I got an i pod for Christmas off my kids which I love. Today, I dropped it, only from a sitting down position but it froze on the "ok to disconnect" sign. I tried pressing the middle button and the menu and after a few moments I have a do not enter sign flashing on and off and in small writing, "Do not disconnect" What have I done?? I'm frantic I've broken it.

dont panic! hold the Home and Power buttons together for around 10-15 seconds and watch it reboot

I tried that, it said "detected i pod in recovery mode, must restore" but then when I try to do that, it says error 1439, and won't restore.
God I am in total panic mode here, my 4 kids saved for ages to buy me this i pod as I wanted one for so long... ((

Having done a little research for you, you may want to try this software which will recover the ipod for you
http://www.ipoddatarecovery.net/

If this fails to work try reading the instructions here http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1275

If neither work, dont panic. you say that you got the iPod for christmas which means that it is still under warrenty. Apple will fix it for you for free and if they are unable to do so, they will have to issue you a new one.

I hate to be the one to point it out, but the guarantee doesn't cover damage from it being dropped.

You can chance it and just send it back and hope they don't notice but if something inside has got damaged when it was dropped then I'd imagine it'll be spotted it you'd need to pay for the repairs ....

Your home contents insurance may pay for it, but the guarantee that comes with the device isn't meant for this.

Yes you are right there about physical damage but from reading the problem that the user is describing it seems that this is more of a software issue as they say that error 1439 is appearing on screen which is refusing a restore. Im guessing as the user has not mentioned of any problems with the power or home buttons then hopefully they should be working.

To the OP, does iTunes detect the ipod? if it does then you can try Restoring from there.

Yes, but *why* is it refusing to restore?

If it's because the hard drive has been damaged when it was dropped that may well be obvious when they open it up.

Like I say, no harm in chancing your arm and sending it back and pleading ignorance, you may well get away with it. Just making the point that there is a possibilty they may pull you up for it ....

Certainly worth a try, nothing to lose!

Thanks for your help everyone. I took the pod back to Comet today and reminded myself just why I never usually buy anything from this shop. They didn't want to know. Back home, several phone calls to Apple in which they had me copying and pasting 50 reasons stuff into notepad, setting up a new administrator account on the computer etc etc. All to no avail, I tunes is now telling me the pod is corrupt and is locked on the "Do not disconnect" screen. It hasn't been connected since 3pm. A courier is being sent now to take the pod back to their factory in Amsterdam for repair.

I would be suprised if it was the dropping. It fell less than a metre onto carpet. I've never even taken it out of the house yet. I'm cross with myself though.

Hey Tiger Feet. You are not alone with Comet. They are blessed with rude staff and disappointed customers.

That's why I always contact Apple if there is ever a problem - best to deal with manufacturer direct

sancheeez, the Nano/Touch doesn't have a hard drive, it uses flash memory.

Is it a Classic we are talking about, cos they can literally go kaput on a drop.

On the iPod Touch forums, one guy has a bin lorry run over his iPod, and it still worked so there you go.

Hope you get everything sorted. (Quickly)

Btw, have you told your kids yet?

Doesn't sound like it was caused by the drop. I dropped my iPhone face first on the platform at Witham station. I didn't want to pick it up because I thought the damage would be too painful to see, turned it around though, and nothing, not even a scratch and still works perfectly

Apple are usually very good at replacing these things. I wouldn't be surprised if they send you a new iPod free of charge.

one guy has a bin lorry run over his iPod, and it still worked so there you go.

Some people are just born lucky

I think the iPhone and iPod Touch are well built which does play a part. I thought the glass screen was a dumb idea at first but now it makes so much sense...just to think how many cheap plastic mobile phone screens I have gone through and scratched. You can take a key to the iPhone and it won't scratch.