iPod Mini Hard Drive Cable Replacement

Carefully insert a small flathead screwdriver or Jimmy in the seam between the metal casing and white plastic top. Use the screwdriver to pry up the white plastic top bezel. Be careful not to damage the soft plastic with your screwdriver.

To make this job easier, heat up the adhesive with a hairdryer on low heat for a few seconds.

Lift the top bezel off of the iPod.

Carefully insert a small flathead screwdriver or Jimmy in the seam between the metal casing and white plastic bottom Use the screwdriver to pry up the white plastic bottom bezel. Be careful not to damage the soft plastic with your screwdriver.

A small pair of snap ring pliers is the easiest tool to remove the metal retaining bracket.

You can also use a flathead screwdriver to pry out the metal retaining bracket beneath the bottom bezel as shown. You can free the bracket by first pushing in the metal arms on the corners and then lifting the bracket.

Lift the metal retaining bracket out of the iPod.

Use a spudger or the tip of your finger to carefully disconnect the orange click wheel ribbon from the logic board.

Remove the two #00 Phillips screws securing the headphone jack to the casing.

Carefully slide the iPod out of its casing by pushing on the logic board near the bottom edge of the click wheel.

After pushing the logic board out sufficiently, gently grasp the logic board on either side of the display, and continue to slide the iPod out of its casing.

Lift the battery off of the logic board and lay it to the side of the iPod.

Use a spudger or the tip of your finger to carefully disconect the orange hard drive ribbon from the logic board.

Lift the hard drive out of the iPod.

Peel back the black tape securing the two blue bumpers to the hard drive near the orange ribbon cable.

Slide the two blue bumpers off the corners of the hard drive. There is no need to remove these bumpers entirely.

Carefully disconnect the orange hard drive ribbon cable from the hard drive. Be sure to apply even pressure while pulling to prevent any bent pins.