Gigabeat F40 hdd upgrade

[lights0ut]

I know there are a few threads on this topic but I have a specific question for those that have successfully upgraded their gigabeats with the 120GB toshiba MK1214GAH. I have been able to get the device to boot with the new drive, but when I close the case up I sometimes get a white screen or the screen will just flash for a millisecond. It looks like it has something to do with the zif cable not bending properly, so my question is, is there any trick to bending the zif cable correctly? (yes, I am using A LOT of electrical tape over everything )

[psycho_maniac]

just guessing but maybe the cable is bad? i heard that since there so cheap you should buy 2 of them just in case. i hope to upgrade mine to 120 soon as i only have an F80 and i only have 14 gigs free on it.

[lights0ut]

i figured it is the cable, I've ordered another 3 so I should be OK, I'm just wondering if there was a proper way to bend the cable.

[psycho_maniac]

im wondering if there should be a wiki page of all the modded players and the people who modded them. that way it would be easier to find somebody who has a mod if another user wanted to try it.
here is documentation of one F120.
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f15/gigabeat-f120-f40-hdd-mod-120gb-actually-works-384271/

[krazykit]

I had this same problems; the gigabeat would work fine with the case open but get the white screen when closed.  Your ZIF connector is shorting on the hard drive.  put a piece of tape on the metal case right by where the connector inserts so as to prevent shorting.

See this image for something a bit more clear.

Edit: I too initially thought it was an issue with the hard bends required in fitting the zif cable, but after fixing the short, the device worked despite the bends. 

[psycho_maniac]

just wondering looking at the wiki page i see that the F40 is a 8mm thick does this mean i could get the 240 gig drive and it would fit in my toshiba gigabeat F40? Right now its a F80

[lights0ut]

I had this same problems; the gigabeat would work fine with the case open but get the white screen when closed.  Your ZIF connector is shorting on the hard drive.  put a piece of tape on the metal case right by where the connector inserts so as to prevent shorting.

See this image for something a bit more clear.

Edit: I too initially thought it was an issue with the hard bends required in fitting the zif cable, but after fixing the short, the device worked despite the bends. 

Thank you, that is about the ONLY place I don't have a piece of tape! I will give it a shot on the weekend.

[psycho_maniac]

im thinking about making a wiki page for modded players. just wondering what it should be named? ModdedPlayers or PlayersModified ? I want a list of items on the page such as who | device | what was modified | and comments any other ideas? im bored and got time on my hands but i was looking for some input

[Llorean]

Why do we need a wiki page about who has modified what?

For specific modifications there can be a wiki page with detailed processes for performing it, but there's not really a good reason to just have a table showing who's done what.

[psycho_maniac]

could i use the 240 zif hd with my gigabeat F seies?

[lights0ut]

Just wanted to update and say that I now have a working F120! I was able to upgrade the battery to1000mAh as well, but no more upgrades for me, I broke the top plastic cover (for the headphones) and now my gigabeat is held together with tape. 
krazykit, your tip about putting tape right next to the zif connector did the trick.

[ej0rge]

I had this same problems; the gigabeat would work fine with the case open but get the white screen when closed.  Your ZIF connector is shorting on the hard drive.  put a piece of tape on the metal case right by where the connector inserts so as to prevent shorting.

See this image for something a bit more clear.

Edit: I too initially thought it was an issue with the hard bends required in fitting the zif cable, but after fixing the short, the device worked despite the bends. 

Call me silly, but, couldn't you also just take a pair of scissors to the ribbon cable so that there's only enough metal showing for the connector it's going into?