How to Diagnose Problems With an iPod Hard Drive
iPods that use a hard drive can get damaged if the iPod is shaken violently while the drive is playing music. This can cause the hard drive to behave erratically. Apple has built a diagnostic program into those iPods using a hard drive. The diagnostic program is activated by resetting the iPod, and will scan for disk errors on the hard drive that are causing problems. The iPod's owner will then be able to return to using the iPod normally, as the hard drive's problems will have been diagnosed and automatically corrected.
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Instructions
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1
Put a soft cloth down on a table. Plug the iPod USB connector cable into the iPod that is going to have its hard drive diagnosed. Plug the other end of the iPod USB connector cable into the iPod battery charger. Plug the iPod battery charger into an AC wall socket.
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2
Pick up the iPod. Reset the iPod if it is the original iPod, the 2G iPod or the 3G iPod by depressing the "Menu" and "Play/pause" buttons simultaneously. Put the iPod down and Release the buttons when the Apple logo appears. The iPod menu will eventually come up and the hard drive will now work as it normally should.
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3
Reset a "Click wheel" iPod by first placing it down on the soft cloth face up. Depress the "Menu" and "Select" buttons simultaneously. Release the buttons when the Apple logo appears.
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4
Press "Rewind", "Fast forward", "Menu" and the center ("Action") button all at the same time. Release the buttons after 10 seconds have passed. The iPod menu will eventually come up and the hard drive will now work as it normally should.
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Tips & Warnings
If you think you didn't press all of the buttons needed at the same time, just redo the entire process starting at the beginning.
Apple says you shouldn't run a third party defragmenting or diagnostic program on an iPod, as it could damage the internal hard drive.
