My iPod Nano has gone into the equivalent of a coma. No matter what you do with the “HOLD” switch, it remains in a locked state. So while you can see when you connect it to a PC that the music is still there and the battery still works, you cannot use it, since the play-button (as well as all the others) does not respond.
Switching frantically between HOLD ON/HOLD OFF does not work, pushing excessively towards “HOLD OFF” (to the left) does not work. Is there a way to disable the HOLD button, or is that a mechanical connection that is not managed by the firmware? Can you open an iPod Nano and ‘clean the contact’?
The only other option I see is to buy a docking-station-with-speakers that includes a remote control. But why spend another 100€ on a 4GB iPod that doesn’t work properly …
Any ideas?
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You can find some hints in the support section of Apple. I had to this once, after all my control buttons were locked.
The trick is some combination of using the hold, menu and pause button.
pressing menu and play untill it resets ?
hold button is controlled by software, so indeed resetting to factory settings should do the trick. toggle hold button and hold select and play…
The classic Reset (Hold/Menu/Play) doesn’t work because the buttons are locked. A ‘Restore to factory settings’ via iTunes doesn’t help either …
What happens when you hook it up to your Mac? Normally, the mode changes at that point, locked or not, and the Mac takes over.
On the picture above the iPod is hooked up to my PC (no Mac, sorry) and it remains locked.
drain the battery… and reconnect
Yeah, get a refund.
i have the same problem but mine is worse
i only have the bottom half of my screen and i just fixed it and then this happens
has anyone got any solutions cheers
Mine went the same way last week.
It is a HARDWARE fault.
I found a site that explains how they:
A. pulled apart their nano
B. broke the switch control off the internal circuit board
C. Placed foil over the two points that set the Nano to un-Hold (of the three exposed under the switch)
D. Glued the foil in place with clear nailpolish
I decided to follow suit. But lost my nerve a the last hurdle and wasn’t confident enough (or have instructions how) to rip off the switch mechanism. The Nano still worked when connected to a PC when it was completely disassembled. Very hardy little buggers. Pity the switch isn’t.
btw: I didn’t have a tool to get into the Nano. I used a blade to get in (to separate the join down the sides) then levered with many small screwdrivers to pry it open. Made a mess of the black plastic, but hard luck. Useless anyway if I did nothing, and out of warranty.
Okay, so I got braver, and succeeded.
1. I opened up my nano again, but DID NOT disconnect the LCD nor touch pad ribbon cables. You can do this fix without disconnecting them. (They are a pain to reconnect)
2. You once the main board screws have been removed, the battery flipped out and the clips detached, you can twist the board away from the cover (LCD etc) enough with the ribbon calbes still attached, to access the faulty switch.
3. There was only a couple of very flimsy solder point holding the swith to the back of the circuit board. the swtich bend off easily.
It left three points, the two closest to the edge of the board being the ones that take it off hold. I checked this was true by holding a small piece of foil down on the points to bridge them, then watching the screen to see that hold went off.
4. Using a soldering iron and a small screwdriver I was able to drop some solder onto the board to bridge these two point. Checking the screen to ensure I had succeeded.
5. I then checked the scroll wheel etc to ensure everything worked and that neither of the ribbon cables had come loose. Made sure the metal case clips were bend the right way to ensure the case would go back together. Then put everything back together.
6. I made a door for my Nano with a piece of chopped up credit card, some sticky tape, and some BluTack (to keep ther card clear of the scroll wheel. Works a treat.
i dont trust the one above me cause im scared
I fixed it!.after all options. ifixit will show you how to open(if everything else does not remedy). then found hold switch was poorly soldered so I had to detach and re attach which fortunately i could do with epoxy glue but really should solder it all back
im soooo mad my ipod is being so dumb and all the buttons dont work, the menu button, select, play/pause or forward and backward. i got it like 2 years ago and OMG
iHavee Thee Same Problem. :[ & iDont Want 2 Take It Apart.[Seems Like It Will Damage It More Than It Already Is,& Cause More Problems]..iNeed Help Seriously!
Gosh i got the same problem, I already tried to disassemble my iPod but after that i got no idea what i had to do. . . By reading the comments above, i guess i’ll just buy some soldering iron to fix that hold button thing.
It seems like it is the only solution. But i’m pretty sure some shops would repair it. Apple can repair it, but the price is so expensive you could buy a brand new nano.