How do i get my ipod classic to stop making the sad face and saying to get on apple support?

my ipod classic goes back and forth between a dimmed screen with the apple on it and a bright screen with an i pod classic that has a frowny face on it and an exclimation point and a webside at the bottom saying "apple.com/support/ipod". and i dont know what happened to make it do this.

That usually means the hard drive has failed. You might be able to find a repair shop who can replace the drive or you may be able to do it yourself depending on the model.
It may just be better in the long run to just buy a new iPod. You can get a new 160GB Classic for around $200 or so at some online retailers.
Read this:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1373

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My ipod classic has started making a mewing sound and all it does is scroll through the songs. It will not play except when connected to my computer. I tried resyncing and that did not work. How do I fix this problem?

My ipod classic has started making a mewling sound and all it does is scroll through the songs. It does not play on my Bose sound dock or through earbuds. It will play when connected to the computer...but that makes it hard to take it on a walk with me I thought it might be a synching problem so tried that--still doesn't work. How do I fix this problem with out restoring it to the factory setting? I do not want to lose all my music content as some of it I cannot replace easily. Please help with suggestions and advice. Thanks. Karen in GA

Have you recharge your iPod for at least 2 hours, preferably till the Full charge Battery symbol comes ON.?
See this Apple support Article
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/classic/
You did not by chance bought the Hello Kitty special edition?
Have nice day!

My iPod classic keeps jumping to the next track and switching itself off.

My iPod classic keeps jumping to the next track and switching itself off?

It happens randomly. I can be listening to a song, it finishes and then theres no sound. The track doesn't actually start at all. When i say skips i dont mean is in the middle of the song and jumps. I mean the ipod switches to the next track.
Format - All my songs have been ripped from CD's or downloaded from I-Tunes. I cant find the file type, sorry.
I had a look on the link but the symptoms dont link to mine. It happens randomly, not when im cycling or moving the divece nescessarily.
Thanks

My ipod is going mad, giving me the "sad face" and refusing to restart!

The other day my iPod brought up the oh so familiar "sad face". I tried reseting it (the same way I fixed it the last time my ipod brought up the sad face) and got nothing but the start up screen...a prolonged wait, and the "sad face" once again.
I though maybe I could plug into my Powerbook and restore it to factory setting, but once again, the iPod decided to refuse. It is now displaying the lowest level on the charging sign and showing the sad face whenever I try to reset it. Also to be noted, it will not recharge at all when I connect it to the power adapter. The computer won't recognize the ipod so I'm at a bit of a loss. Any ideas? Do I simply have to take it into the Apple Store to get it looked at? Suggestions would be appreciated.

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/ipod/download/
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
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 iPod Updater 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 iPod Updater 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 iPod updater.
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”
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
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.

My Ipod is making weird clicking noises and telling me to contact apple support. what is going on and can I fix it?

So it started out not being about to conect to my computer then, when i changed to usb port, it went to disk mode. when i reset it it started to make odd metalic clicking noises and telling me to contact apple support. I'm freaking out cause i don't know what happened in I think its broken (its also my brothers ). I feel like i have tried everything but don't want to touch it anymore incase it breaks completely!! anybody know whats wrong with it? or possible how I can fix it?

Contact Apple iTunes Support Center as directed in the message.

My iPod display is separating from the chrome back and there are no close apple stores what should I do?

My iPod display I separating from the chrome back. There are no close apple stores. What should I do?

If covered by warranty, and not abused Apple will exchange it at no cost. You can send it to Apple See:
Apple - Support - iPod - Service FAQ
Otherwise,
Apple will exchange your iPod for a refurbished one for this price. They do not fix yours.
Apple - iPod Repair price

My ipod nano 5th gen. has a sad face and itunes dosent work for it

my ipod nano has a sad face and i yunes dosent work for it

iPod Manuals
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iTunes & iPod Hints & Tips

My Ipod Classic 120GB crashes all the time while using it, there is an Apple that comes up and it restarts and sometimes a miscolored screen. It randomly pauses and skips songs as well.Help?

Not sure why it does this but it has been for the past few year and I'm finally getting tired of it. Any way to solve this problem? It randomly skips and pauses songs and if its doesn;t it last about 10 minutes or so and then freezes with an apple on the screen and also a miscolored apple on the screen. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Does the iPod get overheated after 10 minutes?
Do the iPod Disk Diagnostic, as posted earlier by tt2, it wont solve your problem, but help in troubleshooting.

I have an ipod classic that gives me the sad ipod screen...

It gives me the apple screen, then the sad ipod thing.... how do i fix this? or attempt to fix this?

Hello sumiko7493,
You could try to work through the potential troubleshooting solutions provided in this extensive post by Mitch751 related to this issue. Otherwise, as he notes in the post, you will more than likely need to have your iPod serviced in order to gain full functionality again.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1591975&tstart=0
[iPod displays a sad iPod icon|http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1373]
B-rock

My iPod classic doesn't open the games anymore it says: need full iPod ???

My iPod doesn't open games anymore ((help))
It says need full iPod !!

Usually a hard reset of the device resolves this error. A reset is equivalent to rebooting your PC. To do the reset, first make sure the Hold switch is in the Off position, then press and hold both the Select (Center) and Menu buttons together long enough for the Apple logo to appear.
B-rock

Ipod classic will not sync. It freezes and says error message (-69)

I've tried to "restore" the factory settings. I've reset the IPOD, toggled the hold switch, checked for upgrades and nothing seems to work. It also makes a raspy clicking sound as soon as it is about to freeze up and continues to do so until I close the program (through Task Manager, not on its own).

Have you Authorised your Computer...
Open iTunes and from the Menu Bar select Store...
From the Store menu, choose Authorize This Computer. (In earlier versions of iTunes, access this option from the Advanced menu).
When prompted, enter your Apple ID and password, then click Authorize.
See Here for full details...
About authorization and deauthorization
Also, see here for Syncing...
Syncing with iTunes
http://www.apple.com/support/ipodtouch/syncing/

Ipod classic abruptly stops in the middle of a song or audio book

This has officially reached pain in the butt status. Apple, would really like a solution. Thanks.

It occurs with both ripped songs and ITMS songs, but not always the same songs. Just this morning, I had a song skip ahead, then put down the ipod for a few mintues, came back and that same song did not skip ahead at all. I've been on a stretch now of about 20 songs with no skipping whatsoever. Hmmmmmm....
I've used all the five "R"'s multiple times to no avail. It just seems so random, it frustrates me.
Thanks for the help, King

How do I get this "Apple Support Communities"

In my email. Also I have updated to 10.6.7 and yet it says I have 10.5.2
Thank you

bbw49 wrote:
I have everything checked NO and I still get about 30 of these everyday.
Did you forget to click the "Save" button?

My iPod Classic continues to display the charging icon when its disconnected from the mains supply or computer.

It drains battery very quickly. What could be wrong with it?

Hi m4ttsmith,
If your iPod Classic is still showing the charging icon and appears to be draining the battery, you may want to got through the iPod Classic Troubleshooting Assistant:
Apple Support: iPod Classic Troubleshooting Assistant
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/classic/
Cheers,
- Brenden

My ipod has a sad face and it wont play

i have and ipod 5th generation i had a sad face and i restore it but when i put songs in it they wont play it plays a small portion of the song but then it stops and when i connect it to my computer it slows it down and my computer wont response to anything
5th Windows XP

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
Make sure the software on your computer and iPod is up to date...
iTunes
iPod Updater
Update iPod's Software
And try restoring the iPod again...
Restore iPod
btabz

How do i get my ipod classic to stop making the sad face and saying to get on apple support?

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