Trying to build an FAQ section here, so there are less posts that ask the same questions.. here's the start, but I'll need your help. 1. [bold]iPod + iTunes[/bold] ~~[bold]Problem: [/bold]"My iPod won't start up" [bold]Remedies: [/bold] a) Check the hold switch and make sure that it's not on. If you have a remote control plugged into it, make sure that it's hold switch is off as well. b) Plug it into a power adapter to charge it. You may have a flat battery, hence the reason it's not booting up. c) If you can get the iPod to mount on your computer, restore it with the latest iPod Software Updater that works with your iPod model. (`START--> ALL PROGRAMS--> IPOD--> IPOD UPDATER` by default). Once you have found located it and opened it, click `restore`. Note that restoring your iPod erases all the data on it, so make sure you have a backup of the data on your iPod d) If the iPod won't mount on the computer or charge, you might need to drain the battery out. Stick it to one side until it is flat and then try charging it again. e) If all these fail, then your battery is most probably faulty or dead. iPods are notorious for their crappy battery performance, so you should contact Apple and get a new battery fitted. If you are under warranty or Applecare, then this should be free. Otherwise, it will cost you. ~~[bold]Problem: [/bold]”iPod doesn’t mount, show in iTunes, or in the updater (basically, it doesn’t show at all…)” [bold]Remedies: [/bold] a) Make sure you are connected to a high-speed USB 2.0 port, or a FireWire port – the iPod won’t be recognized if it isn’t. For info on if and where your high speed ports are, refer to your PC manual. b) Your iPod might be locked up. You can perform a soft reset by holding down the `Menu` and `Play` buttons (1st, 2nd & 3rd Gen) for about 6 seconds. To reset a 4G/5G/Nano/mini you need to switch to hold and back off hold and then hold down the `Menu` and `Select` (middle button in the wheel) for 6 Secs until the Apple logo appears. c) If the iPod still won't boot up, reset it and then hold down `Previous` and `Next` buttons on the first three generations of iPod (Play and the Select button on the 4G/5G/Nano) to place the iPod in [bold]Disk Mode[/bold]. This forces the iPod to mount. If your iPod only boots up in disk mode, then restore it. ~~[bold]Problem: [/bold]“The iPod displays a folder with an exclamation point when it starts up.” [bold]Remedies: [/bold] a) Charge your iPod, it may be out of power. b) Update the iPod with the latest version of the iPod Updater that's compatible with your iPod. An incompatible version of the software may have been installed on your iPod. If updating doesn't work, restore your iPod c) This symbol can also appear if the iPod's hard drive was formatted with an incompatible utility - for example, if you've partitioned it with a Windows or Mac disk utility. If you did this, restore your iPod with the iPod Updater . d) This symbol can also indicate a dead hard drive. If all else fails, contact Apple. ~~[bold]Problem: [/bold]"The iPod displays a battery with an exclamation point." [bold]Remedies: [/bold] a) Charge the iPod. b) Be sure you're charging it from a working power source. A USB 2.0 connection won't charge a third-generation iPod nor will an iPod charge when it's connected to an inactive/sleeping computer. c) Your iPod may be locked up. To unlock it, reset it by holding down the `Menu` and `Play` buttons on the first three generations of iPods, the `Play` and `Select` buttons on the mini, or the `Menu` and select on the 4G, 5G & Nano for about six seconds. d) If your iPod won't charge even after your iPod has been plugged into a power source for a long time, try a different cable. A damaged cable may prevent the iPod from charging. e) The battery may be dead. Such a problem requires taking the iPod into Apple for repair. ~~[bold]Problem: [/bold]"The iPod displays a picture of a power adapter and wall plug." [bold]Remedy: [/bold] The iPod wants to be plugged into a power outlet and won't proceed until you do so. You see this icon after you've restored your iPod and the iPod needs to update its firmware. This occurs only when you've plugged your iPod into a USB port or un-powered FireWire port (the 4-pin variety of FireWire ports found on some PCs) ~~[bold]Problem: [/bold]"The iPod shows a `sad iPod` icon with an exclamation point." [bold]Remedy: [/bold] There is none! Your iPod is broken and needs to be taken in for repair. It is also possible all data on it is lost (that is why it is so important to have a backup). 2. [bold]iPod Video issues[/bold] ~~[bold]Problem: [/bold]"I can't transfer videos to my iPod!! Why??" [bold]Remedies: [/bold] If you are met with warning screen with the message: “Some of the videos in your iTunes library, inclucing the video “(*name of video*)” were not copied to your iPod because they cannot be played on this iPod” then iTunes has detected that one or more of the videos being synced from your iTunes Library are not in the correct format to be played on iPod. The formats that can be sucessfully played on the iPod 5g are as follows: [bold]H.264 video: [/bold]up to 768 Kbps, 320x240, 30 frames per sec., Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats. [bold]MPEG-4 video: [/bold]up to 2.5 mbps, 480x480, 30 frames per sec., Simple Profile with AAC-LC up to 160 Kbps, 48 Khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats To enable you to change your video's to these compatible formats, you will need to [bold]convert [/bold]them. Have a look at my tutorial on converting your Video and/or DVD Collection to iPod. http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/244629. (please post specific video questions in there)
Ok, here's the deal. The concept of this thread (I hope), is that some of you could tell me what you think the main issues are with iPods - the frequently asked questions. If you contribute, then this thread can be a reference point - and instead of all of us having to repeat the same advice, we can just link to this thread. It makes everything a lot clearer and saves a lot of time. But it will only work if you lot give me some ideas. (you can even post a problem you are having with your iPod in here - and if it is a good question, then I can add it (with the solution to it) to the above post, and then next time someone asks that same question, you can just link to this thread). Just trying to tidy things up around here