Tips And Tricks To Fix A Broken iPod

Before you throw out that old iPod and shell out $300 to buy a new one, you may want to try these simple tips and tricks to see if you can breath some new life into your old musical companion.

The first step in determining whether you can fix your broken iPod is to determine whether to cause of the problem is software based or hardware based.

The most common hardware problem is due to the iPod’s hard drive failing. Over time the hard drive connectors within the case can become loose and cause your iPod to malfunction. The common symptoms are are repeated clicking sounds and a high pitched whirring sound. Unfortunately if your iPod has these common symptoms there is very little you can do by yourself. Fixing a hard drive issue will require special tools and parts and an understanding of how the iPod main board works. Therefore it is better to leave that task up to an Apple licensed technician. The average cost of repairing an iPod hard drive is under $100 including the parts and labor.

Another regular iPod hardware failure is water damage. If an iPod has come into contact with water, whether it was exposed to rain or it was left in a steamy bathroom, it is generally beyond repair. If the incident just occurred the first thing to do is to place it in a warm area on a dry surface such as a cloth or another absorbent material. Leave the iPod for 24 hours without trying to turn it on. If the iPod still does not turn on after this period it is very likely that it is beyond repair. Unfortunately the Apple Care Plan does not cover water damage either.

Apart from the aforementioned hardware issues, the iPod is also prone to software issues. A software issue is easily recognizable by a warning or error message displayed on the screen. Other common symptoms are the iPod shutting itself off, or a frozen screen.

Your should first attempt to reset the iPod. To do so hold the ‘play’ and ‘menu’ button for approximately 7 seconds. The iPod will shut down and restart and the Apple logo will appear. If this solution fails you should attempt a factory reset.

Before performing a factory reset be sure to backup your iPod library and any other files you may have stored as this will erase everything. Connect your iPod to the computer using and load the iTunes software. Click on “My iPod” in the navigation menu and click on the “Restore” option. The factory reset can take up to 10 minutes so be patient and do not disconnect the iPod until you see the message “Factory reset completed”

If after a factory reset the iPod issues persist the problem is most likely hardware related and will require servicing.

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