Before opening your iPod, ensure that the hold switch is in the locked position. The orange bar should be visible, indicating hold is active. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s4101 Opening the case can be challenging. Do not get discouraged if it takes you a few tries before the iPod is opened. Insert a large iPod opening tool into the seam between the plastic front and metal rear panel of the iPod, near the headphone jack. The tool's edge should point toward the metal rear panel to prevent any accidental scratching of the plastic front. Run the tool along the top seam toward the upper left corner of the iPod. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s4102 Opening the case can be challenging. Do not get discouraged if it takes you a few tries before the iPod is opened. Insert a large iPod opening tool into the seam between the plastic front and metal rear panel of the iPod, near the headphone jack. The tool's edge should point toward the metal rear panel to prevent any accidental scratching of the plastic front. Run the tool along the top seam toward the upper left corner of the iPod. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s4102 Push the large iPod opening tool into the upper left corner of the iPod, creating a small gap along the side seam. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s4119 There are five retaining tabs on each side of the iPod. With the large iPod opening tool still inserted in the top seam, press a small iPod opening tool into the gap you just created. Run the iPod opening tool down the side seam, releasing all five tabs. It may be necessary to wiggle the tool while working your way down the seam to free all the tabs. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s4103 There are five retaining tabs on each side of the iPod. With the large iPod opening tool still inserted in the top seam, press a small iPod opening tool into the gap you just created. Run the iPod opening tool down the side seam, releasing all five tabs. It may be necessary to wiggle the tool while working your way down the seam to free all the tabs. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s4103 Run the iPod opening tool around the lower left corner of the iPod and along the bottom seam to free the two retaining tabs near the dock connector. Run the tool around the lower right corner of the iPod and along the right side seam to free all five retaining tabs. The case of the iPod should now easily come loose. Ensure all retaining tabs are free before proceeding. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s4105 Run the iPod opening tool around the lower left corner of the iPod and along the bottom seam to free the two retaining tabs near the dock connector. Run the tool around the lower right corner of the iPod and along the right side seam to free all five retaining tabs. The case of the iPod should now easily come loose. Ensure all retaining tabs are free before proceeding. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s4105 The iPod case is now open, but don't separate the two halves just yet. There is still an orange ribbon cable connecting the headphone jack to the logic board. Open the case like a book with the dock connector at the top, and lay the rear panel next to the front half of the iPod. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s4109 Use a plastic tool or your fingernails to carefully disconnect the orange headphone jack cable. Be sure to pull straight up on the connector, not the cable itself. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s4110 Lift up the hard drive with one hand and carefully disconnect the hard drive ribbon from the logic board. Lift the hard drive out of the iPod. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s1614 Carefully disconnect the white battery connector from the logic board. Be sure to pull only on the connector itself and not on the cables. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s1615 Use a spudger to carefully disconnect the orange touch wheel cable from the logic board. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s1616 Remove the 6 black T6 Torx screws securing the logic board to the front panel. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s1617 Lift the logic board out of the iPod. When reassembling your iPod, be sure that the plastic hold switch mechanism is synced with the hold switch on the logic board. The switch on the board is a small black nub that sits in a slot on the hold switch mechanism. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s1618 Use a spudger to carefully disconnect the orange display ribbon from the front panel. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s1620 Lift the display panel out of the iPod. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s1621 Lift the battery out of the iPod. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s1622 Use a spudger to carefully disconnect the orange display ribbon from the front panel. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s1623 Front panel remains. /Guide/Repair/iPod-3rd-Generation-Front-Panel/387/all#s1624