Why the Whining?

• If your iPod has a hard drive, you may hear whining when you turn it or when you connect it to your computer for syncing or charging. This happens when the hard drive is working. Usually the sound will be faint, and you'll hear it more clearly if you put the iPod up to your ear. An extremely loud or constant whining noise, one that you can hear from the next room, would be reason to contact Apple for a replacement.
  
  

Not Turning On

• It seems simple, but the most common reason for an iPod that won't turn on is that it's out of battery power. Even if there's a very small amount of charge -- less than 1 percent -- the iPod may not be able to turn on. Make sure you plug your iPod into a USB 2.0 port on your computer, not an external device like a keyboard, for correct charging.
  
  

Battery Drain

• Some iPods, especially older models, need to occasionally drain the battery. Try to turn the iPod on and leave the iPod alone for 24 hours to let the battery drain. Then plug it into your computer or a wall AC adaptor and leave it alone for several hours. It only takes a few hours to fully charge, although you can leave it plugged in for longer with no negative effects.
  
  

Reset

• Once your iPod has some battery life, it should turn on. If it won't, it's time to reset it. On a click wheel iPod, hold down the "Play" button and center click wheel for five to 10 seconds until the screen shows the Apple logo. On the iPod touch, hold down the Sleep button for 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears. If this doesn't work after a few tries, plug the iPod into a power source and reset while it's plugged in.