Fixing an iPod's Click of Death

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

Whats the failure rate on HD Ipods? If they only last a year or so thats a very expensive toy.

I have a 256MB MP3 player that I got from Walmart about 4 years ago, for $96 (RCA Lyra) - still works perfectly, never had an issue.

I cant see any way to put a HD in a device that is portable, with no shock or cushioning designed in, and expect it to survive in normal use.

Well, I bought mine not too long before the 2004 Robot Rodeo. (I remember this because I had it rigged up to my car stereo on the ride down, and I was still worried about scratching it up.) That was in later October 2004, so mine's gone right at two years (or one year, 11 months, if you want to get specific) without a failure.

[Brandon Martus]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Has anyone tried third-party iPod repair companies?

Not quite the same problem, but I've used www.iPodJuice.com to replace the battery in my just-barely-out-of-apple-care 3G 40GB iPod. So, $35 later and the battery life now is longer than when I got it new -- now I'm just waiting on the dreaded click of death.

[Conor Ryan]

Billfred, have no fear, your iPod has a chance at life. Mine has come back from near death more times than I'd like to count. Here are a few tips that I have that hopefully will give it life again. Chances are what happened is that all of your useage has shaken it around more that it could take easily, it probably just needs a tune up.

• Open it up
• Clean it out, get some canned air if possible
• Disconnect and Reconnect your hard drive, the pins are sensitive and chances are they got knocked around from being carried around so much, so carefully disconnect and reconnect.
• Reformat the harddrive if you really want to

Usually most iPod users go, Sign of Death *Spaz*, but if your nice to your ipod a small tune up will probably be all that it needs.

[Ashley Weed]

If you feel like some reading, I have received some useful information on a variety of topics from other individuals at ilounge.com

Good Luck!

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

Whats the failure rate on HD Ipods? If they only last a year or so thats a very expensive toy.

I have a 256MB MP3 player that I got from Walmart about 4 years ago, for $96 (RCA Lyra) - still works perfectly, never had an issue.

I cant see any way to put a HD in a device that is portable, with no shock or cushioning designed in, and expect it to survive in normal use.

Very low. iPod failure rate compared to other electronics is very good. I have only had one major glitch with the iPod i've had for 3 years. I only need a new battery now (thanks brandon!) and it'll last me another 3.

The shuffle and nano are solid state, so none of these problems happen with them.

[Cuog]

Wow that surprises me that apple would use something that isnt proprietary(sp?). but just do the reformat stuff with the HD and see if that works. If not I could turn it into the first 120gig Ipod

[whodatbat]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I thought this was interesting

And apparantly a lot of people are commenting that if you just give it a good smack it starts working again.

So just a good SMACK will do it? i have a 30 gig ipod bran new and its clicking it started last night

[Kage]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I thought this was interesting

And apparantly a lot of people are commenting that if you just give it a good smack it starts working again.

I smacked mine, and it started working again...
then it died again a week later...smacked it once more, it started working...
then I downloaded "RockBox", an open-source Ipod Firmware...and I havnt had an issues for months, apparently it treats the drive differently, and loads alot more inso SRAM, so the drive is used less...

[Kage]

Originally Posted by whodatbat

So just a good SMACK will do it? i have a 30 gig ipod bran new and its clicking it started last night

is the clicking accompanied with a pic of an ipod with a sad face and an explamation mark?

if not, then that clicking is normal, the "click of death" is a repetitive almost grindlike click...
if you every once and a while hear a click or chug come from your 30Gig, its just the HD accessing data