PC won't recognize iPod Video 80GB

[woodensoul]

I replaced the back and front plates a couple years back and everything went smoothly. Rockbox 3.7.1 is installed.  I've tried connecting in disk mode and reseating the hard drive connectors but when plugging into a PC, it's not recognized. I've tried other cables that work with my friend's iPod and other PCs too. No connection but the battery does charge. 

So giving up on copying files through the iPod, I got an external enclosure but it doesn't show up in windows either. I can see it in disk management but there are two partitions that aren't recognized. Is there any hope?  If I format while conected to the external enclosure, I will have no more bootloader and thus a useless disk for an iPod. What  if I format the unused space only? Will rockbox see the files?

Any suggestions?

[evilnick]

Have you tried testing what the OF does on that HDD? I think that there are some diagnostic tools for that model which might be useful to try.
Also, unless there is anything vitally important on it, maybe using the OF and iTunes to restore the iPod to a known good state and then reinstalling Rockbox would be the quickest way to get your player working again.