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

Step 6 Finishing Up

Disconnect the iPod from your computer and re assemble the unit by reversing the steps outlined earlier. Be patient, don't force the unit back in its case. Button everything up and test using your headphones.

Done!

Plug back into your computer to recharge and enjoy your better-than-new iPod Mini!

Comments

[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.

[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

[bunzz2003]

This worked like a charm, glad my husband kept his after he got the sad face because now I have a new Ipod. It should only cost you about $25 and half an hour of your time to have a better Ipod than you started with.
Thank you for sharing! :

[jseo16]

FUCKEN DOPE! my mini is a 16 gig now!

[roland985]

Hell yeah!!!

[bonfire817]

AWESOME!! I'm upgrading my husband's to 8 gig...he has to have entire albums on his ipod mini! Just waiting for the flash card to come in the mail!

[gunner447]

just finished fixing a co-workers !!! 1st gen i-pod mini!!! i used a transsend card 8gb and work perfect, this rocks, now am moving on to a 5th gen i-pod fix, thanks for the info for the fix.

[patriciamarie]

This is WICKED awesome, and I really hope it works (or that I am able to pull this off!). I will check back and let you know if I succeeded or failed. Let's hope it is not the latter. -Trish

[headdead]

Thanks for sharing this procedure. It's a pleasure to read, well thought out and well written. Your high quality photos also help. Do you notice much improvement in battery drain time?

[nexus7x7]

Yes there's an improvement in BATT drain time(MICRO DRIVE BURN MORE POWER BECAUSE THERE'S A LITTLE MOTOR SPINNING>COMPACT FLASH NOTHING IS SPINNING), -LESS NOISE ALSO , BECAUSE MICRO DRIVE SPINS CAUSES A LITTLE NOISE IN HEADPHONES. -Ive also replaced battery(SONNET-THIS KIT HAS ALL THE TOOLS AND VIDEO CD TO TAKE APART THE MINI). -ALSO THE TRANSFER RATE FROM ITUNE TO IPOD IS ALOT FASTER WHEN TRANSFERRING MP3s. -IT FEELS LITER IN WEIGHT -I SPENT $40 TOTAL AND MY MINI IS LIKE NEW ITS BETTER THAN BUYING A NEW ONE!!

[nexus7x7]

I changed my batt.(sonnet) in my mini,and then my hard drive fails, great tip man, I thought there was no hope but now> ITS ALIVE!> AND EVEN BETTER! THANKS MAN!!

[BeanBot]

awsome

[twofitu2]

Why not change out the battery at the same time?

[Geoff FBMP]

(removed by author or community request)

[redstar00]

you must be a zune fan boy, OHKNOES he doesnt like ipods cause he cant afford them, lil kid with a power trip.

[vitruvian8807]

dont both the zune and ipod (80gb) cost the same?

[fstedie]

why not just smash your head with a hammer? got nothing to loose.....

[gamecube246]

Except blood cells

[Geoff FBMP]

wow... way to take it personally... spaz

[jimbo112]

dude, if your reading this, you probably have an iPod, so no duh someones gonna take it personaly

[kn100]

awesome! 1ighter, faster, better, and also, can you put a 4gb card in a 2gb mini?

[jimbo112]

since when did they make 2 gig minis? i thot it was only 4 &6, and the 2 gig was like, 1st gen or something

[fstedie]

should be no problem in going to a bigger size.

[nadilla]

so can i assume that it will be okay to install an bigger card than 4 gb in a 4 gig ipod?

[fstedie]

that's what I meant by that comment. users have successfully upgraded with up to 16GB.