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vdrummer · Jan 21, 2006, 01:23 PM

My iPod Mini has a "sad" icon and, alternatively, a folder w/ exclamation point. I don't have apple care and it's almost two years old. I believe the Microdrive inside has failed, although it could be the logic board. (My daughter dropped it into a sink full of water, and it worked for a while after I took it apart and dried it out).

Can I pull out the Microdrive and install an old 1Gb Compact Flash card that I used with my digital camera to verify that it is in fact a drive failure, and get some use from the Mini?

If I do that, would the CF card still be useable in a digital camera if I pulled it out of the Mini later (after re-formatting, of course)?

Mastrap · Jan 21, 2006, 05:24 PM

That would make an interesting exercise. How much of a geek are you?
Your flash card and the iPod HD are totally, 100% incompatible. You need to find a way to get a card reader to communicate with the iPod. Then you need to format the card. Then you need to find a way to power the card.

Best of luck with it.

StudioSP · Jan 21, 2006, 06:57 PM

If you're asking, I'm sure it's not something you could do on your own. I don't mean anything personally by that, but what you are asking sounds very complex.

I'm doubting the microdrive has the same amount of pins as a CF card, but I could be wrong. Unless it's basically the same thing (which it doesnt sound to be at all based on what Mastrap said), it sounds like a crazy project.

There are people who buy old Pods. I would assume they buy them for the parts to sell. Maybe try getting a hold of one of those guys for the proper part. If not, it's time for a Nano w/ a waterproof case.

Mister Elf · Jan 21, 2006, 07:00 PM

The microdrive is identical to a CompactFlash Type-II card...I foresee no problems with the physical replacement if you're comfortable inside the thing...however, the iPod updater may not recognize it.

vdrummer · Jan 22, 2006, 01:37 AM

Well, I don't think of myself as geekish, but I'm not afraid to take things apart.

I've found it fairly easy to pop open the Mini, and it's not difficult to plug in a CF card. If, however, the iPod updater won't recognize the card, I'd prefer (of course) to re-use the card.

When the Minis first came out, I remember that there was something about the Microdrives inside the Minis that prevented the drives from being used in digital cameras - at the time, a 4Gb Mini was cheaper than a 4Gb standalone Microdrive, I believe.