Wilfred Hildonen
Level 1 (105 points)

Q: Need to restore Apple TV 2nd gen/doesn't show up in iTunes

There was an update to Apple TV and it started but then it obviously got hung up in the process because after an hour it was only blinking and nothing more happened. I finally disconnected it and then the image with iTunes and an USB-cable appeared, and I searched and found that I needed to unplug it from electricity and HDMI and connect it to the computer with a micro-USB-cable and then go to iTunes and choose Apple TV under devices. Well, first of all, I don't see any Devices in iTunes any more, just Music etc. No use to go to Preferences either, because there is no option to add devices or anything. All in all, I cannot see anything which is of any hellp and neither is any of the info on Apple's support pages and the images they show isn't like iTunes is today. Is it anyone there who has any idea what to do? I am stuck and fuming! Everything is updated and nothing is jailbroken into...

Posted on Sep 21, 2013 1:53 PM

by Podcaster,Solvedanswer
Podcaster Podcaster
Level 2 (370 points)
A:

Those are instructions I just threw together and posted around -definitely not perfect but workable for the most part.

 

When you say, "iTunes doesn't look like it does on the images shown on Apple Support. There are no Devices shown to the left. ", it sounds like you don't have the Sidebar open in iTunes. You want to go up top in iTunes and choose View > Show Sidebar. This will display the sidebar to show you connected devices, hopefully with the Apple TV showing.

Posted on Sep 21, 2013 2:11 PM

Close
Wilfred Hildonen

Q: Need to restore Apple TV 2nd gen/doesn't show up in iTunes

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Podcaster,Helpful

    Podcaster Podcaster Sep 21, 2013 1:55 PM in response to Wilfred Hildonen
    Level 2 (370 points)
    Sep 21, 2013 1:55 PM in response to Wilfred Hildonen

    MANY people are reporting they've had to try multiple micro USB cables to find one that works. I got one that worked from a neighbor.

     

    Some people have also reported they've had to try the Restore process more than once.

     

     

    1. Unplug Apple TV and move it to your computer running latest version of iTunes.

    2. Quit iTunes if running.

    3. Plug micro USB cable to the back of the Apple TV.

    4. Power the Apple TV using  the AC cable.

    5. iTunes shoud either launch itself (a good indication that the micro USB cable you're using is compatible), or launch iTunes.

    6. Click Restore. Software will download and install (big file).

  • by Wilfred Hildonen,

    Wilfred Hildonen Wilfred Hildonen Sep 21, 2013 2:05 PM in response to Podcaster
    Level 1 (105 points)
    Sep 21, 2013 2:05 PM in response to Podcaster

    Well, first of all, if it is true that one needs to try out several cables to find a compatible one, Apple should have included one in the package. I cannot simply go out and buy and buy cables! And then, the instructions given do not explain that you need to power the Apple TV again. It says the contrary, to unplug the HDMI and power cable. I found it odd, of course, but one is supposed to follow instructions, right?
    And still, iTunes doesn't look like it does on the images shown on Apple Support. There are no Devices shown to the left. Instead, what I can see, my iPad and iPhone appear to the right. But no App

     

    Thanks for the help, though, since it led me further on, but frankly, this ***** and it is not how an Apple product is supposed to work.

  • by Podcaster,Solvedanswer

    Podcaster Podcaster Sep 21, 2013 2:11 PM in response to Wilfred Hildonen
    Level 2 (370 points)
    Sep 21, 2013 2:11 PM in response to Wilfred Hildonen

    Those are instructions I just threw together and posted around -definitely not perfect but workable for the most part.

     

    When you say, "iTunes doesn't look like it does on the images shown on Apple Support. There are no Devices shown to the left. ", it sounds like you don't have the Sidebar open in iTunes. You want to go up top in iTunes and choose View > Show Sidebar. This will display the sidebar to show you connected devices, hopefully with the Apple TV showing.

  • by Wilfred Hildonen,

    Wilfred Hildonen Wilfred Hildonen Sep 21, 2013 2:11 PM in response to Wilfred Hildonen
    Level 1 (105 points)
    Sep 21, 2013 2:11 PM in response to Wilfred Hildonen

    I found another micro-USB and that was it - so I should mark your reply as "This solved my question" but I don't see how I can change it from "This helped me" - if you don't post a reply to this then:) Thank you anyway!

  • by Podcaster,

    Podcaster Podcaster Sep 21, 2013 2:12 PM in response to Wilfred Hildonen
    Level 2 (370 points)
    Sep 21, 2013 2:12 PM in response to Wilfred Hildonen

    That's OK. Glad you're on the right path

  • by Wilfred Hildonen,

    Wilfred Hildonen Wilfred Hildonen Sep 21, 2013 2:13 PM in response to Podcaster
    Level 1 (105 points)
    Sep 21, 2013 2:13 PM in response to Podcaster

    Yes, that was also very helpful. Why on earth they don't have that as a default I cannot understand. I haven't opted to hide the sidebar, at least. Well, it is restoring now and I could mark your reply as it should be:) All honours to you, Sir!

  • by Wilfred Hildonen,

    Wilfred Hildonen Wilfred Hildonen Sep 21, 2013 2:14 PM in response to Podcaster
    Level 1 (105 points)
    Sep 21, 2013 2:14 PM in response to Podcaster

    The path to bliss and happiness Thanks a load again!

  • by Podcaster,

    Podcaster Podcaster Sep 21, 2013 2:18 PM in response to Wilfred Hildonen
    Level 2 (370 points)
    Sep 21, 2013 2:18 PM in response to Wilfred Hildonen

    You're welcome

  • by SuperDuperV,

    SuperDuperV SuperDuperV Oct 9, 2016 5:58 PM in response to Podcaster
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Oct 9, 2016 5:58 PM in response to Podcaster

    I had the same problem with a jailbroken ATV2. Trying to reset on the TV with the ATV menus didn't help because the JB software prevents the update/reset of the software. After trying all kinds of things to get this to work I finally figured out that the USB cable had to be one of the culprits for the ATV2 not showing up in iTunes. So I started hunting around for a good cable. One hint: if your USB cable is pretty thin, it's probably only for power charging a device. So I finally found a nice fat cable that, when I plugged it in, got the PC to make a sound as if it has recognized the USB device. However, iTunes still didn't show the device and there was at some point an error that there was no device driver for the device. So I went to a website that has older versions of different software packages (Google "old version software" - there are several of these sites). I chose version 11 and downloaded it. Then I uninstalled the current version of iTunes, rebooted the PC, and then installed version 11 of iTunes. After another reboot iTunes still didn't automatically come up when I plugged in the ATV2, but once I started iTunes manually, it did show the device and prompted me for the restore. For some reason it took me several attempts to download the software, but everything was OK after that. The great thing about this method is that you don't need the original remote control as long as you have a bluetooth keyboard on hand (there is some PC software that emulates a bluetooth keyboard, but it didn't work 100% for me - some of the keys didn't send properly to my iPhone, so I figured it probably would cause problems with the ATV2 as well - I went with a cheap bluetooth keyboard for tablets). When you start the ATV2 after the reset and unhook it from the PC and then back onto the TV, it will prompt you to turn on the bluetooth keyboard and pair it with the ATV2. It took me two tries, but all is well at this point. One note is that the ATV2 version after my reset was 5.3 and I ended up doing a software update once I had my universal remote control and my iPhone remote app set up. Hope this helps someone else before they rip their hair out