How to Fix iPod Minis

IPod MP3 players are seen on buses, trains, airplanes and bicycles. Great for travel, easy to transport and relatively reliable, Apple iPods are one of the most popular MP3 players around. Minis are a second generation iPod. These mini versions of standard iPods can hold 2, 4 or 6 gigabytes of information. However, what should one do when an iPod Mini malfunctions? Apple suggests using the five Rs to fix an iPod Mini: reset, retry, restart, reinstall or restore.

Instructions

Reset, Retry and Reinstall

1. Flip the "Hold" switch on the iPod on and off a few times. The Hold switch is located on the upper left edge of the iPod, and usually has an orange strip.

2. Reset the iPod by pressing the "Menu" and "Select" (center) buttons at the same time and holding until the Apple logo appears. This step may need to be repeated a few times. If this does not solve the problem, proceed to Step 4.

3. Use a different USB or firewire port when connecting the iPod to your computer. Retrying your iPod with a different port may prove the problem is port damage, and not an issue with your MP3 player. If this does not solve the problem, proceed to Step 5.

4. Restart your computer. When the computer boots up again, any updates needed to run iPod software will be loaded automatically. If the updates do not load automatically, update manually. For Windows, open Internet Explorer and go to "Tools" and then "Windows Update." For Mac OS, go to the Apple menu and click on "Software Update." Proceed to Steps 6 and 7 if this does not solve the problem.

5. Download the most recent version of iTunes and open it in your browser window.

6. Plug in the iPod Mini to your computer and go to the "Summary" tab. Click on "Check for Update." This will reinstall updates on the iPod. If this does not work, proceed to the next section.

Restore

1. Ensure that the most recent version of iTunes is installed on your computer. Open iTunes and plug in the iPod Mini to your computer. In a few seconds, the iPod will show up in the iTunes source list on the left hand side.

2. Click on the iPod in the source list. On the large box on the right in iTunes, you will see a list of information about the iPod.

3. Click on "Restore." Choose between four different restore options. "Restore" simply restores the same software version onto the iPod. "Use Same Version" is similar, restoring the same software even though a newer version is out. "Use Newest Version" and "Restore and Update" automatically update the iPod to the most recent software version on your computer. For Mac OS, a prompt will appear after choosing the "Restore" option asking for the administrator's name and password.

4. Wait for the progress bar to finish loading, then iTunes will instruct you whether to leave the iPod Mini connected or disconnected. Older iPods typically need to be disconnected and then reconnected to an iPod power adaptor.

5. Leave the iPod plugged in while the restoration progress bar loads.

Tips & Warnings

• When an iPod Mini is restored, all of the information is completely erased. Make sure to back up any files or MP3s on the iPod before restoring.

References

• Apple: iPod Mini Troubleshooting Assistant