4th Gen Ipod Troubleshooting

Are you sure the two chargers are compatible? Do the iPhone and the iPod draw the same voltage? Generally speaking AC adapters and chargers are specific to the device they came with and should not be interchanged. Doing so can damage both the device and the charger.

I would believe they are the same, but yes check voltages. They should be displayed on the chargers. If they are different voltages you probably killed your iPod. O.o

I would try and update it or put the iPod into recovery mode.

Shouldn't be any problem from using the iPhone charger since they both output 5v via USB (5.25v is max for USB spec).  The problem was likely caused by something else and the change in charger was coincidental.

Start with a reset (from http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1320?viewlocale=en_US):

   1.  Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.)
   2. Press and hold the Play/Pause and Menu buttons simultaneously until the Apple/iPod logo appears, about 6 to 8 seconds. You may need to repeat this step.

If the above steps did not work, try connecting iPod to a power adapter and plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet, or connect iPod to your computer. Make sure the computer is turned on and isn't set to go to sleep.

If you are still unable to reset your iPod, use only one finger from one hand to press the Center (Select) button, and one finger from the other hand to press the Menu button.

When you reset iPod all your music and files are saved, but some customized settings may be lost. Date and time is preserved (unless the iPod reset itself because it had no power and then was reconnected to power). Other customized settings, such as Bookmarks, On-The-Go Playlists, Shuffle, Backlight timer, and so forth are preserved from the last time the hard drive turned on.

If that doesn't work then we'll need some more information to continue troubleshooting:

Version of operating system (with service pack versions if Windows)
Version of iTunes
Did you recently update the software version on the iPod?
How are you connecting the iPod to the computer - FW or USB?
Did the iPod show up in iTunes source list window?
If it did, did you see it flashing red?

Yeah I just thought of that, they cant be different voltages because of the USB!

@GreatGerm

@GreatGerm

I have progressed through all the Apple recommended fixes; performed the resets, set the device to disk mode, ran it on the most current itunes (8) as well as trying to connect it to v6.

the charger for the original ipod was a firewire connection, which is different than the iphone charger as that is a usb connection.  but if both connections draw the same power level, type, etc, would the connection matter?

I have at this point seen the folder w/exclamation point as well as the one with the sad face.
It can work intermittently but any connection to a computer can actually cause the pc to get fritzy

Version of operating system (with service pack versions if Windows) - xpsp3
Version of iTunes - 8 (and have tried 6)
Did you recently update the software version on the iPod? possibly, but cannot recall
How are you connecting the iPod to the computer - FW or USB? usb
Did the iPod show up in iTunes source list window? no
If it did, did you see it flashing red? no

Firewire is 12 volts. USB is 5. If you connected a device intended for 5 volts to a 12 volt adapter, you likely damaged it.

@GreatGerm

Thanks for your comments.  Didnt know about the diagnostic mode.
Ran the 5in1 Test, which stopped at the USBFAIL NOCON
(this was with the ipod connected to its firewire AC charger and charger plugged into wall)
Re-ran the test with ipod connected to pc via usb
Got the USBPASS message, but test ended there:

"5IN1
SDRAMPASS
CHKSUM:
64718  OK
RTC:
57
USBPASS"


Ran the HDD Test, which read 19 GB

Should I try a reset?

@GreatGerm

It passed the hard drive test as well.
So it would appear that according to these diagnostic tests, the device seems to be working.
I await any other advice you can offer...

It likely is the known firmware issue then.  The best thing to do is find a friend with a Mac or go to the Apple store if you have one since Macs still seem to see the iPod when this happens.  Plug in your iPod, format it, then plug it into your computer and it will require you to format it again.  You will be back to normal.

@GreatGerm

That was my next step.
And I happen to be going to a Mac owner's house for the holidays, so I will be able to perform this.

Would performing a reset from the diagnostic tools do anything?
I'm assuming it would erase all data, and since I will be losing all data anyway upon reformatting it for Mac and then back to Windows....
Thanks again

The reset option in the diagnostic tools doesn't actually do a real reset.  It just tests to make sure that it can.  

Seems like this question was answered by greatgerm and shouldnt be just closed.

@psufan

Should the question be closed?
I feel satisfied with the information given by GreatGerm, so I do not understand why the question should not be closed.  Perhaps I am confused...

You should accept him as the proposed solution or w-e it says. :)

Apologies for the point/close question confusion.
I am accepting this...
Thanks for the tips.

Yes this is what should be done. Thanks Matt