4th Gen iPod Users - are we all having the same problem?

Same exact story as all of you - but I didn't do the last resort things in Disk utility. I have 2 more months left on my Applecare for iPod & am sending it in!

Have a last try?

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2232416#2232416

Oké i had the same problem and, tied every possible solution
and then i've read on a forum that if your ipod is not recognized o freezes computer cant copy music etc.
and your hard drive clicks just hit he ipod in the back hard but not too and believe it or not the hard drive stop the "clickeing" i connect my ipod and then the miracle it works
now 5 days later still no problem, try it!

Good to hear, do one know whether it is a permanent fix or not, I have the same experience and my 60G iPod Photo started to jam and skipping songs, so I did the following

1. Open the disk utility, hope your iPod appears there (left hand side), highlight it
2. Go to Tab “Partition”, click either “Delete” or “Partition”, if fails, skip this step and go to 3
3. Go to Tab “Erase” , choose Volume Format as “MAC OS Extended (Journaled), and click Erase, again if fails, skip it and go to 4
4. Same as step 3, but open the “Security Options....” and choose “Zero Out Data” before click Erase. It will take 1 to 2 hours to complete.
5. Eject your iPod and do a Reset
6. Open the iPod Updater and click “Restore”

I only managed to fix 80-90% bad sector, from time to time it is still have songs skipping but the frequent is acceptable

ok... i have exactly the same problem. someday i tried to transfer a few songs to the ipod and the itunes freezed. because nothing worked i had to unplug the ipod and since then it doesn't work anymore. every time i try to transfer some music the itunes freezes. i already restored the ipod about twenty times, loaded an older firmware and reinstalled the itunes but nothing worked. why can't the guys working for apple come up with a solution? i mean it's not our fault that our ipods aren't working. i already spent many hours on this topic and i'm sick of it...

Mac OS X (10.3.9)

ah man... i ******* hate those *******. i'm not paying 300 dollar for this bunch of crap...

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61937

this link does NOT work! I've tried all the apple topics, discussions, forums, whatever and I can still not get mine to work either. My 30GB iPod went to garbage and after repeated reformatting and updating and articles, etc. nothing would resolve my iPod not working anymore. I finally sent it off to macresq.com and they said the hard drive was shot but when I installed a brand new one, same problems. It worked for a little bit but soon I was (and still am) having the same problems with it not syncing, being recognized by my mac and just a big headache.
Apple has really let down it's customer base who've stood by them for years and believed that they were putting out products that were revolutionizing the industry. When, in fact, they were just putting out products that made it to the design stage and not past Quality Control. You know, just like the other lame computer manufacturers. I know I'm sounding a little spiteful but I am really upset at Apple. They have left there current customers in the dust for the sake of obtaining new ones and that's bad business. I think they intentionally put a code in their latest updates that renders the older models corrupt, thereby forcing us to by a new one. That might sound crazy but do you see Apple doing anything to fix these problems?

We are all having the same problem! My 4th Gen 20GB iPod worked perfectly for 1 year and 2 weeks, then started skipping songs. 2 weeks past the warranty. I reset using the iPod Updater, and it would not copy songs any more - it freezes randomly during the copying process. Sometimes on the first song, sometimes on the 251st, but never completes. I have downgraded my software version, restarted numerous times, ran disk utility, and the iPod diagnostics. Nothing works! I thought about sending it in for repair, but $275 for a replacement on a unit I paid $285 for a year ago doesn't make sense. I am now attempting the "erase disk" fix described in several posts. I'll keep my fingers crossed. This seems to be an obvious bug - Apple's customer satisfaction department needs to step up!

It worked! I used the Disk Utility to erase the disk and copy zeros, and used iPod Updater 2006-01-10 to reinstall the software image. I tried to copy my songs, and it froze again. So I reset one more time, and all 2475 songs copied successfully!

Well done, Glad to hear

Hi
I am glad you could make it just the same way I did. I have updated my own thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2276045#2276045
to keep you informed that so far (after 3 weeks of intensive use) it is a very successful fix. I also posted a little comment on how Apple deals with the situation. Last, some of the repliers mention the way they solved the bug with a similar procedure but adapting to a PC connection.
Good luck to everyone : )


PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.6) iPod 40G 4th gen

I've been long been having problems with my iPod, and I think it started when I updated to OS X.3.9. I've tried everything, including a downgrade to OS X.3.6 and all of the solutions presented here on the forums. For about six months, my iPod was rotting away in a corner, because I couldn't use it. I hoped my problems would be solved by updating to tiger, but alas, the problems (iTunes freezes when loading songs to my iPod) remain.
I am extremely angry at apple that this problem has still not been fixed. As I'm a lover of music, I've been thinking about buying a new iPod, but I'm wondering whether this will solve my problems. Do new iPods also suffer from these problems?

Hello Pim Beers,
There are millions happy iPod users, including me. But, before you buy your new iPod, have you read this before:-
Hello,

If a sad iPod icon or an exclamation point and folder icon appears on your iPod’s screen, or with sounds of clicking or HD whirring, it is usually the sign of a hard drive problem and you have the power to do something about it now. Your silver bullet of resolving your iPod issue – is to restore your iPod to factory settings.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60983

If you're having trouble, try these steps at different levels one at a time until the issue is resolved. These steps will often whip your iPod back into shape.

Make sure you do all the following “TRYs”

A. Try to wait 30 minutes while iPod is charging.
B. Try another FireWire or USB through Dock Connector cable.
C. Try another FireWire or USB port on your computer .
D. Try to disconnect all devices from your computer's FireWire and USB ports.
E. Try to download and install the latest version of iPod software and iTunes
http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
F. Try these five steps (known as the five Rs) and it would conquer most iPod issues.
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/
G. Try to put the iPod into Disk Mode if it fails to appear on the desktop
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93651

If none of these steps address the issue, you may need to go to Intermediate level listed below in logical order. Check from the top of the lists to see if that is what keeping iPod from appearing on your computer in order for doing the Restore.

Intermediate Level

A. Try to connect your iPod with another computer with the iPod updater pre-installed.

B. Still can’t see your iPod, put it in Disk Mode and connect with a computer, instead of doing a Restore on iPod Updater. Go and format the iPod instead.

For Mac computer
1. Open the disk utility, hope your iPod appears there (left hand side), highlight it
2. Go to Tab “Partition”, click either “Delete” or “Partition”, if fails, skip this step and go to 3
3. Go to Tab “Erase” , choose Volume Format as “MAC OS Extended (Journaled), and click Erase, again if fails, skip it and go to 4
4. Same as step 3, but open the “Security Options....” and choose “Zero Out Data” before click Erase. It will take 1 to 2 hours to complete.
5. Eject your iPod and do a Reset
6. Open the iPod Updater and click “Restore”

For Window computer
Go to folder “My Computer”
Hope you can see your iPod there and right click on the iPod
Choose “Format”. Ensure the settings are at “Default” and that “Quick Format” is not checked
Now select “Format”
Eject your iPod and do a Reset
Open the iPod Updater and click “Restore”
In case you do not manage to do a “Format” on a window computer, try to use some 3rd party disk utility software, e.g.“Partition Magic”.

C. Windows users having trouble with their iPods should locate a Mac user. In many cases when an iPod won't show up on a PC that it will show up on the Mac. Then it can be restored. When the PC user returns to his computer the iPod will be recognized by the PC, reformatted for the PC, and usable again. By the way, it works in reverse too. A Mac user often can get his iPod back by connecting it to a PC and restoring it.
Tips
a. It does not matter whether the format is completed or not, the key is to erase (or partly) the corrupted firmware files on the Hard Drive of the iPod. After that, when the iPod re-connected with a computer, it will be recognized as an fresh external hard drive, it will show up on the iPod updater.
b. It is not a difficult issue for a Mac user to find a window base computer, for a PC user, if they can’t find any Mac user, they can go to a nearest Apple Shop for a favor.
c. You may need to switch around the PC and Mac, try to do several attempts between “Format” and “Restore”

Advance Level

A. Diagnostic mode solution
If you have tried trouble shooting your iPod to no avail after all the steps above, chances are your iPod has a hardware problem. The iPod's built-in Diagnostic Mode is a quick and easy way to determine if you have a "bad" iPod.
You need to restart your iPod before putting it into Diagnostic Mode. Check that your hold switch is off by sliding the switch away from the headphone jack. Toggle it on and off to be safe.
Press and hold the following combination of buttons simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds to reset the iPod.
iPod 1G to 3G: "Menu" and "Play/Pause"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Menu" and "Select"
The Apple logo will appear and you should feel the hard drive spinning up. Press and hold the following sequence of buttons:
iPod 1G to 3G: "REW", "FFW" and "Select"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Back" and "Select"
You will hear an audible chirp sound (3G models and higher) and the Apple logo should appear backwards. You are now in Diagnostic Mode. Navigate the list of tests using "REW" and "FFW". The scroll wheel will not function while in diagnostic mode. For further details on Diagnostic mode can be found at http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/ipodsupport/diagnosticmode/
Try to do the 5in1, HDD R/W and HDD scan tests. Some successful cases have been reported after the running the few tests under the Diagnostic mode. In case it does not work in your case, and the scan tests reports show some errors then it proves your iPod has a hardware problem and it needs a repairing service.

B. Format your iPod with a start disk
I have not tried this solution myself, I heard that there were few successful cases that the users managed to get their iPod (you must put your iPod in disk mode before connecting with a computer) mounted by the computer, which was booted by a system startup disk. For Mac, you can use the Disk Utility (on the Tiger OS system disk), for PC user, you can use the window OS system disk. Try to find a way to reformat your iPod, again it does not matter which format (FAT32, NTFS or HFS+) you choose, the key is to erase the corrupted system files on the iPod. Then eject your iPod and do a Reset to switch out from Disk Mode. Reboot your computer at the normal way, connect your iPod back with it, open the iPod updater, and hopefully your iPod will appear there for the Restore.

If none of these steps address the issue, your iPod may need to be repaired.
Consider setting up a mail-in repair for your iPod http://depot.info.apple.com/ipod/
Or visit your local Apple Retail Store http://www.apple.com/retail/
In case your iPod is no longer covered by the warranty and you want to find a second repairing company, you can try iPodResQ at your own risk
http://www.ipodresq.com/index.php

Just in case that you are at the following situation
Your iPod warranty is expired
You don’t want to pay any service charges
You are prepared to buy a new one
You can’t accept the re-sell value of your broken iPod
Rather than leave your iPod as paper-weight or throw it away.
You can try the following, but again, only do it as your last resort and at your own risk.

Warning ! – It may or may not manage to solve your problem, and with a risk that you may further damage your iPod, which end up as an expensive paper weight or you need to pay more higher repairing cost. Therefore, please re-consider again whether you want to try the next level

Last Resort Level

1. . Disconnecting the Hard Drive and battery inside the iPod – Warning !! Your iPod warranty will be waived once you open the iPod.
In Hong Kong there are some electronic shops offering an iPod service for Sad iPod, the first thing they do is to open up the iPod’s case and disconnecting the battery and the Hard Drive from the main board of the iPod. Wait for 5-10 minutes and reconnecting them back. The reason behind which I can think of is to do a fully reset of a processor of the iPod. In case you want do it itself and you believe that you are good on fixing the electronics devices and have experience to deal with small bits of electronic parts, then you can read the following of how to open the iPod case for battery replacement (with pictures)
http://www.kokopellimusic.us/KM_instructions.htm
Have I tried this myself? No, I am afraid to do it myself as I am squeamish about tinkering inside electronic devices, I have few experiences that either I broke the parts (which are normally tiny or fragile) or failed to put the parts back to the main case. Therefore, I agree with suggestion to have it fixed by a Pro.

2. Do a search on Google and some topics on this discussion forum about “Sad iPod”

What should I do with my iPod? Send it or keep it?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=469080&tstart=0

Strange error on iPod (probably death)
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=435160&start=0&tstart=0

Sad Face on iPod for no apparent reason
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=336342&start=0&tstart=0

Meeting the Sad iPod icon
http://askpang.typepad.com/relevanthistory/2004/11/meeting_thesad.html#comment-10519524

Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2236095#2236095

iPod Photo: unhappy icon + warranty question
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2233746#2233746

4th Gen iPod Users - are we all having the same problem?
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=2235623#2235623

Low Battery, and clicking sounds
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2237714#2237714

Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2242018#2242018

Sad iPod solution
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=412033&tstart=0

I am not suggesting that you should follow as well, but just read them as your reference. You are the person to make the call.

Hey Mitch,

Thanks for you detailed instructions.
Unfortunately, I didn't work. I couldn't format my iPod, nor get it to complete a HD scan in its built in diagnostic mode. I'll probably have to buy a new iPod. I'm hesitant though, because I've read complaints similar to mine by people with new iPods...