IPod 5g, sad face BUT boots into disk mode

Hey everybody, I have a iPod that my uncle brought me, he says it's his sons, but he doesn't need it. This ipod boots with apple logo, hdd making clicky sound, and then a sad face appears for about 4 seconds and shuts down. If I try holding center and play buttons, it does boot into disk mode, but before that it says that I have to connect it to the computer to restore it, but itunes doesn't recognize it. But computer does. is there any way to fix it?

The Sad face icon is usually a very good indication of a hardware malfunction or failure usually with the iPod's Hard Drive, which would also explain the loud clicking noise you are hearing. 
Have you seen this article yet?
iPod display's a sad iPod icon
If you are up for the challenge, you can also try all of the troubleshooting mentioned described by another forum member Mitch 751.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1193481?start=0&tstart=0
B-rock

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    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.“Partition Magic”.
    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.

  • Frozen ipod with sad face

    when i push the menu button i get the sad face w/ exclamation point. i've tried to follow all steps except restoring the ipod. what can i do from here?

    Or you can try to do step 9
    1. Try these five steps (known as the five Rs) will conquer most iPod issues.
    http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/
    2. 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
    Still can't see your iPod?
    Several things could keep iPod from appearing in iTunes or in the Desktop/Finder when you connect it to your PC/Mac. The most likely causes are listed below in logical order. Check each one starting from the top of the list to see if that is what's keeping iPod from appearing.
    3. Try to wait 30 minutes while iPod is charging.
    4. Try another known-good FireWire or USB through Dock Connector cable.
    5. Try another known-good FireWire or USB port on your computer .
    6. Try to disconnect all devices from your computer's FireWire and USB ports.
    7. Try to connect on a different computer i.e. a PC formatted iPod connect with a Mac computer or Mac formatted iPod with a Window base PC.
    8. Try to do a Erase (Disk Utility) on a Mac computer or a reformat with a PC (Disk Management tool) but ensure you choose the right Drive (your iPod not your Hard Disk of your computer).
    9. Try to run the iPod in “Diagnostic mode” . which can be accessed by pushing the “hold” switch into the “on” position and then “off” (into the original position). Then press the following buttons in the following order: “menu” plus “select” (centre button) then press “reverse” plus “select”. This will take you to the hidden diagnostic mode screen menu. It may take a few trials and pressing the buttons in the right way for this to work, so be patient and keep trying if you have to. The diagnostic mode will give you 7 choices which are: Memory, IO, Power, Status, SysCfg, Diskmode, and Reset. Don’t bother trying “reset” because in my case it didn’t work it just took me back to the same problem. Instead, choose “diskmode”, after which you should get an odd looking “ok to disconnect” sign on the iPod screen.
    If one of the above step helps to get your iPod to be recognized with your computer, do a Restore.
    But, if none of these steps address the issue, your iPod may need to be repaired. You can arrange for service at the iPod Service Website.
    I strongly suggest that you should find a Mac computer and do a Restore there, your iPod is likely to get recongized in this way.

  • Ipod won't go into disk mode for recovery

    This morning my IPod (80GB Video Ipod) wouldn't play, so I rebooted it, but it would not restart and it gets the red X sign. I followed the directions to get it to go into disk mode, but it still won't. It keeps going to the red X screen! I can't seem to find anymore help on how to fix this!!!
    Anybody had this problem? How did you get it fixed, please don't tell me that you can't because I have only had my ipod for a few months!
    How do I get my ipod into Disk Mode?!

    For anybody experiencing the problem I described above, I have bad news and good news...
    Bad news - The hard drive on your 5th gen iPod is shot if you are having the same problem as me with getting the "red x" and not being able to go into disk mode. It is irreparable...sad.
    The Good News! - As long as your iPod is under warranty and has not had any water damage and can pass a visual inspection from an apple employee for physical damage they will replace it! Simply set up an appointment at an apple store with a "Genius Bar" employee. It only took about 5 minutes from start to finish for me to explain my problem, have the guy run like three super quick tests and then swap out my broken iPod for a brand new one.
    Good luck all!

  • HELP!! ipod has sad icon but nothing's working

    i think i was clicking too fast through my music when suddenly my ipod froze (my bad!). i tried the menu + select thing but it didn't work, it just remained frozen. i noticed the battery was low. when i fiddled around with it and nothing was working, i just put my ipod away (i was at school) and decided to let the battery die down and leave it alone, since i didn't know what i was doing away.
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    Windows XP   Windows XP  

    There is a pretty comprehensive post written by another forum member which is about the sad iPod icon. Be aware that it's quite involved and contains some info that will almost certainly void the warranty. If your iPod is still within the warranty period, you should use that option first.
    The Sad iPod icon.
    You can arrange online service here.
    Service request.

  • IPod Classic will not turn on, refuses to go into disk mode.

    Hello Apple Community.
    Last night I went out to a party, and while I was asleep, some questionable so-and-so poured alcohol on me, and this alcohol got all over my pants, and subsequently, the iPod.
    I am using a 160GB White iPod Classic, and I have never had this problem with it before.
    When i attempt to turn it on, I am shown the Apple logo for a moment, then a big red X with a circle telling me to come here.
    I tried the steps for fixing the (X), but I can't even put it into disk mode.
    The iPod makes an uncomfortable groaning noise, with some occassional clicking when I turn it on, and my younger brother in his infinite wisdom thought smacking it would be a good idea, especially since I told him that would not help in the least.
    It hasn't made the noise again, but it still won't work or go into disk mode.
    My question is in 2 parts;
    1.) Is there any way I myself can fix my iPod? (i.e. Hair-drying it, formatting it etc.)
    2.) If not, will Apple replace the hard drive inside, or the iPod itself in it for free?*
    *The iPod was given to me as a gift Xmas 2011, purchased in August of 2011.
    The site says it is still under warranty, but I want to know if this moron's action have voided that.
    I have all the original packaging (and accessories), minus the receipt.
    One last note; My care for the files on the ipod is literally zero, I have them all on my PC and don't care if they get erased, as long as I can fix this darned device.
    Thanks in advance.

    There is nothing, I can suggest except for what your brother did, which doesn't work.
    Do bring it in to Apple Store and let them have a look, no harm in trying.
    Good Luck!

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