Would appreciate any advice regarding the exclamation symbol and folder on a third generation 20gig ipod. I have tried all recommended remedies including opening the machine and disconnecting the battery and hard disk. The icon still remains when everything is reconnected. It remains even when the hard disk is disconnected. Once or twice it showed the ok to disconnect symbol but the device remained frozen. Before I embark on an expensive repair is there anything else I can do? Is it the hard disk or would it be something like the bootup software?
A couple solutions to this would be connecting it to your pc and reformatting/restoring it by using the ipod updater. THe exclamation point usually means that you have a corrupted hard drive, or somthing happened to the iPod's firmware, so restoring it should fix the problem, but im not sure. First put the iPod into disk mode but resetting it and then when you see the apple logo, press the select and rewind buttens at the same time(may be different on a 3 generation iPod) and then connect it to your computer to see if your computer reciginizes your iPod, if it does, then just run the ipod updater. If all of that is unsuccessful(your computer doesnt recignize your iPod) then you may have to reformat your iPod, but ill get into that later if you post back on if my first method worked.
That symbol usually means a broken hardrive, and judging by the age of your iPod it is fairly likely. But of course there are a few things to try first. As waymon said you can reformat the iPod with either the iPod Updater software or format the iPod to FAT 32 with your computer. To do the latter open up 'My Computer' and right click on your iPod, there should be a prompt that says 'Format to..' if that is a feature availible to you. If that works you can then reformat with the iPod updater and that could remedy the problem. If that isn't availible to you, you should try first resetting your iPod by pressing and holding the Play/Pause, and Menu button until the Apple logo appears. If just a simple reset doesn't fix it, try that again, but when the Apple logo appears hold down Rewind and Foward buttons until the 'Do Not Disconnect' screen appears. Then use the iPod Updater and you should be on your way. Since your comforatable opening your iPod you could try ordering a hardrive yourself and installing it in the iPod, this would be much less expensive then sending it in to any service.
Thanks for the advice however when I managed to get the OK to disconnect symbol and plug it in I get the XP Audio warning that a USB device has been connected but it does not appear in MY Computer of in Explorer. If I was sure that it was a hard disk problem I would be tempted to go and buy a new one however I'm afraid it may be a firmware problem and the new hard disk would be a waste of money
Well when it says 'Ok to Disconnect' it is probably binging that something has been disconnected. It shouldn't show up in your computer with that screen, it should show up when the screen says 'Do Not Disconnect'
