How to recover an iPod Classic that won't turn on and doesn't appear as a drive? A friend of mine asked for help with an iPod Classic that isn't working.

It is an 80GB iPod Classic, model A1238, that doesn't give any signs of still being alive. It won't beep or light the screen, doesn't matters what I try.

I have tried to reset it (turn the hold switch on/off and then hold the middle and menu button) but it did nothing, and so I couldn't put it in disk mode either.

Right now I'm trying to charge it from a power adapter, but I don't expect it to help.
I had already tried to charge it from a PC, and from a MacBook Pro.

Anything else I could try, before sending it to repair?
Here's something that worked for me:


Put the iPod into a ziploc bag and seal it tightly.
Put it in the freezer overnight.
Take it out in the morning.


I thought that it was just an urban myth, but as the iPod was apparently dead, why not try it? I was (pleasantly!) shocked to see it start up again the next morning.