MP3 Harddrive to Computer?

Eriedor · 12 Nov 2006 at 21:58

Well in keeping with sods law my mp3 player has decided to die at the worst possible moment.

I always keep a backup of important files on my mp3 player. Well the other day i decided my work laptop needed a good reformat. So i ensured backup files were upto date and reformatted. Later that day i found out my mp3 player has decided its time to give up the ghost (only few months old). So i have lost all of my uni work from the last 2 years!!

and to an extent even worse i have lost all my uni pictures from the last 2 years

Problem is its made by Iaudio a korean based company and they don't offer support in the UK. Quotes from proffessional data recovery exceed £600 which is too much for a poor student such as myself.

So I was wondering if there is anyone that can help me try hookup my mp3 player hard drive to my computer to retrieve the data. I believe the hard drive is a toshiba.

The mp3 player is the Iaudio M5. It can be seen here under HDD players section

ANDARIAL · 12 Nov 2006 at 22:11

if the hdd is a standard lappy hdd can you remove it from the housing and put it into a caddy?assuming the hdd is not completely foobared that is
you may then be able to use some file recovery program if windows can see the hdd

Eriedor · 12 Nov 2006 at 22:18

Ah yes i should have mentioned im 90% sure the hard drive is fine and that its merely an issue with the power source of the player.

I havent opened it yet but im assuming its not going to have a nice standard laptop ide connector on it

ANDARIAL · 12 Nov 2006 at 22:26

if it uses a 2.5 inch hdd chances are it will have a standard connector.best bet is to open it up,carefully find out what type of hdd .ide or possibly sata.go to the hdd enclosures section on ocuk about £16 for one unless you can borrow an enclosure to try?

Eriedor · 12 Nov 2006 at 22:44

Ok here is some pics.

Is it same connector as laptop 2.5" drive?

Eriedor · 13 Nov 2006 at 15:11

Any help?

ANDARIAL · 13 Nov 2006 at 15:29

looking at those pics i would put money on it being a standard 2.5 ide hdd,however i havent got one to hand atm

perhaps some one with a lappy drive handy will post some pics??
what does it say on the hdd?codes etc?

Eriedor · 13 Nov 2006 at 15:42

ANDARIAL said:
looking at those pics i would put money on it being a standard 2.5 ide hdd,however i havent got one to hand atm
perhaps some one with a lappy drive handy will post some pics??
what does it say on the hdd?codes etc?

At uni atm ill post later. Couldn't see anything on the bottom but ill pull battery off the top and check.

DOes a 2.5" drive mean the connector width is 2.5"? Because the connector is not tht big!

ANDARIAL · 13 Nov 2006 at 15:46

Mechanical specifications
Drive width
69.85mm
Drive height
9.5mm
Drive depth
100mm
typical lappy drive although they do come in 12.5 thick too

ANDARIAL · 13 Nov 2006 at 15:51

got me magnifying glasses out and just had a look at my `compact flash`(microdrive type) card for me camera.i am thinking it looks exactly like your piccy
how big is the drive?in GBs?

Eriedor · 13 Nov 2006 at 17:19

Yeah after looking around i found a CF to 3.5" converter and it did seem to be the same connection.

Heres pic of hard drive. Took a gd pull to get battery off, hopefully i havent damaged it :s

Energize · 13 Nov 2006 at 17:25

eriedor said:
DOes a 2.5" drive mean the connector width is 2.5"? Because the connector is not tht big!

It means the drive is 2.5" wide.

Derang3d · 13 Nov 2006 at 17:28

MK-2006GAL
20 GB 1.8'' Embedded Hard Disk Drive

Looks like you have to find yourself a 1.8" caddy of some sort.

Eriedor · 13 Nov 2006 at 17:32

Yup seems that way. And they do exist. Challenge now is getting hold of one and hoping my hard drive isnt buggered from messing around with it.