iPod Flashing folder

[AliensAreFuzzy]

Hey guys. Today I was listening to my iPod in my car when, all of the sudden, the song started to skip and my iPod froze. So, at a stop light, I reset the iPod. But after the Apple logo came up, instead of sending me to the menu, I got a flashing folder with an exclaimation point. What's going on?

P.S.- I remember seeing this problem somewhere else on the forum a while back, but I searched and didn't find it.

 

[Daveway]

This means that the ipod can no longer find sysyem files and music. The only way to fix this is to do a complete restore.

 

[AliensAreFuzzy]

This means that the ipod can no longer find sysyem files and music. The only way to fix this is to do a complete restore.

Well, I've been running the software update to restore it for about 45 min, and so far the bar has gotten all the way across on the screen but it hasn't finished.

 

[cfd]

I got a flashing folder with an exclaimation point.

Unless Disk Utility or Disk Warrior can see and repair the drive, it's toast. By any chance, if you put your ear next to the iPod, do you hear any unusual clicks? If so, treat it the same as any other hard drive.

 

[AliensAreFuzzy]

Unless Disk Utility or Disk Warrior can see and repair the drive, it's toast. By any chance, if you put your ear next to the iPod, do you hear any unusual clicks? If so, treat it the same as any other hard drive.

Yeah, I figured that it was dead when I first had the problems. I tried the restore as a last ditch effort. I'm bringing it into Best Buy on Monday. Which brings up another point: if I have the replacement plan, can I give them the extra $50 and upgrade to a 30GB Photo?