How I fixed my Apple iPod Touch pin corrosion issue for under $10 US

A couple of days back I started noticing that the iTunes on my computer could not detect my iPod and on the rare occasion it did I had to reset the iPod to factory settings before it could re-sync. My computer is a 64-bit machine running Windows 7. I wasn't sure what was causing the error. After the first two instances I ran out of patience and called up Apple support. Thats when I find that I'm just out of warranty (add to that I never paid for the extended warranty!).

Apple charges a small fee for diagnosing your iPod online and I was pretty certain thats not going to work if my computer couldn't detect it right. So I drove up to an iPod store in Minneapolis and was told that I needed to get an appointment. Phew!!!! I got an appointment for the next weekend (since I wasn't ready to get out of work early to get my iPod fixed on a work day :P). I finally met an Apple representative at the store - Apple calls their Tech support team "Genius Bar". I had my laptop, connectors to the iPod and the iPod touch and Apple could still not fix the issue. The guy at the genius bar did show me the cause of all the problems - Corroded pins on the connector port. I was given the option to trade my iPod in for a refurbished iPod for no money or a new iPod for $299. The refurbished option sounded great but I'd loose the custom engraving at the back of the iPod. I wasn't ready to do this and so came back quite disappointed.

Now here's where the in-born Handy Man mentality kicks in. I stopped at a Drug store and git myself a new powered tooth brush and then stopped at Walmart to get a small amount of paint thinner. The thinner is generally acetone.

With this little bit I brushed the terminal and applied a couple of swabs / drops of the acetone. Brush again after the application to scrub off the terminals. Repeat this atleast twice. Once this is done you should be able to connect to the computer through the USB cable again. One thing to keep in mind is to check how bad the terminals really are.

I studied the root cause of this issue since Apple does certify that the iPod can handle humidity. I found that the connector I use to connect the iPod to the speakers of my car were generally laying on the mat of the car. Since the mat was always wet with snow and salt this winter the terminals in that connector corroded and as soon as I connected my iPod to the cable my iPod went bad.

So here's a couple of things to take care of about your iPod:

• When you connect to any connector take a quick look at the physical condition of the connectors.
• Try and avoid connectors used by multiple people - Its hard to live without an iPod for a little while when you compare it to paying for a brand new one!
• Do not use your iPod in the shower - Yes, its dumb but I've seen a lot of people take their iPod's into the bathroom. 

Once you're done with this quick fix if you still see that iTunes does not detect the iPod go to the task manager on your windows PC. The simplest way to go to this is by pressing CTRL, ALT and DEL keys simultaneously. In the task manager go to the Process tab and close all Apple processes including help. These include iTunes, Quicktime and generic Apple processes. 

Now reconnect your iPod and make sure that the iPod battery indicator (on the iPod Touch) shows a "Sync" symbol - this is similar to a lightning strike symbol and not the plug symbol (charging only). Once you see this open your iTunes. Your iTunes should be able to detect the iPod without any problems. Its worked for over a month for me. 

By the way I did get myself a new protector skin with a cap for the connector ports to make sure this doesn't repeat. Let me know if this worked for you!

Cheers!

My Big Fat Indian Wedding!

For those of you who are wondering whats up with this blog.... to keep it short I'm about 28 and a few weeks wiser, I'm an Asian Indian, live in the States and had all hell break loose at home in India when I told my family that I didn't want to get married just yet.

The story so far.... I work for a multi-national and in the area of managing new product development projects and mostly in the area of preparing factories to introduce them and launch them successfully. At the same time my parents in India believe that with each passing day I'm not going to find a suitable Indian bride.  I sense that my marriage in India to an Indian bride is going to be more than a simple I do! Late in 2008 my parents came over to meet me and convince me that this was the best thing that could happen to me. I had been through a couple of relationships but wasn't sure that was what I wanted at the time. My parents sensed that I might find myself a non-Indian life partner or worse yet find someone Indian who would not fit in the family. Over the next few months I went through a daily barrage on the importance of marriage. But things took a turn for the worse and my Dad passed away after a brief ailment in April 09.

In Indian tradition nothing auspicious is taken up for a year after a death in the family. So a year later we are back to the same subject. As things heat up I thought it would be worth while to write about "My Big Fat Indian Wedding!"


Over the past year a number of relatives within the inner - family went about searching for potential brides. These potential women could be ones that they've seen grow up or have met at social gatherings. The next step was to broach the subject with the parents of these potential brides. You must appreciate that all this happens without even the first advertisement in the news paper or without my formal yes! At this point I am a potential candidate on the marriage market. The discussions go on about my family background, what my parents do and what I do.

Now my parents receive marriage proposals with a couple of pictures of the bride and a long bio-data of her skills, interests and most important of all her clan and their illustrious past / present. This is when I finally get asked what am I looking for in a soul mate. So thats what my previous post was all about. To say the truth, my list will put me at odds from the typical list out there - so I have been told!

So far I've been forwarded the bios and pictures of those women that have been vetted by the family. I'd like to be fair to everyone one of those pictures and bios but lets face it I can be vetoed when the time comes. I have always wanted to find myself someone before my parents had their list prepared but at the moment I'm working long hours at a manufacturing facility in mid-west US and 3 hours away from any place that has a decent social life. My social life starts on Friday evenings and is done by Sunday evening. I've tried long distance relationships but I haven't seen them work yet! Lets face it, I don't see myself flying half way across the world at the drop of the hat just because a special someone was feeling depressed / lonely.

In a few weeks I will have to travel home to India to meet the brides family and if I pass the litmus test, maybe even the potential bride. There's just one thing that comes to mind - "I'm screwed!!!" But its not just me who goes through this. My parents (now my Mom) will first meet these potential brides in places (usually at a mutual friends place) to observe her behavior and to see if she will fit into the family.

The thing about India is that a number of families still follow the tradition where the wife moves to her in-laws home since the husband stays with his family. This works out for the best since once the parents grow old the kids take care of them. Its an unwritten law. Things have changed since the late 80's - early 90's but it still works the same. The parents are a big part of the family structure and hierarchy.

Thats whats been going for a while! I'll have additions to this post as things move forward. Feel free to comment on my posts. I'll have all my related posts under the label - My big fat Indian wedding!

Cheers!

The Wife CTQ

In the interest of helping my friends and family with their search for a Gal for me ... here's my quick checklist:

• Be a good cook. No.. Mac and Cheese, Toast and eggs, salads and sandwich is not what I consider food or an example of cooking!
• Lively, full of energy and cheerful.... the one that can keep up / put-up with me.
• I don't like a gal with a Bossy attitude ... but I expect her to have the nerve to tell me I'm going to screw up before I do. 
• Should be able to overcome emotions and take practical decisions.
• Want kids! 
• Love to travel around the world.. appreciate diversity (and also eat good!)
• Not hate my hobbies - computer gaming, adventure sports, cartooning...
• Be a good listener and be the woman I can depend on!
• Have the ability to resolve differences without screaming (and throwing stuff)!

Well and the basics count too.. needs to be attractive, smart and not to heavy, if you get the drift. Just to be clear the list applies both ways!