'Please Wait. Very Low Battery.'

i have the same problem i think. my ipod says please wait low battery and then it switches to www.apple.com/support/ipod....ive tried all the methods above and still nothing has worked. i already paid 300 dollars for the piece of garbage and i definatly dont feel like paying for repairs! im never getting one again. i thought apple was the future, i was even about to buy a macbook. never again. im done with apple products.

I like almost everyone else had the same "please wait low battery" issue with my son's iPod...and it only took me 3 hours to find this discussion board to get much needed support. So I finally got the iPod in disk mode, but now it is continuously making a beeping sound....OMG my son is going to kill me! Someone please HELP!!!!

Well, I didn't recieve any responses to my problem, however, I think I may have solved it. For some strange reason the iPod refused to charge using my PC and the USB. My son has an iPod iHome so after I restored it and put it into disk mode I placed in on the iHome...one hour later (which is now) it is still charging and has not made any strange noises. I sure hope that it charges this time. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed.

Message was edited by: bbrwniz

I think my iPod got jealous of my iPhone. On a recent trip, I never took iPod out of my carryon and instead used the iPhone to watch a movie. When I got to my destination, this problem suddenly appeared on my jealous iPod.

Anyway, I tried everything on this thread except opening it up and fussing with the ribbon. When do you call it a day and go get a new one? The 16gb iPhone doesn't hold enough of my music.

Interesting.
Mine goes dead just sitting around. Then gives the "very low battery" when plugged into computer, then starts to charge, quits (causing "improper disk removal" warning to pop up). Then starts charging again, then dies and repeats until charge is built up enough (I guess) to stay connected and charge up.
So, my problem is it goes dead sitting and doesn't hold a charge for more than on hour or so.
I replaced the battery. Same issues
I reset and restored several times. Same issue.
Conclusion: either the logic board is bad (which I believe is the case)
or the battery connection isn't solid, less likely as I've been in there several times.
I'll try the battery cable connection theory again as there's nothing to lose.
Interesting as to how there can SEEM to be several solutions to the same problem, although I guess what we have are different problems with similar symptoms.
If it's the board, it's toast and nothing will fix it.
If it's a flaky hard drive causing a drain, a new HD will fix it but that's expensive.
If it's a bad battery those are cheap and easy to swap out but didn't work for me.
If it's version 1.3 of the software from Apple then we're all done for. (is there a way to revert to an earlier version? I did once years ago on my 3rd Gen ipod when Apple's update was breaking iPods left and right).

*PLEASE READ THIS !!!! FINAL PROBLEM SOLUTION !!!*

Ok so i had the same problem with my 4G iPod Video. Major hassle. It kept showing this "Please Wait, Very Low Battery" sign over and over again.

The problem is that your iPod doesn't have enough charge to charge itself. So it charges itself a bit, then tries to boot up and in the process discharges itself.

*THE SOLUTION*

1. Reset your iPod a few times.
----- for that you need to keep the hold slide on top away from the headphone jack, and then hold down the Select & Menu button down together. The iPod will turn dark and the "Please wait..." sign will disappear leaving the apple logo. Keep the buttons pressed. The "Please wait...." sign comes back again......... keep this up at least 5-6 times.

2. Disconnect your iPod from the charger/computer/any device you've connected it to.
------ ** yes this is the most important step and something that no1 here seems to have mentioned.

3. Put the iPod into Disk Mode
-----Hold down the Select & Menu keys again. But this time when the faded Apple Logo shows up on the screen, hold down the Select and Play buttons together. This will put the iPod into Disk Mode.

4. Reconnect it to the computer/charger/etc

5. Let it charge for atleast a few hrs. Befor disconnecting it.

6. Restart the iPod. If your data/music seems ok well then your home safe. Otherwise connect it up with iTunes and Restore it.


Whew....... Congratulations you've just fixed your iPod

I hate to burst your bubble, but this doesn't seem different in any way to the majority of the previous posts. For some people, multiple resets and extremely long charges have worked. However, in a case like mine, in which the iPod reverts to the error screen after only minutes in Disk Mode, these solutions aren't solutions at all.

Does anyone have a clue what might cause it to revert to the error screen after charging in Disk Mode for about a minute? 'Cause I know I don't.

So i finally got it to work after taking apart the casing and me being the fool that i am I let the charge drop to th please wait sign. Now the ipod has decided to give me the sad face and nothing seems to work. The resarting thing wont work because it keeps going to the sad sfter every restart or time that i put the ipod in disk mode. I am assuming that this screen drains the energy that my ipod has saved up with the restarts because it (the ipod) feels that it is necessary to put on the backlight to show how unhappy it is. It is so unhappy right now that I have thought of ending its misery once or twice but i love it and cant do anything without it. So even though im the 20th person that has had the depressed ipod if any1 can help me cheer up both my ipod's and my mood that would gladly be appreciated.

It may not be the same update, but this past Sunday when iTunes prompted me to updated because of a newer version, I noticed that the updates included a newer iTunes, a Safari, but something with a MOBILE. My pod was working fine on Saturday. Then after I downloaded & used my pod the next morning...it just died. The Apple logo will show then faded....showing 1/2 a screen or a 3rd, but disappeared. My pod works when it is plug in to a socket. But w/o plugging in to a socket, it died. I'm in the process of restoring & adding all my features w/ the "enable disk use" hoping it works, but I do believe it has to do with the "MOBILE" update. I've NEVER, NEVER had a problem. I do believe it had to do with the update and I can't even restore back prior to the updates. Now, whenever iTunes says a newer version is available, I'm hesitant to update. The pod works, I've had it for like 3 years on the same USB port...but ever since the update this past weekend, my pod lost it.

Read all of the posts with interest but only one seemed to describe a problem similar to mine. My iPod battery won't hold a charge (it's brand new) even when turned off. I get about 30 minutes of play time (audio) and the battery charge is completely gone after a night of being turned off. I saw some say that this may be due to a bad battery connection, or a bad motherboard, or disk.

It is behaving like there is a short circuit somewhere that is bleeding off the battery's charge even when off. Anyone else experiencing this? Any solutions besides recycling it (the iPod) and getting a new one? thanks

gwe

Sounds like my symptoms. I tried a new battery, no effect. Reformatted the thing several times. No effect. I gave up as it's too much $$ to buy a hard drive "just to see", although I still might, for now it's connect to my daughter's stereo on a cradle and she can use it like that for a long time. I'd like to zap it back to an earlier version of the software for fun too.

i have an iphone and i was just about to purchase a new 3g iphone and treat myself to a new macbook when my ipod decided to **** out on me.

it will play when plugged into a dock or my car charger, but immediately shuts off when i unplug it. it looks like it is charging but obviously isn't. it says nothing but 'very low battery' when i plug it into my computer via usb so i can't even connect it to itunes to update it or put new music on it. i took care of this thing like a newborn baby, kept it in a protective case from the day i got it, never had it in too hot or too cold temperatures and honestly rarely used it outside of when it was plugged into a dock.

i call ******** on apple, there is obviously a serious flaw with these things and they REALLY NEED to do something about it.

i will never be purchasing an apple product again if this issue isn't resolved. i paid $300 for something and it doesn't last 2 years? i bought a creative nomad jukebox in 2000 and that old clunky thing still works like the day that i bought it.

i wish apple would restore my faith and FIX THIS ISSUE NOW.

What kind of iPod? 5th Gen I assume. 2 years is about all ANY of the batteries of this type are good for. Not to be an Apple apologist or anything but 2 years of decent service from a digital device is probably about all we should expect. Not that I like it much either. I'd replace the battery, they're cheap enough and not too hard to do. Try some resets and different charging methods. Sometimes the cords get flakey too. I've had it once where just trying a different cord did it. Sometimes I wonder if these things don't have some built in "die date", (black helicopters anyone?). Probably not but sure seems like it sometimes. Apple products are great and they are typically stellar but super long lived? Not so much. Worse than anything else? I don't think so, but not much better either, at least on longevity but on the usage side? Heck yes, Apple stuff is MUCH better than other options, IMHO.

yes, it's a 5th gen. i have tried different cords/ports/methods and all of the solutions, apart from ripping the case apart that are mentioned in this thread. i will go onto eBay to buy a new battery and replace it and if that works, that's great, but it won't restore my faith in the apple brand.

i'm not trying to start an argument with you, as my issues are obviously with apple and not a fellow user, but i have to strongly disagree and say that i think people should expect to get quite a bit more than 2 years out of a fairly expensive device like this. like i said in my earlier post, i bought my first hard-drive based mp3 player 8 years ago and that thing still works and connects to my computer just fine. i have a digital camera which i have had for 5 years and use almost everyday (which contains a rechargeable battery much like the iPod) and it is still working/charging/connecting to a computer like new as well.

if the issue with all of the iPods people are referring to in this thread is due to the poor overall life of the batteries, and that issue was a known one (and i believe it was by this point in the evolution of iPods) then apple should have made a way for the battery to be cheaply and easily replaced, which is clearly not a hard thing to do considering all of the devices where that is a reality.

like i said, i have taken such good care of this device and have rarely used it and when i do it is connected to a dock, so this issue is extremely frustrating for me, popping up with absolutely no warning.

i was a huge apple fan up until this point but no longer, especially now that i see this same thing has happened to most other people with this particular piece of hardware. if there is a known problem, the company should be doing something about it.

sure, apple stuff is very visually appealing and when it works it works well... but when i have to put 'when it works' in that sentence, that really negates the good things i once had to say about the product and the company.

I too am disappointed with the lifespan of many of Apple's stuff, that's my biggest gripe with their products as well, don't blame you a bit for "voting with your feet" and going somewhere else. I won't buy another iPod for that very reason, too pricey for so short a usage span. Having said that, my son just this past Friday bought an iPod touch! I've had a 3G iPod (which was replaced for $60 at one point) and I just put a new battery in it ($5) and it's operational. My 5th Gen was perfect for about 2 years and is now barely usable (won't hold a charge more than a couple hours despite new battery). My last iBook died after 18 months too. But because I love the Mac OS so much I bought another MacBook (with AppleCare so I know I'll get 3 years out of it at least).
I do wonder what percentage of 5th Gen iPods are chugging merrily away. You have to remember that the only people that come to this forum are those with issues, gives the impression EVERYONE has junk iPods but it's really just everyone HERE. Two iPod shuffles and one Nano are still functioning too (one is 2 years old, the other two barely one though).
My mother-in-law's original iMac is still used daily (10 years old now?) I have two iMacs still functioning after 7-5 years, an eMac still working (with issues) after 4 years, an iBook that is 5 years (although rebuilt once) and in use.
So it isn't ALL Apple stuff is shoddy, nor ALL iPods are shoddy just hurts when we get burned. The Apple cool-aid is potent stuff though. It's some of the best stuff out there in design, execution and features despite the fact that sometimes they don't last long enough!
Wow what a long diatribe of dribble.
Your iPod may be easily fixed with a battery swap, my wasn't and it's either the hard drive or the board or bad software. I might try to score a cheap hard drive and swap it out but I refuse to dump too much more $$ in it. I don't use it enough.
Hope you get it sorted.