06-14-2010, 08:34 PM

I'll sum up the lead-in story as best I can.

I have a 2010 MacBook Pro 13". Just got an new iPod Classic a couple weeks back. I discovered that when playing the iQuiz game, I had a few lock-ups (freezing). Then a handful of times, it locked up when connecting it to the MacBook for charging or syncing. It didn't lock up EVERY time. But about 1 out of every 4 syncs on average.

I naturally thought something was wrong with the Classic, and brought it into the Apple store when it was locked up, and they gave me a new one.

But now this one is doing the same thing. Occasional lock-ups when connecting to the MacBook Pro. Doesn't matter which USB port. And doesn't seem to matter if the computer has been on, or if it's a fresh boot.

What could be going on here? I doubt highly that both Classics I've gotten have the same exact issue with occasional lock-ups when connected to the computer. My MBP otherwise has given me no problems. And no problems with other USB devices, ever.

Any ideas?

06-15-2010, 12:01 AM

All I can suggest is to take the new one back and let Apple check it out. Unless there's something on your MacBook Pro that's causing the lock ups, I can't think of another hardware reason that should happen.

One thing you can try - boot your MBP using SAFE mode. (Hold down shift key after chime) Attach the iPod Classic and see if it locks up or not. I doubt software could be causing it, but you never know.

Regards.

06-15-2010, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by chscag

All I can suggest is to take the new one back and let Apple check it out. Unless there's something on your MacBook Pro that's causing the lock ups, I can't think of another hardware reason that should happen.

One thing you can try - boot your MBP using SAFE mode. (Hold down shift key after chime) Attach the iPod Classic and see if it locks up or not. I doubt software could be causing it, but you never know.

Regards.

Thanks for the advice. I might try that. The only problem is it happens to inconsistently there's no guarantee that if it doesn't lock up in safe mode, that it will definitively tell me anything.

I might have to bring in the Mac and the iPod to the Apple store and just keep syncing until it locks, and let them look at it.

It figures I'd get the mystery problem. Could it possibly be a bad USB sync/charge cable?

06-15-2010, 09:26 AM

If you are still using the same cable then yes it could be. Other then the Mac it is the other thing in common.

06-15-2010, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by clayneal

If you are still using the same cable then yes it could be. Other then the Mac it is the other thing in common.

I am using the same cable. When they replaced my iPod, they only replaced the iPod itself, not the whole box and accessories. Wish I could get Apple to cough up a replacement cable so I didn't have to buy one to check it out, but I have a feeling I'd have to bringing everything to the Apple store Genius Bar, then keep trying it till it locked up. Could take all day if it didn't feel like locking up. It happens about once a day on average.

06-16-2010, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by clayneal

If you are still using the same cable then yes it could be. Other then the Mac it is the other thing in common.

I bought a new cable to try that out. No dice. The Classic locked up first try.
I'm thinking it needs to be a software issue with iTunes and/or the auto-detection of the iPod.

06-16-2010, 12:26 PM

I bought a new cable to try that out. No dice. The Classic locked up first try. I'm thinking it needs to be a software issue with iTunes and/or the auto-detection of the iPod.

Let's try the Safe Mode boot for a bit to see if that makes a difference. I know this is annoying if not frustrating, but with all the good trouble shooting you've done we should be able to narrow this down.

Something else you might try (just thought of it), is to tell iTunes not to open when you attach the Classic. I had to do that when trouble shooting a bad drive in one of my older iPods. (As soon as iTunes opened, the defective iPod hung the system.) If the Classic is OK without iTunes, it might be something that iTunes is doing that causes the lock up.

Keep us posted.

Regards.

06-16-2010, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by chscag

Let's try the Safe Mode boot for a bit to see if that makes a difference. I know this is annoying if not frustrating, but with all the good trouble shooting you've done we should be able to narrow this down.

Something else you might try (just thought of it), is to tell iTunes not to open when you attach the Classic. I had to do that when trouble shooting a bad drive in one of my older iPods. (As soon as iTunes opened, the defective iPod hung the system.) If the Classic is OK without iTunes, it might be something that iTunes is doing that causes the lock up.

Keep us posted.

Regards.

Funny you should suggest that. Last night I was thinking the same thing. I set iTunes to not automatically open, but also to not automatically sync.

I just can't imagine in a million years my USB ports are acting up because I've been using hard drives, my iLok, USB mice, MIDI input devices all on the USB with no issues. So something tells me it's a software thing. Last night after I changed these settings I didn't have a lockup, but like I had originally said, its sporadic at best, so today when I get home from work, I'll have another chance to experience a possible lock-up. If I still have a lock-up, I'll try the safe mode suggestion. If I have no lock-up, I'll keep things like that for a few days and see what happens.

I'm new to Macs (2 months new to be exact). What would it tell me if I have no lock-ups in Safe Mode? Would that indicate a software or hardware issue?

And thanks for sticking with this one and helping me out, it's greatly appreciated.

06-16-2010, 12:51 PM

You mention using other usb devices , are you by chance using a usb hub ?

Clay

06-16-2010, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by clayneal

You mention using other usb devices , are you by chance using a usb hub ?

Clay

No. No hub. But thanks for the suggestion. Every little bit helps.

06-16-2010, 08:30 PM

Update for Jun 16, 2010.

So I came home this morning, and after changing the iTunes settings, and not auto-syncing or having iTunes launch automatically, the Classic still locked up upon connecting to the computer.

Here's something I've noticed. It's pretty much guaranteed to lock up after being with me all day, playing music for hours. I leave work for work around 7am, and the iPod is playing the majority of the day, in the car, and at work. Never is it plugged into another computer or any sort of power. When I get home around 5pm, sure enough the first connection locks it up.

Then after that it seems I can connect and disconnect all I want in succession with no lock-ups.

So, for tomorrow, when I get home from work. I'm going to boot into safe mode, then plug it in. I'll report back. This is becoming tedious, but I'm keeping my sense of humor about it!

06-16-2010, 08:41 PM

So, for tomorrow, when I get home from work. I'm going to boot into safe mode, then plug it in. I'll report back. This is becoming tedious, but I'm keeping my sense of humor about it!

Sometimes it's hard to keep a sense of humor when running into a "tough dog" (as we old electronic techs used to say). Anyway, Safe Mode will load the system without drivers or login apps. In other words, a clean boot.

Something else I thought of... you don't by chance have another machine you can plug the Classic into do you? It can even be a Windows machine. Maybe a friend's computer? It would be good to know if it does the same thing on a machine other than yours.

Regards.

06-17-2010, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by chscag

Sometimes it's hard to keep a sense of humor when running into a "tough dog" (as we old electronic techs used to say). Anyway, Safe Mode will load the system without drivers or login apps. In other words, a clean boot.

Something else I thought of... you don't by chance have another machine you can plug the Classic into do you? It can even be a Windows machine. Maybe a friend's computer? It would be good to know if it does the same thing on a machine other than yours.

Regards.

I have a lot of computers I can try actually. I brought my sync cable to work today and planned on plugging the Classic into my WindowsXP laptop at work.
The biggest kicker here is that it happens only now and then. The only "constant" I found (and I put quotes around it because I'm not sure if it's a constant or just a trend), is that after my workday, my first plugin into my Mac locks it up.

So I'm thinking... maybe the best thing to do is wait until the end of the day, right before I leave the office, and plug the Classic into my work computer. See what happens. If nothing, I can also plug it into my wife's WinXP laptop when I get home. If I get no lock-up I can go directly to the Mac after that and see if it locks up. Do you think it this case I should be in safe mode, or keep that part of it as a known entity and keep it in normal boot status?

06-17-2010, 09:12 AM

Ok, so I coudln't help myself, and didn't wait till this afternoon to try the Classic in the Windows computer. Guess what? It locked up.

Now, again, I'm left kind of scratching my head.

In this adventure there has been...

2 different iPod Classics

2 USB sync/charge cables (both Apple brand)

2 different computers.

The only thing I can possibly think of is I just got two lemon Classics? Is this possible? Seems to defy the odds, but I don't know.

My thinking now, is I need to get another replacement Classic. What do you all think? Anything else I should try?

06-17-2010, 12:32 PM

Looks like we're at the end of our ropes on this one. Since it locked up on the Win machine as well as the Mac, that kind of narrows it down to the iPod itself.

Another thing you can try - remove everything from the Classic. In other words, just like it came from the factory. You can do that easy enough by backing up or copying all your music, podcasts, videos, etc. to your library on the Mac (if they're not already there) and then doing a reset. That will clear the Classic. Afterward, try to see if you can get it to lock up.

If all else fails, take it back to Apple and ask if they'll swap it out again for a new one. Or upgrade your Classic to a Touch.

Keep us posted.

Regards.