How to Diagnose iPod Trouble
- 1). Charge your iPod. Make sure that your iPod battery is fully charged before running any diagnostic tests.
- 2). Restart your iPod. Slide the switch on and off to ensure it is not in the Hold position. No orange color should be showing.
- 3). Reset your iPod. Depending on your model, you will use different combinations of buttons to reset your iPod. For 1G to 3G models that have the scroll and touch wheel styling, hold the "Menu" and "Play/Pause" buttons simultaneously. For 4G+ models hold the "Menu" and "Select" button simultaneously. For Touch, press the "Menu" and "Sleep" buttons at the same time. Hold the appropriate buttons for 6-10 seconds to reset your iPod. You'll know you did it correctly when you see the Apple logo appear.
- 4). Enter diagnostic mode on your iPod. Press the correct sequence of buttons to enter diagnostic mode on your iPod. For 1G to 3G models, press "REW", then "FFW" and then the "Select" button. For 4G+ models, press "REW" and then "Select". You should hear the hard drive spinning and then a backwards Apple logo will appear.
- 5). Review the list of diagnostic tests. Lists may vary depending on the model and generation of your iPod. You may first see "Auto Test" to run all tests automatically or "Manual Test" where you select individual tests. Some tests are run as a bundle and do not require any intervention from you. You'll be prompted to press the "Select" button on tests like LCM screen testing.
- 6). Select which diagnostic tests you want to run. Be aware that your scroll wheel is disabled while the iPod is in diagnostic mode. Use the "REW" and "FW" buttons to navigate the test menu.
- 7). Look at all the diagnostic messages as they appear on the screen. Some tests will indicate, "PASS" or "FAIL," while other tests will output hexadecimal numbers.
- 8). Restart your iPod after completion of the desired tests, to get out of Diagnostic Mode.
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