iPod Micro Drive Recovery - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2021, 11:38:44 pm
content: I need some advice in recovering the files from an iPod MK3008GAL Micro Drive in an Apple format from a PC. I already have a FPC to SATA adaptor and can see the file structure belowWhen I open the individual folders, not much is found.Is there a utility that can do this recovery?

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2021, 11:42:06 pm
content: I forgot to add that the PCB is completely dead and won't power up due to water damage. Not my iPod.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2021, 11:47:11 pm
content: It looks like there's no physical damage, so just image the disk while it's still working, make a backup copy, and then work off that. You can always figure out the filesystem format etc. later but judging by the contents it's already in FAT32 format.A quick search reveals that the interesting stuff should be in iPod_Control.

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2021, 12:01:54 am
content: Well, the files-folders in the photo below were not there before when I looked the first time. I can drag the folders onto Winamp and the metadata shows up but the filenames are random obscure names in the folders.I thank you for "forcing" me to look again and find what was in the Music folder.I'm worried about having to relabel all his music. So some kind of software to restore the filenames automatically would be a bonus.Right now I shall image the drive, although it doesn't show up in the 3 paid utilities that I have. I'll keep trying. thanks so far.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2021, 01:35:53 am
content: Quote from: Quarlo Klobrigney on June 03, 2021, 12:01:54 amSince the ID3 tags still appear to be there, add them to the "collection" in the free music player app "Strawberry" and then use the "organize files" feature to rename the files to something reasonable.

author: fzabkar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2021, 03:39:04 am
content: DMDE is a freeware disc editor. It can also clone your drive to an image file which you can then mount in DMDE.

author: YetAnotherTechie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2021, 10:31:12 am
content: You are lucky, the mere act of plugging an external device on windows causes writes to it, with the associated data loss/corruption being amplified. Besides ReadyBoost, that made me learn a painfull lesson, there are also other stuff mentioned herehttps://www.meridiandiscovery.com/articles/how-to-take-a-quick-look-at-a-hard-drive-without-modifying-its-contents/

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2021, 07:07:50 pm
content: Thanks all for the replies.I'm just gonna stick a fork in it as it's done. The hard drive cannot clone.It gets hung up at around the 42% mark no matter what utility I use.I had never heard of the DMDE utility before. Yes even that failed, although I'd like to try it on a different "normal" HD when I have a chance.So what I did was to copy the music folder over (5% of the files are corrupt) and I'm going to give it to him on a stick and let him or his son deal with the renaming.I don't have the time. Too many projects right now.

author: fzabkar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2021, 07:31:35 pm
content: You probably gave up too soon.There are free cloning tools such as HDDSuperClone and ddrescue. These tools understand how to work around bad sectors. For example, if there is a bad patch in the media, they will skip over it or clone the drive in reverse. They will clone the easy sectors on the first pass and leave the more difficult ones for subsequent passes. They will also reset the drive when it hangs, if possible.

author: YetAnotherTechie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2021, 10:23:33 pm
content: +1 for ddrescue

author: Quarlo Klobrigney
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2021, 11:32:54 pm
content: I know I gave up on it because the hardware is damaged beyond repair, the hard drive can't be far behind, as well as no time.All he wanted was to save his music, and now he has it.BTW I'm not doing it for money, just to help.Maybe the next one.I have all the utilities that you have listed, DMDE was a new one on me. No strawberries though....