A Novel Way to Fix an iPod

Posted on January 6, 2007 One Comment

iPod nano The family and I have stumbled upon a very clever and unique way to fix my daughter’s iPod connectivity issues. This is definitely not something we would ever have tried intentionally…

The daughter received her iPod Nano several months ago. From the very beginning, iTunes on her computer refused to talk to it. It kept saying that the iPod needed to be reset. We’d reset (clearing all music) and… it would say the same thing. I tried all the stuff from Apple support. I tried uninstalling iTunes, removing all traces of it from the registry and reinstalling. Nothing worked. Every other computer in the house would talk to it — but not her own.

Somewhere I read that the issue was probably the old USB 1 ports built in to the motherboard. So, for grins, I even ordered a new USB 2.0 interface card and installed it. No dice.

This Christmas, middle son got his on iPod Nano. Amusingly enough, his worked on every machine in the house, including his sister’s. Heh.

You know those stuffed animal type things with speakers built in to them? Daughter got one from a friend that she has in her bathroom (the speakers, not the friend). Last night, while plugging her iPod into it, it slipped and dropped… into the toilet!

Panic ensued. Especially worrisome was the fact that it wouldn’t turn off and there was water apparently under the screen.

I was on IM at the time chatting with Rich pondering what to use as a desiccant. He had the great idea of using rice. So, we grabbed a ziploc sandwich bag, tossed in a bunch of rice (enough to cover the iPod) and tossed it on a furnace grate for the night.

Today, I’m happy to report that the water is gone from the screen and everything is working as expected. But even more exciting: Her computer connects with it now!

So, want to fix an iPod with connectivity issues? Toss it in the toilet.