Diagnostics Test: Please plug FW?

Question

Ok, so I had been having some problems with my iPod in that when I tried to connect it to my computer, iTunes would freeze, "My Computer" wouldn't see it, etc. So one of the things I tried to do to solve this problem was see if there was something wrong with the iPod itself. I currently have the 80GB silver iPod classic. I reset the iPod using the menu and action buttons, and then put it into diagnostic boot with << and action button. I first selected the auto test, passed the quickscan, passed the keypad test, passed the wheel test, then the hold switch test comes on. I turn the hold switch on, then off, and test detects it with the 0 and 1, then hit menu to continue. Then the HP detect test, I plugged in the headphones until it said 1, and then uplugged them. Pretty much, all you do to go through these tests is do what it says so that it can read that the function is there, and then read that you removed that function, such as the HP (headphones). However, now I get to the Accessorize test. Plug in the USB cord to a power source (computer or wall outlet works) and USB_DETECT=1, and then to 0. But then it asks me to please plug FW. Which I'm assuming is FireWire. But isn't that usually used for older models? I don't have and never have had a FireWire cable for this iPod. How to pass this test? All other forums I've looked up concerning this message, most people were not trying to do the diagnostics test and had no clue what it was and what to do with it. Am I supposed to go buy a FireWire adaptor just to do this diagnostics?

Answer 1

You can select which tests to run manually, however this is probably the one that really matters...
*Check your iPod with Diagnostics Mode*
It's possible that your iPod's hard drive has started to fail. Take your iPod and place your right thumb on the centre SELECT button and your left on the top MENU button. Press down both thumbs for about 6 seconds until your iPod reboots. Immediately move your left thumb around to the rewind button |<< on the left and hold this down together with SELECT for a further 6 seconds. Your iPod should now switch into Diagnostic Boot mode. Press MENU for *Manual Test*, then select *IO > HardDrive > HDSMARTData* to reveal your stats. For comparison here are mine for my 2 year old 6th Generation Classic:
Retracts: 889
Reallocs: 12
Pending Sectors: 0
PowerOn Hours: 2202
Start/Stops: 894
Temp: Current 24c
Temp: Min 10c
Temp: Max 50c
Take a note of your results. When finished press *SELECT & MENU* for 6 seconds to reset the iPod again.
With modern disc drives sectors are no longer marked bad by a disc scan, if the SMART firmware detects a sector it has trouble accessing it will attempt to invisibly reallocate it to a spare area of the disc.
Note that I've only 12 remapped sectors and none pending. To help explain what the numbers mean here is an extract from the Wikipedia S.M.A.R.T. article:
*Reallocated Sectors Count*
Count of reallocated sectors. When the hard drive finds a read/write/verification error, it marks this sector as "reallocated" and transfers data to a special reserved area (spare area). This process is also known as remapping, and "reallocated" sectors are called remaps. This is why, on modern hard disks, "bad blocks" cannot be found while testing the surface – all bad blocks are hidden in reallocated sectors. However, as the number of reallocated sectors increases, the read/write speed tends to decrease. The raw value normally represents a count of the number of bad sectors that have been found and remapped. Thus, the higher the attribute value, the more sectors the drive has had to reallocate.
*Pending sector count*
Number of "unstable" sectors (waiting to be remapped, because of read errors). If an unstable sector is subsequently written or read successfully, this value is decreased and the sector is not remapped. Read errors on a sector will not remap the sector (since it might be readable later); instead, the drive firmware remembers that the sector needs to be remapped, and remaps it the next time it's written.
Large numbers of Reallocs or Pending Sectors would suggest your drive is failing and that you may need to repair or replace your iPod. Check your stats after another attempt to update your iPod. If the numbers increase that again points to hard drive failure. While it won't be good news at least you'll know it isn't some random software problem and you can decide what to do next.
tt2