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-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s4111 Opening the iPod can be challenging. Don't 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 towards 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. Press the tool into the corner, creating a small gap on the side of the case. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s4112 Opening the iPod can be challenging. Don't 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 towards 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. Press the tool into the corner, creating a small gap on the side of the case. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s4112 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-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s4113 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-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s4114 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-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s4114 Run the iPod opening tool around the lower left corner of the iPod and along the bottom seam to free the two retaining clips near the dock connector. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s4115 Run the iPod opening tool around the lower right corner and slide it down the right side seam to free the five tabs holding the iPod together. You may be able to free the tabs by gently wiggling the front panel of the iPod. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s4116 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 edge at the top, and lay the rear panel next to the front half of the iPod. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s4117 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-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s4118 Grasp the hard drive with one hand and carefully disconnect the orange ribbon cable from the hard drive using your other hand. If the cable doesn't come free easily, it may be helpful to gently wiggle the cable from side to side. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s1666 Peel up the black adhesive strip covering the hard drive ribbon cable. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s1667 Use the tip of your finger or a spudger to carefully flip up the black connector securing the hard drive cable to the logic board. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s1668 Pull the orange hard drive cable directly out of its connector. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s1669 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-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s1683 Use a spudger to flip up the black retaining bars securing the display and click wheel connectors to the logic board. If you have an iPod Photo, the display connector (to the right of the picture) is located more centrally on the logic board. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s1684 Remove the 6 black T6 Torx screws securing the logic board to the front panel. If you have an iPod Photo, there will only be 5 screws, as there is no screw in the top right corner of the iPod. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s1685 Slide the orange click wheel ribbon cable out of its connector. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s1686 Carefully lift up the large end of the logic board and disconnect the display connector. Lift the logic board out of the iPod. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s1687 Lift the display panel out of the iPod. There may be some mild adhesive connecting the display to the front panel. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s1688 Use a spudger to pry the battery off the front panel. Lift the battery up and out of the iPod. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s1689 Front panel remains. /Guide/Repair/iPod-4th-Generation-or-Photo-Front-Panel/396/all#s1690