iPod Classic 5G - can rockbox be installed on sad face?

[wonderfibre]

My girlfriend gave me her broken ipod (cracked screen) to get it repaired so I can replace my ailing iAudio X5. I sent it off to be repaired (£35) but the the technician's just called me to say they've replaced the LCD but now there's a sad face and they're telling me they'll need to replace the 60Gb hard drive (£60).

My question is: Is it feasible that I may still be able to get Rockbox installed on it without replacing the drive? Or is it likely that the hard drive is now on it's way out (if not dead completely) so I may as well bite the bullet?

[torne]

It needs to be in a condition where it can boot the original firmware for a rockbox installation to be successful. If restoring it in iTunes doesn't fix it then the hardware probably needs repair.

[wonderfibre]

That's what I feared. I've decided to replace the hard drive and hope for the best!

[evanthepanther]

I bought a 30 gb ipod video from a friend of mine. The plastic was cracked really bad and in the process of taking the cover off (the plastic front) I cracked the LCD screen in half. After replacing every component, apart from motherboard and hard drive, I began getting the sad face. On google I found something that said that it is from there not being enough pressure on the hard drive, and to cut a credit card in quarters and place in behind the hard drive (between the hard drive and the silver/metal backing). And well, it actually fixed it, I've used it for a year and a half, and am just now bumping up to a 80gb ipod video, the older ipod never failed to start or get the sad face (or any other error icons) after that.

good luck man!