Apple iPod Flash Hard Drive Storage – Broken iPods
The death of an ipod, by most people, can bring forth feelings resembling the loss of a family pet. Which goes without saying that Apple successfully created a product that has the ability to entertain your children, train your puppy, and become your remote virtual office. The question is what do you do when the life span of your close pocket friend comes to an end? Well, like all electronic devices, and mini computers, batteries die, screens crack, motherboards short, and in the worst case scenario, the hard drive decides to lock you out for good holding your pertinent information captive.
In another light there is life after death, especially in this case in which it has been proven that iPods can and do serve a better purpose after its last days. However, you do always have options, you can always make the arrangements for iPod repairs, buy a new upgraded iPod (a viable option once our HD has died), of course you can always toss it out…
First and foremost, let’s discover just how dead our iPod really is. This is important because it determines what our viable options are, if we can turn this into a money making iPod, or whether or not we should just toss it. Of course when the chips are down, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all options are out. Instead of buying a new iPod, why not take it to an iPod repair service. In truth, this will probably be the best way to judge just how dead your iPod really is.
Even though a dead iPod is a scary experience it does not always mean that something serious is happening. Besides from a dead hard drive, there are other components can cause an iPod to have difficulties. Such components as the actual screen, backlight, buttons, or even the digital signal processor. Many of these failures are reparable and may even allow you to still use the iPod.
Ok, for most people, it would be pretty difficult to determine the level of seriousness when it comes to ‘iPod Failure.’ If you can still see the screen and use a majority of the controls then you are swimming in safe waters. In most cases, when the backlight dies, you should still be able to see the screen… when held at the correct angle in a lit room… You would definitely want to avoid dark rooms when shuffling through tracks. On another note if the screen itself is dead, get it fixed, especially if the iPod is recent, but if you are low on cash, again, there are options. If the DSP is out, you can always sell it for parts… at least it wouldn’t be a total bust.
In my experience a good general rule of thumb, if there is a problem it will generally happen in the first month of ownership, this is a crucial time period for most electronics… Just keep that in mind. Please do not be naïve, problems due to hard usage can occur at any time during the life of the any electronic, especially an iPod. Let’s take some notes, the most common issue that iPods face these days are clumsy owners with slippery fingers. Dropping your iPod repeatedly is the most common cause for hard drive failure, and cracked screens. Most batteries tend to last two to three years, with hard use, but of course this can be easily replaced. The only options you may be faced with is to either pay someone to do this for you, pay a company, or do-it-yourself if the hassle is something that you are more than happy to tackle, but you should know that you do risk damaging other important functional elements.
Why not play it safe and just plug it in… Most iPods (without other failures) will still operate as long as they are plugged into an AC adapter or similar source. Through the use of a car charger and AM/FM transmitter a powered iPod can easily replace your car stereo with an MP3 option, allowing you to listen to 1,000 + tracks. Let’s say you don’t drive. You can always connect your iPod to the dock and run it through your home stereo. This option allows you to enjoy your old and outdated, slightly broken iPod for a few years longer.
Another to extend the life of your iPod suffering from a dead battery is to connect it to iTunes on your computer or laptop, and use it as a music source. Once connected to a power source the iPod can still be used to manually copy music from one source to another.
If music is not the sole use of your battery-less iPod, you can always use it as a hard disk or flash memory device which will come in handy. In layman terms, if you have a 64GB iPod, then you now have a 64GB hard disk or glorified thumb-drive to use to back up files, documents, or to transfer files from one source to another, hence the beauty of older generation iPods that came before the iPod Touch. This alone, is a great reason not to toss out your old outdated iPod(s). Why spend the money to get a 24GB flash drive when you have already spent the money for a glorified flash drive masked by the marketing as an MP3 music source.
In order to use your “broken iPod” as a flash drive, you may want to follow these steps:
- Connect your iPod to your computer.
- Once connected you would want to deselect ‘Open iTunes when this iPod is connected.’
- Next check, ‘Enable disk use.’
- Next check, ‘Manually manage music and videos.’
- Click the iPod in the iTunes Source list & select everything.
- Next press delete.
- Next, double check for any items that are set to update & deselect them.
- Click on the ‘eject’ arrow next to the iPod name in order to disconnect the iPod form your computer.
Now you should have an empty iPod vessel fully equipped to serve your needs as a fully functional flash drive/hard disk. The next time you connect your iPod to your computer using a USB port and begin using your iPod as a hard disk.
Backing up the files on your computer is probably the most important thing to remember, but yet the most underrated task among most PC and Mac owners. Well, now with your old iPod serving as an external hard drive you sort of have no excuse. Of course as always, depending on the size of your iPod, which determines whether or not you will be able to backup all of your pictures, videos, music files, or documents.
Now you have been empowered with the knowledge to turn your broken iPod into something more than just an MP3 player, but as always there are moments when you just do not have the time to deal with the hassle. If this is the case, then maybe you should donate your broken iPod, sell it for parts, recycle it through Apple, or sit it on your bookcase as a constant reminder that even the upmost respectable ground breaking electronics run out of steam. Backup your files accordingly.
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