30GB ipod  has a pic of an ipod with a sad face.

and under the picture it says "go to www.apple.com/support/ipod"
what does that mean i cant work my ipod.
if you know the answer wright me back
thanks
J-R3D

If a sad iPod icon or an exclamation point and folder icon appears on your iPod’s screen, or with sounds of clicking or HD whirring, it is usually the sign of a hard drive problem and you have the power to do something about it now. Your silver bullet of resolving your iPod issue – is to restore your iPod to factory settings.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60983
If you're having trouble, try these steps at different levels one at a time until the issue is resolved. These steps will often whip your iPod back into shape.
Make sure you do all the following “TRYs”
A. Try to wait 30 minutes while iPod is charging.
B. Try another FireWire or USB through Dock Connector cable.
C. Try another FireWire or USB port on your computer .
D. Try to disconnect all devices from your computer's FireWire and USB ports.
E. Try to download and install the latest version of iPod software and iTunes
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
For old and other versions of iPod updater for window you can get here
http://www.ipodwizard.net/showthread.php?t=7369
F. Try these five steps (known as the five Rs) and it would conquer most iPod issues.
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/
G. Try to put the iPod into Disk Mode if it fails to appear on the desktop
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93651
If none of these steps address the issue, you may need to go to Intermediate level listed below in logical order. Check from the top of the lists to see if that is what keeping iPod from appearing on your computer in order for doing the Restore.
Intermediate Level
A. Try to connect your iPod with another computer with the iPod updater pre-installed.
B. Still can’t see your iPod, put it in Disk Mode and connect with a computer, instead of doing a Restore on iPod Updater. Go and format the iPod instead.
For Mac computer
1. Open the disk utility, hope your iPod appears there (left hand side), highlight it
2. Go to Tab “Partition”, click either “Delete” or “Partition”, if fails, skip this step and go to 3
3. Go to Tab “Erase” , choose Volume Format as “MAC OS Extended (Journaled), and click Erase, again if fails, skip it and go to 4
4. Same as step 3, but open the “Security Options....” and choose “Zero Out Data” before click Erase. It will take 1 to 2 hours to complete.
5. Eject your iPod and do a Reset
6. Open the iTunes 7 and click “Restore”
For Window computer
Go to folder “My Computer”
Hope you can see your iPod there and right click on the iPod
Choose “Format”. Ensure the settings are at “Default” and that “Quick Format” is not checked
Now select “Format”
Eject your iPod and do a Reset
Open the iTunes 7 and click “Restore”
In case you do not manage to do a “Format” on a window computer, try to use some 3rd party disk utility software, e.g.“HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool”.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=501330&tstart=0
C. Windows users having trouble with their iPods should locate a Mac user. In many cases when an iPod won't show up on a PC that it will show up on the Mac. Then it can be restored. When the PC user returns to his computer the iPod will be recognized by the PC, reformatted for the PC, and usable again. By the way, it works in reverse too. A Mac user often can get his iPod back by connecting it to a PC and restoring it.
Tips
a. It does not matter whether the format is completed or not, the key is to erase (or partly) the corrupted firmware files on the Hard Drive of the iPod. After that, when the iPod re-connected with a computer, it will be recognized as an fresh external hard drive, it will show up on the iTunes 7.
b. It is not a difficult issue for a Mac user to find a window base computer, for a PC user, if they can’t find any Mac user, they can go to a nearest Apple Shop for a favor.
c. You may need to switch around the PC and Mac, try to do several attempts between “Format” and “Restore”
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2364921&#2364921
Advance Level
A. Diagnostic mode solution
If you have tried trouble shooting your iPod to no avail after all the steps above, chances are your iPod has a hardware problem. The iPod's built-in Diagnostic Mode is a quick and easy way to determine if you have a "bad" iPod.
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 simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds to reset the iPod.
iPod 1G to 3G: "Menu" and "Play/Pause"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Menu" and "Select"
The Apple logo will appear and you should feel the hard drive spinning up. Press and hold the following sequence of buttons:
iPod 1G to 3G: "REW", "FFW" and "Select"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Back" and "Select"
You will hear an audible chirp sound (3G models and higher) and the Apple logo should appear backwards. You are now in Diagnostic Mode. Navigate the list of tests using "REW" and "FFW". The scroll wheel will not function while in diagnostic mode. For further details on Diagnostic mode can be found at http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/ipodsupport/diagnosticmode/
Try to do the 5in1, HDD R/W and HDD scan tests. Some successful cases have been reported after the running the few tests under the Diagnostic mode. In case it does not work in your case, and the scan tests reports show some errors then it proves your iPod has a hardware problem and it needs a repairing service.
B. Format your iPod with a start disk
I have not tried this solution myself, I heard that there were few successful cases that the users managed to get their iPod (you must put your iPod in disk mode before connecting with a computer) mounted by the computer, which was booted by a system startup disk. For Mac, you can use the Disk Utility (on the Tiger OS system disk), for PC user, you can use the window OS system disk. Try to find a way to reformat your iPod, again it does not matter which format (FAT32, NTFS or HFS+) you choose, the key is to erase the corrupted system files on the iPod. Then eject your iPod and do a Reset to switch out from Disk Mode. Reboot your computer at the normal way, connect your iPod back with it, open the iPod updater, and hopefully your iPod will appear there for the Restore.
If none of these steps address the issue, your iPod may need to be repaired.
Consider setting up a mail-in repair for your iPod http://depot.info.apple.com/ipod/
Or visit your local Apple Retail Store http://www.apple.com/retail/
In case your iPod is no longer covered by the warranty and you want to find a second repairing company, you can try iPodResQ or ifixit at your own risk
http://www.ipodresq.com/index.php
http://www.ifixit.com/
Just in case that you are at the following situation
Your iPod warranty is expired
You don’t want to pay any service charges
You are prepared to buy a new one
You can’t accept the re-sell value of your broken iPod
Rather than leave your iPod as paper-weight or throw it away.
You can try the following, but again, only do it as your last resort and at your own risk.
Warning !!!! – It may or may not manage to solve your problem, and with a risk that you may further damage your iPod, which end up as an expensive paper weight or you need to pay more higher repairing cost. Therefore, please re-consider again whether you want to try the next level
Last Resort Level
1. . Disconnecting the Hard Drive and battery inside the iPod – Warning !! Your iPod warranty will be waived once you open the iPod.
In Hong Kong there are some electronic shops offering an iPod service for Sad iPod, the first thing they do is to open up the iPod’s case and disconnecting the battery and the Hard Drive from the main board of the iPod. Wait for 5-10 minutes and reconnecting them back. The reason behind which I can think of is to do a fully reset of a processor of the iPod. In case you want do it itself and you believe that you are good on fixing the electronics devices and have experience to deal with small bits of electronic parts, then you can read the following of how to open the iPod case for battery and HDD replacement (with Quicktimes)
http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=Video/directory.html
2.Press the reset button on the Hard Drive inside the iPod – Suggestion from Kill8joy
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2438774#2438774
Have I tried these myself? No, I am afraid to do it myself as I am squeamish about tinkering inside electronic devices, I have few experiences that either I broke the parts (which are normally tiny or fragile) or failed to put the parts back to the main case. Therefore, I agree with suggestion to have it fixed by a Pro.
2. Do a search on Google and some topics on this discussion forum about “Sad iPod”
Exclamation point and folder and nothing else
Spank your iPod
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ljPhrFUaOY
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3597173#3597173
Exclamation point and folder and nothing else
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2831962#2831962
What should I do with my iPod? Send it or keep it?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=469080&tstart=0
Strange error on iPod (probably death)
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=435160&start=0&tstart=0
Sad Face on iPod for no apparent reason
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=336342&start=0&tstart=0
Meeting the Sad iPod icon
http://askpang.typepad.com/relevanthistory/2004/11/meeting_thesad.html#comment-10519524
Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2236095#2236095
iPod Photo: unhappy icon + warranty question
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2233746#2233746
4th Gen iPod Users - are we all having the same problem?
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=2235623#2235623
Low Battery, and clicking sounds
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2237714#2237714
Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2242018#2242018
Sad iPod solution
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=412033&tstart=0
Re: try to restore ipod and it says "can't mount ipod"
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=443659&tstart=30
iPod making clicking noise and is frozen
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2420150#2420150
Cant put it into disk mode
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3786084#3786084
I think my iPod just died its final death
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3813051
Apple logo & monochrome battery stay
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3827167#3827167
My iPod ism’t resetting and isn’t being read by my computer
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4489387#4489387
I am not suggesting that you should follow as well, but just read them as your reference. You are the person to make the call.
Finally, I read a fair comments from dwb, regarding of slapping the back of the iPod multiple times
Quote “This has been discussed numerous times as a 'fix'. It does work, at least for a while. In fact I remember using the same basic trick to revive Seagate and Quantam drives back in the mid to late 1980's. Why these tiny hard drives go bad I don't know - could be the actuator gets stuck in place or misaligned. Could be the platter gets stuck or the motor gets stuck. 'Stiction' was a problem for drives back in the 80's. Unfortunately the fix can cause damage to the platter so we temporarily fix one problem by creating another. But I know of two instances where a little slap onto the table revived the iPods and they are still worked a year or more later.”UnQuote

Similar Messages

  • HT201210 My Ipod has itunes icon and usb cable icons on its face but won't respond or restore how do I get it to do something?

    I tried to update the new ipod sofware and my ipod has a itunes and usb cable picture on its face, but after hours it will not do anything.  I tried to restore and it won't even do that. 
    What do I do?

    If you hit restore, you lose all your previous information.
    All I was just trying to do is update my Ipod!!
    Now its all messed up. Should have left it the way it was!

  • My ipod has a ipod with a sad face ...wut shud i do???

    my ipod has a ipod with a sad face ...wut shud i do???

    See here: iPod displays a sad iPod icon
    B-rock

  • My iPod has been lost and the iPod is offline so I cannot track my iPod,what should I do?:(

    My iPod has been lost and my iPod is offline so it cannot show where the iPod is,someone please tell me what to do:(

    Other than just continuing to look for it, there's nothing you can do to locate it. Notify the police in case someone turns it in, and as a precaution change passwords for your Apple ID and any other online services you may have used from the iPod.
    Regards.

  • Need Help.... Try to restart and get an ipod with a sad face in it...

    Ok I was shutting down my ipod on night and the ipod stuck on a song... So I preceded to restart the ipod!
    When I restarted the ipod I got a picture of a ipod with a sad face and text saying "www.apple/support/ipod" after that the screen goes dark and has a battery symbol with a lightning bolt at the end of it...
    I have tried everything...
    1. Restart
    2. Update
    Other than that I am out of options

    I have tried both...
    From what I have seen I need to go into "Disk Safe Mode"
    Only problem is that I still get the same images on my ipod.
    Its as if my ipod doesnt have power, so I connect it to my USB port and still get nothing
    Is there a contact number for apple and there ipods customer support?

  • Ipod went to white screen with a sad face...WHAT HAPPENED!!?

    I kept my ipod in good condition and out of nowhere it stopped working. Now it goes to a white screen with a picture of a ipod with a sad face and under the ipod it gives a link to the support page. It goes strait to that screen when i turn my ipod on...if anyone knows plzzz help me out.

    this is hard drive failure, you may need to replace the hard drive, but if you ipod is still under warranty then send it in if you want.
    if you fix it on your own, ifixipodsfast.com has some video tutorials on hard drive replacement, and hard drives on ebay are.... cheap (can be pricey depending on size and condition)
    -podling

  • My ipod has been accessed from another ipod and now it won't let me download anything what do i do

    my ipod account has been accessed from another ipod and now it won't let me download anything...What Do I do?

    Not sure what you are talking about.
    Your ITUNES account can be accessed from any device or computer that has itunes, as long as you have your username and password.  Using your itunes account from another device does not affect your ability to use the account from your device.
    What is the issue?
    You tried to do what?
    And what was the result?
    Error message?
    What did it say?
    What have you tried?

  • Ipod mini hard drive goes crunch and now get Sad face with IPOD

    I've notice that after I installed new ITUNES and Updater software, my mini has the following problems:
    1. Click to the song and it just sits there and then it might skip over a the next song or songs before playing, like it is frozen
    2. I hear the hard drive - spinning and hear this crunching sound -
    3. Now I get the sad face with the ipod icon
    So would restoring my ipod help or should I take it and get it fixed, and how much would that cost
    Su

    Su,
    Is this noise you describe really a crunching noise - like a can being crushed, or more of a rhythmic or repeating clicking noise? It is normal for a drive to amke clicking sounds as it reads and writes to the drive. When this noise becomes rhythmic and repetitive, it can be a problem. If it is indeed a click-click-click type of noise or pattern, it could be that the drive is stuck. This can sometimes be corrected by tapping the iPod's left or right side against your palm firmly. I have revived several iPod mini's this way, and have not had it produce any ill effects. However, do note that you try this at your own risk and only if you are comfortable with the possibility or doing more damage. However, my opinion is that A) The iPod doesn't work right now, so there isn't much to lose, and B) you could save on a costly repair if it DOES work.
    Kyle-

  • Serviced ipod comes back with a sad-face icon

    I recently had my 4th generation clickwheel ipod serviced, because it had a harddrive issue. iTunes had randomly failed to write a song to the ipod, whereupon the ipod decided it would no longer start correctly, or be recognized by the PC correctly. In the periods of time that the iPod would try to start back up, and while it is connected to the computer, the iPod just whirrs, then clicks and stops, whirrs, clicks and stops, over and over and over again. It was basically overheating while doing this, and thus it was rendered useless. This was the second iPod that I had, as the first one's touch scrollwheel randomly quit.
    So after 20 days of this second iPod, i sent it back after a phone call to tech support that made them waive the fee.
    So... now I get the iPod back, looks brand new, but I don't think they did anything to it... other than maybe swap out the case. The hard drive keeps clicking and whirring, only NOW... it won't respond at all to being plugged in with it's power adapter or the PC. At all. It just starts up with it's click and whir noises, and then shows me the sad-face icon.
    please, nobody tell me to use the ipod updater to restore the ipod, and nobody tell me to try resetting the ipod via the hold switch and then the menu and select buttons. You can trust me that I've tried all the typical ways of making the iPod do what I paid $360.51 to make it do. But no.
    What I am curious of, is...
    Is there any way to have the iPod get back on it's feet, without sending it back in? I've literally had it for 2 days, waiting to bring it back home so that I could begin putting my music back on it, but when I start it up for the first time, it does this to me, and I can't connect it to the PC. I know that the iPod starts off being mac-formatted, but last time, it would at least TELL me that, and ask me if I wanted to format it for the PC environment.
    Is there any self-help hope? Or should I just call tech support (AGAIN coughcough) and become another disgruntled customer?
    I'm a patient guy, and I understand that tech gadgets have issues sometimes... but dang. If I in fact service this iPod, I'll be getting my 4th one in hopes that it will work. I'm willing to try some random crap in order to make it work?
    Any idea for random crap that I could try?

    hehe, yeah, i meant to come back and update the topic with what i'm doing
    I called apple tech support line again and went through a normal process to figure out the issue.
    well..
    they tell me that i can only use this line once in order to have it serviced, so he's not sure he can do anything since i've already "used" my one service request.
    well, i'm all over that. i told him my issue anyway, giving him the dumbed-down version, which is "hey, you sent me a broken ipod" or something like that. so, he's setting up the box the be shipped to me and was going to charge me the $31.50 or whatever, but i threw a dignified fit over that, since, well, it's THEIR problem that they sent me a busted piece of sillyness. anyway, he puts me on hold after waiving the charge, but another guy (a "product specialist") picks up my line and reviews the problem with me.
    okay, here's the climax of the story
    he tells me that since i've been having so many fatal issues with the ipod that renders the hardware useless, they are going to upgrade me to an updated model.
    I was happy, but i was thinking that they were going to send me on my way with a 40gb or something.
    nope.
    (it's better than that)
    he told me that since they don't make the model that i currently have, they're going to send me a 20gb photo ipod as the replacement product.
    had he been standing in front of me i would have tried to hug him or something!
    so, my efforts have been muchly worth it, though, there's a bit more of a process you have to go through. the tech asks for your info, like address, email, yada yada, and he gives you a case number. then, 2 or 3 days later i got an email containing a link for an online shipping label that i had to print and slap onto an old service box. i had to send the ipod to them, but then call back the rep and give him my case number and tracking number. i'm currently awaiting some sort of confirmation over the issue, but he's told me earlier that once they confirm that the ipod is contained in the package and that it is in fact on it's way, they'll have the apple store ship me a brand new packaged 20gb photo ipod.
    if at first you don't succeed, try try again. and again. and again. and one more time for good measure.

  • IPod has "frozen" and wiped out; iPod software "null" on iMac

    I connected our older iPod to my Mac the other night. While it is usually synced with iTunes my wife's "side" of the computer, I tried to load my iTunes library onto the iPod. It seemed to be working, but then froze. Although the message on the iPod was "Do not disconnect," I disconnected it. That seemed to have wiped out the contents on the iPod, as well as the iPod software on the Mac. Now when I hook up the iPod to the Mac, the image on the iPod is a disk with a circling magnifying glass. And, I also noticed on the Mac console that all of my prior iPod software updates now have a (null) designation after the task. I assume that means that the programs have been deleted.
    How can I get up and running again? Thanks.

    Anyone else have this issue? Any luck resolving it? It just happened to mine today. I went to turn it on and all I get is "Wheel Test."
    I can't get a menu. I can't even turn it off. Toggle does nothing. I tried to reset, but the computer doesn't recognize that it is even connected. I don't know if it is taking a charge or not.
    I've never had a problem or unhappy face on the mini before. Any suggestions?

  • Find my iphone - picture has changed from a black ipod to a white one

    My son's black ipod touch has gone missing, and we've tracked it using Find My Iphone to a house 15 miles away.
    Strangely, the picture of the ipod has changed from a black ipod touch to a white one.
    Is there something that the person who has "found" the ipod can do to affect this, or is it possible that the tracking has gone awry?
    Any help would be appreciated.
    Cheers
    jb

    I noticed the same thing on mine. The Apple Store Genius informed me that after the white iPod touch came out, they began using that as the stock photo. If you asked Apple to check their records for devices registered to you, it would show up as the proper color - black.

  • TS3805 my ipod has a frozen white screen

    my ipod has a frozen white screen ipod touch 8GB model a1367

    Try:
    - iOS: Not responding or does not turn on
    - Also try DFU mode after try recovery mode
    How to put iPod touch / iPhone into DFU mode « Karthik's scribblings
    - If not successful and you can't fully turn the iOS device fully off, let the battery fully drain. After charging for an least an hour try the above again.
    - If still not successful that usually indicates a hardware problem and an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store is in order.
      Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

  • My ipod has the dead ipod picture on the screen

    when i try to turn it on i see the apple then it says to go to the ipod support sight with the picture of an ipod with a sad face. I try charging it and the battery logo pops up and then after a minute or two the apple logo appears and then the sad looking ipod appears again. what can i do?

    Welcome to Apple Discussions!
    Take a look at these:
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61771
    btabz

  • Ipod has a sad face with exclamation point and now it wont turn on at all!

    my ipod was fine and then when i turned it on it had an ipod with a sad face with an exclamation point but now it wont turn on at all! please give me any suggestiions . thanks so much!

    See these troubleshooting articles.
    My iPod is sad.
    What does this picture on my iPod mean?
    PC doesn't recognize the iPod is connected.
    When restoring the iPod, it's useful to put into disk mode first.
    Putting iPod into disk mode.
    The sad iPod icon is usually indicative of a hard drive problem, and if none of the above help, it may need service.

  • Sad face on iPod - will reset but then freeze

    I've been on the Apple website for about an hour and need some help. I toggled the hold switch as instructed, made sure that the iPod was hooked up to a charge, pressed the select and menu buttons until the Apple icon came up, but then I still just get the iPod with the sad face on it telling me to log into Apple support.
    What can I do now? Thanks.

    Hello,
    If a sad iPod icon or an exclamation point and folder icon appears on your iPod’s screen, or with sounds of clicking or HD whirring, it is usually the sign of a hard drive problem and you have the power to do something about it now. Your silver bullet of resolving your iPod issue – is to restore your iPod to factory settings.
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60983
    If you're having trouble, try these steps at different levels one at a time until the issue is resolved. These steps will often whip your iPod back into shape.
    Make sure you do all the following “TRYs”
    A. Try to wait 30 minutes while iPod is charging.
    B. Try another FireWire or USB through Dock Connector cable.
    C. Try another FireWire or USB port on your computer .
    D. Try to disconnect all devices from your computer's FireWire and USB ports.
    E. Try to download and install the latest version of iPod software and iTunes
    http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
    For old and other versions of iPod updater for window you can get here
    http://www.ipodwizard.net/showthread.php?t=7369
    F. Try these five steps (known as the five Rs) and it would conquer most iPod issues.
    http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/
    G. Try to put the iPod into Disk Mode if it fails to appear on the desktop
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93651
    If none of these steps address the issue, you may need to go to Intermediate level listed below in logical order. Check from the top of the lists to see if that is what keeping iPod from appearing on your computer in order for doing the Restore.
    Intermediate Level
    A. Try to connect your iPod with another computer with the iPod updater pre-installed.
    B. Still can’t see your iPod, put it in Disk Mode and connect with a computer, instead of doing a Restore on iPod Updater. Go and format the iPod instead.
    For Mac computer
    1. Open the disk utility, hope your iPod appears there (left hand side), highlight it
    2. Go to Tab “Partition”, click either “Delete” or “Partition”, if fails, skip this step and go to 3
    3. Go to Tab “Erase” , choose Volume Format as “MAC OS Extended (Journaled), and click Erase, again if fails, skip it and go to 4
    4. Same as step 3, but open the “Security Options....” and choose “Zero Out Data” before click Erase. It will take 1 to 2 hours to complete.
    5. Eject your iPod and do a Reset
    6. Open the iTunes 7 and click “Restore”
    For Window computer
    Go to folder “My Computer”
    Hope you can see your iPod there and right click on the iPod
    Choose “Format”. Ensure the settings are at “Default” and that “Quick Format” is not checked
    Now select “Format”
    Eject your iPod and do a Reset
    Open the iTunes 7 and click “Restore”
    In case you do not manage to do a “Format” on a window computer, try to use some 3rd party disk utility software, e.g.“HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool”.
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=501330&tstart=0
    C. Windows users having trouble with their iPods should locate a Mac user. In many cases when an iPod won't show up on a PC that it will show up on the Mac. Then it can be restored. When the PC user returns to his computer the iPod will be recognized by the PC, reformatted for the PC, and usable again. By the way, it works in reverse too. A Mac user often can get his iPod back by connecting it to a PC and restoring it.
    Tips
    a. It does not matter whether the format is completed or not, the key is to erase (or partly) the corrupted firmware files on the Hard Drive of the iPod. After that, when the iPod re-connected with a computer, it will be recognized as an fresh external hard drive, it will show up on the iTunes 7.
    b. It is not a difficult issue for a Mac user to find a window base computer, for a PC user, if they can’t find any Mac user, they can go to a nearest Apple Shop for a favor.
    c. You may need to switch around the PC and Mac, try to do several attempts between “Format” and “Restore”
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2364921&#2364921
    Advance Level
    A. Diagnostic mode solution
    If you have tried trouble shooting your iPod to no avail after all the steps above, chances are your iPod has a hardware problem. The iPod's built-in Diagnostic Mode is a quick and easy way to determine if you have a "bad" iPod.
    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 simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds to reset the iPod.
    iPod 1G to 3G: "Menu" and "Play/Pause"
    iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Menu" and "Select"
    The Apple logo will appear and you should feel the hard drive spinning up. Press and hold the following sequence of buttons:
    iPod 1G to 3G: "REW", "FFW" and "Select"
    iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Back" and "Select"
    You will hear an audible chirp sound (3G models and higher) and the Apple logo should appear backwards. You are now in Diagnostic Mode. Navigate the list of tests using "REW" and "FFW". The scroll wheel will not function while in diagnostic mode. For further details on Diagnostic mode can be found at http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/ipodsupport/diagnosticmode/
    Try to do the 5in1, HDD R/W and HDD scan tests. Some successful cases have been reported after the running the few tests under the Diagnostic mode. In case it does not work in your case, and the scan tests reports show some errors then it proves your iPod has a hardware problem and it needs a repairing service.
    B. Format your iPod with a start disk
    I have not tried this solution myself, I heard that there were few successful cases that the users managed to get their iPod (you must put your iPod in disk mode before connecting with a computer) mounted by the computer, which was booted by a system startup disk. For Mac, you can use the Disk Utility (on the Tiger OS system disk), for PC user, you can use the window OS system disk. Try to find a way to reformat your iPod, again it does not matter which format (FAT32, NTFS or HFS+) you choose, the key is to erase the corrupted system files on the iPod. Then eject your iPod and do a Reset to switch out from Disk Mode. Reboot your computer at the normal way, connect your iPod back with it, open the iPod updater, and hopefully your iPod will appear there for the Restore.
    If none of these steps address the issue, your iPod may need to be repaired.
    Consider setting up a mail-in repair for your iPod http://depot.info.apple.com/ipod/
    Or visit your local Apple Retail Store http://www.apple.com/retail/
    In case your iPod is no longer covered by the warranty and you want to find a second repairing company, you can try iPodResQ at your own risk
    http://www.ipodresq.com/index.php
    Just in case that you are at the following situation
    Your iPod warranty is expired
    You don’t want to pay any service charges
    You are prepared to buy a new one
    You can’t accept the re-sell value of your broken iPod
    Rather than leave your iPod as paper-weight or throw it away.
    You can try the following, but again, only do it as your last resort and at your own risk.
    Warning !!!! – It may or may not manage to solve your problem, and with a risk that you may further damage your iPod, which end up as an expensive paper weight or you need to pay more higher repairing cost. Therefore, please re-consider again whether you want to try the next level
    Last Resort Level
    1. . Disconnecting the Hard Drive and battery inside the iPod – Warning !! Your iPod warranty will be waived once you open the iPod.
    In Hong Kong there are some electronic shops offering an iPod service for Sad iPod, the first thing they do is to open up the iPod’s case and disconnecting the battery and the Hard Drive from the main board of the iPod. Wait for 5-10 minutes and reconnecting them back. The reason behind which I can think of is to do a fully reset of a processor of the iPod. In case you want do it itself and you believe that you are good on fixing the electronics devices and have experience to deal with small bits of electronic parts, then you can read the following of how to open the iPod case for battery and HDD replacement (with Quicktimes)
    http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=Video/directory.html
    2.Press the reset button on the Hard Drive inside the iPod – Suggestion from Kill8joy
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2438774#2438774
    Have I tried these myself? No, I am afraid to do it myself as I am squeamish about tinkering inside electronic devices, I have few experiences that either I broke the parts (which are normally tiny or fragile) or failed to put the parts back to the main case. Therefore, I agree with suggestion to have it fixed by a Pro.
    2. Do a search on Google and some topics on this discussion forum about “Sad iPod”
    Exclamation point and folder and nothing else
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3597173#3597173
    Exclamation point and folder and nothing else
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2831962#2831962
    What should I do with my iPod? Send it or keep it?
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=469080&tstart=0
    Strange error on iPod (probably death)
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=435160&start=0&tstart=0
    Sad Face on iPod for no apparent reason
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=336342&start=0&tstart=0
    Meeting the Sad iPod icon
    http://askpang.typepad.com/relevanthistory/2004/11/meeting_thesad.html#comment-10519524
    Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it?
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2236095#2236095
    iPod Photo: unhappy icon + warranty question
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2233746#2233746
    4th Gen iPod Users - are we all having the same problem?
    http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=2235623#2235623
    Low Battery, and clicking sounds
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2237714#2237714
    Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2242018#2242018
    Sad iPod solution
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=412033&tstart=0
    Re: try to restore ipod and it says "can't mount ipod"
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=443659&tstart=30
    iPod making clicking noise and is frozen
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2420150#2420150
    Cant put it into disk mode
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3786084#3786084
    I think my iPod just died its final death
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3813051
    Apple logo & monochrome battery stay
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3827167#3827167
    My iPod ism’t resetting and isn’t being read by my computer
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4489387#4489387
    I am not suggesting that you should follow as well, but just read them as your reference. You are the person to make the call.
    Finally, I read a fair comments from dwb, regarding of slapping the back of the iPod multiple times
    Quote “This has been discussed numerous times as a 'fix'. It does work, at least for a while. In fact I remember using the same basic trick to revive Seagate and Quantam drives back in the mid to late 1980's. Why these tiny hard drives go bad I don't know - could be the actuator gets stuck in place or misaligned. Could be the platter gets stuck or the motor gets stuck. 'Stiction' was a problem for drives back in the 80's. Unfortunately the fix can cause damage to the platter so we temporarily fix one problem by creating another. But I know of two instances where a little slap onto the table revived the iPods and they are still worked a year or more later.”UnQuote

Maybe you are looking for