Before opening your iPod, ensure that the hold switch is in the locked position. The slider should be all the way to the right if your iPod is facing you.

Opening the iPod can be challenging. Do not get discouraged if it takes you a few tries before the iPod is opened.

Free the first retainer clip on the bottom of the iPod using the iPod opening tool. The tool's edge should point towards the metal back case to prevent scratching the plastic front.

There are five retaining clips on each side of the iPod. An iPod opening tool will be used to separate the plastic front from the metal back of the iPod.

Insert the iPod opening tool into the left side of the iPod, with the edge of the tool pointing towards the metal back.

Gently enlarge the existing crevice by wiggling the iPod opening tool and moving it to the left.

Continue doing so until the entire side of the iPod is loose.

You can then insert an iPod opening tool near the Hold button. Be very careful while inserting the tool, as the display is very fragile.

Gently glide the iPod opening tool on the top of the display, making sure to free the retaining clips.

The other sides of the iPod should now easily come loose. If they do not, use iPod opening tools on the right side of the iPod in the same way as on the left side of the iPod.

Separate the front of the iPod from the back about an inch (or a couple of centimeters).

The iPod casing is now open, but don't completely separate the two halves just yet. Two ribbon cables are still connecting the back panel to the rest of the iPod.

Use an iPod opening tool to slide up the brown connector holding the orange battery ribbon cable in place. You only need to lift the brown connector up about 1-2mm to free the cable.

Don't lift up too far or you could pull the battery connector out of the logic board.

Make sure to slide the brown connector directly upwards. The connector is frail and will break if it is accidentally shifted to the side. The connector has hooks at the bottom to hold the cable in place. As soon as you break one of the arms you will have problems putting the battery cable back on. If it breaks put the cable in the slot and then push the brown holder in place to keep the cable from slipping out.

Remove the cable from the connector.

You should now have one orange ribbon cable still attaching the front case to the back.

At this point you are able to remove and replace the blue rubber bumpers, or continue with separating the case.

Lift up the hard drive to expose the headphone jack ribbon connector (indicated by the yellow box).

If the hard drive bumpers come loose, make sure to put them back with the notch as shown in the picture.

With the iPod opening tool, gently lift the brown tab of the headphone ribbon cable connector. The tab will rotate up 90 degrees, releasing the ribbon cable.

Using your fingers, pull out the headphone jack ribbon cable.

The front and back of the iPod should now be completely separated.

Use a small iPod opening tool to release the black hinge holding the hard drive ribbon cable. The tab will rotate up 90 degrees towards the logic board, releasing the ribbon cable.

Use your forefinger to hold the ribbon cable in place; disconnect the drive from the ribbon cable.

Make sure the hard drive rubber side bumpers are attached to the drive being installed. Use the hard drive rubber side bumper installation guide to accomplish this task.

If necessary, the blue foam padding on the hard drive might also need to be transferred to the replacement drive.

Remove the three black Phillips screws securing the front panel to the metal framework.

Rotate the iPod laterally 180 degrees and remove the three black Phillips screws securing the front panel to the metal framework on the other side.

You may meet some resistance near the center of the iPod as there is a mild adhesive used to help hold the two pieces together.

Carefully work around the edge of the iPod to separate the front panel from the metal framework.

Lift the framework (including the attached display, logic board, and click wheel) away from the front panel.

Make sure that the click wheel button is in place before reinstalling the framework in the front panel.

The front panel should now be free from the rest of the iPod.