An iPod Touch won't restart.
January 31, 2011 9:14 AM   Subscribe

An iPod Touch won't restart and appears frozen.

Asking for a non-techie friend with no internet access or computer. I can't figure out the problem. It seems like it is charged, but it freezes up and just shows the iTunes logo and a cable. Since she doesn't have a computer to plug it into, I don't know how to proceed. She used to have a PC, but it's toast right now.

I searched for an answer, which mostly seems to be that holding down the hold button and home button at the same time will do the trick. This isn't working. This page has pictures of what is happening. Unfortunately I don't know the model, but it was purchased in summer 2010. Since my friend doesn't have a computer, the suggested solution won't work.

Would removing and replacing the battery help? I'm honestly not a Mac person, so I would appreciate any help for her.
posted by Calzephyr to Computers & Internet (11 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Are you holding down both buttons for a very long time? I thought the trick didn't work for me, but the process takes longer than I thought it would.
posted by xingcat at 9:15 AM on January 31, 2011


Best answer: seems like it got erased some how. needs to be resync with itunes.
posted by majortom1981 at 9:16 AM on January 31, 2011


Response by poster: How long is very long Xingcat? I think I held it down for about 5 minutes.

Ooof...will any version of iTunes on any computer do Majortom?

Thanks for the answers :-)
posted by Calzephyr at 9:21 AM on January 31, 2011


Best answer: Ah, 5 minutes is longer than it took me. Probably 45 seconds to a minute is what I meant. The first time I tried it, I only held them down momentarily.
posted by xingcat at 9:27 AM on January 31, 2011


Plug it into the computer that it syncs with regularly. In iTunes, do a backup, then restore from the backup. It will force a reboot.
posted by General Malaise at 9:31 AM on January 31, 2011


Best answer: Yes, you can connect it to anyone's iTunes - just make sure automatic syncing is disabled, or else all of the iTunes' music will go to the other person's iPod.

It's what you have to do when you first set up the iPod, so it must have gotten wiped somehow.
posted by Gordafarin at 9:33 AM on January 31, 2011


Response by poster: The computer is syncs with regularly is not working unfortunately, thanks though General!

Gotcha Xingcat. Maybe it's just one of those things where you have to have the right touch :-)

Dflemingecon's answer seems the most plausible right now...fingers crossed :-) My friend is actually my Little Sister (I was a Big Sister). The Touch really means a lot to her especially since the computer died.
posted by Calzephyr at 9:37 AM on January 31, 2011


Best answer: This happens periodically with my Ipods if they are very low in juice. Charge it thoroughly, and you should be OK.
posted by bearwife at 9:53 AM on January 31, 2011


Response by poster: Thanks Bearwife. I'll double check that she's doing that. I didn't think they were such fussy devices!
posted by Calzephyr at 1:18 PM on January 31, 2011


When my old-school iPod freezes, I let the battery run down, and then plug it back in. This always works.
posted by RedEmma at 6:54 AM on February 1, 2011


Response by poster: Thanks Emma. I'm going to mark some questions as answered...I'll be seeing her soon and I'll have my fingers crossed. Thanks again to everyone who answered!
posted by Calzephyr at 7:26 AM on February 2, 2011


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