Topic: IRIVER HARD DRIVE REPLACEMENT

[Church-Audio]

What drive should I look for when I want to upgrade my h120 to a 40gig....

I don't know if this is the right place for this post sorry.

I think we should have a hacker forum here at T.S for these types of questions... General mod info and how to's I wonder what the ops think about that?

[kskreider]

CHRIS,This was about three posts obove yours in the iRiver FAQ:

[440] Is it possible to upgrade or replace the H1xx hard drive?

Much of the following hdd replacement info has been lifted from NPSwimDude500’s FAQ over at misticriver (http://www.misticriver.net/showthread.php?p=330700#post330700)

Yes.

H120: uses a single platter 1.8" 20 gigabyte hard drive manufactured by Toshiba. The model name on these drives may read MK2004GAL or MK2006GAL (the 4 and 6 designate model years, and there is no known difference other than the number). Toshiba currently manufactures two other single-platter drives with the same dimensions, the 30 gigabyte MK3006GAL drive and the 40 gigabyte MK4007GAL drive which uses new PMR technology (note: it has not been officially released yet). 120s can both be fitted with these drives without modification.

H140: uses Toshiba's 1.8" double platter 40 gigabyte MK4004GAH/MK4006GAH hard drive (once again, the 4 and 6 only designate model years). It can be replaced by the double platter MK6006GAH or Toshiba's new dual platter 1.8" 80GB drive, the MK8007GAH, which also uses PMR technology. The 140 can only be upgraded to these drives without modification. You can also, of course, replace an MK4004GAH/MK4006GAH with another MK4004GAH/MK4006GAH.

[jimmc]

Very easy to do.  All you need is a Torx T5 screwdriver and you are all set.  I did mine in about 10mins.

[Chuck]

Yup, easy... Make sure you put the rubber around the drive back, I forgot to replace it, at first, when I did mine.

[Church-Audio]

Yup, easy... Make sure you put the rubber around the drive back, I forgot to replace it, at first, when I did mine.

Hey Chuck where did you find the 40 gig hard drive?? I have looked on ebay I cant seem to find anything do you have a source?

[Chuck]

Actually, i didn't replace the drive, but i had to remove it to do a mod.

Try MK4004GAH or MK4006GAH in the search screen on eBay. I will be getting an iHP-140 soon. There is a size difference between the 20 GB and 40 GFB drives. I believe you have to remove the rubber gasket for the 40 GB to fit in the iHP-120.

Someone please correct me, if I'm wrong. I believe the iHP-140 is thicker to accomodate the larger size HD.

[TheMaestro]

yes the 40 gig drive is thicker than the 20 gig, but there is a single platter 40 gig that will fit in an h120, and an 80 gig dual platter that will fit in the h140, the normal h140 40gig drive will not fit in the h120, you need to find a single platter 40 gig drive if you want to use it in the h120

[shaggy]

MK4007GAL that Toshiba promised to release to the public for production last year has been not forth comming except to OEM partners until recently.  I hear they have them in the computer parts store here in Japan but nowhere outside of Japan now.    There is no larger drive currently available to upgrade other than the MK3006GAL and MK3007GAL (30GB single platter versions).  You are gonna just have to wait or tear up a Toshiba Gigabeat F41 to get at one or try to get a friend in Japan to score you one (not me, unless you wanna pay for everything including my train fare to and from Akihabara at which point we are talking US$150). 

Maybe Chris would like to do a trade for some products (like a pre amp to drive some DPA with microdots)?

http://kakaku.com/item/05361010224

[whatboutbob]

Looks like the MK3006GAL has been fetching ~$70 incl shipping:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Toshiba-MK3006GAL-HDD1442-30GB-Hard-Drive-iriver-ipod_W0QQitemZ300080620235QQihZ020QQcategoryZ116342QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/iPod-Parts-30gb-Hard-Drive-OEM-Warranty-MK3006GAL_W0QQitemZ290076835012QQihZ019QQcategoryZ94930QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[cgrooves]

This is based on my personal experiences only, but I would be VERY leary of used hdd's on ebay.  This is especially true for the 'as-is' sales.  I've purchased 4 or 5 hdd's as-is from various sellers over various time periods, which were all DOA.  I recently purchased a 30 gig that was 'pulled from a 3 month old iPod' that was also DOA.  At least I got a refund on that one.  The money I've wasted on taking chances on 'as-is' & 'used' hdd's would have purchased a new one.   

[whatboutbob]

True. YMMV.  I've only ever bought 2 hdds from ebay - a 60gig for my h140 and a replacement 20gig for my h120 - they were both in perfect nick and are sill going strong.

[cgrooves]

True. YMMV.  I've only ever bought 2 hdds from ebay - a 60gig for my h140 and a replacement 20gig for my h120 - they were both in perfect nick and are sill going strong.

I remember sending you a PM about that 60gig 'as-is' seller back then.  Unfortunately, the one they sent me was garbage.  It is the luck of the draw, for sure.  I've given up on used hdd's on ebay.  It's almost criminal when those sellers put up 70+ 'as-is' auctions for hdd's.  I'd be willing to bet that at least 90% of them are junk.  I followed the feedback on several of those bulk sellers, and most buyers reported their hdd's arriving DOA.  People interested in these auctions should do more than just look at the sellers feedback score.  You need to actually read the feedback history, because most people (myself included) will leave positive feedback and just note that it was DOA.  It is an 'as-is' auction, and if it arrived to your door in one piece you are not really justified in leaving negative feedback.  I've found that if it seems too good to be true, it usually is.   

[Chuck]

I have had mixed luck on eBay. Most goods I've bought arrive in the condition described.
If it says untested, in the description, it's probably safe to say it is dead.

[whatboutbob]

I remember sending you a PM about that 60gig 'as-is' seller back then.  Unfortunately, the one they sent me was garbage.  It is the luck of the draw, for sure.

Sorry to give you a bum steer mate - I guess I just got lucky.

[shaggy]

MK2004GAL I got from dmc outlet is good since last July.  Been in my 2nd H120 player (and recorder occasionally).  If you guys are serious about a 40GB MK4007GAL, maybe I could look into a bulk purchase from a vendor in Akihabara (they would be new of course, in OEM bubble packs).  Probably would be no more than $5 to ship airmail.  At which point would these be a good buy?  $120?