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I know how to fix the iTunes 7 / firmware ver. 1.2 freeze problem

Many of you (like me) are having major headaches because of the new updates that Apple has been releasing (i.e. iTunes 7). So far I only know that this affects the Video iPod, but this could very well fix other models too.

Here are some symptoms of what the following will fix, and what you most likely have already done to try and fix it.

- iPod keeps freezing after a few seconds ever since you updated to iTunes 7 and/or iPod software ver. 1.2.
- iPod will remain in Do Not Disconnect mode even after ejecting or disconnecting
- A forced reset does not fix it, as it repeats the above.
- Restoring the iPod through iTunes does not help

So, here's what to do.

The old iPod updater software is how you will fix all of this. Unfortunately, because iTunes 7 thinks that it's better and more up to date, it will prevent you from opening the old version of the software if you still have it on your machine.

So first of all, uninstall iTunes 7.0. (You do not have to remove your library information, just the software.) Restart the computer.

If you still have the old iPod updater, try it and see if it runs. If it does, read on. If not, skip to the next paragraph. So, if it does run, simply hit Restore and you can go back to a previous version of the firmware. I believe that Apple discontinued the firmware page since releasing iTunes 7. Look around some search engines like Google if you really want the latest firmware.

Take out the installation CD that came with your iPod. Run it and it should install the old iPod updater along with iTunes 6.x. iTunes 6.x cannot run since iTunes 7 changed your libary's formatting, but that will not be a problem. Run the Restore process in the old updater and it should be alright for you to start loading your stuff on again without problems.

Since iTunes 7 reformatted your libary listing, iTunes 6 will no longer work. However, you can still use it by reinstalling iTunes 7. Just make sure you do the following.


TO KEEP THE SAME THING FROM HAPPENING AGAIN

iTunes 7 is actually alright. It's the updater part of it that will screw up your iPod.

- iTunes 7 will tell you that a new iPod software version is available when you open it.
- Check the "Never Ask Again" box and click Don't Install.
- When you sync your iPod to your computer, NEVER touch the Version section when you're changing your iPod's settings. Everything else is alright to work with.
- Everything will work fine as long as you never update the iPod's software via iTunes, at least until the programmers can fix this issue in a later release or patch.

I hope this helps out a lot of you. Pretty lame of Apple to miss something this big during debugging.

Custom Windows XP

Custom, Windows XP

Posted on Sep 14, 2006 6:15 PM

Reply
63 replies

Sep 27, 2006 10:34 PM in response to Bushido Philosopher

To Rob / Re the Nano software:

the link previously posted to iPod Updater 2006-06-28 is for:
- iPod Software 1.1.2 for: iPod with video / Fifth Generation
- iPod nano Software 1.2 for: iPod nano
- iPod Software 1.2.1 for: iPod with color display, iPod photo
and: shuffle 1.1.4, mini 1.4.1, Click-wheel 3.1.1, Dock 2.3, Touch/Scroll 1.5.

Updater 2006-03-23 which is no longer available and redirects to 06-28, did have: iPod Software 1.1.1 for iPod nano and Fifth Generation iPod, as well as software for the rest...

The one prior to that, is still available from Apple -- this is possibly what you are looking for -- iPod Updater 2006-01-10 :
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/ipodupdater20060110.html
has: iPod Software 1.1 for iPod nano and Fifth Generation iPod,
as well as the software for the rest...

(FYI, you can often find updaters on Apple support web page, go to the Support / Downloads page, and try search phrases for the model or id or date you are looking for.)

Hope this helps. Best.

iMac G5 2GHz (rev B), 1.5G RAM; (prev: iMac G4, 10.3.9) Mac OS X (10.4.6) ~ the universe is intelligent and friendly ~

Sep 29, 2006 5:28 AM in response to bieugor

From the number of posts regarding the same issue with 1.2 and any ipod with a color display (both my ipod nano and video ipod crapped out), there is obviously a serious bug with this "upgrade."

I agree we should give them a chance, but I find it unacceptable that after this amount of time that the Applecare support technicians, up to TIER 3, have never even heard of this issue. They wanted me to return my ipod(s) in for factory service even after I numerously reminded them that they both work perfectly once downgrading to 1.1.1!

I am a long-time apple-geek, but this issue upsets me because it is so uncharacteristic of the standards of excellence Apple has always provided, and smacks of the pervasive frustration we all deal with when using Microsoft products.

......and it is especially frustrating that all of the purchases I excitedly bought once videos are now provided at 640x480 resolution are not playable with version 1.1.

But with version 1.2, the higher resoultion videos are transferable to the ipod, but no videos are playable due to this firmware incompatibilty.

Apple: do you read these discussion forums??

Oct 2, 2006 6:15 AM in response to Bushido Philosopher

I have an ipod photo - downloaded itunes 7 and ipod software and the click wheel has since been frozen. I cannot reset - it wont go to the apple logo. I connected the ipod to another laptop and ran ipod updater to reinstall 1.1 on the ipod - still cant use click wheel. I have tried to restore - still the same problem. I've let the ipod run down and recharged and still the same problem.
does anybody know where in Ireland I can take the ipod to see if it can be repaired.

Oct 10, 2006 10:53 AM in response to Bushido Philosopher

I had the same problem and then I fixed it. I am now working with the latest ITunes version 7.0.1.8 and firmware 1.2. I have the video IPOD 60 gig version. I exported all my playlist first and then I deleted my ITunes database and let itunes create a new one. I then added back all my music and video. Then I imported my playlists and I work fine. You might want to back up your database like it did first.

The prior firmware 06/28/2006 on the apple site has been updated to not allow you to use it and a message tells you to use ITunes v7 instead. I then went back to the install CD and that froze with ITunes V7. That is when I thought the database might have problems so I tried recreating it and that worked. I hope someone finds a better way.

Oct 10, 2006 11:06 AM in response to JeffLeach

After about an hour with AppleTech, what worked was reformatting my iPod drive thru windows. The quick format did not work, it took the long format, and now my iPod is working again. The tech kept saying that my drive was bad, but I kept insisting that it wasn't. Whew! No telling how many unsuspecting novices bought new iPods over this!

Oct 12, 2006 8:25 PM in response to Bushido Philosopher

Huge thanks for this posting. It took me 2 nights of digging beore I ran into this. I thought I was going to have to send my iPod in. I couldn't find my origianl disk but was luckily had an old version of the updater installed on my old PC, worked perfectly. Like the rest of you, I cannot believe that Apple did not catch this or has not acknowledged it with FAQs or other support.

Oct 25, 2006 12:19 PM in response to Bushido Philosopher

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Bushido Philosopher. I had to confess I tried three times before I got it to work but you have made my iPod work again! How can Apple be so blind? So many people are struggling with this - you just read through the forums and there are so many with the same problem.
Thanks again - I guess you've helped countless other iPod users.

Windows XP

Oct 25, 2006 12:50 PM in response to Bushido Philosopher

Hi... well I think you know what are talking about because I am having this problem right now. But I have 2 problems:

1. I have 2 external discs so that when I unistalled Itunes 7 from my pc it only unistalled in only one disc

2. I did this and my ipod is still frozen an with the problems you mentioned before

If you have messenger, please give it to me so that is easier for me to understand what to do

Oct 28, 2006 8:30 AM in response to Bushido Philosopher

I'm wondering if problems I am having are being caused by the "1.2 firmware freezing problem." I got my 5th gen video Ipod after Itunes 7 was released, so I never had an earlier firmware on my ipod. My ipod does not freeze while playing music, but it occasionally freezes when I first turn it on. When this happens, I will be able to move through the menus (sometimes slowly), but when I try to play anything I hear silence. After I turn the ipod off (which sometimes doesn't work right away) and then back on I can then play audio.

Has anyone else experienced this type of freezing? I'm wondering if I should try this fix or if something may be wrong w/ the ipod itself. Thanks for the help guys.

I know how to fix the iTunes 7 / firmware ver. 1.2 freeze problem

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