Secrets of the iPod and Other Useful Tools

A note about warranties: If your iPod is newer, check to see if it is covered under Apple's warranty policy. If it still is, inquire about getting a replacement iPod, before sending it in to get a part replaced. Remember when the iPod is opened (necessary for replacing parts), all warranties it may have had are VOID. So if none of the following things work, check to see if you have a warranty still.

The following are some not so well know iPod tricks, and other tools that are more well known, but useful nonetheless. I hope this helps with your iPod troubles!

Secrets of the iPod and other helpful tools

• Secret iPod Diagnostic Mode
• HDD SCAN: To test your hard drive
• iPod Updater <- *GREAT*
• Disk Utility
• Disk Mode
• Reset your iPod
• Doing more with your iPod

Secret iPod Diagnostic Mode

Not many people know about this, but I am going to share it with you: how the professionals (including me) diagnose many iPod problems.

1. You need to restart your iPod before putting it into Diagnostic Mode. Check that your hold switch is off by sliding the switch away from the headphone jack. Toggle it on and off to be safe.
2. Press and hold the following combination of buttons buttons simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds to reset the iPod.
   • iPod 1G to 3G: "Menu" and "Play/Pause"
   • iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Menu" and "Select"
3. The Apple logo will appear and you should feel the hard drive spinning up. Press and hold the following sequence of buttons:
   • iPod 1G to 3G: "REW", "FFW" and "Select"
   • iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Back" and "Select"
   You will hear an audible chirp sound (3G models and higher) and the Apple logo should appear backwards. You are now in Diagnostic Mode.
4. Navigate the list of tests using "REW" and "FFW". The scroll wheel will not function while in diagnostic mode.

Once you are in the Diagnostic Mode, use the "Forward" (>>) and "Previous" (<<) buttons on your iPod to navigate the menu. Each thing you see on the list is a certain test that can be done. To start a test, press "Select". To exit a test, press the "Play/Pause" (>||) button. Following are the details on each test.

HDD SCAN: to test your hard drive

This test tests your hard drive. It can take up to 20 minutes or so.

Steps:

1. Step 1: Restart your iPod. 1st-3rd generation hold down menu and play/pause. 4th-5th generation hold down menu and select. Wait for the apple logo to appear and then quickly do step 2.
2. Step 2: Hold down: 1st-3rd generation: <<, menu and select. 4th-5th generation: select and something.

When it is completed, it will show a certain image which tells you if your hard drive is good or not. Following is a list of explanations on each of the images.

1. DISK SCAN: CHECKMARK
   The hard drive inside your iPod was automatically scanned its built-in diagnostic software. This is the result: Good news! Your iPod is fine. No major issues were found.


2. DISK SCAN: ARROW
   The hard drive inside your iPod was automatically scanned its built-in diagnostic software. This is the result: Problems were found. You should erase and Restore your iPod right away.


3. DISK SCAN: CAUTION
   The hard drive inside your iPod was automatically scanned its built-in diagnostic software. This is the result: The scan failed! Reset your iPod now by holding down the Menu and Play buttons for 10 seconds. The scan should start again.


4. DISK SCAN: X
   The hard drive inside your iPod was automatically scanned its built-in diagnostic software. This is the result: Canceled. Did you get impatient and cancel the scan?

iPod Updater: Restore or Update your iPod

This is a very handy application to have, you can download it at Apple.com.

• PC/WINDOWS version: click here to download.
• MAC/APPLE version: click here to download.

1. Update: updates the iPod to the latest system.
2. Restore: completely erases and reinstalls the iPod OS. This is good for fixing iPod software problems, but remember that this erases all of your songs and other data from your iPod. Make sure you have everything backed up before you restore your iPod.

Disk Utility

This works good often to mount your iPod, or restore it. It is similar to iPod Updater. If you don't know what it is, it is a slightly more complicated program than iPod Updater. For most people, iPod Updater works just as good.

Disk Mode

Sometimes, when your iPod won't mount, you can force it to do so by following the following key combinations:

1. Step 1: Connect your iPod to your computer with your firewire or USB cable.
2. Step 2: Restart your iPod. 1st-3rd generation hold down menu and play/pause. 4th-5th generation hold down menu and select. Wait for the apple logo to appear and then quickly do step 3.
3. Step 3: Hold down: 1st-3rd generation: << and >>. 4th-5th generation: select and play/pause.

Reset your iPod

This resets the iPods, and resets all settings to factory settings. Sometimes this can "unfreeze" your iPod.

1. Check that your hold switch is off by sliding the switch away from the headphone jack.
2. Press and hold the following combination of buttons buttons simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds to reset the iPod.
   
   • iPod 1G to 3G: "Menu" and "Play/Pause"
   • iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Menu" and "Select"
   • Shuffle: Turn it off, turn it on. Done.
   If you have an iPod Mini or 4th gen iPod or higher, then you need to press the Menu and Select buttons, not the Menu and Play button, to restart. The Select button is the center button in the middle of the wheel. Upon reset, your will see the iPod name and the Apple logo. You may have to attach your power plug in your iPod to make this work. Your iPod should mount on your computer now. If not, keep reading.
3. The iPod name and the Apple logo will briefly appear upon a successful restart before advancing to the Main Menu.

Doing more with your iPod