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-Hard-Drive/391/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-Hard-Drive/391/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-Hard-Drive/391/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-Hard-Drive/391/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-Hard-Drive/391/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-Hard-Drive/391/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-Hard-Drive/391/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-Hard-Drive/391/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-Hard-Drive/391/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-Hard-Drive/391/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-Hard-Drive/391/all#s1666