iPod Tip #11
If your iPod doesn’t respond, is “frozen”, won’t turn on, or nothing appears on the screen check for these possible causes:
The Hold switch may be on. Check the Hold switch to make sure it’s not in the locked position. Unlock it, and try using iPod again.

Tip: Even if the Hold switch is already in the unlocked position, it’s sometimes helpful to toggle it so it’s locked and back again.

Your iPod’s battery may not be charged. Plug your iPod in, wait for a moment, press a button to turn it on, and check the screen. Here are some easy steps to get the most out of your battery.

Note: In a fully discharged state, some iPod models may not be recognized by the computer.

If you are using your iPod as a hard drive (disk mode), it is normal for “do not disconnect” to remain on the screen until you are ready to eject the iPod in iTunes or from the Mac OS. To avoid having the iPod freeze learn how to eject and disconnect iPod from your computer.

Reset Your iPod
Your iPod may need to be reset if the above solutions do not work. Resetting your iPod does not affect your music or data files.

If your iPod is frozen or won’t turn on, the steps to reset it vary by model. You can easily tell which iPod model you have if you’re not sure.

To reset an iPod with a Click Wheel, including:

iPod mini and iPod mini (Second Generation)
iPod with color display (including iPod photo) and iPod with Click Wheel
iPod nano
Fifth Generation iPod (also known as iPod with video)

Here’s how:
Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.)

Press and hold the Menu and Select buttons until the Apple logo appears, about 6 to 10 seconds. You may need to repeat this step.

Tip: If you are having difficulty resetting your iPod, set it on a flat surface. Make sure the finger pressing the Select button is not touching any part of the click wheel. Also make sure that you are pressing the Menu button toward the outside of the click wheel, and not near the center.

If the above steps did not work, try connecting iPod to a power adapter and plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet, or connect iPod to your computer. Make sure the computer is turned on and isn’t set to go to sleep.

To reset iPod, iPod (scroll wheel), iPod (touch wheel), and iPod (dock connector)

Here’s how:
Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.)

Press and hold the Play/Pause and Menu buttons until the Apple/iPod logo appears, about 6 to 10 seconds. You may need to repeat this step.

If the above steps did not work, try connecting iPod to a power adapter and plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet, or connect iPod to your computer. Make sure the computer is turned on and isn’t set to go to sleep.

If you are still unable to reset your iPod, use only one finger from one hand to press the Select button, and one finger from the other hand to press the Menu button.

To reset iPod shuffle:
Disconnect iPod shuffle from the computer (if connected).
Move the switch on the back of iPod shuffle to the off position.

Tip: When iPod shuffle is off, the green stripe by the switch is not visible.

Wait 5 seconds.

Move the switch on the back to the play in order or the shuffle position. The green stripe will be visible in either position.

When you reset iPod all your music and files are saved, but some customized settings may be lost. Date and time is preserved (unless the iPod reset itself because it had no power and then was reconnected to power). Other customized settings, such as Bookmarks, On-The-Go Playlists, Shuffle, Backlight timer, and so forth are preserved from the last time the hard drive turned on.

Note:
If a reset does not work for your iPod it may have its data corrupted. This can happen if you do not unmount the iPod the proper way and just disconnect it or if your iPod is connected copying data while your computer crashes. In this situation a software restore will probably be needed.

Difference Between Update and Restore
“Update” simply updates the software that controls iPod and may also update the firmware for the hard drive. Update does not affect the songs and files stored on iPod’s hard disk.

“Restore” erases the hard disk and restores iPod to its original factory condition. Because Restore erases all of the songs and files on the hard disk, make sure to back up your songs and files first.

Software restore may be needed if your iPod hard drive is corrupted and a reset will not work. In some cases your iPod may not even “mount” to your desktop. The software restore will erase all your content. But as long as your content is safe on your computer a simple re-syncing will get all back on. See Restoring iPod shuffle to factory settings on the Apple website.

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