Toys in the Attic

I initially purchased the Ipod w/video based on the feeback seen at Instapundit’s site. I have to say that speaking as a cheapskate who ponied up the cash for the 60 gigabyte version, I use it much more than I ever imagined. However, if you have a 30 or 60 gb Ipod and have recently started seeing some of your videos play for about 30 seconds and then freeze, then shortly thereafter resume playing the video w/o sound, rest assured that you don’t have an Ipod that is ready for exchange. Neither do you have corrupt video converting software. The Ipod is not damaged. The problem is with Apple’s recent firmware update(s) for their Ipod software and, from what I can gather, Apple has done little to notify their customers about this (rather large) issue. Instead, I’ve seen people scrambling across the internet searching for the ‘proper’ video converting tool that will allow their Ipods to once again play movies.

Gee, it couldn’t be that they want you to purchase their converter – Quicktime – could it?

Well, relax. It’s an easy fix. All you have to do is downgrade your firmware on your Ipod and you’re back in business. Here’s a cut and paste from where I got my fix. I used option one and I have no issues whatsoever (except for enough time to listen/watch my 4,000+ files [no joke – ed]:

So there are 2 ways to do this: The simplest way to do this is without having to edit anything yourself (For Windows). And the other ways it to do some file-editing in your ipod (For Windows and Mac)

• The first way: Used iPod Wizard, and the old iPod updater.
  
  This will work for any Windows iPod.
  
  Click to download 2005-11-17 Updater for Windows From MegaUpload
  
  

  Click to download iPodWizard (v1.1) Release From iPodWizard

  
  
  
  
  1. Now that you have both programs, plug in your iPod (close iTunes).
     
     Now open iPodWizard.exe and the program will pop up.
     
     Look on the right side you’ll see a section that says “iPodWizard Essentials”, Click “Refresh Status”. After the program finds your iPod click “Downgrade Firmware”
     
     After this is complete, do the downgrad at least 1 more time, then close iPodWizard.
     
  
  
  2. Install the 2005-11-17 Updater. Next, when it is finished installing, restart your comptuer. After the reboot, run the program that you just installed. When it loads, click “Update”. Once the program says the update is complete, your iPod has been downgraded.
  
  

  
  Congrats, you are done.

• 
  The Second Way: Edit files and the old iPod updater.
  
  Click to download 2005-11-17 Updater for Windows From MegaUpload
  
  Click to download 2005-11-17 Updater for Mac From Softpedia
  
  
  
  
  1. Your iPod needs to be in disk mode (look in iTunes Preferences, under iPod tab) and you need to have your computer set to View Hidden files.
     < Now navigate to My Computer and open your iPod navigate to iPod_ControlDevice
     
     Open SysInfo with Notepad.
     
     Find and change
     
     buildID: 0×06108000
     
     to
     
     buildID: 0×05908000
     
     
  
  
  2. This will trick the iPod Updater into thinking you have an old firmware.
     
     Install the 2005-11-17 Updater. Next, when it is finished installing, restart your comptuer. After the reboot, run the program that you just installed. When it loads, click “Update”. Once the program says the update is complete, your iPod has been downgraded.
  
  

  
  Congrats, you are done.

Keep In mind that you are messing with your iPod, be careful.

And the chap who wrote that fix has a very relevant quote at the end that also applies here: “Not to detour you, but I’m not taking responsibility if you mess up your iPod.”