Filed under: Software Update, Apple TV
Apple TV update 2.2 brings out the "Brick"
So, that was like a really bad, mean, and cruel joke. But it does seem that the recent Apple TV update is bricking some Apple TVs. According to the Apple Discussion board, some users cannot get past the boot video. If the update bricks your Apple TV, it's not the end of the world (well, it is if you cannot do the following steps). One discussion board reader reports that doing a restore of your Apple TV will help resolve the situation. To restore your Apple TV, try the following steps:
- Hold down the Menu and Menu down/scroll (-) buttons on the remote for approximately 3 to 5 seconds, until the LED on Apple TV flashes yellow.
- After Apple TV restarts, a screen appears asking you to pick a language. Select the language you wish to use.
- After the Apple TV Recovery screen appears, select "Factory Restore"
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
augmac said 11:57PM on 10-03-2008
Mine's a brick! Restored and tried to reapply the update...no luck!
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John Romkey said 12:09AM on 10-04-2008
I was just able to unbrick mine. I did the factory reinstall of the 1.0 software and immediately did a software update without setting it up to talk to iTunes. It sucessfully rebooted into 2.2 at that point.
I've just reestablished its connection with iTunes and am syncing now; hopefully it will survive the process.
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Paul White said 12:10AM on 10-04-2008
Mine was bricked, but started working again after I left it alone on the flashing Apple for a while.
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Luigi193 said 1:05AM on 10-04-2008
Hey apple! I have a GREAT IDEA...
Why don't we TEST the things we write before releasing them to the public!
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mikeyrogers said 1:09AM on 10-04-2008
Update worked fine for me. Not only that, but I had Boxee installed (which I assume would have made it more difficult to do a proper update), but I had a seamless update.
Thanks Apple!
P.S. Where the HELL is my Shuffle by Album?
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YodaMac said 1:23AM on 10-04-2008
Mine updated just fine also. An original aTV from before the "take two" version.
I stream all my content. Only sync rentals.
Am out of town now but cant wait to return Sunday and check out the new stuff. :)
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Jeff said 1:23AM on 10-04-2008
if it's restorable, it's NOT BRICKED.
idiots.
"Bricked" = PERMANENTLY unusable.
i *hate* this casual bastardization usage.
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mentalsticks said 5:03AM on 10-04-2008
Don't you think that the Brick rumour is an attenuating circumstance?
Devon said 11:31AM on 10-04-2008
I just came to post the same thing! Learn the correct terminology if you are going to write stories otherwise you look like an idiot.
Murphy Mac said 8:58PM on 10-04-2008
If this keeps up we'll need a new word for brick. And brick was perfect for the job.
Gridskipper said 1:35AM on 10-04-2008
I'm good. Got into browsing movings and all but haven't rented or purchased anything yet...
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Bitman said 1:49AM on 10-04-2008
Posted By: Mark W.
Created in: Forum: Apple TV
Posted: Oct 3, 2008 9:51 PM
Apple briefly experienced server difficulties resulting in some Apple TV units rebooting continuously. This issue has been resolved and is unrelated to the Apple TV 2.2 software release.
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SCOTT said 2:12AM on 10-04-2008
well here is what im dealing with...i just got my patchstick for 2.1 for TV and had just installed it when at 3 in the morning i see the update info from one of the many great RSS feeds i get...and i freaked out...cuz the TV just automatically does this update thing without really asking you if you want to do it...which i dont like...cuz on my macbook and imac and ibook it always shows me what the updates are and then asks me if i want to install them and what i want to install...and what i dont...
but...thank god the place i got my patchstick from has a kinda helpful website...and on that site i was able to tell my both of my TV's that the system restore was to be 2.1 and not 1.0 like its supposed to be...but i have two of them...living room(40GB) one just streams and the bedroom(160GB) actually syncs programs to it...and since it was 4 in the morning before i finally finished all this safety precautions...i only did the DO NOT AUTO UPDATE hack on the bedroom one...so today in the living room it shows on the screen there is an update already downloaded do i want to install...which i said NO...so to explain more to you why i am going on about this...
there is a way to keep 2.1 or 2.0.2 as the restore software and there is a way to make it not automatically update on its own...now im sure most of you dont have you TV hacked...and i was perfectly fine without it but it really gives you alot of other options that should have already been included in the original setup...so now i can add an external hard drive, a keyboard, move and play files other than just from itunes...couch surfer etc...and it doesnt void the warranty on the TV which is a blessing as well
to make ur restore set to 2.1 or 2.0.2
http://www.cbay.co.nz/unlockatv/protected/restore202.html
and feel free to comment to me if you want to know how to stop automatic updates...cuz its just a set of instructions that is on the sites instruction page that you have to have the password to get into...
I LOVE MY TV'S and I KNOW MANY OF YOU DO...SO KEEP IT SAFE AND GOOD LUCK
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Will Frazier said 2:55PM on 10-04-2008
Ummm... I don't know exactly where you get that the TV updates automatically. In very instance that an update has come out, I have had to navigate to "Check for Updates" and, once found, I had to confirm that I wanted to install.
Sorry you had issues updating, but don't use fallacy to exaggerate your situation.
SCOTT said 3:18PM on 10-04-2008
the TV checks every week to see if there is an update...i know this is true because the living room TV i didnt do the stop auto update thing and when i turned on the tv and it told me there was an update and been downloaded and asked me to install it...i said no but it does automatically checks and downloads it...the bedroom TV has not downloaded or even checked for an update since i did the hack...so since you dont seem to know what you are talking about...then you should not say anything to me
i posted this to help people that have already purchased or done the TV patchstick...and not to deal with people that think they know everything
and if you are not worried about having Genius playlists and you can deal with downloading HD content on ur mac and then transfer it to TV then you really dont need this update...but i think it should be our decision as to whether or not we do an update...we get that choice on our macs why dont we get it on the TV?
anyway im done venting have a great day everyone else
SCOTT said 2:17AM on 10-04-2008
actually...i dont know you may not be able to get that the link i gave you because of the password protection on the site...but if someone needs the info please let me know...i can prob make it a pdf and send it to you
thanks guys
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Richard said 1:32PM on 10-04-2008
Hi, I need the 2.1 restore, can you help?
thanks pal.
SCOTT said 2:16PM on 10-04-2008
i just placed the info needed to do these fixes to TV on the next page of the comments reply to someone else that has an issue
feel free to contact me at now4real954@aol.com if you need help
it seems complicated to look at but once doing it...its very easy if you have the ssh hack done to your apple tv
Cleve said 5:58AM on 10-04-2008
I think it is rally poor form for you guys to keep trotting out the "brick" moniker without ever linking to the originating site, 9to5mac.
Also, making up an event and then saying it was cancelled - I don't think you are impressing too many people there either.
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artifex said 11:47AM on 10-04-2008
Hey Cleve/9to5mac, I see your Cleve identity seems to be astroturfing for your site, on TUAW. (Reference your comments here:
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/10/02/community-goes-extremely-overboard-on-iphone-extreme/ and http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/04/rumor-brushed-metal-imacs/ for example)
Oh, and just in case you actually believed otherwise, the term "bricking" has been in use for decades. YOU DID NOT INVENT IT.
Now, what was that you were saying, about impressing people?