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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.

Steps:

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.
Press and hold the following combination of buttons buttons simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds to reset the iPod.
- Original iPod 1G to 3G: "Menu" and "Play/Pause"
- All newer iPods, including 4G, Video, Classic, Nano, and Mini: "Menu(top button)" and "Select(center button)"
The Apple logo will appear and you should feel the hard drive spinning up. Immediately press and hold the following sequence of buttons:
- iPod 1G to 3G: "REW", "FFW" and "Select"
- All newer iPods, including 4G Video, Classic, Nano, and Mini: "Back" and "Select"
You will hear an audible chirp sound (3G models and higher) and the Apple logo should appear backwards (older iPods). You are now in Diagnostic Mode.
Navigate the list of tests using "REW" and "FFW" on older models, or using the scroll wheel on newer ones.

Once you are in the Diagnostic Mode, use the "Forward" (>>) and "Previous" (<<) buttons, or scroll wheel on newer iPods, 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. For more information of the details of this menu, please visit this link

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HDD SCAN: to test your hard drive

This test tests your hard drive. It can take up to 20 minutes or so. Note that this only works on the original 1st-5th generations.

Steps:

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.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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iPod Updater: Restore or Update your iPod

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

Direct links to download:

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

Here are some of the things you can do with it.

Update: updates the iPod to the latest system.
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.

NOTE: On newer versions of iTunes, you can update or restore your iPod right from iTunes. Just plug in your iPod and select your iPod, the options should be available on the main iPod page.
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Disk Utility

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

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Disk Mode

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

Step 1: Connect your iPod to your computer with your firewire or USB cable.
Step 2: Restart your iPod. For most new iPods, just hold down menu and select (older original 1st-3rd generation iPods, hold down menu and play/pause). Wait for the apple logo to appear and then quickly proceed to step 3.
Step 3: Hold down: New iPods: Select(center button) and play/pause(bottom button). Older original 1st-3rd generation: << (previous) and >> (next).

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Reset your iPod

Video of how to reset your iPod

This resets the iPods, and resets all settings to factory settings (on older models). This is a great trick to know to "unfreeze" your iPod.

Check that your hold switch is off by sliding the switch away from the headphone jack, or so the orange beneath the switch is covered.
Press and hold the following combination of buttons buttons simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds to reset the iPod.
- Older iPods (original 1st-3rd generations): "Menu" (top button) and "Play/Pause" (bottom button)
- Most newer iPods (4th generation, Video, Classic, Nano, and Mini): "Menu" (top button) and "Select" (center button)
- Shuffle: Turn it off, turn it on. Done.
If you receive no response from your iPod, you may have to attach your iPod to a power source.
The iPod name and the Apple logo will briefly appear upon a successful restart before advancing to the Main Menu.

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Doing more with your iPod

Ever wonder "why is this great little device that is loaded with power limited to just playing songs"? Well, it's not. The iPod can do much more, including accessing entire encyclopedias, playing many gameboy and 3D computer games, and even playing videos and displaying pictures on older iPods. And if you are really crazy about playing with your iPod's system, you can even write code and completely control the structure of the iPod's system. How can this be done? iPodlinux is the answer!

iPodlinux is a free alternate operating system that you can install on your iPod to do all of the things listed above, and more. You can download iPodlinux from http://www.ipodlinux.org.
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