iPod Nano 5th Generation - Won't Hold a Charge

Question

iPod Nano 5th Generation - Won't Hold a Charge

Hey everyone,

Received an iPod Nano 5th Gen a while back from a relative who works at Apple.

A few months back, me and a mate were mucking around on it and accidentally found a secret menu.

In panic, I hit the "Battery Reset" option and it quit.

Now whenever I try to use the Nano, it only works for 30 seconds on a full charge.

Please help me.

I have tried quick restore and hard restore, but nothing seems to work.

Any ideas?

Thanks

iPod nano, iOS 1.x

Posted on Mar 14, 2014 1:50 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Kenichi Watanabe

Level 8

41,572 points

Mar 14, 2014 5:22 PM in response to terminator5630

I have a 5th gen nano, and it sounds like you put it into Diagnostics Mode. If you want to do it again, do a Reset

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1320

Immediately after the screen goes dark, press and hold the Previous ("Rewind") button and Center button at the same time. Is that the "secret menu"?

If so, I don't think there is a "Battery Reset" command. There is a Reset command, on the Power sub-menu. But that just does a regular Reset to put the iPod back into its regular operating mode. If there's a different command somewhere, can you explain how to get to it?

When you say "a few months back," were you using the iPod regularly since the time you received it. It is important to regularly discharge and charge lithium batteries. If it is left in a discharged state for an extended period, the battery can become unable to hold a charge.

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Answer 2

Mar 14, 2014 9:40 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

I was using the iPod about 3 hours a day until the problem and I probably havent used it for 4 months until i found it today.

I am doing a test on it at full ball and the battery seems to lose charge very quick when the screen is on but recharges itself whenever the screen dimms.

Yes I believe that is how you get to the menu

Thanks

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Answer 3

Mar 14, 2014 9:48 PM in response to terminator5630

It also seems to have no sense of how much charge it has when I try to charge it if that helps

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Answer 4

Mar 15, 2014 12:15 AM in response to terminator5630

I have tried quick restore and hard restore, but nothing seems to work.

I don't know what "quick" and "hard" restores are, but if those are not the Restore that you do from the iPod's Summary screen in iTunes, you can try doing a Restore, in case the problem is caused by corruption in its onboard software or settings. This will erase the iPod, reinstall its software, and set it to default settings.

If that does not help, it is mostly likely to be a problem with the battery. Lithium batteries wear out over time, based on the number of charge cycles, although it is odd that the problem coincided with going to the iPod's diagnostics screen. If the iPod is in good shape otherwise, that model is fairly recent and unique in its features, so you may find it worthwhile to replace the battery. This web page says Apple will do it for $59

https://www.apple.com/batteries/replacements.html

There are other online and local repair shops. If you are good a such things, this web site has DYI repair guides.

http://www.ifixit.com/Device/iPod_Nano

NOTE: You can buy an Apple-certified refurbished current (7th) gen iPod nano (16GB) for $99

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipod

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