Help me restore my iPod.

August 8, 2008 9:27 AM

I have a first generation iPod nano. Over a year ago, I installed linux on it, through some process I don't remember now. Now I want to get it running the standard software, but a normal iTunes restore doesn't help.

I've read a few instructions for uninstalling iPod linux, and the first step is always putting the iPod into disk mode, but I can't do that, I think because the software controlling the button inputs is messed up. When I turn it on, I get a language-selection screen, but I can't select a language. Pressing the center and top button successfully forces a restart, but then pressing the center and left button does not put it into disk mode, nor does pressing the center and bottom button put it into recovery mode. I've tried both several times, so I'm pretty sure it's not just a timing issue. Is there anything else I can do or did I brick it?

posted by scottreynen to computers & internet (5 comments total)

It sound more like the buttons are physically messed up. I've restored my ipod nano 1st gen from ipodlinux and rockbox and didn't have any problems with the itunes restore. It sounds like the restore did work, but your buttons are broken and now you can't select a language.
posted by traco at 10:06 AM on August 8, 2008

I think I had to reformat my iPod video before iTunes would restore mine. At least with rockbox, it was perpetually in disk mode so I could just reformat easily.
posted by cowbellemoo at 10:31 AM on August 8, 2008

Those are pretty easy to backup & restore with certain tools.

In the worst case scenario, you could restore an img file onto your Nano. I could make one for you. How large is your Nano? What OS are you running?
posted by Pronoiac at 12:15 PM on August 8, 2008

It's a 1GB nano and I'm running OS X 10.5.4.

I've been assuming it's a problem with the firmware. If it was a hardware problem, I wouldn't expect a force restart to work. And as I understand it, an iTunes restore doesn't update the firmware unless the iPod is in disk or recovery mode. It didn't occur to me until reading your comments that I could use some non-iTunes software to update the firmware, e.g. a modern iPod linux installer. I'll try that when I get home tonight (didn't bring the nano to work). Thanks.
posted by scottreynen at 12:53 PM on August 8, 2008

Ya. I remember now that rockbox has a utility program to access the boot loader and such. You can give that a try if iPL doesn't have one.
posted by cowbellemoo at 1:08 PM on August 8, 2008