Gigabeat F ZIF adapter - success!

[burkjavier]

Very helpful reference URL:
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/ZIFToATAAdapter

I finally got a ZIF adapter to work with my Gigabeat F40.  ZIF adapter purchased here:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10887

I'm adding this new topic because I actually tried this a few months back, and could not get it to work.  What I found out later was that the first adapter I received from DealExtreme was, in fact, a dud.  I purchased a second one after reading the reference URL and, lo and behold, the new one works, no errors!  I'm using a Toshiba laptop HD (MK6008GAH) for my testing, btw.   Happily running Rockbox on it.

So, if you are planning to do this yourself, I would recommend buying at least two adapters.     

EDIT:  I had a big issue putting it back together (would keep turning off).  what a realized is that the leads connecting into the HD were a bit exposed on my cable, and were touching the HD metal and shorting out, when pressed together.  A bit of electical tape did the trick - or,  reducing the size of the leads with a razorblade might also work).


Cheers, Brian

[scharkalvin]

So how large a disk drive did you fit into your gigabeat?

[burkjavier]

I have a 60GB laptop ZIF drive (MK6008GAH) that I used as my test.   Its 8mm in size, same as the 40GB the Gigabeat came with, but the extra adapter was a very tight fit.   Conceivably, a 80 / 100 / 120 GB drive should work, although I haven't tested any, yet.

[goffa]

i managed to get an mk1011gah (100gb) in mine with an adapter. The pins are kind of long on the cable, i had to use some electrical tape so that the pins wouldn't short out on the case of the drive. Other  than that it worked great.

It was an f60.

[Nate!]

goffa, how did you lock the cable into the drive?  Which way did you push/pull the black locking strip thingy?

I'm still waiting for my replacement drive.  It may be here next month.

Thanks.

[burkjavier]

The lock is a but tricky - assuming you are looking at the drive with the Toshiba name and model info in front of you...

- take your right (or left, if you're lefty) thumbnail and wedge it just under the black lock.
- flip the lock open by pushing the lock up with your nail.  You'll see it protruding up, if you did it right.

To lock it, just push it down with your thumb.

Regards, Brian

[goffa]

what he said

[Nate!]

Thanks everyone for the instructions/suggestions.  I finally recevied my replacement drive.  Locking the cable into the drive was pretty simple.  (One of those things were you smack your forehead once you get it; like duh!)

My drive came unlocked so the black locking bar was upright.  To lock I just fold/flip it over towards the drive itself.   

I'm still getting a system error 0x03.  But I'll post that in another topic.

Thanks again.