Skip to main content

Model A1136 / 30, 60, or 80 GB hard drive / black or white plastic front

797 Questions View all

What might be wrong with the hold switch?

I dropped my ipod in water, and it would not turn on / respond at all, so I was afraid I might have shorted something.

I took it apart, used rubbing alcohol on the logic board, cleaned the contacts, and let it dry for a few days. When I reconnected things and plugged it in, it worked! sort of. It powered on and showed the normal menu screen, but the hold switch icon was on and it did not respond to any of the buttons, even when I tried holding the menu/play buttons and after restoring it.

I tried wiggling the hold switch's connection and even disconnecting it, but nothing worked. Now, though, it doesn't even power on. Instead, it just shows the apple logo on a dark screen and I can hear/feel that the hard drive is spinning. It is also no longer recognized by the computer.

Any idea what could be wrong / how I could fix it?

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Score -1
6 Comments

Are you using an Apple based computer or a PC? If a PC what operating system is installed on it? Have you tried hooking it up to another computer with iTunes installed?

by

I'm running Windows XP. I just tried hooking it up to a computer running Vista, and it did the same thing, showing the "very low battery" screen, then switching to a dark screen with the apple logo.

by

When you hooked it up to the Vista computer did iTunes recognize it? I am assuming iTunes is loaded on that computer.

by

No, it didn't. For both computers, hooking it up just changed the screen from blank to "very low battery", then the apple logo. It stays like that, with the hard drive running, even after being unplugged.

by

Try taking it apart & cleaning the motherboard again. Clean it good with alcohol and a brush. Clean all the switch connectors too. Wipe it down with a paper towel and let it dry. Then try putting it back together again and trying it.

by

Show 1 more comment

Add a comment

2 Answers

Chosen Solution

Anonymous, it says you have a 5th generation ipod "Video" it sounds like you did all the right things. You can disconnect the hold cable from the board and see if you hold is off. If it is you need a new hold button available here iPod Video 30 GB Headphone Jack & Hold Switch and get a new battery http://www.ifixit.com/iPod-Parts/iPod-Vi... why you are at it, since I would definitely do that as well. Do check all your connections, make sure that all your clips are properly seated to hold the cables in the connector. Give this a try and see what you have once you got this done and hopefully it will work for you. Let us know how you are doing so we can continue to assist you if needed.

iPod Video 30 GB Headphone Jack & Hold Switch Image

Product

iPod Video 30 GB Headphone Jack & Hold Switch

$29.99

Was this answer helpful?

Score 2

2 Comments:

Alright. I reseated all of the connections I changed, and the hold switch was still permanently on. When I disconnected the hold switch it would not even start, instead showing the apple logo and nothing else. Even after reconnecting everything, it will not start up regularly. This seems to be a board issue, no? I'll re-clean it today and see if it works.

by

Anonymous, here is something I would definitely do. I would clean the board once more and I would also get a new hold switch since it may have gotten short circuited as well as A NEW BATTERY. The LiIon batteries do not like water. The cost for both of these items are only fractional that of a new logic board, but at least that why you can stop guessing and it looks like you have cleaned it right. Right now you have not yet addressed the damage involved.

by

Add a comment

try putting it in disk mode (play and center as it is starting up) and then restoring it.

.as for the hold switch.

On the the 4th generation ipod the default position for hold is on. on newer ones (5th and 6th gen video's) the default position is off. meaning that if you have a newer one and you disconnected the hold cable from the board, turned it on and it still said it was locked then you know the issue is not, or not just the hold switch.

so it sounds like you might need a new board.

Was this answer helpful?

Score 1

3 Comments:

Holding play and center didn't do anything as far as I can tell, and it no longer shows up in iTunes, so I can't restore it.

It could be something with the board. I tried disconnecting the hold switch, but it didn't work properly then either, so it may not have anything to do with the hold switch at all.

by

sometimes disk mode dosn't work, but try it a couple times. the problem could either be the hdd or the board.... water damage is a tricky one. see if you can get into diagnostics mode though (center and left when starting up).

by

one more thing i would try is sometimes the the side of the hdd connector that goes to the board gets bent when you take it out... if yours is try flattening it before you put it back in

by

Add a comment

Add your answer

Anonymous will be eternally grateful.
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 0

Past 30 Days: 0

All Time: 1,603