to check the serial number and Apple said the serial number wasn't found.

Posted on Sep 25, 2012 12:29 AM

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Posted on Sep 25, 2012 1:40 AM

Had the same issues. Since resetting didn't work for me, I downloaded an old version of 5.0.2 software and restored that via iTunes (hold the option key when pressing the Restore button, this allows to point to a downloaded .ipsw file).


The old version still works fine, so it can't be a hardware thing. Waiting for a 5.1.1 update now

367 replies

Oct 12, 2012 4:09 PM in response to RandomVillain

About one and a half weeks ago I brought my Apple tv back to the store where I bought it. It's not an apple store, but an authorized apple reseller. Yesterday I've got it replaced by a new box. Back home I've tried with this new one, wich came with OS 5.0 and I've had the same issue, as with the old one after the update. It permanently lost home sharing after a couple of minutes. So thinking I've got nothing to lose, i tried the update 5.1 again - still the same trouble.

Next I did remove the ethernet cable and tried with WLAN - and id was working perfectly.

Back to LAN cable - home sharing lost!

Again back to WLAN - immediate connection to itunes media.


Strange thing

Oct 12, 2012 4:20 PM in response to reru73

In a bid to try anything, I was experimenting with the 'Sharing' settings in System Prefences. When I unchecked the 'File sharing' box and then checked it again, the Apple TV could suddenly see iTunes on my iMac. But as soon as I started to play a film, it lost the connection again. Really weird. I'm using wireless, by the way - wired won't reach the Apple TV unit.


Something is screwed. Come on Apple, get it sorted. That's two weeks now without a word. Grow a pair, huh?

Oct 12, 2012 7:24 PM in response to scubaal

Ok folks finally got the chance to take my ATv3 to the Apple shop in Canberra Centre.

Walked up to the Genius bar and was told I had to make an appointment and come back later......


3 hours later took my ATV3 back again and talked to a great Apple staffer (Steffan) who listened patentiently to my explanation (I had a print out of this htead with me just in case!). I was *really* concerned about the whole Apple support/Genius bar thing due to previous experience with Telstra/Optus/ISP tech support where basically the support people treat you like idiots/liars/con-men asking you 'did you plug it in', 'have you done the update', 'was the unit swittched on'....blah blah blah. I have to say I was ready for that from Apple but the apporach was completely different. Steffan listened and understood, recognised that I have a pretty high lelvel of tech expereince and didnt insult my intelligence......


He asked whether we could plug the thing in and boot it up -we did - no wifi (thank goodness). Has asked if we could reset/upgrade in the shop, we did, no wifi again (thank goodness again). He immediately gave me a new one with no issues.

He told me he had updated his atv3 a few days ago without problems and that I shouldnt be worried about accepting the update when I got home. I told him I was very worried and could we do it in the shop? Sure he said. So we updated the brand new atv3 out of the box. Worked perfectly and when complete it had wireless. Brought it home and it works perfectly.

So after about 30 mins in the Apple store, thanks to Steffan, I have a new working ATV3 running 5.1. I wont be accepting any future updates for at least a month after they come out 🙂 I guess I am lucky that I have an Apple store nearby (only opened a few weeks ago) and the thing still failed in the store.

So it seems this update doesn't *always* fail.....maybe something to do with the configuration status at thet time of the upgrade - who knows?


So I am fixed - good luck to the rest of you who are still dealing with this issue.

Oct 12, 2012 7:36 PM in response to scubaal

How funny scubaal, I took my ATV3 into the Canberra Centre Apple store today too.


I've had the 'no wifi' issue ever since upgrading to 5.1, had restored back to 5.0.2 or whatever it was as suggested on here and it worked again for a while but when it stopped picking up wifi again last week I decided to take it into the store.


My genius appointment wasn't with Steffan - I think it was something like Gwillam? Anyway, he plugged in my ATV3 and it didn't pick up the store's wifi (like you, I was kind of relieved). He got me another one from out the back (which he said was the last replacement unit they had in the store). We checked that it worked in the store before I took it home. The funny thing was it didn't work at first when I plugged it at home but after unplugging and plugging everything back in again it's working now. I had the prompt to upgrade to 5.1 and I've been too scared to do it. I think I'll wait for the next update before upgrading the software.

Oct 13, 2012 4:43 AM in response to RandomVillain

После обновления на версию 5.1 мой Apple TV 3 перестал видеть Wi-Fi. При подключенном кабеле Ethernet просто постоянно перезагружался. Apple TV умер. После установки официального обновления от производителя.

Я живу в России, где нет поддержки от Apple.

Сегодня я смог установить прошивку AppleTV3,1_5.0.2_9B830_Restore.ipsw. После этого отлично работает и WiFi и Ethernet как и раньше.

То есть проблема однозначно в новой прошивке.

Я не являюсь сторонником jailbreak, но теперь с нетерпением жду когда станет возможным jailbreak для Apple TV 3.

Oct 13, 2012 4:43 AM in response to RandomVillain

Google Translate:

After the upgrade to version 5.1 of my Apple TV 3 could not see Wi-Fi. When connected to an Ethernet cable just continually rebooted. Apple TV is dead. After installing the official update from the manufacturer.

I live in Russia, where there is no support from Apple.

Today I was able to install the firmware AppleTV3, 1_5.0.2_9B830_Restore.ipsw. After this works fine and WiFi and Ethernet as before.

That is definitely a problem in the new firmware.

I am not a supporter of the jailbreak, but now look forward to when it will be possible to jailbreak Apple TV 3.

Oct 13, 2012 4:54 PM in response to RandomVillain

I had major issues with my ATV3 after updating to the 5.1 software. I could not connect to Itunes Match or photo stream through Ethernet, only WiFi would connect. I was also receiving can not connect to server messages. I spent time trouble shooting my network even though nothing changed. I also went to the apple store where they restored the device....nothing. Finally I decided to go out a purchase a mini usb and give it a shot restoring it to 5.0.2....and BOOM what do you know, everything is back to working flawlessly.

DO NOT UPDATE!!

Oct 14, 2012 1:24 PM in response to ReturnToCoda

Hi Peeps

Couldn't wait any longer so downgraded to previous version of software and firmware on my ATV3 all working fine now. But holding off on upgrading this unit until I hear good news.


Weird thing though ... I have another ATV 2 and hadn't touched it in a while, it's been sat connected to web and on standby attached to another TV. Last night I moved into another room fired it up and hey presto it had updated itself to 5.1 and even more surprising it all worked perfectly.


So my ATV 2 can do stuff my ATV 3 can't ....



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Apple TV Death after update?

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