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4th Generation 20gb iPod Problems
I need to tell you that the 20GB drive in the 4th Generation iPods will
be the weak point in that device for the rest of a 20GB 4th Gen's life. This includes the
the black and white non-Photo iPod, the iPod with Color Display 20GB and
the "U2 20GB iPod" in the Black case with Red dial. There are more problems and failures
of the 20GB drive in these models than any other drive I've encountered, in or out of an
iPod... and I've worked on computers since 1982 in 8 hardware
environments using 12 operating systems. It seems to be a point of
compromise, either by Apple in selecting that specific drive or the
level of quality control used by the manufacturer. I've used the 40GB 4th
generation personally... 3 to 5 hours a day for the past two years without
any problems. My 4th Gen 40GB iPod is the same as the 20GB models except
for the drive size... and mine has always worked
If I had a 20GB system of that vintage, here's what I would do:
When the 20GB failed, I would move onto a new 3rd Gen Nano. I would buy it off the Apple website as a "refurbished" model (which it really isn't) and get it for about 1/3 off.
The drives in all of the 4th Generation models, both the monochrome (Black and White) and color (Photo) iPods use a 44 pin IDE connection on them. The drive industry abandoned that interface in real terms before the end of 2005. You should not be able to find a drive of that vintage that you could consider likely to work faithfully. They are all reaching their natural end of life.
The IDE data bus these use has been replaced by the somewhat faster ATA bus plus the new drives use a zero insertion force connection allowing the drive in the 5th and 6th Gen video iPod to have a much slimmer profile.
The ATA drives also spin at 4200 rpm instead of the 3200 RPM of the IDE version, this allows the drive to find the needed data one third faster as the disk latency drops because the seek time is reduced.
If you have a 4th Gen model that has a failed drive, buy a 5th or 6th Gen version now. I prefer the 5th Gen myself because Apple is pulling shit on accessory makers. To be an iPod useful product with the 3rd Gen Nano, the Touch or the 6th Gen 'Classic' your accessory has to have an Apple manufactured identity chip embedded in it. Apple charges the manufacturers of accessories real money for these chips. Without the chip the iPod won't recognize the device an allow it to work with the iPod at all. In essence Apple is getting a cut of all the accessories that plug into these iPods. This wasn't true before the current wave of iPods.
Call Toll Free 1-877-iPod-Pro (1 - 877-476-3776) or email me
with questions or to set up a repair. I am here Monday through Friday from 10am to 7pm, and Saturday & Sunday noon to 6pm.
I'm in Sonoma County... Northern California wine country.
If you live nearby, are traveling through or live in the San Francisco Bay Area bring your iPhone or iPod to me and I can do the work while you wait or go wine tasting for a while. Send me an
email just to make sure I have on hand whatever parts your repair will require.
Send the device to:
Frank Walburg
2145 Service Court
Santa Rosa, Ca 95403-3139
Methods of payment
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