CheapPod

Intro: CheapPod

I recently fried my mp3 player. One tiny little Linear Technologies chip had its part number blown off, so a $250 player is of no use because I cant replace a $0.50 part )o; that bums me out. So, what to do with a perfectly good 40G Tosh 1.8" HD?

Stick it in a HD broken Ipod off Ebay.

STEP 1: Open the Case

this could not be more simple. Sharp knife in joint along the long side of the case. Ever so slightly wedge up the metal back section of the case. Press down on the plastic with the knife and encourage it to open in a levering motion.

STEP 2: Ebay

There are three general types of dead Ipods

1)The broken screen of death. These players are now effectively large ipod shuffles and if that product was ever a bad idea, a 10-40G version is exponentialy worse. Avoid these at all cost.
2)The dead battery. Ipods have a history of crappola batteries, these are very common and easiest to fix. However everyone else knows this and they are relatively popular. Batteries are around $10
3)The ferked HD Ipod. If the seller notes that an exclamation mark with a folder symbol is displayed then you have a stuffed HD.

STEP 3: Issues With Non 'ipod' HD in an Ipod

Ok, things are never this simple. Apple have nobbled the firmware in their HD so that if you swap it out with a generic HD it wont work smoothly. The work around I've discovered is thus.

You can charge your Ipod with generic HD via firewire but dont ever let itunes see this ipod hanging off your machine or it will scramble the contents like so many eggs.

You can sync with itunes via usb, but 3rd gen ipods wont charge via usb.

STEP 4: Finishing Touches

While I had the thing apart I decided to customize the 'pod with a lick of paint
1)mask off the important parts with clear packing tape.
2)undercoat
3)paint
4)let dry and then remove masking tape

I then took an orbital sander to the metal case to give it a brushed look.

Next I'm building a car mount and dock on to the handbrake

Comments

[shamone]

totally crap, no fix instructions you should be pummeled with VHS players

[Callum Snowden]

No, I think the instructable is supposed to show you what parts you need and what things/problems you might encounter on the way. It might also teach somebody something because if they don't know how to change a HDD in a Ipod, they should'nt have opened it to start off with...

[dabom]

can i put the hd from a coputer in hd broken video ipod???

[radiorental]

yes, but you need to build a special cable for that - search the web - good luck

[PSPerson]

Command-tab.com It's called the ipod super.

[ExtremeYoshiFan]

I know of a better charging fix, install rockbox, now your ipod will not be recognized as one and it can be used in many more ways now.

[Zachalicious]

My video ipod has a broken screen, Do you think the 60 GB HD will fit in any other model than the videos? I know that the 4th generation 40GB's have the same dimensions, but do you think the hard drive plug in will be the same?

[old_bass_masta]

throw it into an original zune

[abadfart]

I'm getting a zune for a video player

[radiorental]

the hd connector will be the same - no question. The issue is replacing with an apple 'flagged' HD

[Zachalicious]

I don't understand what that means "flagged"?

[robots199]

It means if you dont like or think something is spam, hit this button

[robots199]

just replace the screen. Get the parts from ifixit.com

[salemance25]

not wanting to be rude but why

[ThinkBeforeYouSpeak]

does that say burns or bums you out

[The magical duct tape kid]

cool!

[jamnoopers]

ahh. :D i love the look of the 3rd gen ipod

[vaalessi]

cool. I've been messing around with a few old HD's in an effort to make them recognized as 'portable music players' by yahoo's jukebox service, for the purpose of downloading my yahoo library onto an external hardrive. Could a procedure similiar to the one used here work?

[radiorental]

yup, of course you can simply make them external HD with a usb-ide adapter but if you search the net you'll find a project that made an ipod-ide cable. You'll probably still need to made an external psu. Keep me posted on your progress - pauric

[vaalessi]

so, it seems that to get music from services like Yahoo jukebox, your device needs to be "secure-file" approved or something like that. I'll be trying to find what exactly what that constitutes, and where i can download/rip it. suggestions appreciated, but i'll post where i found it if i succeed.