iPod - disk corrupt and can't mount to repair

[indigoflowAS]

Bear with me, there is much to describe...

So after i tried moving a couple files around on my iPod...it would no longer respond. the Copy dialog box would not terminate even if i command it to. The Finder becomes unresponsive, refuses to reslaunch and have to do a restart by holding the power button.

I have some 3gb of important data on it, it will not let me copy the files to my desktop w/o it doing what was described above as well.

The screen of the iPod would show a do not disconnect indicator, but something was wrong...the time remained the same! i reset (holding menu + select) and now the screen is blank but on, the screen is shade of gray. The drive on the iPod is spinning, but when trying to access data it will spin up and click, spin and click.

 

[indigoflowAS]

In addition...

In the Disk Utility, it recognizes that there is a firewire drive attached, but cannot mount the formatted "MyName's iPod". Verification and repairs of the volume comes back w/ several errors, some are repaired, some are unable to be completed...now it wont even finish a verification.

is there any way to salvage this data? via some 3rd party app or otherwise. I was a fool in thinking that my iPod would never do such a thing. I dont wanna reformat it until all options are expended.

I might cry.

 

[mad jew]

Sounds like a failing hard drive. I think your best bet to get the information back is to unplug it from the computer, reset it and let it sit for a few hours to completely cool off. Then, plug it in and try to get off small segments of your data (not all 3GB at once).

 

[indigoflowAS]

Sounds like a failing hard drive. I think your best bet to get the information back is to unplug it from the computer, reset it and let it sit for a few hours to completely cool off. Then, plug it in and try to get off small segments of your data (not all 3GB at once).

*big sigh* Guess I better go talk to the cats at Best Buy. well, it looks like the iPod did some kind of reset on its own (language selection screen showed up) but it says "Capacity 0". Doesnt sound fun.

Really, all I want is to salvage/recover the data, as if it was a regular hard drive that was failing or whatever, w/ some kind of recovery program. I dunno

ill sleep on it...*shakes head*

 

[mad jew]

Yeah, giving it cooling off time can be pretty beneficial. It sucks when this happens but hopefully we'll get further in the morning.

At the end of my 4G's life, I actually ended up having to sync it in an ice bucket (carefully made so as to keep condensation out of the 'lectric bits). It helped FWIW.

 

[Shamus]

i had a shuffle a while ago, and wenever I plugged it into my iBook, it would freeze the computer, much as you are describing is happening when you connect yours. This probably isnt relevant to recovering your data, as i had to return it to the shop i purchased it from. Its just that mine was caused because another iPod was plugged into my computer. As soon as it was connected, my shuffle started failing. The other iPod which was connected also failed. Dunno how it happened, but if u did plug in another iPod recently, just check to see wether it is showing the same 'symptoms'

 

[indigoflowAS]

...Its just that mine was caused because another iPod was plugged into my computer. As soon as it was connected, my shuffle started failing. The other iPod which was connected also failed. Dunno how it happened, but if u did plug in another iPod recently, just check to see wether it is showing the same 'symptoms'

Yeah...its strange how glitches arise in things, seems so random/unexplained.

Well...I did download a data recovery program, it did find the files I need to retrieve...but sadly it wont let me until I register (a $200 investment) and I dont think ill do that...I'm currently looking for an alternative that is freeware or has more flexibility in its shareware license.

 

[indigoflowAS]

Question...

If I revert my iPod to factory default settings, will these files I need so badly still be recoverable?

 

[mad jew]

Well...I did download a data recovery program, it did find the files I need to retrieve...

Hmm... Interesting. If the files are really that important, it might be worthwhile taking it to a professional. Especially since it's a one-off.

If I revert my iPod to factory default settings, will these files I need so badly still be recoverable?

If you're talking about reverting the settings through the iPod interface then it'll have no effect on your data. If you're talking about restoring the firmware somehow (with iPod Software Updater) then you'll lose all your data.

 

[indigoflowAS]

whatever the case may be...the microdrive in this iPod should not be spinning up and then clicking continuously? correct? cause ive never heard a drive read in that manner.

 

[mad jew]

It generally means the hard drive is dead.

 

[indigoflowAS]

It generally means the hard drive is dead.

Understood.

I have caved in and used the iPod Software Updater...maybe its for the best...just countless documents from all of my classes since college started, not like i was going to read my Sociology 101 notes again i guess.

We shall see if the iPod keeps acting up, maybe I can hold off till the real video iPod shows up

 

[mad jew]

It's not a good sign for the iPod's longevity. I ended up erasing the iPod in Disk Utility and then restoring the firmware with iPod Software Updater to get that little bit of extra life out of my old iPod.

I ended up getting a Flash-based iPod to replace it because Flash doesn't have these same problems. Regular hard drives weren't designed to be as portable as the iPod demands.

 

[indigoflowAS]

It's not a good sign for the iPod's longevity. I ended up erasing the iPod in Disk Utility and then restoring the firmware with iPod Software Updater to get that little bit of extra life out of my old iPod.

Not a good sign indeed...This iPod is little more than a year old, and my 3G had battery issues (got rid of it before the lawsuit settlement) after 1.5 years.

Verdict: This iPod is in the last throes of its life, it will not update songs, it has frozen my whole system, and the iPod itself, after a couple hundred songs each time. Shame, who wants a blue iSkin w/ wheel protector?

I really appreciate everything mad jew, you are quite helpful.