iPod (fifth-generation): "Recovery Mode" error, failed synchronization

Several users have reported an issue where they receive the message "iTunes has detected an iPod in recovery mode. You must restore this iPod before it can be used with iTunes."

In many cases, a restore process is not successful in resolving this error message.

MacFixIt reader Alan Klein writes:

"After getting a brand new 5th generation iPod Video for the holidays and finding that, right out of the box, the iPod was in 'recovery mode' I knew I was in for trouble. Restore after restore via iTunes did not help and the poor little iPod just returned time after time to the dreaded recovery mode.

"Doing the last restore before bringing the little bugger to the Apple Store where it was pronounced DOA, I noticed my Console log was filled with I/O and disk read and write errors. Clearly this indicated a hardware problem and I was offered an exchange."

So far, the only viable solution for this issue (if restoration fails) appears to be product replacement.

If you are experiencing a similar issue, please let us know.

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