Apple TV 2 – white light (LED) flashing/blinking fast
Comments(48) Hey, I just brought my Apple TV 2 back from the living dead. After a botched firmware update all it did was flashing the white LED fast (about 3 times a second).
I followed the official reset instructions using the Apple remote but that didn’t help at all. Then I came across a few posts that said that by hooking up Apple TV 2 to a Mac using just a micro USB cable, you could actually restore it in iTunes. Those posts explicitly said that you have to disconnect HDMI and power and just plug in the USB cable.
I dug out a micro USB cable and connected it to my Mac. Shortly after, iTunes showed up with the restore screen for Apple TV 2. So far, so good.
But every time during the early stages of the update process, one of those error messages appeared.
The Apple TV could not be restored. An unknown error ocurred (2006)
The Apple TV could not be restored. An unknown error ocurred (1611)
The Apple TV could not be restored. An unknown error ocurred (1602)
The Apple TV could not be restored. An unknown error ocurred (2009)
It just didn’t work. I was already thinking about returning it back to Apple, when I had an idea. Maybe the power delivered by the Mac’s USB port isn’t enough for whatever goes on during the restore process? So I connected a power cable after (!) Apple TV 2 showed up as being restorable in iTunes and voilà, the restore went through without a hitch!
If your Apple TV 2 is stuck with a fast flashing LED and iTunes fails to restore it using a micro USB cable, just connect the power cable as well and the restore might get through.
Restore mode not showing up in iTunes
If Apple TV 2 doesn’t show up in iTunes after hooking it up to the Mac, you may have to set it to DFU mode first:
- Disconnect the HDMI, power and USB cables
- Wait for 10 seconds
- Reconnect the USB cable
- Immediately hold the menu and play buttons on the remote for 15 seconds
- Apple TV 2 should now start flashing the LED wildly and appear in iTunes with the restore button.
If it still doesn’t show up, maybe there’s something wrong with your cable. I was using a wiggly micro USB plug that needed some weight put on it in order to have a reliable connection.
What if unknown error 1602 persists
If you always receive the 1602 error at the end of the restore process, it could help to restore Apple TV 2 using Xcode’s Organizer instead of iTunes.
THIS WORKED!! THE POWER CABLE!
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE PRACTICAL SOLUTION MATE
Thanks!!! I’ve tried for days and this is the only thing that worked!!!
Thanks for the info. I went to power off the ATV by removing the power plug and saw that the PC was able to keep the Apple TV alive through the USB port. As soon as I removed the power cable, Itunes recognized the ATV and I could restore. Yippee!
My apple remote will not work with my apple tv2 box it is the original remote to this system. When I press a button the white lights flashes fast and nothing happens. I have followed every instruction on here and everywhere else and still is NOT working HELP PLEASE
THanks a lot dude, you’re a star * it’s worked just perfect.
Thank you so much! We were so frustrated until we found your post!
Hello,
Thank you. Only this solution solved my problem. Now it works again.
BR
Janos
It worked for me too. Connected it on my pc to itunes with the apple tv on a usb.
Thanks
The re-boot worked with the micro USB and apple tv power source through my macbook even though I received “error 1602″ after the finish. The light had quit blinking rapidly after this “failed reboot”, so, on the chance that it might be repaired, I connected the apple to the HD tv again, and it works so far. Many thanks!
What kind of micro USB do you use
Rocketfish from Best Buy. about $20.00.
After having problems trying to update to Apple TV 2 version 4.4 (just after release of iTunes 5), I tried to restore but kept getting restore error message 1602. I tried the methods listed above several times including different micro USB cables and the power cables. Then I realized that I might need to update iTunes to the latest version and then try restore. Worked perfectly without power supply!!!
Awesome, thanks. No power/USB restored and worked.
The trickiest part of this for me was finding the micro (NOT mini) USB cable. None of the camera cables I had worked, but tracked one down at RadioShack. Attached to my fully-updated Mac, and the update went through seamlessly. No power required! Cheers.
Why Apple have to do an up date that requir to conect to iTunes? Why did like that? I tried 3 times up to if didnt work I have to take it to Apple store! Update should not requir iatune like before. i wish some can rase this point not all have Itune and not all have amc book?!
Thanks
Using the micro USB cable worked for me after the update failed on Oct. 14, 2011. The cable I used is the same one I use to charge my phone if that helps anyone. I also run a program called ASUS Ai Charger on my pc that ups the power output on my USB ports so they’ll charge my iPad2.
Thanks for the help.
I literally RAN to the Apple store, bought an AppleTV a minute before they closed. Got it home, agreed when it said it wanted to update the software…and then it bricked itself.
After digging through all my old cables and camera stuff, doesn’t look like I have a micro-USB. SOL until I can return the thing tomorrow…
Looks like there must be a rogue update that’s bricking them right now.
Anyone reading this message, DO NOT UPDATE YOUR APPLE TV SOFTWARE! I wish I had known!!!
Why do you say to not update the software?
Kept getting 1602 error. Updated to latest itunes. Worked just like dee1722′s did.
Same problem
Did an Apple TV update and the box bricked it self.
Trying to restore with itunes but get the 1602 error (even with the Apple TV power cord plugged in)
Any suggestions?
*DO NOT UPDATE YOUR APPLE TV SOFTWARE*
See above. I ignored the 1602, re-connected it to the tv and it works fine.
Fixed now….I download the .IPSW file from
-http://mac.softpedia.com/progDownload/AppleTV-Firmware-Download-85872.html on my imac
-Switched the appletv to dfu mode
And updated the appletv2
Got 4.4(3140) working on my appletv2……but apple really messed up with this update. Now when I scroll through the menus ….a voice reads of all the menu items… This obviously was beta which was rushed out by apple withour proper QA.
Anyways the voice is a minor irritant….but the apple tv box works….so wont touch it for some time.
Worked for me the first time. Didn’t even have to use the power cord. Thank for the info!
Great tip, the most recent update failed, but performing the restore provided both the update and a functional Apple TV.