restore apple TV with iTunes 11

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nwamacman Author

Level 1

13 points

restore apple TV with iTunes 11

There is no source list in iTunes 11. Any ideas how to restore a 3rd gen Apple TV using a Micro USB cable??

Apple TV (3rd generation), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Jan 6, 2013 6:55 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Winston Churchill

Level 10

122,487 points

Jan 7, 2013 3:42 AM in response to nwamacman

Welcome to the Apple Community.

The source list is in the top right corner of iTunes or in the sidebar if you enable it (either from the view menu or by pressing cmd-alt-S)

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Answer 2

nwamacman Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 7, 2013 4:49 AM in response to Winston Churchill

Awesome! Now I can see the "Device" list like the old iTunes but the Apple TV still does not populate the list. Any ideas??

Thanks in advance.

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Answer 3

Jan 7, 2013 4:54 AM in response to nwamacman

I assume this is with the USB cable connected. Are you following these instructions.

Remove ALL cables from Apple TV. (if you don't you will not see Apple TV in the iTunes Source list)
Connect the micro USB cable to the Apple TV and to your computer.
Reconnect the power cable (only for Apple TV 3)
Open iTunes.
Select your Apple TV in the Source list, and then click Restore.

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Answer 4

nwamacman Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 7, 2013 5:02 AM in response to Winston Churchill

Following these instructions explicitly.

I can see my iPhone connected under the source list but the AppleTV (3rd Gen) does not populate this list after following these instructions. Again, this is after the Apple TV suggested that I download the latest update (Jan. 6th, 2013 - the date I updated the AppleTV software).

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Answer 5

Jan 7, 2013 5:45 AM in response to nwamacman

What happens when you reconnect the power cable as per step 3. Does the Apple TV start blinking.

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Answer 6

nwamacman Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 7, 2013 5:01 PM in response to Winston Churchill

Yes, the LED on the front of the AppleTV blinks quickly and repetitively without pauses.

When I plug the HDMI cable into the back of the AppleTV, the only thing that shows up on the screen is the iTunes 11 desktop icon with a USB cable underneath it and an arrow from the cable to the iTunes icon suggesting that it needs to be plugged in.

I have tried the "Menu" + "Down" button command and the hard restart just results in the same image (iTunes 11 desktop icon with a USB cable underneath it).

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Answer 7

Jan 7, 2013 5:08 PM in response to nwamacman

Are you trying to restore with the HDMI cable plugged in.

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Answer 8

nwamacman Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 7, 2013 5:22 PM in response to Winston Churchill

No. Following the instructions explicitly. Just giving background to the situation.

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Answer 9

nwamacman Author

Level 1

13 points

Jan 7, 2013 5:22 PM in response to Winston Churchill

Thanks for your help by-the-way!

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Answer 10

Jan 8, 2013 3:28 AM in response to nwamacman

I think I'd be inclined to take it to an Applestore

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Answer 11

Apr 8, 2013 4:29 AM in response to nwamacman

Hello,

I've got the exact same issue. I tried to connect my Apple TV via 3 different micro USB cable to all ports of 2 different MacBook Pros, but it only rapidly and continuously blinks. By the way both, the original and the replacement Apple TV behave identically.

I'm currently in talk with the Apple Support to find the cause of the problem.

Cheers,

Andras

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Answer 12

Apr 11, 2013 3:59 AM in response to Andras Hatvani

ℹ I provided logs hopefully containing indications to the root cause of the problem to Apple and am now waiting for the engineering department's response.

Andras

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