Tools
Parts
Introduction
Connects the hard drive to the logic board.
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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.
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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.
Hardest part is step 2. The tools supplied in the kit don't seem to be able to pry the edge of the case. Like others I used a short blade knife, be very careful, to get the case opening started and used the iFixit tools to wedge the case open. Managed to scratch the silver case a bit near the top RH corner but that's the only damage. The rest of the process went smoothly and it went back together and I now have a working iPod for music in my garage. :-)
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Push the large iPod opening tool into the upper left corner of the iPod, creating a small gap along the side seam.
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With the large iPod opening tool still inserted in the top seam, press a small iPod opening tool into the gap you just created.
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Run the iPod opening tool down the side seam, releasing all five tabs.
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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.
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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.
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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.
This is the most fragile piece to work with in the whole process. Make sure you have some glasses or something and actually watch the individual pins while you reconnect the cable. I can't see so close, and didn't see what I was doing clearly. Consequently I broke the pins.
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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.
Be very careful disconnecting. In fact may want to leave connected. I "removed" the entire piece pins and all from the board and had to replace the logic board to fix. A $15 fix turned into $65. Happy to say got it fixed with a new board but this was a crucial step that cost me big time! Again leave headphone jack connected if at all possible!!
At this point I damaged the motherboard irreversibly!!
This guide should be modified. You should not attempt this step. Either you replace the battery without disconnecting the ribbon. Or if you really want more room, you unscrew the other little board from the the metal half of the case.
Now I have to buy another ipod :-(
It is worth noting that the connector for the iPod 4th gen and the iPod photo/color are NOT compatible. The 4th gen has only 10 pins, whereas the photo/color have 12 pins.
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Grasp the hard drive with one hand and carefully disconnect the orange ribbon cable from the hard drive using your other hand.
Just a curious question, since the hard drive is quite fragile, can it be replaced with a lets say: 8 GB fast CF card with built-in ATA?
It can with an adapter. I picked one up on ebay for $2 from Hong Kong.
The Hard Drive can be replaced with a CompactFlash to Toshiba 1.8-inch IDE Hard Drive Converter and a CF Card. It works! http://www.dx.com/p/cf-to-toshiba-1-8-in...
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Peel up the black adhesive strip covering the hard drive ribbon cable.
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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. Note that the black retaining clip flips 90 degrees toward vertical, in the direction of the cable.
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Pull the orange hard drive cable directly out of its connector.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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8 other people completed this guide.
How necessary is it to have the HOLD switch in the locked position? On my iPod the switch is stuck in the unlocked position and I can't force it into locked.
Is locking the iPod for a mechanical reason or an electrical/software reason?
gabeshaikh - Reply
It is for an electrical reason. If the iPod hold switch is kept on, the device will not turn on, thus ensuring the device stays powered off while performing service.
trusty - Reply
I have a 60 GB iPod photo that needs a new Logic Board. I bought a 30 GB used iPod on eBay and replaced the Logic Board. Now the iPod thinks the hard drive is only 30 GB, when it is really 60 GB. It works, but the hard drive is not recognized for its full size. Sites like this offer a 20 GB and 40 GB logic board...I apparently need 60 GB. Can I bypass this somehow, or do I really need a logic board that is specifically made for 60 GB???
Mark - Reply
My 30gig drive shows up as a 16.4gig. I can not for the life of me, figure out why this is doing this. Can anyone help? Thanks!
Stephan - Reply
Hello,
First thank you for this tuto and help.
I did follow your instructions and every step was ok but when I closed my i'Pod, it kept staying on the lock position even with moving the lock button.
Now it has charged but I could not make it run.
So I did a complete reboot by connecting it to my Mac with i'Tunes to restore.
It's still locked.
What can I do?
Than You for your answer
Thomas
Voisin - Reply
Much quicker and far easier opening from the right side instead of from the top using the blue plastic spudger. Opened in under 10sec. Do not know why this guide asks you to start from the top and work it to the left corner. Perhaps it was meant as a challenge.
Edwin Seah - Reply
Well, I did it! I am pretty mechanically inclined, but I don't work well with small stuff. Anyway, as others mentioned, this step was the hardest for me, the included tools, worthless (to start to separate the case) As another person mentioned, I used a razor blade on the side on the upper left corner pushing down toward the metal clips, 'pop' once the first came off, then I used the blue tools to release the remaining clips. I didn't want to remove the connector in step 8, but had literally no room to work, the connector is a square push in type that is attached to the ribbon cable, I pryed with the blue tool carefully at the connector base, it popped right off! (getting is back on was more challenging, but managed with a small pair of needle nose pliers.) Had to pry the old battery out carefully - it was really in there. Got it all back together, works like a champ! Thanks ifixit!
mikesnyder - Reply
Promptly broke both blue plastic tools. I used a putty knife to pop the case. Opening was the only hard part. I didn't disconnect the headphone cable. No problems and the battery has enough charge that I listening to Bare Naked Ladies now. Last week I installed a new hard drive in my Mac mini. IFixit is the greatest!
heldon - Reply