Apple TV seems to be stuck in a loop

I'm having "all" the same issues on my AppleTV (not a refurb, new out of the box 2 months ago) which started after I upgraded to iTunes 7.2 this morning. I've tried all the suggestions contained in this thread including a factory reset with no resolution.

Apple any additional suggestions?

The EXACT same thing happened to me just tonight. First my television wouldn't display the appletv (an "invalid frequency" message came up). So I shut it down unplugged it and plugged it back in. It started up, showed the intro video then at the main menu the "loop" your talking about started.

I tried restoring factory settings twice but "loop" continued, it's really strange, especially the iTunes code changing every couple of seconds.

Anyway just thought I'd let you know the same is happening on mine. I'm leaving it unplugged tonight going to try and start fresh tomorow.

btw: this happily coincided with my iMac's HD (the one linked with the Appletv) becoming corrupted and having the reinstall OSX. I don't know if that had anything to do with the Appletv becoming "corrupted".

just got a refurbished Apple TV today, and it was doing that loop, too, from the very first time I turned it on. After talking to Apple support, it became clera that you shouldn't see the apple logo except at startup, so for some reason, Apple TV is restarting itself every few seconds .

I unplugged and replugged the unit, only to have a visible spark--very dramatic, I must say, so maybe it's a power issue (some kind of short?)

So, back it goes, and I'm crossing my fingers that the new unit does not have the same issue.

keep us updated on your progress, too, maybe it'll become clear what the problem is.



Powerbook G4, iMac 2.1 gHz Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Have had to suspend the support until Fri Morning (GMT) - I am too busy. Worked OK when new user account was created, so they suspect it is a conflict with another application. Will post update on Friday.

Yep maybe we are seeing why there are so many refurbs starting to hit the apple store. I have two ATV's I unplugged both for the Memorial Day weekend as they run so hot I'm concerned to go away an leave them in. So they were unplugged for 3 days, I plugged the one upstairs in and it's been running fine. I plugged the one in Downstairs and it started doing what your describing. I was able to get thru a factory refresh, but it made no difference. Figures the one that broke does not have the extended warranty. Back it goes.

My refurbished unit arrived this morning and right of the box had this loop problem. Here's what AppleCare had me do:
1. hold down the Menu button. This should stop the loop and have the ATV hold at its menu screen
2. hold down Play to put the unit to sleep
3. Unplug and power cycle
4. When it's restarted, sleep it again, then wake it up

Mine is running perfectly now, hope this helps.

And I too am experiencing exactly the same issues as described in everyone's previous posts. 24hrs ago, it was working fine. I was using it for about 3hrs watching all sorts of stuff. But tonight, after adjusting the content in my iTunes library, ATV is in a continuous loop that first shows the main ATV menu, then the Apple logo ad infinitum. I can not select another synched library. The duration of the loop is about 2-3sec.

I tried the directions listed above in Evan's post but the looping is not interrupted when I hold down the "menu" button on the remote.

I have unplugged it now and will give it sometime to cool down. The entire ATV case was excessively hot.

I'm am just wondering, since we all seem to be experiencing this problem at the same time in different parts of the world, perhaps ATV automatically downloaded an update that was corrupt or has produced this problem? or am I just too iRobot at the moment?

Whatever the cause, hopefully the issue is resolved quickly.

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Further to the story, I have just rebooted ATV after letting it cool down considerably for over 20mins. (it's autumn here so the heat dissipated quickly).

I am getting the apple logo at the inital powerup, I am getting the initial startup video sequence with all the screens in an arc, then I get the main menu which immediately reverts back to the apple logo.

The remote is completely useless. I can not change menu options at all even though the white LED on the front of the unit registers that it is receiving a signal by blinking either white or orange.

Therefore, the unit at present is caput.

Message was edited by: boymac

I have the same problem here, u can't better describe my frustration.
I tried to reboot and reinstall my content. Each time the loop occurs it also disconnects from itunes. It's a sad feeling and this suddenly happened since today.

Anyone else?

I initially skipped this thread because I couldn't see an answer, indeed I couldn't see anything other than a defective unit. However an intermittent power supply caused by a poorly seating connector (at either end) would likely produce just the symptoms described.

I suppose while we are at it, we might want to think about a surge protector in the same way as we should really use them with our macs/pcs

sorry to hear that things aren't any better after letting it cool down.

the only other thing I could think of that could cause a problem for a lot of people at once was the new iTunes update that was released this morning. I just got my apple tv today, so I can't say how it was working with the old version of iTunes, but perhaps some of you folks could add whether you are using 7.2 or 7.1?

Well, for the record I updated to iTunes 7.2 early this morning, and both my tv's are still working fine (other than the fact that they both still have the incorrect times).

I'm not sure what else the 7.2 update may have fixed under the hood, but the only difference I've noticed with the new version is supported for the "iTunes Plus" content on the iTunes Store.

Add me to the list. Been running fine for over a month, this afternoon around 5pm UK time it started behaving exactly as others have described.

I have SSH access (no warranty! :o( ) so I'll see if there's any logs that may give a clue.

I have updated my itunes and I have the cycling problem.

However I cannot fathom how that would have any influence. Once I did the restore I did not connect to any itunes before it started cycling again.

Add me to the list. Been running fine for over a
month, this afternoon around 5pm UK time it started
behaving exactly as others have described.

I have SSH access (no warranty! :o( ) so I'll see if
there's any logs that may give a clue.

Me also, its got to be down to iTunes update 7.2 (34).

This is so frustrating, Apples update issues strike again.

Will hang on to the ATV until monday and if no fix is provided it going back.

Right completely disconnected all iTunes library. Apple tv was fine. Then launched iTunes and it goes into the loop again. So pulled out my Macbook with iTunes 7.1 and it works fine... thats enough proof for me, has got to be this new iTunes! That is until someone can come up with a better explaination 😉

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