Apple TV Death after update?

Once I download the update, how do I use it to downgrade my apple tv? I saw the bit about holding down the option key, but I'm not clear about how to connect the apple tv to iTunes on my computer. I have an apple tv 3.

Thanks. I tried that. Opened iTunes. Connected the micro USB cable to the Apple Tv. Plugged the power cable into the Apple TV. The light on the Apple TV flashes quickly, but doesn't show up in iTunes. Tried two different micro USB cables. Called Apple Support. They want me to take it to a service center. Unfortunately closest one is 50 miles from me.

Sorry to keep posting, wanted to update. Talked to Apple Support again. They told me that microusb cables designed for charging may not support data transfer. Both the cables I tried came with other devices and were for charging, so that's mostly like the problem.

I've got the same problem here. After update it reboots and the atv3 keeps flashing for

ages. When i disconnect the ethernet cable it does boot but doesn't find any wifi

connection even if i enter it manually.

When i connect the ethernet again screen goes black again and white led flashes.

I've always used the atv3 wired without problems. Router is on 192.168.0.1

and on the router it seems the atv3 got the ip 192.168.0.4 assigned. No

other device in the network has this ip. i'm pretty well known with networking

since this is part of my work. So i'm sure there is no problem with the

network. There is something wrong with the new IOS5.1 !

Off getting a micro usb cable tomorrow. How can i see it's data capable?

Had same problem here, blinking when cable inserted and no wifi signal found with no cable, downgraded again to previous software version with the use of iTunes and miniusb cable. Now cable works but the wifi still doesn't find any wifi signal anymore. This apparently was due to that latest upgrade to iOS 5.1

and remained even after downgrading back to 5.02

Called apple support Netherlands, and as my phone support contract was just overdue, they offered me to help them if I would consider paying them another extension for AppleCare, this while the problem is obviously due to a faulty upgrade from apple.

I refused to pay another contract and this person told me that the origin isn't hardware or software but most probably how my network works....that the settings of my network are most probably the cause, honestly I don't believe this as I have approximately, 9 apple hard wares that find the network and are working just fine on wifi. ( iPad,iPhone,imac etc)

So the ball is at their camp now and I suppose we need to wait for a decent software upgrade that fixes this problem.

I was lucky enough to have that mini USB cable and to do the downgrade without to go to buy one....

Apple please fix this before other people get frustrated and have unnecessary costs. Lets believe you come with a good solution. Still believe you will.

This is in reply to w_c's post with the links:

My wife did the new update a couple of hours ago, and the iTunes logo & a Micro USB cable logo showed up on our TC screen. Both of us attempted to plug the Micro USB cable into our Macbook Pros, with no success; nothing happened whatsoever.

So, right now I am currently DL'ing the Apple TV 2 link for iOS 5.02 that you provided. Please explain the steps to restore my Apple TV to this earlier version to me (Barney-style), as I didn't fully understand what you explained in your post. I get steps #1 - #3, but step #4 made little sense when once you said you pressed "option and store at the same time."

Thank you to the helpful posts here, the Apple TV works again!

24 hrs of learning to probably not update any device until it has been public approved.

Updated to 5.1 yesterday and the wifi connection was flickering on and off, mostly off, even after a 2nd restore and resets. There was never any wifi problems before the update.

Best Buy worker was very nice and tested it, and said the wifi signal never waivered in the store. His best guess was that our router was too old to work with the update. That must be the only explanation for these problems. Although it works with everything else without fail, including os 5.0.2.

I found that a cell phone micro usb cable does work like others said. Make sure you unplug the apple tv power and then plug it back in after it is connected to the computer by the usb, then it will show up in iTunes.

Downloaded the ATV3 os 5.0.2 from above links and it erased, then restored the apple tv os 5.0.2.

The first screen hooked back up to the tv monitor gave the itunes logo and cables freeze, pushed the menu and play buttons together and held to restart.

Then went through the whole process of signing everything back in...24 hrs + later.

Now everything, and WIFI, work perfectly.....just like they did before being prompted to update .......?

So to sum up, we are looking forward to Apple releasing a REAL 5.1 update that works!

I'm having similar wifi problems as others. Things seem to work okay through Ethernet however.

I cannot restore my AppleTV 3 won't let me restore to 5.0.2. iTunes states that "This device isn't eligible for the requested build." Maybe my AppleTV 3 came with a newer version than 5.0.2? Do you know if there is something closer to 5.1 (but not 5.1 of course).

Thanks.

I went ahead and restored my Apple TV, then updated it to the newest version, all using my MBP. It fixed the issues completely, and all I had to do was plug the Apple TV back in, reconnect it to the internet via Wifi, then sign back into iTunes and Netflix.

Try that, and see if it works.

As a long time apple user and apple lover (iPhone5, iPad3, MacBook Pro, Apple TV), I am absolutely disappointed in these recent apple shortcomings. First the new maps routing me up one way roads in Boston, now the Apple TV crashing after a routine update. Apple, please get your act together. These half baked updates are getting very, very old, very, very fast.

I purchase and recommend apple products based on the stability and foresight of the products, as do many others - this is why we pay premiums for the products. I do NOT expect to have to tinker with and downgrade from updates, especially on the newest generation of product (apple tv 3). I am thoroughly frustrated that the most recent upgrade has temporarily rendered my Apple TV useless. This is completely unacceptable and will likely affect my future purchasing decisions if not resolved soon.

I can forgive the occasional issue - the maps quirks, the new iPhone5 cable, but a bad update now? W T F.

Ironically enough, the only computer I have around tonight is my sig other's toshiba laptop. Plugged the Apple TV in to restore and received an error that the Apple TV could not be restored (error 10). No Apple TV for me tonight. I guess I'll just plug my iPhone directly into the stereo...oh wait...I can't anymore because the old iPhone 30 pin cord is defunct. Luckily I have a jawbone jambox that connects with Bluetooth...until apple decides to not be compatible with Bluetooth and invents their own proprietary wireless connection. Thunderbolt and lightning are already taken...how about apple rain wireless?

I have been talking to the Apple TV team and performing some diagnostics on the unit at their request so I know they are working on the issue.

At this time they have asked me to test a number of reboot scenarios and an attempt to recover the logs, none of which have resolved the issue.

The fact that the unit gets an IP address via DHCP with wired connection, despite the slow flashing light, indicates to me that it is software related and not a hardware failure, however, I'm concerned that a restore to previous version does not resolve the wifi.

At the very least a restore to the previous version has me working via Ethernet fixed wire.

In a weak moment I pressed the OK button to update my ATV2 - now looking at a fast blinking light. Thanks for the help - just now ordered a six dollar micro USB cable from Amazon. During the update, the progress bar took an awful long time and paused at several points for a few minutes. I thought I was in trouble, and it was true. One thing that really stinks is that the display showed an iTunes logo with a white USB cable below it, but no language at all. A phrase or two in English, French, Japanese, Arabic, Korean, and Chinese would help to clue folks in on what the heck to do next.

SOLVED for ATV 3 v5.1 Update

Background

Following a software update to v5.1 (from v5.0.2) the ATV restarts and is stuck on choose your language. Selecting the language results in a black screen before the unit returns to choose your language.

or

Following a software update (as above) the ATV restarts and is stuck with a black screen and a slow flashing light forever.

My Solution

Step 1:

Remove the fixed wire Ethernet cable and power on.

Step 2:

After selecting the language the unit will look for a wireless connection with a button called "Other". Do no press "Other" and wait for 30 secs. If you do not see a busy indicator (spinner) inside the button and no wireless networks are found press menu on your remote. Repeat pressing menu until you get to "Computer" and "Settings" main screen.

or

The unit powers straight up to the main menu "Computer" and "Settings"

Step 3: - Be careful with this step or you'll kill your wireless! If you are unsure then get someone who knows how to configure this.

Logon to your wireless modem management console.

Reconfigure the wireless setting to 2.4 GHz b/g/n with a speed of up to 54 Mbps and a channel of 11. Set the security to WEP and generate a pass code.

Save and wait for the modem to reconfigure.

Optional: Test the new wireless configuration with a device that you know works.

Step 4:

On the ATV navigate to the settings >> General >> Network >> Wifi and Wait on the "Other" screen.

For me the wireless networks started appearing at this point and I could select the one I needed and enter the pass phrase.

If they don't appear - power off/on again back to menu, network, wifi, other.

Step 5:

Now plug in the fixed wire Ethernet cable and the unit no longer resets!

Side note:

Setting the wireless back to the original setting is now working - don't know why.

My settings were originally 2.4GHz b/g/n, channel Auto, Speed up to 300Mbps, Security WPA2-PSK (AES).

Hope that helps you.

Thank you so much for this post. I reverted back to 5.0.2 using the method suggested and my Apple TV is finally working again. It had been driving me crazy that it wasn't working and I couldn't work out why.

Thanks again