Checking the Basics iPod Malfunction

We all do things that can be classified as dumb once in a while. And using the iPod can result in a few of these events, so use the following list to make sure you haven’t done anything to shoot yourself in the foot:

• If the iPod won’t respond to any controls, make sure the Hold switch isn’t active. The Hold switch does just what it is supposed to—it prevents everything from working. It can be rather embarrassing to panic that your precious iPod has suffered a major failure only to realize that the Hold switch is on. (Of course you understand that this has never happened to me.)
  
• If the iPod won’t turn on, connect it to the power adapter or to a computer using a six-pin FireWire connection. It might simply be that the battery is out of power. Remember that the iPod uses some battery power when you aren’t using it, and after 14 days or so, it might not have enough battery power to wake up. Sometimes the empty battery icon will appear when you try to turn on a fully discharged iPod and sometimes it won’t.
  
• Try connecting the iPod to a computer. If it mounts, you probably just need to do a minor reset to get it to work again.