My nano won't restore.

Try resetting Ipod first:

Reset an iPod:

Toggle the Hold switch to on, then back to off (none of the red is showing).

Press and hold down the Menu and Select buttons (as shown in the picture) for 6-10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo.

For many problems, you may have to do this several times. The iPod may be hung up on several things so you have to tell it: "Reset that. Now reset this. Yes, reset that too" and etc.

Restore an iPod:

Warning: When you restore and iPod, you...

... delete everything on it (songs, pictures, movies, files, games, firmware, etc.) Hey! That means any stuff that's on the iPod, but not in the iTunes library, will be lost. After deleting everything, iTunes reloads the iPod software with a fresh copy (referred to as "factory settings").

Using iTunes

When the iPod is connected, select it in the Source list in iTunes. Under the Summary tab, there is a button named "Restore." Click it. Select the restore option you want then sit back. A progress bar will show you the status of the restore. When it's done, you'll see a message like "Leave iPod connected to computer to complete restore." Now the iPod will show a progress bar. Do not disconnect during this part. When it's done, the iTunes Setup Assistant will prompt you to name and configure the iPod.

If that Put ipod in disk mode by toggle hold switch off then on and when apple logo appers hold action(middle button)and bottom button until a tick appers.Then connect to itunes.

Reset All
NOTE: THIS IS AN ADVANCED OPERATION AND RESTORES ALL SETTINGS
TO THE FACTORY DEFAULTS. NORMAL USERS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED
TO PERFORM THIS OPERATION!
If your device freezes up press the Menu button and hold for 15 seconds.
This is like a power down of the device. Once you perform the reset, the adjustments you made during last operation
will be gone.....

Start by reseting it, hold down the "Menu" button and middle button for about 7-8 seconds. This will most likely work, if it doesn't, try restoring it. Do this by first plugging your iPod into your computer and starting iTunes. Then select your iPod in the list to the left, now click the "Restore" button located under the large picture of your iPod model. Restoring will probably take a little while, maybe 10-15 minutes.

Hope this helps!

If u hold down the center button and the play/pause button at the same time the ipod will restart. Trust me I had the same issue before on my 30GB Ipod Video

You can usually reset a frozen iPod by holding down the menu and center buttons for about 10 seconds. Hope this helps!

When you hook your iPod up, go to my computer and see if it shows as a drive. If so, Right Click on the drive and click "Format" Once this is done, Put the ipod in disk mode and connect it to itunes.
Restore as before and see if you get results.

I suspect you may have been using a dock when it crashed, if so you may never get it back. Docks are very harsh on the ipod motherboards. especially the Nano gen 3 and the Ipod Video 5th gen.

If this helps, please leave a vote on fixya

To reset an iPod Nano

1. Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.)
   
2. Press and hold the Menu and Select buttons until the Apple logo appears, about 6 to 10 seconds. You may need to repeat this step.

Tip: If you are having difficulty resetting your iPod, set it on a flat surface. Make sure the finger pressing the Select button is not touching any part of the click wheel. Also make sure that you are pressing the Menu button toward the outside of the click wheel, and not near the center.
If the above steps did not work, try connecting iPod to a power adapter and plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet, or connect iPod to your computer. Make sure the computer is turned on and isn't set to go to sleep.

Take it into your nearest Apple Store or Best Buy. It's covered under warranty so it won't cost you. The hard drive needs to be tested on it.

Try putting the ipod in disk mode by pressing the center and play buttons after resetting it (by holding down the center and menu buttons). You will know it is in disk mode when it shows a check mark on the ipod screen. Then plug it into your vcomputer and format it using windows.

After you format the ipod, try disconnecting and reconnecting to the computer and restore and see if that fixes your problem.

You need to do a reset.

You can reset your ipod by holding down the menu and select (round button in the center) buttons down for at least 10 seconds. You'll see an apple logo flash, that's when you stop pressing the buttons. It will shut off, then back on.