My I Pod has a folder with exclamation mark

And isnt being recognised by my PC
Its alternating between apple logo and exlamation mark with a folder
I have tried update didnt work
So I need to restore it but now its not being recognised by my PC!
What can I do its driving me crazy!
I approached apple for a service (it has been repaired 4 times already) but they want like £169 (about $270) to service it
It ****!
Pleeeeeeease help me!
Thanks
Mark

"Please help me or should I just throw it out the window?!"
Hello Mark,
In fact you should throw it out the window with your window PC. I do not understand why there so many case about this problem and it must have something done with the window PC. I am a firm believer that if the iPod do not connect with a PC and it will work fine.
From past experience, it could be solved by putting it in Disk Mode and do a format, best is you can find a Mac, and let Mac to format it in FAT32. I did once in PC, just go to format it under the Disk Management, bear in mind you must do several attempts.

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IPhoto 11 9.3 I click on a thumbnail and the screen is black or has a triangle with exclamation mark inside of it

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The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one. .
Regards
TD

Boots to folder with exclamation mark or battery with exclamation mark

recently purchased a used ipod 3g. i came with a dent in the uper left corner of the back of it. im not sure how old it is. it will (without ac pluged in) show the apple logo then turn off, when pluged in it will show either a battery with a exclamation mark,or a folder with an exclamation mark. when connected to windows it is recognized as there being a usb device there but it cannot determine what it is. when connected to a linux box (also have 4g ipod works fine on this box) it will nto even detect it. also when plgged it and booted you can hear the hard drive and it is rather loud. im guessing that the battery is old and dead and will not recharge (as i have seen no sign of it recharging) and the hard drive is dammaged. I have tried reseting, disk mode. both to no results please help for i dont want to pay to have it fixed.

tingyster hello,
Yeah, it could be 2 problems i.e. battery and hard disk, but it could be some thing wrong and stop your iPod to get charge. So please plug your iPod have a charge with the AC charger for few hours. (Do a reset before your plug it the charger). Then find a Mac computer, put your iPod in disk mode and connect it with a Mac compter, do a Restore there, if you can able to finish the restore process then connect it back with your PC, and redo the Restore with your PC.

Ipod nano shows icon of folder with exclamation mark on start nd then shuts

i just got a new ipod nano i tried to start it after charging it but it shows me an icon of a folder with an exclamation mark and then shuts off.can nybody pls tell me how to d the entire setup from the start to end please

All i can suggest is that you try and restore it on another computer (maybe a PC) and see if it fixes the problem. I am a service technician and I've done pretty much all the things you've tried on a iPod Video and still had to replace it so it looks like that'll be what you need to do.

IMac won't boot and has flashing folder with question mark on gray screen

I just bought a new iMac. I have been trying all week (with no success) to transfer files and apps from my previous iMac. The last time I tried to transfer, I used target mode on the old computer. It looked as if it was finally working, so I left with 2+ hours remaining on the transfer. When I returned, the computer was frozen and nothing would work. So I held the power button to turn it off. When I tried to turn it back on, there was only a gray screen with a flashing folder with a question mark. I feel like I have tried everything listed in other discussions. The only thing I am not able to try is to reinstall Lion because the new computer did NOT come with an OSX disc of any type. Any suggestions?

Go to > OS X Lion: About Lion Recovery

Folder with exclamation mark... apple website is no help at all.

Hi there, I recently got an ipod nano, and it broke after 10 minutes out of the box. So i sent it away to be repaired and it came back and it worked! hooray! So i put some songs on it and tried to play them, but they all just skipped through. After some time fiddling with itunes and the ipod, the ipod basically wouldnt play any songs, i couldn't transfer anything to it or update it. So i tried to restore it, but it came up with "Firmware update falure, Disk write error". I tried the previous ipod updater version but the same message came up. I've tried resetting, restoring and doing everything to my ipod that has been suggested by apple. I have tried putting it in disk mode but that doesn't seem to help. I have reinstalled itunes and the ipod update software. I have the latest updates for my OS and basically I'm at my wits end. I've already had to send this thing away to get repaired once, don't tell me I have to send it away again..... There must be something I can do? Any ideas anyone?
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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”
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 replacement (with pictures)
http://www.kokopellimusic.us/KM_instructions.htm
Have I tried this 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
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.

Folder with exclamation still exists

hi!
my ipod is a 60gb photo.after i downloaded the 2005-09-23 updater and clicked on the icon to update the message'firmware failed. disc write error' appeared. since this option didn't work I tried the restore option that also didn't work and the same message appeared.now my screen has this folder with a exclamation which won't go away and the ipod dosen't budge.i've tried everything including toggling with the hold switch everything the manual says and the online support says but still nothing works.i even downloaded the updater twice but the same message appears.please help someone. the battery is also charged .the ipod's backlight also dosen't light up. the display also has changed.and at the time of music or photo transfer it displays a -36 and -5 error respectively

Call Apple or, even better, go to an Apple store.

3rd Generation ipod - Folder with exclamation icon

I have had a 3rd generation 20g ipod for a number of years. Recently I switched it on and it showed the folder and exclamation icon and the device was frozen. I have been on every site and carried out every listed procedure but the device remains frozen. I have removed the battery and hard disk but when reconnected the problem still remains. Under Mycomputer the computer is not seeing the ipod so I cannot reformat it. I recently took the hard disk to a specialist and his device could see and read and play music files from the hard disk. Even when the hard disk is disconnected the ipod shows the folder and exclamation mark. Have I a problem with the Firmware and if so can it be shocked out of its current seizure! Is there any point formatting the disk separately and then reconnecting in the ipod. Running out of options starting to get desparate
3rd generation 20g ipod Windows XP

I'm not sure that this will help, keego, but I'll give two links about this issue. The first one is an Apple article about it. And the other is a thread that I suggest checking out, since it has lots of info. Check out these links here:
iPod displays a folder icon with an exclamation point
Exclamation point and folder
That topic linked above that was posted here also includes some interesting advice: bang the right side of your iPod firmly against your hand or a desk. Try it out, because that worked for people on here!
Hope this helps, post back if it did or not!

IPod with exclamation mark & folder icon on screen?

Hi a friends iPod mini has come up with an exclamation mark & folder icon on it's screen and is not working. It seems fine when it is plugged into their Mac and in iTunes and updates playlists ok but as soon as they eject it the exclamation mark & folder icon appears on the iPod screen and it doesn't work. I've had a look at it but not sure what to do. Thanks.

Check these out:
iPod Folder with Exclamation Point After Disconnected From Computer
iPod Folder with Exclamation Point After Turned On
Good Thread About iPod Sad icon/Folder with Exclamation Point
I hope this helps!

In iMovie: I open a project that has been finalized. source fragment is missing. I see a yellow triangle with exclamation mark. Why is that and how do I solve the problem?

in iMovie:
I open a project that has been finalized. source fragment is missing. I see a yellow triangle with exclamation mark. Why is that and how do I solve the problem?
please help.
J. Aalbers

Shouldn't really be the MPE at fault here ... what is the codec of the footage/sequence/project?
Second, can you create a new project in PrPro, then in the media browser, import that sequence from the other project?

Folder with exclamation point on ipod - freezes if trying to restore

hi
i have quite a peculiar problem with my ipod 5th gen video. i just got it in the mail yesterday and tried to make it work. when i started it up, there was a folder with an exclamation point on it. so i installed the software from the cd and plugged it in, the ipod starts charging but nothing else happens.
so i started reading all the help files on the support page, and tried everything, from reinstalling the software, to running the ipod in diskmode.
everytime the ipod is recognized by either the update software or windows as a drive, it freezes. so i reset it, try again and the **** thing freezes again
i am at a loss here, it ***** that a lot of people here seem to have the same problem and that apple does nothing at all...
well i' will wait 2 days for an answer on here and then send it in to be replaced
thx in advance

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
I understand your frustrations. Try these and see if they help:
1. The Five R's
2. Iconology 101
3. Folder with Exclamation Point
Hope these help!
rjl
333

Connecting ipod to computer causes folder with exclamation point

Alright, my ipod works fine until I plug it into my computer, at which point itunes and possibly the whole computer will freeze up for a good 10 minutes, and the computer will try to recognize the device. The computer recognizes the device, and tries to autoplay it, however trying to open the ipod or perform any action on it (e.g. format it) will cause my computer and explorer.exe to freeze
I followed the directives here, http://www.zolved.com/guruconnect/showexchange/1086/It_has_the_folder_with_the_exclamation_point_on_the_screen_,
which told me to uninstall itunes, restart, clear the temp files, and then reinstall. This worked for a few hours and I was updating my ipod. It was taking forever to sync, and when I manually switched off my monitor to go to bed I heard the series of beeps indicating a device had been removed. I found the error had reared its ugly head.
Once the folder with exclamation point appears, the ipod will continually reset itself. 5 or 6 resets later, the ipod will function normally again until I plug it in to the computer, and the cycle starts over again.
What I have tried:
Restoring - as I said fixed until I plug into my computer
Formatting - "
Using it on my brother's Mac- it will recognize the ipod, and say it needs to be restored, however cannot restore it due to a 1419 (I think) error. After formatting it on the mac, it worked fine until plugged into the pc.
Im fairly sure that the problem lies with somethingon my computer. Does anyone have any idea what the culprit could be? Any help would be much appreciated, this finnicky ipod is making me want to tear my hair out!
Dell 4600 Windows XP

I notice your sig says you have a Sony Vaio. The Sony Media Watcher program is known to cause conflicts of deleting itunes libraries - not your specific problem, I understand, but I wonder if this is some new fun feature that is somehow related?
If you have ever run the Sony media software, it is "watching" the itunes folders. Try telling it not to watch the itunes folder temporarily and see if things work better. Or even uninstall it, considering Sony came out with that fab rootkit ; 0
I don't have a vaio, so can't suggest much more, but there are posts from other vaio owners in this topic
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1800551
Near the bottom are the posts about telling it not to watch folders; the posts on uninstalling come before that.

My computer has a blinking folder with question mark on it at start... What is going on?

My computer has a blinking folder with question mark on it at start... What is going on?

The hatter wrote:
also that the default is no longer set asin when someone had windows as default and removed it w/o changing Startup Disk panel.
Oh yes, I forgot that people still do that

I turn my Mac on the screen is white and has a folder with a '?' In middle?.

I turn my Mac on the screen is white and has a folder with a '?' In middle?

•A Flashing Question Mark appears when you Start your Mac:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1440
Read through & follow the instructions; if the problem goes away after completing
any of them, you need not continue through all of them to resolve this issue.
This also helps troubleshoot some of the main possibilities.
Short of some hardware failure requiring major parts.
Good luck & happy computing!

Folder w/ exclamation mark/can't get to menu/can't reset or restore/HELP!

First off, I had never updated my iPod since I received it, so I decided I would finally do that. So I went to the site and downloaded the update and that is where the problem began. Now my iPod has a folder with an exclamation mark and I can't get to the menu or anything. It doesn't show up on iTunes, but my computer recognizes that the usb is attached, but i can't find the ipod itself on the computer. I've tried resetting, restoring... pretty much everything the website tells me to try. This is really frustrating since I just got it... I would be really appreciative for any feedback !!!
Thanks=)
Hp Pavillion Windows XP

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
Does the iPod actually restore? Does the folder still appear after?
Try putting it into Disk Mode...
Putting iPod into Disk Mode
Then attach it to the computer and try the restore...
Restore the iPod
You have seen and tried this (and the related documents) as well, right?
iPod shows a folder icon with exclamation point
btabz

My I Pod has a folder with exclamation mark

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