dedpod

[spatch]

I got a "lovingly used" first-gen iPod Nano a coupla months back as a late birthday present. The little scrapper is named LUCKY DENT because, among other things, it's got a dent in the side from where it was pried slightly apart to help drain it out when it went through a washing machine a year or so ago. That it continued to work just fine despite this mishap is a testimony to its nigh-indestructibleness, or so I thought, because it's currently acting as a not-very-useful paperweight unless you've got some Post-It notes to keep steady in a breeze or something.

I can only surmise that its battery had drained out over Sunday/Monday night when it was put in pause instead of turned all the way off. I've heard this has been known to happen, especially when you're trying to turn it off while nonchalantly keeping it in your pocket. However, if the battery's dead and there's not enough of a charge for it to do anything, not even the USB connector will pick it up. Great!

Plugging in the USB connector showed a dim screen telling me "Caution: Very low battery." Okay. Apple's support site, after circularly stepping through the same documents (Step A: Make sure Step B has happened before proceeding. Step B: Make sure Step A has happened before proceeding.) told me that was perfectly fine, leave it like that long enough and it'll get enough of a charge eventually to report back to the computer and then charge up normally.

Only it didn't. I came back in several hours to find a very very very dim Apple logo on its display screen. None of the buttons worked. Apple's circular support site eventually told me "Press and hold the middle button and the top button at the same time for a few, and then press and hold the middle and bottom button at the same time for a few." I did the first step, at which point the screen blinked on briefly and then popped right off. No more Apple logo, no more response, no more nothing. None of the press-and-hold options worked, and neither did placing two fingers on each button and hollering LIVE! LIVE, DAMN YOU, LIVE!

This is such an ignoble way for a device to die. Considering all it's been through, it really should go out in a blaze of glory, saving my life from a Confederate musket ball while resting comfortably in my breast pocket or something. I suppose I could maybe go schedule an appointment at whatever they call the Apple store techs (Genius Bar? Yeah, I'd like a shot of inspiration with a conventional wisdom chaser) but frankly the United Colors of Benetton dressed in all black worry and unsettle me. I hate going in that place.

If anybody's got any ideas as to how to resurrect my poor little Lucky Dent from the grave, please let me know. You can even be condescending if you like, so I can still get the full Genius Bar experience. (I really don't want a newer Nano because they look like poop. Sleeker, rounder poop with video capabilities, sure, but poop nonetheless. I like this little rectangle that I currently have.)

And the funny thing is I wouldn't have cared so much about this thing if I hadn't gotten it as a gift, cause I wasn't about to go buy one myself. I thought I didn't have a need for one and now I can't ride the T without it; I need Jean Shepherd monologues from 40 years ago, goddammit, so I don't have to listen to the guy next to me chewing very loudly on nothing at all.

Damn you technology! Damn you and your seductive, wily ways!

Comments

[muffyjo]

I don't know if it would fit in my dock, but it's worth a shot. Maybe the USB port is not strong enough due to corrosion or something? I have a firewire dock, if we could coordinate schedules.

[fancycwabs.livejournal.com]

If you've got someone with a full-fledged power connector that plugs into the wall and not the USB port, you might try defibrillation via a stronger current.

Otherwise I got nothing beyond keeping your eye on today's Woot-off for a replacement (they had a 2gb Zen for $30 a few minutes ago, perfectly capable of handling Jean Shepherd).

[mschlock.livejournal.com]

Yep, I'd suggest plugging it directly into the wall instead of the USB port, if you've got the charger somewhere.

[spatch]

This sounds like a good idea! I'll have to find someone who's got one of those, cause that's one of the few things I didn't get with it.

[dcart.livejournal.com]

I would like to third this idea with an anecdote. About 2 months ago my iPod exhibited the exact same symptoms. Plugging it in directly to the wall outlet and letting it charge overnight fixed mine up just fine.

[fancycwabs.livejournal.com]

Amazon's got one for $1.36, which would probably end up being seven bux when you add in the shipping. Still, way cheaper than the $30 Apple version, and probably handy for future reoccurrences.

[museumfreak.livejournal.com]

I *do* have one of those. If you absolutely can't find someone local we could mail it back and forth.

[babs-the-nymph.livejournal.com]

If it's already been pried apart, it'll make it easier to replace the battery, which I've heard is the original way to correct that mishap.

If you're unwilling to do that, or if that doesn't work, and you're willing to try a different piece of old tech, I've got an old creative zen touch I'd be willing to let go cheap. Works brilliantly, and also gently used. Has a couple of scrapes from a fall, after which I got a case for it, which is included.

[kalibex.livejournal.com]

Mine's got similar Battery Charge Issues; a visit to the local Genius Bar yesterday revealed that it can take up to 48 hours to re-charge a totally empty battery via usb to a computer.

OTOH...if the battery 'no longer holds a charge' (Apple Store speak for 'You are SOL'... they have a $59 battery replacement deal - in which they actually give you a 'new' (refurbished, certified) ipod as a replacement.

Which while nice enough, presumably doesn't help much with any unbacked-up mp3s on any dead ipods.

[spatch]

That's a nice exchange thing (as long as it's the same model). All the stuff on mine is all from my computer, so I wouldn't be out any songs, which is another nice thing.

I've tried reconnecting it to the USB and now I get absolutely nothing on the screen, which is worrying me.

[kalibex.livejournal.com]

Yeah, same model, far as I know. Mine's old enough so that refurbished models are now the only replacement option.

[wring.livejournal.com]

wanna try replacing the battery? i can find it for you, we retail ipod batteries.

[ravenword.livejournal.com]

I don't know if any of those button-pressing combinations were the "reset" combo, but when my 1st gen. nano had severe issues, that helped. It lost all the files that were on it though.

[spatch]

I think I was hitting the "go to disk mode" combo but it failed halfway through.

[grumqa.livejournal.com]

Wall. USB acts flaky when the iThingo is so drained it forgets what it is. Wall for a while, then reboot the iThingo, then carry on as usual. Unless you're screwed.

[spatch]

Wall sounds good. Thank you, wall lions!

[joenotcharles.livejournal.com]

I had the same story, dent and all. I went out and bought a new battery, which I couldn't use because my dent is in a place that actually prevents opening the case.

I think I still have the battery somewhere - let me know if you want it and I'll take a look.

[annenayne.livejournal.com]

You're screwed. Mine got fried by an APPLE APPROVED OMG YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS travel accessory with speakers. Apple wouldn't take responsibility, speaker maker wouldn't take responsibility. If the Lion's advice doesn't work, prepare a nice shoebox and bury it (I MEAN DISPOSE OF IT RESPONSIBLY LET'S BE GREEN HERE PEOPLE).

Besides, the new ones are So Much Better anyway.

[elvisclooney.livejournal.com]

http://newertech.com/products/ipodnano1g_batt.php

$19.95 plus ship. Brand new battery replacement kit from NewerTech. I've used these kits on three different iPods now.

[fancycwabs.livejournal.com]

Didja ever get your thing workin'?