Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

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 14, 2006 7:10 PM in response to Bushido Philosopher

Listen to this person, he knows exactly what he's talking about. My unit had the freezing problem, the visual artifact problem, and eventually would only show a blank white screen after I had tinkered too long. Luckily I have another computer that I hadn't yet upgraded to itunes 7 and it had the last firmware upgrade before the itunes 7 one. From disk mode I was able to restore it to the previous firmware version, and now the ipod works perfectly.

I too am almost disqusted with Apple for 1) missing this problem and 2) not letting people know!

I wonder how many more people are going to have lots of problems so apple can protect their PR.

Anyways, what would be really helpful would be if someone could upgrade the latest firmware installer before itunes 7 (it's an individual ipod updating program, not itunes 6.xx)somewhere on the internet so users could download it and do away with this evil 1.2 firmware.

Sep 14, 2006 10:05 PM in response to Bushido Philosopher

good advice, will try this.

why can't apple acknowledge this and flag it for all to see?

it should be in red and further more the website should temporarily halt the download of itunes 7 since more and more ppl are gonna crash on this problem.

whats disgusting apple has made no public anouncement of this issue or any signs in the forums to let ppl know they are aware of it.

personally, never another ipod. i've bought 5 ipods but no more for me, gonan try a competitors brand now, for the shameless effort apple has done.

Sep 14, 2006 11:44 PM in response to Bushido Philosopher

This many seem a little silly but how do you 'uninstall' iTunes 7??? Just on 'add/remove' programmes? because, I'm not getting an option to do so?

Also, I have deleted it before & it made my problem worse.
If I go down to the Regents street apple store, will they fix my problem there & then???

Thanks for the help!! I'm off to university on Tuesday, 2 hours of travellling a day - I NEED MY IPOD!! LOL!

Sep 15, 2006 12:44 AM in response to Bushido Philosopher

Hi,

My ipod had the same problems...as in freezing and flashing the "Do not Disconnect" sign although Itunes7.0 tells me I can disconnect. So, I uninstalled 7.0, installed my original CD along with the updater and restored my ipod. I then went back and reinstalled 7.0. But how do I install iTunes 7 without the ipod update? When I open 7.0, it does not make any reference to a new iPod software version. How did you get to it to disable it?

Sep 15, 2006 1:25 AM in response to kjipoduser

so can someone write a version of this for fixing the problem when you're using a mac instead of a pc? i have trashed itunes 7 but am unable to install an earlier version at all from the cd i got with my ipod or from a downloaded installer. this is so frustrating. i literally just got this ipod, my first one, a present... i've used it once and then updated with itunes 7... boom. is there anything i've missed in the computer that i need to trash in order to make itunes 6 installable again?

Sep 15, 2006 2:22 AM in response to kique4u

Hello.

My iPOD Video 60GB has the same problems, and to solve them I restored the original settings (ver 1.1.1.).

There is some version better than the 1.1.1., for iPod Video 60Gb, but different from 1.2 (fails a lot with freez problems)?.

PD: the 1.1.1. version goes well.

Thanks.

iPod video 60 Gb Windows XP

Sep 15, 2006 2:24 AM in response to Bushido Philosopher

Wow... apparently the problem is more widespread than I thought.

Here's a little suppliment to answer your questions so far.

- How to uninstall on MAC OS.

Unfortunately I do not know what to tell you. I have a MAC in my house with OS X but never use it. One of the flaws of the MAC OS is that there is no complete uninstallation process (as far as I know). My advice is to go through every single directory and every one that you know to be related to iTunes or iPod, delete it.

--

To answer Emma Brown's question, I'm afraid there's not much you can do at this point. I'm guessing that there are some people whose installation CDs have the flawed firmware as their original factory setting. My suggestion is to go to your nearest Apple store or any place that has been approved by Apple to see if someone there can give you an older version of the firmware. (Ask for anything that's before 1.2) Otherwise you'll have to wait for Apple to release a fix to this problem.

To kjipoduser and others with a similar problem:
Just as long as you don't "upgrade" (since upgrade implies improvement) your firmware, you'll be fine. If it doesn't ask you to, it probably never will. Just don't touch the version section of the iPod settings iTunes 7 and you won't have problems.

--

From what I can tell, some people at Apple have become aware of this problem and are getting the higher-ups to fix it. Unfortunately with these big companies, even fixing seemingly simple things take forever with all the lines of communication they have to go through.

It looks like some people cannot even download 1.2 at all now. Perhaps they already removed it from their servers and are working to get a new version out.

But still, I must remind you to give the people at Apple a little break. A lot of the tech support and marketing guys get a lot of blame for something that people in another department are responsible for. If you want to blame someone, I'd say the programmers who wrote the new firmware are to blame.

I just feel bad that there are many people with this same problem who don't know that there is a solution right here. I'm imagining hundreds or thousands of people going to Apple stores, calling tech support, or elsewhere to find a solution to this. Man what a mess...

Windows XP

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

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.