It can be hard to find that little reset button with a paperclip. You have to make sure you found it - you'll hear a subtle, little "click" when you find it and press on it. You sure you found it?
It's not always behind the hole to. Like when you say it can be hard to find he might need to use paper clip and go in a circle within hole trying to find it. Once he does find it though I would also ask him to make sure he's holding long enough. Some just press it and think it resets you have to hold longer then a instant push to do the reset I think hes going for.
Also don't know his firmware but one had a issue where you could not reset... so hope hes not on that firmware.
yeah yeah don't worry done it plenty of time.... I think the board is corrupted...