|
  |
|
|
How to replace an iPod Mini Micro-drive with a Compact Flash Card
By Mike Rahn
This approach is much better than replacing your Mini's drive with another microdrive because CompactFlash cards are more robust than physical hard drives which eventually break or wear out and are sensitive to dropping. Also, it's possible you have a 2GB or 4 GB card laying around from a previous digital camera that broke/no longer works. The iPod Nanos and shuffles all use flash memory for this reason. This fix will work on both the 1st gen and 2nd gen Mini's except the 2nd gen minis may require loading the ipod_control file onto the CF after it is installed in order for iTunes to see it. (the first gen mini has gray buttons on the clickwheel, the 2nd gen minis have button colors which match the mini body). If your original microdrive still works, use it to install firmware prior to the CF replacement, and/or copy the iPod_Control file somewhere so you can put it on the CF later (this is a hidden file so you will need to change settings on your folders to see it). The card must have full ATA compatibility in order to work. CF cards are supposed to work since they are designed to be ATA compatible, but SD cards in general will not work. Cards with less than 2GB of storage are not likely to work. Ones which have been shown to work are: Sandisk Ultra II cards
Sandisk ultra III 4gb
RiDATA Pro 8GB Compact Flash (CF) Flash Card Model CFR8G-SILV
Transcend CF cards
Kingston 4gb cf 45X elite pro card (not all Kingston cards work)
Kingston Elite Pro 133x 16 GB and 32 GB
Sandisk ultra III 4gb
Peak Xtreme
A-Data CF cards
8GB Memory Corp Pro 133X CF card
16gb Peak
Lexar 2GB CF Platium II 80x
Open up your iPod following this guide EXCEPT for the last step (the disconnection of the drive):
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/iPod-Mini-Hard-Drive/412/1
Following these instructions, at the end where they remove the drive cable, don't do that (if you can help it). You will want to keep the Molex connector attached to the board (if you do remove it, it can be put back in). You will need to remove the tape which surrounds the drive in order to free the connector which is embedding itself into the drive. There will be many pins protruding out, this is where you will put the Compact Flash card. Make sure you place the Compact Flash card with the right side up (so that you can see the label) because there are two ways to connect it. After installing, put a piece of double stick tape on it so it doesn't rattle around inside. After the CF is installed and your iPod is closed back up again, you can connect the iPod to your Mac/PC which has iTunes on it and hit restore to install new firmware to the iPod. After new firmware loads, you need to connect the iPod to an external power supply (this is always the case, not just for this repair). If you don't have your wall charger anymore (or you never had one) you can also use a car charger. The point is that you need a constant/higher current source than your USB port provides in order to burn the flash memory with the new firmware. You can also use the USB port on a PlayStation 2, and in some cases, the USB port on a digital picture frame! If iTunes does not see your iPod, you need to use your computer to format the drive (to FAT32 if the CF card is 4GB or larger, to FAT16 if it is smaller than 4GB). Then try iTunes again. If you get the folder/exclamation point error you will need to copy the iPod_Control folder from your original drive (or download the files from the internet) to the CF before it will work. |
Pictures for removing an iPod Mini drive
PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
No reactions yet.
Please login or sign up to rate this intel.
Please login or sign up to add a comment.
The copyright for this content entitled "How to replace an iPod Mini Micro-drive with a Compact Flash Card" has been specified by the contributor as:
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Details 
This content may be copied, distributed, or modified as long as the original author is acknowledged with a link back to the content page.
If you use this content according to the license specified, you must link to the following URL:
http://mermaidia.qondio.com/
|
 |
February, 2012
| | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | | | | |
|
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February
|
|
Not a member yet?
Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to
promote, we can help.
Sign up and get in on the action.
|
|
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.
|
|
