My ipod did the same...worked sometimes if I toggled the controls between two of the buttons...check on some of the helpline sites as I can't remember which buttons it was, now. I ended up getting a new one but I still have the old one...it plays but you never know what you are getting! Will watch the thread in case some whizz can advise! Mine sometimes went to rainbow stripes...pretty but fairly useless!   :-S