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My sister has corrupted her ipod classic by using the windows explorer eject route in vista rather than the eject button in iTunes. the PC no longer recognizes the iPod as a disc any ideas guys n gals ?
Ive tried a resst to no avail
I also tried putting into disc mode again un responsive!
can it be recovered ?
thanks
iPod classic
Here are a number of things to try...
Recover media from a manually managed iPod
What follows are tips for restoring your iPod, but if it is the only location currently hosting some of your media then the first task is to try to extract it. See the user tip Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device for some recovery tools. Most third party tools will probably require the device to have a functioning library however the techniques outlined in the iLounge Article referenced at the end should work as long as the device still shows up in Windows Explorer or Finder.
Check your iPod with Diagnostics Mode
It is 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 MENU+SELECT 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.
Check iPod hard-drive for errors
Assuming the diagnostics give the drive a clean bill of health it may still be worth checking the drive for logical file system errors.
Hold MENU+SELECT on the iPod for about 6 seconds until it resets, then switch to PLAY+SELECT as soon as the Apple logo appears, again for about 6 seconds to put the machine in disk mode. Open iTunes and in the Devices tab of the preferences menu check Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from syncing automatically. 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.
DFU Restore
If the device still won't restore normally try this method. Connect the device to the USB cable, press MENU+SELECT like a standard reset but keep holding for 12 seconds. The device should reboot as normal and then the screen should go blank. Now open iTunes and try to restore again.
Reformat Drive
If all else fails 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.
Break up large transfers
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.
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.
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, etc.
tt2
None pending is good, but the high reallocation count and climbing, plus the high temperature (which is unlikely to be accurate, but hints that it probably did get too hot >50 at some point) look bad. Apple no longer make the iPod classic. I don't know if they are interested in repairing out of warranty devices but they certainly won't be the cheapest. There are companies than can either supply and fit replacement drives, or supply the drive for you to swap it yourself.
You might try persisting with putting the media back using the break up large transfers method and see it if settles down.
tt2
A big thank you, turingtest2, for your earlier post with instructions for disc-checking, restoring, DFU restore of ipod classic and the link to the advice on reformatting the ipod hard drive. Your post put me on the track to solving my ipod classic problem. I hope my own experience, which ended in success, may be of some help to others. I have an ipod classic 5th generation 30gb which I'd been syncing to my iTunes library on a Windows 7 64bit HP Probook for two years with no problems. A couple of days ago I docked my ipod on my Bose Sounddock and was fast forwarding through tracks when the hard drive started making a high pitched whistle. I removed the ipod from the dock and tried to turn it off but could not. I let the battery run down and the hard drive stopped (of course). I connected to my laptop, opened iTunes; my ipod and all songs on it showed in the iTunes window but when I tried to sync I got a "device not found" message. I thought my ipod might be dying but the disc checks described by turingtest2 showed it to be healthy. I tried restore (menu + select for 6 seconds) and DFU restore (connect to computer without iTunes running, menu+select for 12 seconds, open iTunes) but neither worked. I did a bit more research and identified that the problem could be with the drive letter assignments by Windows (my ipod and all the folders on its drive were showing in windows explorer and in iTunes but iTunes sync could not connect; previously I'd had a problem with Windows randomly changing the drive letter for my Seagate expansion drive that I use for back up). I plugged in my Seagate and changed the drive letter and changed the drive letter for the DVD drive and restarted the computer. I plugged in my ipad - iTunes not running - and changed the drive letter and reformatted it and restarted the computer. I plugged in my ipod and started iTunes. iTunes recognised my ipod but I had to restore it with the iTunes restore button. Now, as I write this, my ipod is happily syncing (and my laptop is backing up to my Seagate).
Hi,
Not sure whether you can help but my I pod is coming up that it is corrupt. I have tried all of the things suggested above and still nothing. I think my hardrive may be on its way out but the stats are as below :
Retracts 12
Reallocs 2736
Pending Sectors 0
Power on hours 17
Start/Stops 2144
Temp Current 25c
Temp min 12c
Temp max 55c
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! 😟
Hi.
You have a fair number of failed clusters, but within the range that is catered for. None pending is good, max. temp has got a little warm as the device should never exceed 50c. Try the DFU Restore followed by the Break Up Large Transfers method to put your music on it.
tt2
I have loaded up a 480GB mSATA with 145GB, over 30K songs, and then found that the IPod was unusable, stuck on the logo, unable to re-boot, etc. I sent it back to the seller to re-set and format for me, but I am concerned about repeating the problem when I get it back. I will use your suggestion to break up large transfers. My question is will I be able to later synchronize my actual playlists after that, and should I put them in a certain amount at a time (after all the media is loaded)?
I found that once all of the media had been added, introducing the additional playlists I wanted on it could be done in one step. That said I was using a regulation 160Gb iPOd classic, but I can't think of a good reason for it to be any different.
tt2
I apologize for replying to this long forgotten post but I just want to know if you can determine if my Ipod classic (80g) is worth trying to fix. I've tried so many different methods to repair this problem of being unable to sync music to ipod with error codes -50,-69 (and a couple others), itunes cannot finish syncing 5k songs into ipod (itunes freezes so I am forced to manually disconnect ipod). Ive tried to break apart my sync, re-installed itunes, restoring ipod, and countless other methods. Could you just let me know if the specs of my diagnostic test of the hard drive is worth to keep trying to solve the issue or should i just scrap it. Any help will be greatly appreciated!
Retracts:116
Reallocs: 328
Pending sectors:33
PowerOn Hours:1089
Start/stops: 895
Temp: Current 29c
Temp: min 18c
Temp: Max 42c
Those numbers are low enough to suggest the iPod probably has some life left in it. Try the DFU restore or reformat methods. Other things to try are the break up large transfers method on a smaller transfer size, excluding any anti-virus from the library and the iPod's drive, or disabling it altogether, and a different cable.
tt2
Will do, I will try to the the DFU asap along with cable and anti-virus disabled, however, I was unable to transfer in small sizes I have roughly 4.8k songs so I synced in playlists of 4 (~1200 tracks each) I am able to sync half successfully but am not able to add the other half for some reason (doesn't matter what order I add the playlist in). Thank you I appreciate your help!
After the DFU or reformat check the stats again before you start loading data. The numbers should change from:
Reallocs: 328
Pending sectors: 33
to:
Reallocs: 361
Pending sectors: 0
If it fails again try repeating the same steps several times to clear up any remaining pendings. Unless there is some really large contiguous block of fatally damaged disk it ought to be possible to map out the bad clusters and write data to the good ones.
tt2
Unfortunately after 4-5 DFU
attempts with both different cable and antivirus uninstalled, the diagnostics of
the still shows, even tried formatting the ipod, though I think it was unnecessary to fix pending sectors.
Reallocs: 328
Pending sectors :33
That's a shame, DFU or reformatting ought to have changed those numbers. 😕
One other approach would be to get a Mac owning friend to try restoring it, which would change the file system, then restore it again on your computer. This has sometimes helped to fix obscure issues with classics.
tt2
I read through this thread and ran similar tests on my 6th Gen iPod. The numbers below don't seem remotely possible. I'll assume it is time for a new purchase. Has anyone seen data this irregular or just plain wrong? (This iPod was purchased at a PX in Iraq in the Summer in 2008, but I don't think it ever got THAT hot).
Retracts:1
Reallocs: 0
Pending sectors: 0
PowerOn Hours:1120
Start/stops: 22397
Temp: Current 31c
Temp: min 55c
Temp: Max 244c
I doubt it got that hot, but possibly hot enough to start spitting random instructions. Ostensibly the stats indicate that the drive is healthy. What happens when you try to add media to it? Have you tried an alternate cable?
tt2
Hello there! A friend of mine has given me an nice 120 gig Ipod classic.. but surprise surprise!- I think it may be corrupt. 😟
When I try to start it or plug it into a computer a large red circle with an "X" in it can be seen with the URL of the apple support page.
Well I have seen and tried many things like resetting it by pressing the centre and menu button at once. At first my computer DOES want to read it and suggests to "Restore" it. But halfway through the process and every time at the same percentage it stops and shows an unknown error.
Then I have tried pulling up the stats after turning it onto Diagnostic Boot mode. But when I do this the IPod reads "[Can't Open Device]" at the top off the screen and "ERROR! Diag Halt" in flashing letters at the bottom of the screen.
This IPod will not sync with my computer, preventing me from formatting the device at all like suggested in this post.
Is there anything else I can do to possibly format, factory reset, or completely re-install the drivers onto this device?
Am I missing any details? What should I do?
Corrupt iPod classic
