The dreaded folder icon

Here's the complete story. I've tried looking through everyone's advice on similar topics but it doen't seem to work, and I'm very confused now.
Got an Ipod Nano 4GB for Christmas.
Installed the itunes software on my PC
Imported a couple of CDs onto itunes
Hooked up the nano to charge (and left 8 hours overnight). It said it was updating and the little battery symbol in the top right started to move, indicating charging.
Nano said it was fine to disconnect and appeared with a big tick symbol. I ejected the nano via itunes and then disconnected physically. Nothing happened when I clicked menu, so I reset as instructed, and the folder icon appeared with the exclamation mark. No amount of resetting,or updating, or reinstalling itunes has altered this. And sometimes I'm getting another icon of what looks like a lowbattery with an exclamation mark (but only occasionally). I can't find out what this means, but when I connect the ipod to the computer the battery icon in the top right indicates a full battery. Help me before Christmas is ruined!!!

Yeah, and it's probably under warranty and if it's within the first 6 months of purchase, they'll even cover the shipping costs. So it would cost you nothing to have it repaired/replaced.
If you have an apple store near you, you could also set up an appointment to take it in so they can have a look at it and possibly do some testing there before sending it in for repair.
Mac OS X (10.4.7)

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Anyone?

Is there anyone there? I hope there is someone who can you understand this problem and have the common sense to respond? I open gmail. I want to save an email to one of my folders. I position my cursor over the appropriate Folder icon or by choice, to th

Is there anyone there? I hope there is someone who can you understand this problem and have the common sense to respond?
I open gmail. I want to save an email to one of my folders.
I position my cursor over the appropriate Folder icon or by choice, to the Trash.
The friendly finger pointing cursor icon changes to an arrow icon.
The hand icon allows me flawless access to opening and/or moving emails.
The arrow, however does not open the link.
On the Google menu bar the cursor hand with finger opens the links to Everett (my name), Search, Images, Maps and Play.
When I attempt to open the remaining links in the menu bar (YouTube, News, Gmail, Drive, Calendar and More) the arrow icon replaces the hand. The arrow icon does not work. It will not activate these links. Nor does it open email messages in the Inbox.
Usually I reset, even reboot Safire and sometimes the problem goes away, then reappears.
Can you imagine if this condition should it happen to a tech savvy Google Support person? Perhaps one can share and make my problem go away.
I am considering dropping Google as my mail source. Unfortunate!
Everett Halvorsen
[email protected]
718.490.3824

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hi, is there anyway we can change the default folder icons of OS X?

A quick search in these forums for folder icon brings up many hits, including this one: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3792805

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Alright, so I'm listenin' to my iPod yesterday, and everything's goin' all jolly as I'm doin' a little jig in my chair to Low Rider.
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That blasted explanation point next to the folder icon.
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That same icon: the folder icon of death. Then it shuts off a few seconds later and resets itself, only to continue the cycle a couple times before shutting off. This nasty cycle has continued through an over-night recharge, not even allowing my computer to recognize its existence for more than a few seconds, before it just restarts and fades off.
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With Love,
WayTooAwesome <3<br>
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Go and find a Mac computer, as you need it to format your iPod which previously formatted with a PC. Plug it with a Mac and it will get mount and allow you to do a Restore there, once it has ebing completed, replug with your PC (it will be mounted this time) and do a Restore back to PC version. If you can't find a Mac, go to the nearest Apple Shop and asking a favour to do it for you.

Boot problem / Hard drive won't spin up and folder icon shows

Hi,
Last week my ipod started giving me this problem, which started by it just stopping in the middle of a song (possibly because of lack of battery power).
When the ipod tries to boot I see the apple icon and hear the disk try to spin up for about 2 seconds. Then it gives a click, spins down, and starts the process all over again for several times until finally showing the dreaded folder icon.
When this happened last week I tried to charge using the cradle, but it didn't help. When I plugged it into the wall socket, VOILA! it worked. I went on my merry way for a week of listening, assuming the problem was all caused by a weak battery. During this week the computer was not able to mount the ipod disk.
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ubloomie

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Also you could try giving it a good sharp shock, which sometimes gets you one more spin-up.
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My ipod wont reset. The folder icon comes up.

my Ipod will connect to the computer and all I can use it for is a hard drive now. but when I try to turn it on, the apple logo comes up and the little folder icon comes up with the exclamation point.
I have tried to reset my ipod and restore my ipod but nothing will work.
My music wont show up on itunes, it will just be blank. BUT I know my music is on there because I search my ipod for *.mp3 and I have a ton of songs
Can anyone help me.. any way they can please?
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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/
In case you need an old versions (window only)
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 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.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=666580&tstart=15
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”
Exclamation point and folder and nothing else
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2997880
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.

Flashing folder icon with a (?) in the middle. Can I save my mac?

     This happend a few months ago and I have just recently purchased a new 2012 Intel iMac but still have my old one laying around and it would be nice to have the two of them working together.
     It's a 2006 Intel iMac, I had to force a restart by holding down the power button. When it booted up is when I saw the flashing folder icon witth the (?) in the middle.
     I started up the computer with the install disk for OSX Leopard and held down whatever button it was to bring up the menu to install the OS. I got to the point where you're asked to select the HDD location but there's nothing there to indicate there's a HDD to select. If it can't see the HDD does that mean the HDD is dead?
     If the computer doesn't see the HDD and or if the HDD is not dead, is there anyway to recover the data from it? I suspect I already know the answer to this and no, I do not have a back up. Now, if there is no way to recover the data and the HDD is dead, can I get the HDD replaced?

... I got to the point where you're asked to select the HDD location but there's nothing there to indicate there's a HDD to select. If it can't see the HDD does that mean the HDD is dead?
Most likely, yes.
You may be able to extract its data by removing the HDD and installing it in an external enclosure, but if the Mac does not even detect a hard disk it is likely to be completely inoperative, as in mechanically damaged.
Hard disks can be replaced by Apple for $400 or so, much less if you do it yourself.

The dreaded folder icon

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