iPod Classic battery died and won't turn on

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6 points

iPod Classic battery died and won't turn on

I noticed the other day that the battery was critically low on my iPod Classic 7th Gen so I thought I better charge it, but alas, I couldn't find my USB cable.

I ended up finding it the next day, but by the time I went to charge it, it had gone completely flat and wouldn't turn on.

So I went to go charge it through a couple of different wall chargers but nothing seemed to be working, the screen stayed black (and no the hold button wasn't locked). I have now resorted to trying it through my computer. Yes my computer recognised it and yes iTunes opened automatically and recognised it, but it has come up saying that it needs to be recovered. I don't mind recovering it as I can still put my music back on again, but the problem is, it doesn't want to recover.

As soon as I go to continue with the process "iTunes needs to prepare your iPod for recovery. Please leave your iPod connected." it will load the bar right to the end, but you can here the iPod disconnect and reconnect. It will then say "Waiting for iPod" the bar will load, then it will repeat the "needs to prepare your iPod for recovery" garbage. It will only disconnect at this one point. I am completely stuck. I have tried everything else, but my iPod screen still won't come to life 😢 I hope it can be fixed without paying someone else to do it, usually I can sort my own electronic issues out, but obviously not this time... 😟

iPod classic, Windows 10

Posted on Jan 8, 2016 9:25 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 8, 2016 10:55 PM in response to jackb44

It sounds like this iPod previously worked fine with your current computer and system installation. You did not make any major change (such as upgrading to Windows 10 or installing a new major release of iTunes) at the same time this problem occurred, correct?

If you have not already, try putting the iPod into Disk Mode.

Putting iPod into Disk Mode - Apple Support

If iPod's battery is low, you should do this while iPod is connected to power (on computer's direct USB port). Do it with iTunes already running. If iTunes pick up iPod, it may prompt you to do a Restore with a message about "recovery." Hopefully, it will complete successfully.

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Answer 2

jackb44 Author

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6 points

Jan 8, 2016 11:26 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

As stated, I have tried everything else. Disk Mode doesn't bring up the apple logo, or anything on my iPod screen. All it does is, when connected to iTunes, it will come up with the same recovery process again "iTunes needs to prepare your iPod for recovery. Please leave your iPod connected." and will just constantly disconnect and reconnect. I haven't done any major changes. I tried using it on my laptop with the same version of iTunes as when I last used my iPod and it didn't work. I also tried it on another laptop with a different Windows version, but the same thing happened.

I am thinking I have possibly worn out my battery, just from letting it run completely flat. I am not sure how old it is as I bought it secondhand, but I imagine it is getting on.

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Answer 3

Jan 9, 2016 12:05 AM in response to jackb44

Well, my mind-reading superpower isn't working today, so I don't know what "tried everything else" means unless you state it... 😉

It does not seem to be going into Disk Mode. If you connect it to a USB power adapter (not the computer's USB port), nothing appears on the screen? If you do a Reset

Learn how to reset your iPod - Apple Support

while it is connect to a USB power adapter (one that was previously able to charge the iPod), nothing happens on the screen?

Just letting the battery drain completely (by itself) does not ruin the battery. If you leave it completely drained for a LONG time, it can become unable to hold a charge. Age (and charge cycles) can certainly make a battery "worn out." But it seems like the iPod should still work, if it is connected to power, unless its hard drive has become faulty. But even then, you should get the initial Apple logo (followed by an error message or symbol); something appearing on the screen.

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Answer 4

jackb44 Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 9, 2016 12:31 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Sorry about the "tried everything else" comment, it's just that my iPod is seriously annoying me and it seems as if I have literally looked everywhere online and tried every last solution... Lol.

The iPod won't reset connected to anything, being a USB power adapter or my computer. Nothing will appear on screen, it just stays black. The only response I can get out of it, as I have said, is when I connect it to my computer you hear the bleep noise when something is connected via USB. So my computer definitely picks it up, it just won't reset as it constantly disconnects during the process of resetting in iTunes.

I have been trying and trying to reset or put into disk mode on my iPod, but I have had nothing appear on screen. I know how to do it properly aswell, as I have had issues in the past and have had to reset it.

It definitely wasn't drained for a long time, 24 hours max. Possibly the previous owner has worn something out? I'm not sure...

I might have to just take it into someone to get looked at 😕

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Answer 5

Jan 9, 2016 12:41 AM in response to jackb44

Perhaps it's the screen that is faulty, if it remains blank all the time. If the backlight is out, it may seem black, but it may be displaying stuff; you just can't see it. Putting the iPod under a bright light, like a desk lamp or flashlight, may show the screen is actually displaying something.

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Answer 6

jackb44 Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 9, 2016 12:48 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

This was another thought of mine. I have tried putting it under a bright light but haven't noticed anything.

I don't know how it could be the screen though, when just before the battery went flat, I was using it like normal..

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Answer 7

Jan 9, 2016 1:21 AM in response to jackb44

That seems a bit coincidental. However, what was your indicator that the battery went flat (since you can't see the screen)? I suppose if you were listening to music, and just the screen went bad, you'd continue to hear music. And the iPod should act normally when connected to iTunes, even if nothing appears on the iPod's screen.

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Answer 8

jackb44 Author

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6 points

Jan 9, 2016 1:22 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Okay, so just had a little bit of luck. As I was trying for the thousandth time to try and put it in disk mode, it finally did. This was when it was completely unplugged from anything. The apple logo showed and then it told me to connect to iTunes. Before I got the chance to do so, after about 10 seconds, it just died. Maybe me leaving it charge on the USB outlet for so long, gave it enough charge to actually be able to turn on for a short time again? Should I leave it to charge for a long period of time to see if it will do anything?

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Answer 9

Jan 9, 2016 1:29 AM in response to jackb44

That's good. So the screen does work. Certainly couldn't hurt to leave it connected to a USB power adapter for a day...

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Answer 10

jackb44 Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 9, 2016 1:28 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

I knew the battery went flat because I usually keep the iPod in my car to listen to on the way, to and from work and had it in there for a long time without charging it. When I pulled it out the other day it had very little green left in the battery icon, so I brought it inside for a charge but left it on the bench overnight (seeing as I couldn't find the USB cable). When I checked again in the morning it was red in the battery icon, but by the time I got home from work to actually have the chance to charge it (after finding the cable hidden in my bedside cabinet 😊), it wouldn't turn on.

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Answer 11

jackb44 Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 9, 2016 1:31 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

I will let it charge overnight and during the day and report back with my results..

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Answer 12

jackb44 Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 9, 2016 8:11 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Okay finally managed to sort it. With a lot of mucking around, it finally came up with the select language screen on my iPod and I was away to go. I'm not sure what I did exactly, but it is all working now 🙂

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