Won't charge

Question

My first piece of Apple technology! Not making a very good impression so far. I've read the discussion boards and the troubleshooting FAQs. Sure are a lot of design problems, and a heck of a lot of things to do before giving up and getting it repaired under warranty---which costs $30 "shipping and handling" for a $45 device! OK, enough complaining, here's my issue:
My 4th gen shuffle ran out of charge after a single use, and I can’t get it to charge up again.
- I made sure to push the USB connecter fully into the shuffle (after reading these discussions)
- I disconnected all other USB devices from the computer
- I updated to the latest Itunes version
- I have successfully charged it once, and synched it once, and played it once. That one time was for about 45 minutes while I was running. (I have seen other posts that say that working out with this small, clip-on device obviously designed for workouts, can cause it to fail. I didn’t get it particularly sweaty but I didn’t protect against that, either.)
Current symptoms:
- Plugged shuffle into USB port.
- Shuffle light started flashing amber
- Itunes opened automatically
- Itunes recognized the shuffle. A page appeared that said “Welcome to your new Ipod, let’s get started”. I clicked continue and the next page was titled “Summary”, with the word “Music” next to it at the top of the page, similar to a tab in windows. In the column on the left, itunes had an entry for Devices with the name I gave the ipod. There is a symbol apparently for a battery, with a lightning bolt in it, apparently indicating the battery is charging? (Too bad itunes designers haven’t learned to use language instead of pictograms.) However, the ipod light is flashing amber, which apparently indicates it isn’t charging. To the right of the battery there’s a circle with an inscribed triangle and a dashed line beneath it. (Freemasons click here? Warning, 1/3rd of a nuclear hazard? Someday Apple will discover words, I dream of it.) Meanwhile the ipod light is still flashing amber. I let this continue for an hour or so, then I got bored.
- Next I clicked on the Freemason symbol next to the device name…ah, the Freemason symbol means “eject”. Obviously. The shuffle light is solid amber and the device is no longer recognized by itunes or windows.
- I unplugged the shuffle. The light is off. It remains off when I press the voice over button twice.
- I plugged it back in. Amber light flashing, itunes appears again, Windows recognizes it as a drive. I play a song from that drive, so I can use the ipod as long as I carry around a computer to supply power and speakers.
- I tried plugging into a USB port on the back of the computer, same result. It did charge up using the front USB that one time.
Question: How do I persuade the ipod to charge? Any hints? If I take this to an Apple store will they charge me to fix it (or to learn the secret of operating it)?

Answer 1

Wow, what a long post for a short problem.
The flashing amber light does not mean it is not charging, it means it is in use, probably due to your antivirus/antispyware software scanning it or you have enabled disk use mode.
Use the USB port in the back of your computer and let it charge for at least 3.5 hours and make sure your computer does not go to sleep during that time (USB doesn't charge when a computer goes to sleep and can actually drain the device). Turn the iPod off while you are charging this time. Remove it after the allotted time and turn the power switch on and see if you get a green or amber light. If it comes on try to play it.
If this doesn't work you may have had sweat get into it and damage the battery.