Upgrade Your iPod Mini With Flash Memory - No More Hard Drive!

Instead of a hard drive, your new upgraded iPod will use flash memory with no moving parts for faster boot up & access times and lower power consumption.

(I ran my iPod continuously for over 20 hours on one charge!).

You will also get enhanced shock-resistance! Thousands of iPods have died an early death because they were dropped and their hard drives were damaged as a result.

So, if you have an iPod Mini with a bad hard drive or just want to hotrod your existing unit this Instructable is for you.

Step 1 Materials & Tools

Ideally, you will need the following items:

Small Phillips Driver
Small Flat Screw Driver
Plastic iPod Opener Tool (optional)
Popsicle stick or other flat wooden stick
Hot Glue Gun
Xacto Knife or Razor Blade
Fully ATA compatible Compact Flash Card (2Gb min)
2nd Generation iPod Mini. If you use an iPod with a bad drive, just make sure that the unit is otherwise fully functional.

Comments

[dairyfarmer777]

I got everything working but the center button. I test it outside of the case and it works but when its inside it doesn't seem to properly make a connection to the main board. I'm just going to keep playing round with it if one knows how i should approach this problem.

[nfemail]

Does this work with the 128GB CF card ??

I hear the adapter makes a difference .. what adapter would you recommend ??

[rcontreras1]

Hello!

Can you recover a 20gb ipod classic with this trick?

[ichunddu]

I just did this successfully with an iPod Mini 1st Gen running OS 1.4.1, using a 4GB Transcend card bought for 15 Euros at Amazon. Thanks a lot for publishing this!

Frank

[iroque]

Thank you for this tip, it worked perfect, i replaced the microdrive with a CF ADATA 8 16 GB and replaced the battery, the ipod its working as new.

[jchioda]

This worked for me. My daughter dropped my iPod mini about three years ago and it never worked again. I could tell my hard drive was probably the culprit because when I turned the iPod on, I could hear a small "spinning" noise turning on and off. As for the instructions, I followed all of them, went to Wal Mart and picked up a 4 GB compact flash card for $24.99. I installed it and as soon as I connected the iPod on to iTunes, I received a message about restoring my iPod. Was shocked that I could actually do all of this myself. Works great and battery still holds a charge even though I haven't plugged it in in over three years!

[kgiallombardo]

This process works with the first gen running 1.4.1

[daiatlus79]

great tutorial. i used a cheap Fidelity 4 gig and it worked fine. as long as the card is ATA compatible i think things should work well

[jmantoo]

I actually have upgraded a pink 2nd gen iPod with dead drive to a 32 Gig using a transcend 32gig CF card.

I actually found the iPod in the ditch while working in the field one day. it appeared someone tossed it out their window after it no longer functioned, due the the dead drive. After borrowing a power cord and a quick search of the error that was popping up. I figured out that the hard drive was bad. I found a site that similar to this one that explained how to replace the micro drive with a CF card. I happened to have a 1 gig laying around and tried it. The iPod worked great so a quick order on Newegg of a 32 gig CF card for $60 and a $12 power cord from radio shack and I was in business with a 30 gig iPod for only $72. Way cheaper than any 30 gig MP3 player on the market and it had no moving parts. Definitely couldn't complain.

[sillyzombie666]

why wont this work on the model 1 mini? since you have it stated you must use the model 2

[fstedie]

Firmware issues, it just doesn't work.

[sillyzombie666]

is there any work around to this like using ipod linux or rock box

[thestar007]

I have successfully replaced the HDD with a transcend CF. The iPod works and the songs will play but every now and then the iPod would crash with the folder and exclamation logo on it. iTunes would then ask to restore the iPod. Any idea what i am missing here?

[fstedie]

Whenever that happens to me I simply reboot it by holding down the Center and Menu buttons for a few seconds. Don't know exactly why it happens :(

[thestar007]

Thanks, but it can be quite a PITA to do it every time you want to listen to the iPod. I was looking for a more permanent solution. The fact that it works with the flash card tells me that the iPod is more or less ok but its more a file system issue, I could be wrong though.

[vanprez]

what battery do you recommend? brand etc.

[sillyzombie666]

there are no "brands" every thing i've found is just a cheap nock off from china just buy from a seller or site with good reviews, i just bought on on ebay with a screwdriver kit for $6 so i wont know how good or bad it is till i get it

[vanprez]

my sister just gave me the" pink " Ipod. Is this 1st gen. or what?

[sillyzombie666]

look on the back if it says 4 or 6 then its a second gen, if it doesn't state the storage than its a first gen.

i just got a free hot pink ipod (lol) so im looking to upgrade and paint it

[eboehm]

That is the one that I am using. Pink 4gb mini. Got it from my daughter when she upgraded to an ipod touch. Works great with this procedure. Upgraded it to a 16gb with a transcend 16gb cf card(Amazon.com has it for $23). Also had worked with a 8gb Kingston CF card. Also upgraded battery while I was in there. Can find one on ebay for around $5 by doing a search on ipod mini battery.

[pkhare3]

This worked for my second generation mini ipod (4Gb.) I installed the 16 gb transcend card which i bought off amazon and i also replaced the battery at the same time which i bought off ebay.

[eboehm]

(removed by author or community request)

[Orkekum]

Probably your players software is built to notice only 8GB, so how big you ever put, it will only find 8GB

[eboehm]

Found out that changing the "name" of my iPod after doing a restore gave me the extra 8gb. I guess it was restoring my iPod to the last saved configuration. Bingo 16gb. Sweet!

[dpierri]

Thank you for your instructions! first I thought it was the battery - got a cheap replacement that came with a set of tools to open the iPod mini 2nd gen. The hair dryer trick is actually easier since it melts the adhesive on the plates. After changing the battery I still had the sad face - bummer. So I got a CompactFlash card (Kingston CF/4GB) at my local Micro Center for $17.37 with tax. Knowing to be careful with the ribbon helped, I used a razor to cut all the tape off the micro-drive which has a rubber bumper. Once all the tape was off, I pried carefully the old HD from the tiny pin board with a mini flat head screw-driver. It helps to disconnect the battery to avoid having any electricity accidentally running on the board. Once the drive was separated, I taped the rubber bumper to the CompactFlash card and carefully connected it back carefully making sure that the CF card was face up. It fits snuggly in the same space where the HD was. Replaced the battery and carefully connected it to my Mac Mini. At first it gave me a folder image with an exclamation point, no more sad face (that is a good sign). After iTunes opned, it read (do not disconnect) and recognized the iPod right away. It reset the name and now works like new.
I took a gamble with the Kingston CF, and read all about how ATA was automatically added to all CF cards prior to adding accelerators. I also looked at the Dane-Elec 8GB that Wallmart sells but you need to order it online and have it delivered to your nearest store. They don't carry the card. I checked Dane-Elec's site and it is an ATA compatible card. Not bad for $20 bucks. BTW, I used my Nano Mini's cord to connect the 2nd gen iPod Mini, my iPhone cord would not work for me.
Thank you for the instructions once again.

[bchiang1]

I have an ipod mini 2nd gen with a sandisk 4gb ultra and whenever i look at the screen it has a sad face and whenever i connect it to the computer itunes doesnt pop up and whenever i put it into disk mode it just goes bacc into the sad face ive tried everything even taking the cf and formating it seperate from the ipod and reconnecting it but no good my computer is also windows 7 =[

[Coggz]

I have tried this previously with a 6GB 2gen Mini, and a 16GB Kingston Pro Elite x133. Unfortunately I seem to be having the same issue as a few others online in that I need a copy of the ipod control folder to get iTunes to recognize the drive. The original drive is broken so there is no way of getting the folder off the original ipod, so can anyone on here possibly give me a rip of your system folder. All i need is the parts of the control folder which contain system things. Please could someone send me a zip/rar of this please!
[e-mail]
Thanks,

[bchiang1]

me too [e-mail]

[mluzon]

I used this card on my iPod mini:



http://www.amazon.com/Maxell-Compact-Flash-Memory-504001/dp/B002O0KT3C



Like other people here, I'm getting the folder/exclamation point icon on the screen every time it boots up, quickly followed by the "Do not disconnect" screen. Is this because I'm using the wrong type of CF card? If so, which CF cards nowadays will work on an iPod mini? I'm just looking for a 4GB card. Thanks!

[fstedie]

Your card MUST be ATA compatible. Some of the cheaper cards are not and without this feature it will not work. Chances are that if it doesn't say it is ATA compatible, it is not.

Try using a Transcend or Sandisk card.

[mluzon]

What cards out there say that it's ATA compatible anyways? I haven't seen a card anywhere on the Internet that says otherwise.

[CamJap22]

i used a transcend cf 16gb card on a 2nd gen mini, and i get the exclamation point folder when i boot into windows... any ideas?

Cheers

[nemosgrudge]

I'm having the exact issue with the exact equipment (except the 'into windows' part.) Different pinouts on this size card?

Oops - actually I let it charge awhile and it was recognized in iTunes! It works with this set up!

[CamJap22]

so you're saying if i let it charge for a while then it may pop up in itunes? i had it plugged into my computer for about 3 hours but just had the do not remove symbol flashing. I'll try charging in the wall for a bit.

[nemosgrudge]

I used my mac to charge it. We have three iPods; the 2nd gen mini, a 1st gen nano, and a gen 4 nano (also not working.) At first, I was using the USB cable for the gen 4 nano. I switched to the original USB cable that came with the mini, and shortly thereafter it worked. I have no idea if that made a difference - I wouldn't think so. Also, make sure that the Transcend card is face-up on the board. Mine is 133x, with that label facing up.

I'm using OS X 10.6.6 w/ iTunes 10.1.2 (17) on a 2006 iMac 2Ghz Intel Core Duo 20".

I also reset the iPod a few times, too many to know when it may or may not have had an effect.

The entire 16 GB shows up in iPod screen on iTunes. No issues with playback, no issues with uploading - works like it's brand new.

[bluntboy1]

i may sound stupid but whats the different between a norm flash memory card and a ATA compliant the only difference i can see is the cost you could get a new ipod for the price of some of the bigger cards!!!please help

[Millawi Legend]

Flash cards have no moving parts so, alas, you can not damage them by dropping them whereas mini hard drives have a small arm that moves about and reads the data so in you drop them the hard disk platter could get damages or the arm could.

[pteranosaur]

AKA Head Crash...

[VanGurp]

I believe normal flash cards just have metal contacts similar to the ones on a SD card but the ATA flash cards have a receptacle to plug the connector into.

[VanGurp]

Damnit i just replied to something that was posted 2 years ago...