::grumble:: Mac won’t help me restart my iPod without paying them $60 so i’m hoping someone here might be able to help.
My iPod’s software thinks that it is on hold (even though the slider at the top says otherwise). It fell under this magical state in the first week of April. I web-searched and someone on the web said to let the battery die to nothingness. I did this. To no avail. Whenever i plug it back in to power, it’s still on hold.
There’s no way to do the restart via the three buttons because it’s on hold. Isn’t there a manual restart somehow? Like one where i can erase the whole disk and get it to restart?
I have to admit that i’m *really* cranky with Mac about this one. You’d think that a noticeable defect in the software (documented by others on the web) would mean that they’d support you in fixing it. I’m a bit resentful by being demanded to pay $60 to fix it when i was thinking of upgrading at the end of the summer. Now i’m just questioning whether or not it’s worth upgrading because my iPod has been broken for half the time that i’ve had it.
After trying lots of ways to unlock my ipod (I wouldn’t even try asking Apple for help – once they’ve got your money and your warranty’s out, they genuinely don’t want to know), I tried a variation on Heather’s idea, but instead of banging it (though I really wanted to…), I forced the ‘hold’ switch as far to the off position as I could, with my teeth. It worked! Just as easy a way would be to place it on its side, with the hold toggle nearest the surface, then using a small-headed screwdriver to force down the hold switch.
Good luck everyone!
Heya,just had exactly the same problem (got so annoyed) after trying loadsa the stuff out on here i found that if you take the hold off at the top of your ipod then hold down the middle button and the menu button and the same time just for a little while until the apple sign comes up.It may take a few attempts but it worked.And the good news is all my music and pictures are still there.Thanks to everyone who posted found this really useful!!Got my Ipod back =)
Good Luck
Oh man Sean O Your my hero love!
i have a nano and im always afraid of snaping it
but honestly if you push as hard as you can so the hold button is off push it untill your ipod is unlocked
I wish you guys luck!
YOU ARE ALL FUCKIN RETARTED IVE TRYED ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND NONE OF THEM WORK MY HOLD BUTTON DOESN’T WORK IT MOVES BUT DOESN’T CHANGE ANYTHING I CANT RESET IN BECAUSE ITS LOCKED
you all are fucking dumb asses
hey…i read this entire forum. when i plug my ipod in to the computer it recognizes it and everything (i can put music and everything on it) but when i unplug it the hold stays on…i have restored 3 times, menu+select, play+select…and still absolutely nothing! i took it apart and manually moved the switch while it was still on…still nothing! either it is the switch that is malfunctioning or their is a software bug (not likely). i have even tried going to version 1.2 instead of 1.3. NOTHING! i know that it is not an alignment problem because i took it apart and moved the switch. so if anybody knows where i can take it (besides the store (already tried)) or what i can do, that would be greatly appreciated! whats weird is when i use the dock and remote i can control the ipod with the remote but i just cant use the buttons on the actual ipod which is very strange. so if anyone can help, that would be greatly appreciated! thank you and good night.
My ipod is froozen and the light won’t turn off what should i do?
K so my problem is that one day I was just uploading songs onto my ipod and all of my songs got deleted. Now I have this pop up that appears anytime I connect my ipod to the computer and it says something like itunes corrupt file, the file or directory\ipod_control\itunes is corrupt and unreadable please run the chkdsk utility. I have searched around and most answers have suggested to restore the ipod but my ipod doesnt stay connected long enough to select restore immediately it shows this message, what do I do any suggestions?
Ok, so my iPod wouldn’t respond and was stuck on hold just like yours was. I tried resetting it for a while and nothing was working. So I did what Apple recommends and set it flat and tried resetting. It worked, finally, and that is the only advice I can give you. Lay the iPod on a flat area and hold down menu and the center “Select” button until it resets. Hope this helps you.
This sucks, sometimes you have good days and bad days.This day just happened to be one of each.:(
PS.don’t the manufactuars of ipod know what’s at stake? If I don’t get to listen to my music I shall… I shall…oh what’s the use, I’ll get an mp3 player insted; but until then I’m going to cry my eyes out and burry the sucker.
A FIX! My son’s iPod Nano (1st gen) had a hold switch that was permanently on with the lock symbol showing all the time. (He didn’t drop it; it just happened one day.) After trying all the software-type solutions suggested (reset-which wouldn’t work b/c the clickwheel was non-responsive- & restore, etc.) and the physical ones (like tapping it, pressing on it, toggling the hold switch, and checking that the case wasn’t warped) to no avail, I decided to take the sucker apart. (I couldn’t pry it apart until I got a plastic Safe Tool for $5 from ipodmods.com. They also have good photos and a take-apart guide for the Nano. I did not have to remove the clickwheel ribbon like they show b/c I was able to rotate the main board enough to get at the switch.) This is scary, but if you’re out-of-warranty, what have you got to lose? Besides, if a 45-yr old mom can do it, surely you can! The problem is that the hold switch had come loose/unsaudered on one side from the main board so there physically wasn’t an electrical connection. Re-saudering did not look feasible given the minute size and position. However, pressure against the base of the switch (inside the unit) restored function. So, I applied a bead of hot glue to the base of the switch; not to glue anything together, but just to provide a physical bulge. The glue dried hard and, when I closed the unit, it kept pressure on the switch by pressing against the inside of the screen. So far, it’s working fine.
i had the oppisite problem the lock wont turn on at all and i dont no what to do…but earlier today i dropped it in my tub so that might have had something to do with it but im not sure.
my nephew got hold of my ipod nano 2gb and now it is locked and every time i turn it on there is a combinatio lock and i don’t know the numerical 4 digit code can you help is there amaster reet code for it
my nephew got hold of my ipod nano 2gb and now it is locked and every time i turn it on there is a combinatio lock.
Gods! I love everyone in here! ‘Specially Kent cause that guide worked for me after a few trys!! I’m so happy that I won’t have to go cross town to talk to some stupid fuck who’ll probably blame me for their fucking iPods not working proberly!!! I mean I paid too fucking much for that video-iPod as it is! Only fair for it to work… hehe sorry, I’m spazzing, I’m just so happy it works again, I can’t live without my music! yays! *kisses all around*
-alice xx
I need a software to unlock my ipod. What is it
Ugh! I tried EVERYTHING on here, tapping, pushing, taking apart. I dropped my iPod (20 gig photo) from about 2 feet and the back came off.
Now it’s stuck on hold. I called apple and they said my warranty is up, so send it in for about 200 bucks. The thing only cost 100 more than that! Someone please help! I love love LOVE my iPod, and this sucks SO MUCH!!!
I’m in the same boat. Dropped my nano, and everything still works fine, but I have to push the hold button hard to the left to get it to unlock. As soon as I let it go, it goes back on hold. Oh yeah, also, if I push the select button firmly at all, it goes back on hold just long enough to ignore my selection.
Picture me walking around the city holding my hold button off with one hand, trying to select a song with the other, but not too hard… yeah, I’m going to get hit by a bus.
everytime I go to listen to my ipod on itunes I can’t because there is this little lock that is on the bottom of itunes and I don’t know hoe to get it off. I’m soooo confused plz help!
im pissed my ipod showed a little apple and then the screen turned of and it wont work its not on hold people and even when i connect it to the computer it wont fu**in work
so… i havent dropped my ipod and i have only had it since christmas, so it is pretty new and its a nano idk if that helps but yea my problem is that it was playing then all of the sudden it locked even though the slidey lock thing wasnt pushed to the left and i tried to lock it then unlock it and it is still locked. if ya can help i would appriciate it. thanks
i got my ipod 4 a late christmas present and i really like it and its a nano.I was turning the screen lock on and then i tried out my screen lock again.I put my code in and it wont let me do anything unless i put in the right code in.PLEASE help me! I really want to listen to my music.
i have been having the stuck on lock problem and i tried just about everything on this page. i ened up trying to open the ipod up and used a guitar pick. well when i pushed the pick right underneath where the hold button is and it unlocked. i dont know how long its gonna last or if ill have to use the pick everytime but try it!
I dropped my ipod while running on the treadmill and when I picked it up to use it again, it was also stuck on hold and the little hold button wasnt working. I was desperate to get it working again because I love working out with it and also becasue I’m a poor college kid living off off scraps and can’t afford another one. I tried all of the techniques listed above and nothing worked. I sat on it, I stepped on it, still it remained locked. I took he little gray button off at the top of the ipod and stuck a small pair of scissors in it and jiggled it around, still no luck. Finally I took my mechanical pencil, put the lead of the pencil in the ipod and puhed down, and what do you know the lock symbol is off. Some of the lead broke off inside of it too, but it works great. My solution isn’t as clean as the others, but thought I would share my solution in case anyone is as desperate as I was. Original idea originated in part to the Heather Method.
just put the damn ipod in a drawer and wait until the battery goes flat. when you plug it into power again it should be fine
helloo.. welll i guess.. the suggestion, really working out… and heather made a lotta people lives easier.. yeah..
neways i borowed my friends ipod… andeverythng was working fine.. until… i connected it, to my laptop, for the first time.. n then nuttin would pop up.. the usually pop up everytime theres somethng connected… infact there was no detection of the device.. after a few seconds… it said device not functioning properly..
i saw the ipod screen and i was in the menu section wid a song playin… it was frozen “no screen light, the pause sign on, but the menu.. still showing.. so im guessing its frozenn… i think… im using an ipod for the first time… please people can u help… i cannot afford to return it back to my friend in such condition… and no i did not drop it…
help
hey! i had the same problem! my ipod was locked and i couldn’t get it unlocked! so i moved the hold switch really fast back and forth and it went on! now ill just never put it on hold again!
thanks for the help!
well i was being stupd and playin around with my ipod when it came up with a screen lock and i dont remember my answer. for like the last day ive been tryng to do EVERYTHING! but nothin is working. what should i do to get the screeen lock off.
I dropped my 30G ipod video in the water and let it dry off for a few days before i tried to turn it back on. I am able to plug it up to the computer and everything else seems to be working just fine but the screen is stuck on lock even though the switch does not say so. I’ve tried the “Heather” method and a lot of other stuff but maybe i’m not doing something right. Can someone please help me out b/c i am helpless without my music.
i cant get passed my screen lock
Hi everybody, my friend had the same problem, but the lock button on the ipod was smashed in, so i took it apart and i found how to unluck it forEVER!!! check this video clip i recorded to show you how…
http://www.dhclan.com/ipod/ipod.swf
Thanks to all, i had the same problem of may here (my ipod dropped on the floor and remained locked and the hold button didn’t seem to work); i pushed hard on the ipod and the lock icon went off and the ipod works again now. I ‘m really grateful..
Pasquale
the battery died on my 30 gig i pod i charged it up now its locked help me
My old iPod seized up with these same problem six months ago. It was long out of warranty and, I figured, unfixable. Yesterday I fiddled around some, thinking I could at least use it as a portable HD. Decided to look up the “won’t unlock” problem. Found this page – by one of my already-favorite authors, no less!
This morning got out the tools that came with the battery replacement kit I used over a year ago. Ran the little iPod opener around the edge at the top. Heard a loud click. Bingo! iPod works again! Just in time for a long trip. Yay!
My ipog 4g locked out after changing the battery… problem was caused by the tape connector between the two halves coming adrift. By unscrewing the two small screws I was able to remove the cicuit board with the hold button on it. I re inserted the tape connector and put it all back together and it works fine…. might be usefull if all else fails ! 😉
This happened to me too. What you got to do is open up your ipod and cut the cord that runs from your hold button to the battery.
hey i cant unlock my ipod nano, some website said that i had to update it and i did but nothing happened… please help me a.s.a.p
thank you
Having the same problem. Tried the heather method and everything but it is not working.
no click.
please help!
My Nano locked. I read every blog and none would fix it. I took the back silver panel off using a knife. I couldn’t find any wires connected to the HOLD switch, but was able to wiggle it and pull it up, the lock came off. It won’t lock anymore, but I’m good with that.
Good Luck
hi everyone check this site out it worked perfectly
this guy knows what he’s talking about
http://blogs.tech-recipes.com/professoripod/2007/03/19/ipod-wont-respond/
LOCK KEY WON’T GO AWAY?
Press and hold the MENU and the CENTER button. It worked for me.
Tons of posts, and I lost my patience and just took the thing apart. I had the lock problem, and my hard drive had locked. I opened the case using my pocket knife, leatherman, and drivers license.
*I’m not recommending this unless you’re really comfortable working with this kind of stuff! You might kill your iPod!*
Take a thin blade at one of the narrow ends of the iPod. I started at the top by the hold switch. Use the blade as a wedge to create a little space, and slide the license in.
Now that you have this little gap, using the knife blade gently pry outward. There are little plastic clips that you’re un-clipping.go all the way around the iPod un-clipping the little clips.
Once you have it open you’ll need a pair on needle nosed pliers (I used my leatherman). First thing is to disconnect the battery. at the bottom of the iPod, near the dock port, there is a ribbon cable with a white piece of plastic attached to it. The copper in this cable looks thicker. Pull that cable from the metal back of the iPod. Be gentle of course.
Plug that back in and see how it goes.
If that doesn’t work, try disconnecting the hard drive (THIS IS WHAT I DID). This is another ribbon cable. Be gentle with it, the white plastic pieces aren’t coming with it, it’s just coming out. Then disconnect the power. I know it’s counter intuitive, but it will cause your iPod to have to do a hard restart, which might be what it needs. You can try the power first, but then I don’t see any point in disconnecting the hard drive…
Put everything back the way you found it. I just used my fingers to push the hard drive ribbon back in, and the pliers for the power.
GOOD LUCK!
-SailRacer
See what im trying to do is open it manually. my friend got an i pod and he did’nt know what he was doing HE THOUGHT I WAS PLAYING A GAME SO HE PLAYED WITH IT AND THEN LOCKED. A FRIEND OF HIM PUT MUSIC ON IT BEFORE ME .SO YEAH HIS NEVER GOT BACK TO HIM ABOUT
WELL IM TRYING TO OPEN IT WITH THE LOCK ****
0001
KEEP MOVING THAT WHELL
WELL GUESS I HAVE TO KEEP TRYING TILL
KEEP MOVING THAT WHELL
I GOT SO FAR 0200
TRY THIS IT WILL EVECULY GET THERE ONLY 9999 DIFERNET CODEWELL GOOD LUCK TO YOU
& WELL ME
holding down the menu and centre button together until the apple logo appears, should all boot up now. Worked for me.
thanks folks
The Goose
if u all rly want to know how to fix it just do this if the others didnt work. i tried heathers idea nickys all of them no luck! so what i did is i got so angry i ripped off the hold switch for the 100th time and dug my siwtchblade into it. sounds stupid but i pushed it down and hard to the left and twisted the balde back and forth. it kept on blinking almost as if not being able to decided to be locked or unlocked so i pushed it harder. my ipod has been on hold for around 6 months. now my 1st generation 2gb nano is back =]
Thanks, Heather. Ours was stuck on hold and we did the side trick. We were on vacation with no computer to reset. Thanks for saving our vacation!
Thanks, Heather. Ours was stuck on hold and we did the side trick. We were on vacation with no computer to reset. Thanks for saving our vacation!
I have the 80gb video ipod and nothing here helped. I opened my ipod and just took the harddrive out of place, and it magically became unlocked, something inside mustve been loose, it seemed to me that it was one of the ribbons, and now all of a sudden its working for me
i got a little problem…well to me it isn’t little..my i was sitting in my room i went into the password thing and i didn’t no what the code was so i tried everything i could think of….its so *frustrating* now i cant even go to my songs!!! can someone help me out plz!