the switch should be off on and hold, which locks the controls if memory serves. it sounds like you have a 3rd generation I pod shuffle. If you have the 3rd generation you might have to use the included earbuds with controls,  the 4th generation allows you rouse any earphones and leaves the control with a standard headphone jack instead of a special one that only apple had. they sold almost none of those because of the proprietary headphone jack.  Honestly if I had one I would load it with music or a book and use it int he car, or clip it to a pair of headphones, or better yet slip it inside the ear cup of a headset with some creative remanufacturing. I am not sure they even del that model anymore, as the iPod has gone way beyond a tiny little player. players like that are great for taking to the gym where if it gets broken or dropped in water you don’t cry your eyes out over it.
On Dec 27, 2013, at 10:40 PM, Pat Byrne <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> This evening I discovered an old IPOd which I bought several years 
> ago, not understanding that I would need Itunes to load music on to 
> it.  I didn't have, nor did I know squat about things Apple.  I filed 
> the player and, honestly forgot about it until this evening!  Now I 
> have Itunes and know a bit more about Apple things!!  Can someone 
> tell me what I have?  It is about as long as my index finger and 
> looks about the size of a A A battery if you had stepped on it!  At 
> one end it has a three position switch and a small headphone jack 
> which takes earbuds with controls and alternately an USB cable with a 
> phone plug to load the content and charge the battery.  I've figured 
> out how to play, stop forward and go back but don't understand the 
> use of the three position slide switch, except that the position 
> furthest from the jack seems to turn off the device.  If I can find 
> good quality headphones that aren't earbuds I think I could learn to 
> like this player a lot!
> Thanks a lot, everyone.
> Pat, K9JAU