Shuffle Orange-Green Flash of Death (with solution!)

[paparazzi]

First my Nano's screen cracked and Apple refuses to replace it. Now my wife's shuffle goes bonkers and it's out of warranty.

It's exhibiting the infamous Orange-Green Flash of Death. Does anyone know where I can bring this for service? Tried the Apple service centers and since it's out of warranty they're trying to tell me to buy a new one. Any chance this can be fixed?

TIA.

[mang_boy]

I had something similar with my 1GB Shuffle. Died with orange/green flashing lights. It shows up in System Profiler but iTunes and Finder wont recognize it. Tried updating it but the "restore" button's grayed out. Took it to an Apple reseller but they advice be to get a new one instead since its warranty expired.

[elbert]

You could take it apart and see if anything is obviously wrong with the innards (i.e. a loose connection). I doubt you want to do that, and I doubt you'll be able to fix it yourself anyway.

I would like to think that a blinking light is better than no light at all. At least it's showing signs that it can work, but won't for some reason. That reason, I'm willing to bet, is with the firmware.

You could try this, or can refer to these steps I've gathered from different users in various forums. A lot have been able to restore their iPod shuffles.

1. Make sure you have the latest iPod updater.
2. Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes.
(even if you have them, try downloading the latest version from Apple and reinstall them, but make sure to delete any plist or related files. AppZappeer might be a good idea).
3. Just keep it plugged in and wait. Some users have reported that it just takes a long while to be recognized.
4. Try another computer (sometimes it's just the USB port that's problematic. btw, make sure it's plugged directly into the USB, i.e. not through a hub or the keyboard ports).
5. Drain the shuffle's battery fully (until the battery indicator does not light up at all).. To be extra sure it's completely flat, allow it to stay dead for a few days. Then try the iPod updater once again.

You know, I have one of the very first iPod shuffles ever sold (I bought it at the only Apple store selling them on the day it was introduced). It went through get that orange/green flash at one time (a few months ago, to be precise, at the height of all the complaints), but for some reason, it just fixed itself. I just kept trying, and restoring it with the latest firmware. I've been using it a lot lately and it's working just as well as the day I bought it.

BTW, a friend of mine accidentally swam with his shuffle last year. Of course, it stopped working, so he left it for dead. Months later, he decided to give it a whirl. To his (and my) amazement, he got it working again.

Good luck.

[Sui_Generis]

my brother's ipod shuffle has this same problem...

it's still under warranty but i don't know if they will honor such warranty sans the proof of purchase or receipt.

[paparazzi]

@elbert, thanks for the tips. Will try your suggestions.

[super_ed]

I thought I was the only one and I thought it was a simple case of iPod Shuffle Orange-Green Flash of Death.. but Apple discussions reported similar cases shortly after iTunes 7, new iPods were released.

See Apple Discussion here.

[icandelarezi]

I have the same problem with my shuffle, it all stated after the installation of itunes 7 and for what I’ve read on apple forum many ahuffle owners are going trough the same error 1418 when they try to restore their ipods…

Apple has to do something about this one.

[webmikey]

A friend of mine's Shuffle refused to work a few days back. Tried it on his Macbook and iTunes didn't recognize it, neither did it mount as a drive. I also tried it on my Powerbook... same problem.

Brought it to the office and connected it to my IBM Thinkpad, it was recognized but iTunes said that it was corrupt or something. I did a Restore and it failed. I disconnected and reconnected a couple of times and tried the restore button.

On my third attempt it worked. The shuffle has been working on all machines since.

Of course this is just anecdotal. I don't know what the problem was, or why connecting it to a PC worked... but it did. So this is a route you might want to try before going through the hassle of a warranty claim or junking your Shuffle.

[super_ed]

A friend of mine's Shuffle refused to work a few days back. Tried it on his Macbook and iTunes didn't recognize it, neither did it mount as a drive. I also tried it on my Powerbook... same problem.

Brought it to the office and connected it to my IBM Thinkpad, it was recognized but iTunes said that it was corrupt or something. I did a Restore and it failed. I disconnected and reconnected a couple of times and tried the restore button.

On my third attempt it worked. The shuffle has been working on all machines since.

Of course this is just anecdotal. I don't know what the problem was, or why connecting it to a PC worked... but it did. So this is a route you might want to try before going through the hassle of a warranty claim or junking your Shuffle.

I envy you. Now my next problem is how to neatly punch a hole to make it a key chain.

[paparazzi]

Good idea, super_ed. I'll give it a few more weeks. If I can't fix it, then I guess I'l try to punch a hole in it too.