My nano displays a folder and exclamation point

please help me solve my problem and tell me what to do any help is appreciated
Thanks, John

Hello John,
Check out this detailed post about this same problem, and see if the suggestions work.
Also, there is an Apple article about this.
iPod displays a folder icon and exclamation point
Hope this helps!

Similar Messages

Ipod keeps resetting itself with folder and exclamation point.

Well, I was listening to some music one day when my ipod just shut off on me.
I reset it because it wont turn back on and it shows me the apple emblem and then a folder with an exclamation point and then shuts off. It will do this as long as I am willing to stand there and keep pushing any button.
At one point and time it would actually make an audible spinning sound and then come to a halt and repeat that over and over again.
I tried charging it and nothing changed.
I tried hooking it up to the computer and the computer does not even recognize it being connected anymore.
Could a bad/corrupted song possibly ruin the ipod? Anything suggestions as to what my problem may be?
Thanks in advance!

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=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
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

Ipod shows apple logo then folder and exclamation point then shuts off

how do i make my ipod work it alternates from the ipod logo to do not disconnect to the folder logo to shutting off and sometimes it just stops working period

See these.
iPod shows a folder icon with exclamation point after disconnecting.
iPod shows a folder icon with exclamation point when you turn it on.
iPod only shows an Apple logo and doesn't start up.
Only Apple Logo appears on display when turned on.

I get a little message with a folder and exclamation point when i turn on..

when i turn on my ipod i get a message with a folder and an exclamation point. i have tried restoring, reseting, and reinstalling itunes. I was wondering if someone could help me with some advice before i take it to the shop.
thanks,
fisher64

Hello,
Please go and fina a Mac computer. If you can't find it, go to a nearest Apple Shop and ask them a favour to do a Restore for you.
Once you plug your iPod (which formatted with a Pc) with a Mac, it will get force mounted and allow you to do the Restore. Worth trying. Once it has being completed, plug it back with your PC, and do a Restore back with the PC

IPod nano locked with folder and exclamation

I have received today a new iPod nano and it has worked just for an hour. In the middle of a transfer from my pc it got locked. I tried everything but to no avail. It doesn't reset pressing select and menu and it doesn't restore with iPod updater, because it cannot write to it. All I see is the folder with an exclamation mark and the support page ("www.apple.com/support/ipod"). So I am lost.
Any help?

If you put it in disk mode, then try connecting to the computer and restoring.
Also, see this...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61711
Merry Christmas
btabz

The old folder and exclamation point

I have read all of the posts about this problem and still nothing works. A friend of mine gave me his ipod because of this problem. He downloaded the music in windows so the is the first discrepancy. I also have no install disk to go with this. I am very new to this so any answers in very laymans terms would be appreciated. I have OSX 10.4 on my mac G4. This is a clickwheel 20gb ipod.

Hi.
Have you read this? http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61003
I didn't use the installationcd for my ipod, all you need is itunes, and maybe an updater. You'll find the updater here: http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/ipodupdater20060323.html
Good luck!

IPod mini went through wash and displays folder with exclamation point HELP

My friend has an ipod mini and i guess it went through the wash and now it will turn on but it displays the folder and exclamation point. I tried resetting it with menu and select but it goes right back to the folder after reset. I have already read apples document so please don't post it. My question is do you think it is the logic board or hard drive that needs to be replaced? It seems if it were the logic board then it wouldn't turn on at all. I'm just trying to figure out if it's worth fixing or not. Is there any way i can tell for sure which component is bad? Thanks

Erm i dno bout the hard board n logic disc etc. im just like awful wiv stuff like dis but i got the same problem n i like tried restorin it n alsorts over n over, which i did when i managed 2 get this b4 n i got it twice with this ipod n it a brand new replaced 1.
neway wat i tryin 2 say is wunt go buyin a new 1 2 hastily cos it probs fixable even i managed 2 do it once b4 n i tryin 2 do it agn now. just try all the stuff on the support site thing im jst hopin tht summets got 2 work!!!
also u could just like ask an expert i dno if they do it here bt in america they like had apple shops were they had a "genius bar" which was basically ppl hu r rlly gd @ this kinda stuff tht sort it 4 u. :S
dell? Windows XP

Ipod Nano won't start - folder w/exclamation point error message!

My Ipod Nano won't start! I got it about a year ago and whenever I try to turn it on, a folder with an exclamation point and the words, "www.apple.com/support/ipod" come up. I've tried to get it to work but it's not. I even tried looking in the help sections on apple.com and everything I found didn't help. My Ipod isn't frozen, I just can't get it to the menu screen. I really don't want ot have to reset my Ipod and have all my previous songs and pictures erased because I can't get them back. Does anybody have a possible solution to this problem? Please help.
~Bre~
Ipod Nano Windows XP 2 GB
Ipod Nano Windows XP 2 GB

Here's a few that weren't posted too:
Check these out:
iPod Folder with Exclamation Point After Disconnected From Computer
Put iPod into Disk Mode Manually – Worked for Me!
Good Thread About iPod Sad icon/Folder with Exclamation Point
I hope this helps!

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.

Can't get rid of the folder and exclamation mark icon

i got given a new ipod nano (1st generation) to replace my old ipod mini, i installed the new software but got the folder and exclamation mark icon, i removed all itunes and quicktime software just in case it had anything to do with an old version of something and reinstalled the software...still got the icon. then i installed the updater from the website but still can't get rid of the icon...any advice? please help!
ipod nano (first generation) Windows XP

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”

Apple logo flashes with battery and exclamation point alternately

i have an ipod nano, everything was going fine until the battery ran out, when I plugged it back in the thing flashes the apple logo alternately with a battery and exclamation point. If the battery is completely dead then fine I will replace it but is that what it really is?

Have you tried connecting the iPod to different USB ports and/or another computer?
You can also take a look at this website, which may help figure out what's wrong with your iPod.
http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/ipodsupport/diagnosticmode/index.shtml
Finally, if your iPod is less than a year old, you can send it to Apple for replacement.
~Lyssa

File and exclamation point

Hi,
I have a 40gb click wheel ipod and have had it for a few years now. All of a sudden when I turn it on it goes fron the apple logo to a file with an exclamation point.
I went to the apple site and it said to move the hold button on and off then press select and menu together while it being plugged into computer or other pwer source. This I have done all day but I still het the same file and point showing up. I downloaded itunes 7 and when I connect the ipod it says it is corrupted and I need to restore it, when I do this the file and point just return and there is no life in the ipod even though it is fully charged.
Can anyone help me please?
Windows XP

Check these out:
iPod Folder with Exclamation Point After Disconnected From Computer
iPod Folder with Exclamation Point After Turned On
Put iPod into Disk Mode Manually – Worked for Me!
Good Thread About iPod Sad icon/Folder with Exclamation Point
I hope this helps!

CD and Exclamation Point

I left my iPod (I have the original one) on the shelf for over a year and when I finally took it down I had the feeling it had lost all its charge. So, I charged it up and now all it has is a CD and Exclamation Point instead of the many songs in there. Even if I reset by holding down Menu and the center button, it goes right back to the CD and exclamation point. Can anyone help? Thanks!

Hello all,
I believe the story about fixing the iPod with the above problem by dropping it on the carpetted floor with the waist height. As the HD of the iPod could be stuck at one point and the needle can't move, thats why it shows the folder or CD exclmation point, but, we may running the risk that by dropping it, which may causes a bad sector on it. If you cannot find alternative way to solve and the warranty also got expired, you have no choice. Having said that, I strongly suggest that a broken Mac's iPod can be fixed by a PC or vince verse. As when it got connect, it will mount but cant be read, therefore it requires a re-format. As the format version of PC and Mac is differently, by formatting in a different way may force the needle to move in another way rather than stuck at one point.

What is the grey triangle and exclamation point when trying to view pics in iPhoto?

having troubles with photoes that appear in iphoto as a thumnail but when selected a screen appears with a grey triangle and exclamation point !
what is this about?other photoes in the same album appear as they are selected!

This indicates a disconnect between the Thumbnail and the original
this can be caused by two things
1 - User action deleting items from inside the iPhoto library - can be directly - can be from the All images list (never delete from there) - can be from running cleanup software like MacKeeer, CleanMac2 or other dangerous, defective software that improperly deletes or changes things in the iPhoto library - if you have done any of these things you must restore your backup from before you did them and damaged your iPhoto library - and I recommend getting rid of any "clean up software" ASAP (although being essentially MalWear it is not easy)
2 - corruption of the iPhoto library - If it is not #1 then Back up your iPhoto library, Depress and hold the option (alt) and command keys and launch iPhoto - rebuild your database
LN

My nano displays a folder and exclamation point

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