Summary of previous upgrading threads

[TheGadgetDoctor]

Ok so lets summarize what we have learned so far from various upgrading threads in this forum. I'll start off with what I know so far, and if I make any errors please do correct me. Ok here goes:

The ZVM 30GB uses 2 kinds of connectors: one has pins, the other is a ZIF. If you have the ZVM with the pins connector, you cannot upgrade until you get the ZIF connector.

Pins connector:

ZIF connector:

The ZVM ZIF connector is made for the ATA-6 interface in the Hitachi Travelstar 30GB hard drive, but can work with the larger-capacity hard drives using practice, patience, and force to stuff it down in there.

The ZVM PINS connector will work with the older-model ATA-6 hard drives such as the Toshiba MK6006GAH, but this hard drive is a double-platter 8mm thick hard drive and will not fit inside your ZVM 30GB. Cramming it in is not a good idea and will not work. You will need a single-platter 5mm-thick hard drive.

The only larger-capacity 5mm hard drives that I know of in existance right now are:

Seagate Lyrion ST18 series ST760211DE, and Toshiba MK8022GAA 80GB

These can be used to upgrade the ZVM 30GB. If you have a ZVM 60GB fat version, you can use the Samsung Spinpoint 8mm HS161JQ, the Toshiba MK1011GAH 100GB, or the Toshiba MK1626GCB 160GB.

I am not aware of anyone upgrading their ZVM 60GB fat version, however. But there are people here in this forum who have done the ZVM 30GB --> ZVM 60GB upgrade using the Seagate Lyrion 60GB hard drive, and it worked for them.

The Seagate Lyrion costs about $110, and the Toshiba MK1011GAH costs about $200. Not sure how much the Toshiba MK8022GAA costs. I think the MK8022GAA was just recently released in September, and I'm not seeing outlets that carry it yet. At Span.com it says "coming soon."

A press release at TechGadgets.in:
"The environmental friendly hard disk drives improve energy consumption efficiency by 33% and are RoHS-compliant. Toshiba is expected to present the hard disk drives at DISKON USA 2007 in California, which will be on September 19th and 20th, 2007 in California. Toshiba has started shipping MK8022GAA and samples of the MK1626GCB."

Yay!

[CrowdAds]

[klumsy bot]

Hmm. If I manage to break my hard drive, the Toshiba MK8022GAA 80Gb looks tasty.

Any way of telling whether i'm on a ZIF or Pins connector without opening? My model is the newer one, that came without the mains charger.

[TheGadgetDoctor]

Originally Posted by klumsy bot

Hmm. If I manage to break my hard drive, the Toshiba MK8022GAA 80Gb looks tasty.

Any way of telling whether i'm on a ZIF or Pins connector without opening? My model is the newer one, that came without the mains charger.

Then its likely to be the ZIF. The pins connector is older. But I don't know of any 100%-sure way to tell w/o opening.

[Jebus]

Would we be able to categorise the connectors based on perhaps serial number ranges? It would make sense that all the older players with the older connector would be in a similar S/N range.

[Lawrence]

I don't see how that can be done inless each of us would have to take apart our zvms and then submit our serial numbers.

2 very risky things?

[TheGadgetDoctor]

I think an easier way of guessing would be to find the date of purchase of your ZVM, and try to figure it out based on that. If you bought it within 1 year of the ZVM release date (not sure what that is btw) then you likely have the older PINS one.

Anyone know the ZVM release date? Sometime in 2005 right?

[Jebus]

Unfortunately that might not work everywhere in the world though, as Australia seemed to have bought a large shipment of the initial batch of players as every player in the main electronics store DSE came packaged with the AC adapter. I think all the newer players don't come packaged with it but if you go to that store even today you can still buy one with the Adaptor.

[TheGadgetDoctor]

Well, I got my Seagate Lyrion 60GB in today, and did the upgrade. It worked! It took 2 tries though of "hard disk problem" before it worked.

Result: 58,147.1MB = approx 56.8GB. Yay!

The HDD costed about $110.

[TheReapersSon]

Hey guys, quick question! Will the Toshiba MK1011GAH work in the ZVM 30gb model?

[ZenChick]

Where can one who has the older pins-cable get hold of a ZIF cable?

[Simon]

I'd like to know as well, I haven't opened up my player yet, but I'm going to assume that it has the pins since I've had mine for over a year.

[TheGadgetDoctor]

Originally Posted by TheReapersSon

Hey guys, quick question! Will the Toshiba MK1011GAH work in the ZVM 30gb model?

Nope; the MK1011GAH is a double-platter hard drive; too thick to fit. You need a single-platter HD to fit in the ZVM 30GB.

[TheGadgetDoctor]

Originally Posted by ZenChick

Where can one who has the older pins-cable get hold of a ZIF cable?

Google this: "Zen Vision:M ZIF connector" or "Zen Vision:M PINS Connector" and you will see several results. The correct one is on the first page

[TheReapersSon]

Originally Posted by AerozBooks

Nope; the MK1011GAH is a double-platter hard drive; too thick to fit. You need a single-platter HD to fit in the ZVM 30GB.

Darn! It sucks because I can't find the MK8022GAA anywhere online or otherwise, even though I heard that Toshiba rolled them out back in September. I guess my Zen Xtra will have to do, even though I can't even utilize half the space that I have installed on it due to some kind of firmware or filesystem limitation. Gotta wait till next year when hopefully the MK8022GAA becomes widely available.

Unless someone can suggest a good 80gb HDD that I can use in a Zen Vision: M...

[XJ3F3Y]

On other threads it says it is possible to fit an 8mm drive (i.e the MK1011GAH) in the 30GB version. You just have to use something different instead of the rubber stuff that goes on the hard drive.

[TheGadgetDoctor]

I've already tried, it didn't work. Its not meant to fit in there.

[TheGadgetDoctor]

Originally Posted by TheReapersSon

Darn! It sucks because I can't find the MK8022GAA anywhere online or otherwise, even though I heard that Toshiba rolled them out back in September. I guess my Zen Xtra will have to do, even though I can't even utilize half the space that I have installed on it due to some kind of firmware or filesystem limitation. Gotta wait till next year when hopefully the MK8022GAA becomes widely available.

Unless someone can suggest a good 80gb HDD that I can use in a Zen Vision: M...

The MK8022GAA is a new release and likely won't be available for at least 2 more months. I don't know of any other 1.8" 80GB single platter drives out there.

You can find these hard drives in the iPod 80GB, but it would be impractical due to the cost. Or, maybe not. If you got an iPod 80GB and opened it up and sold off the parts individually you might even make some money. But I've also heard that the new iPods classics can't be taken apart w/o damaging them permanently.

[XJ3F3Y]

Originally Posted by AerozBooks

But I've also heard that the new iPods classics can't be taken apart w/o damaging them permanently.

http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPod/iPod-Classic

doesn't look damaged?

[TheGadgetDoctor]

Ok. I must have heard wrong. I actually read it on a review online. Interesting.

I just read some more reviews on how to get it apart, and apparently the iPod Classic has metal tabs now instead of plastic ones, as well as lots more adhesive, to discourage third-party companies from selling repair services. Stupid Apple. The iPod Video 5th Gen and 5.5 Gen are already hard enough to get apart. Geez.

[TheReapersSon]

That's okay, I heard a ton of bad reviews on the classics. Just go to Amazon and look at some of the user reviews. The things are averaging a 3.5 out of 5, whereas the previous 5.5 gens were near 5 stars.