Dead iPod? Try Charging It...

I've linked to great articles in the Small Dog Electronics newsletters that I receive, so rather than explain who they are again, I'll just let you know that today's snippet deals with customers who bring in supposedly "dead" iPods, only to have Small Dog techs discover that what they really needed was a good, long, charging. I'll let Matt from Small Dog take it from here:

In processing iPod returns, many times the problem is simply a fully
depleted battery. Customers report that the iPod does not respond
when plugged into a wall charger or the computer, but instead
displays a battery icon with one bar that does not flash. In most
cases, leaving the iPod to charge for 30-60 minutes will revive it.
If this doesn't help, though, Apple outlines five steps to take (the
five Rs):

1. Reset your iPod.
2. Retry with a different USB port.
3. Restart your computer.
4. Reinstall iPod and iTunes software.
5. Restore you iPod.

While we're talking about batteries, it never hurts to emphasize
calibration. After using your battery for a while, it's possible
you'll notice reduced capacity. Calibration restores the battery to
its full functionality. For iBooks, PowerBook G4, and iPod, plug the
machine in and wait for it to fully charge. On laptops, wait for the
ring on the power adapter to turn green; on iPods, wait until the
screen indicates "Charged." Now, disconnect the battery and run your
computer or iPod until it goes to sleep. Finally, plug it back in
and fully charge again.

The procedure is slightly different for the very last generation
PowerBook G4 (with the dual-layer SuperDrive and high-res screen),
MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Pro (17-inch). First, fully charge
the machine. Once fully charged, allow the battery to "rest" for at
least two hours, then disconnect the power and run it until the
machine goes to sleep. Turn the computer off, or let it sleep, for
at least five hours, then fully recharge.

Along these lines, iPod batteries tend not to last as long as laptop
batteries. If your iPod is more than a year old, Apple will not
cover replacement of the battery...but Small Dog can help. You can
order replacement batteries for every kind of iPod for self-
installation (we'll send you instructions and an envelope to send us
the old battery for proper disposal) or mail your iPod to us for
professional installation.

Apple's battery calibration page: http://docs.info.apple.com/
article.html?artnum=86284
The Five Rs: http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/

Thanks, Matt, and Small Dog Electronics, for another fine Apple pointer (sorry for the pun).