Replacement 20GB 50-pin Toshiba PATA hard drive for iPod 2nd Generation A1019 / iPod (Touch Wheel). Use it when clicking, grinding, folder icon, sad iPod, restore-loop, or not-recognized behavior remains after the FireWire restore path, battery load, and storage cable are checked; match MK2003GAH, 8mm, 0.84 in.
Product Overview
This hard drive listing covers Replacement Hard Drive (20GB) and its own connector path on the iPod 2nd Generation.
Use Part Details for the confirmed part-number reference. Use the Compatible Variants table below to confirm capacity, color, case, or order-number fitment.
Choose this part when your iPod shows folder icon, sad iPod icon, iTunes error, or hard-drive failure; the checks below help confirm the right part before you order.
Storage failure symptoms such as a sad iPod, folder icon, restore loop, or the audible click of death should still be checked against the drive cable and connector seating before replacing the drive.
Choose Your Option
This part comes in multiple variants. Confirm your iPod's capacity, case depth, and order number before ordering.
Use this linked storage option only for 10GB iPods and the order numbers shown here.
View this option →The 2G 20GB uses a 8mm dual platter drive. Match drive height to the rear panel so the case closes correctly.
You're viewing this optionWhat Is Included
Condition: Used factory-original part. Quantity and exclusions: The listed part, set, pair, or configuration above is supplied with exactly one plastic pry tool. No other parts, tools, adhesives, or materials are included unless they are explicitly listed above.
Quick Diagnosis: Is It The Replacement Hard Drive (20GB)?
Start here before ordering. Work through the checks in order; a symptom alone does not prove this hard drive is bad until nearby parts, cables, fitment, or install issues are separated.
Before you order this hard drive
- Try a force restart first. Toggle Hold on and off, then hold Menu + Play/Pause for 6 to 10 seconds.
- Check for liquid or connector damage. Inspect for liquid, corrosion, residue, torn flex material, or connector damage.
- Check battery and power stability. Use clicking sounds, disk mode, restore behavior, connector seating, and power stability to isolate the storage device.
- Listen for repeated spin-up. Listen for repeat clicking or repeated spin-up attempts before replacing storage parts.
- Use this listing only after the checks still point here. If the symptom still points here after those checks, compare Compatible Variants before ordering this hard drive.
Other Symptoms That May Involve This Part
| Symptom | What it means & what to check |
|---|---|
| frozen | Playback skips, freezes, or corrupted data become drive clues when they happen during storage access or sync. |
| how do i fix error 1429 when restoring an ipod, ipod not recognized by computer | Treat this as a FireWire restore or storage-path symptom, not proof of a bad drive; the drive becomes more likely when cable, formatting, and FireWire restore checks still lead back to storage warnings. |
| ipod click of death, ipod grinding noise | Mechanical clicking or grinding points toward the drive after the hard-drive cable has been reseated and checked. |
| sad face ipod | These warnings mean the iPod cannot reach a usable storage path; check the cable first, then the drive. |
Specifications & Fitment
Part Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Model Number | A1019 |
| EMC | EMC 1942 |
| Condition | Used — factory original Apple part. Normal cosmetic wear expected. |
| Drive Model | MK2003GAH |
| Capacity | 20GB |
| Form Factor | 1.8" IDE/ATA (50-pin Toshiba form factor) |
| Manufacturer | Toshiba |
| Interface | 50-pin Toshiba |
| Drive Height | 8mm |
| Platters | 2 |
| Height | 8mm dual platter |
| Restore path | FireWire only |
Compatible Variants
| Order Number | Capacity | Color | Case | Compatible | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M8738LL/A | 20GB | White | Thick / 0.84 in | Yes | — |
| M8741LL/A | 20GB | White | Thick / 0.84 in | Yes | — |
| M8737LL/A | 10GB | White | Thin / 0.72 in | No— wrong case depth | Owner-verified: The 20GB drive is the taller thick-case drive — it is not compatible with the thin 0.72 in case (drive height vs case depth); risk of LCD damage if forced. Use the 10GB drive page for thin units. Use Replacement Hard Drive (10GB) instead. |
| M8740LL/A | 10GB | White | Thin / 0.72 in | No— wrong case depth | Owner-verified: The 20GB drive is the taller thick-case drive — it is not compatible with the thin 0.72 in case (drive height vs case depth); risk of LCD damage if forced. Use the 10GB drive page for thin units. Use Replacement Hard Drive (10GB) instead. |
is not compatible with
- iPod 2nd Generation 10GB thin drive/backplate path
- iPod 1st Generation and 3rd Generation or later storage paths
- IDE-to-SD, CompactFlash, and other flash-storage adapter products — not compatible with 2G (the FireWire storage path expects UltraDMA; CF true-IDE adapters run PIO-only); only CF-to-IDE 50-pin adapters physically match the 50-pin connector, and even those are not a supported storage path on stock 2G firmware
- drives larger than 20GB (not established on stock 2G firmware; 30GB community-disputed)
Failure Signs
Use these checks to decide whether this hard drive is the right part, whether a nearby part should be checked first, or whether the symptom needs more diagnosis.
| Symptom | What it means & what to check |
|---|---|
| Ribbon, connector, or ground-path checks |
What you may see: A symptom starts after opening the iPod or disturbing an internal flex cable. Check first: Inspect for liquid, corrosion, residue, torn flex material, or connector damage.
Most likely cause: Connector seating, ribbon damage, or ground-path issues can involve this part, a nearby connector, or a board path.
Look elsewhere when: Check the 50-pin Hard Drive Ribbon Cable when storage-cable symptoms appear after drive replacement, reseating, or storage work are the main problem.
|
| Sad iPod, clicking, restore, or storage trouble |
What you may see: People describe clicking, sad iPod or folder screens, restore loops, disk-mode trouble, or storage that will not behave after replacement.
Check first: Listen for repeat clicking or repeated spin-up attempts before replacing storage parts.
Most likely cause: The storage drive can be involved, but the drive cable, drive format, power stability, or logic-board storage path may also be responsible.
Look elsewhere when: Check the storage cable, storage setup, battery power stability, and board connector when the symptom changes after reseating or swapping storage. |
| Symptoms changed after repair or reassembly |
What you may see: People describe a new problem appearing immediately after battery, storage, display, audio, or control work.
Check first: Reopen only as far as needed to inspect the areas touched during the repair.
Most likely cause: A post-repair symptom can involve the storage drive, but disturbed ribbons, latches, grounding, connector seating, or the wrong variant part are common checks before ordering again.
Look elsewhere when: Check the exact connector or assembly disturbed during the repair before treating the new part as failed. |
| Symptom remains after basic checks |
What you may see: The iPod still points back to Replacement Hard Drive (20GB) after cable seating, battery stability, and nearby connector checks. Check first: Retest with known-good cables or adjacent parts where practical before ordering. Check next: A nearby cable, connector, battery, storage device, display path, audio path, or board path can mimic a bad hard drive. |
| Symptom changes when touched or reseated |
What you may see: The symptom changes after moving the part, reseating a cable, or applying light pressure near the connector path. Check first: Inspect the connector, latch, flex, solder joints, and nearby board area for damage or corrosion. Check next: This can still be a connection issue rather than a failed hard drive alone. |
| Problem began after another repair |
What you may see: The issue started immediately after opening the iPod, replacing another part, or disturbing an internal cable. Check first: Reopen only as far as needed and inspect the exact area touched during the previous repair. Check next: Post-repair symptoms often trace to seating, latch, screw, or cable issues before Replacement Hard Drive (20GB) itself is confirmed bad. |
Repair considerations
Run these checks before replacing the hard drive — they confirm the hard drive is the right fix and not a nearby fault:
- Restore/format steps can erase data or indicate storage failure
- Treat ribbons, tabs, and connectors as fragile
- Use reset, Disk Mode, restore, or iTunes/Finder behavior as a software/storage check
- Check drive noise, SMART/data signs, or storage recognition
- Reseat or inspect ribbon cable and connector seating
- Inspect connector latch, socket, or clamp condition
Do Not Buy This Hard Drive Yet If...
| Situation | Start here instead |
|---|---|
| Variant or capacity does not match this listing | Use the Replacement Hard Drive (10GB) listing instead. |
| You see a folder icon, clicking noise, or restore failure | Check the drive or flash media, storage cable, adapter seating, formatting, and restore path before replacing any part. |
| Charging, swelling, runtime, or power is the primary problem | Start with battery health, charger behavior, and spin-up load before buying storage. |
| Recent service or connector disturbance is the main clue | Inspect and reseat the storage cable and board connector before replacing storage. |
| A symptom points to a different part | Start with battery for power/runtime symptoms; hard-drive cable for folder, clicking, or restore symptoms; LCD screen for display-only symptoms; touch wheel for touch-wheel or control symptoms; logic board for board-side damage or multi-system symptoms before buying this part. |
Install Overview
Before You Start
Turn Hold off, use the reset sequence for this generation, and confirm the model and variant before opening the iPod.
Treat case opening as the highest handling risk. Work around the seams gently and stop if the shell, clips, or internal stack resist.
Do not pull the halves apart or side-load board sockets. Reseat nearby ribbons and connectors before blaming a replacement hard drive.
Repair steps
Documented repair-procedure steps for replacing the hard drive on this model (from teardown guides; confirm against your unit before starting):
- Carefully disconnect the white battery connector from the logic board. Be sure to pull only on the connector itself and not on the cables.
- Insert a plastic iPod opening tool in the seam between the white plastic front and metal back of the iPod. Once you've inserted the tool, run it along the seam to free the five tabs holding the iPod together.
- Lift the battery up from the hard drive and lay it next the iPod (it is still connected to the logic board).
- Lift up the end of the hard drive near the FireWire port to allow easy access to the battery connector.
- Loosen the connector by pulling the brown locking bar toward the hard drive cable using the tips of your fingers.
Disassembly Guide
Disassembly guide summary: iPod 2nd Generation Hard Drive Replacement.
Show all 9 installation steps
Confirm that the hold switch is locked before you open the iPod.
Opening this iPod may take a few tries, which is normal for this case design. Slide a plastic opening tool into the seam where the white front panel meets the metal rear case. After the tool is seated, run it along the seam to release the five retaining tabs.
Slide the opening tool around the case edge until the five tabs release.
Work around the corner of the iPod and release the two tabs near the FireWire port.
Release the five tabs along the opposite side. Gently rocking the front panel back and forth can help free them.
Raise the back panel away from the device, making sure it doesn't catch on the headphone jack.
Peel up and back the metallic tape attached to the battery top.
Raise the battery away from the hard drive and set it next to the iPod; it remains connected to the logic board.
Carefully detach the orange ribbon cable from the hard drive. In this step, if the cable doesn't come free easily, it may be useful to gently wiggle the cable from side to side. Raise the hard drive out of the iPod.
Product-specific placement, reassembly, and check
- Prepare and access. Confirm the exact model and listing fit first. Use the existing steps as a disassembly guide, gather the specified tools, disconnect power where applicable, and keep screws and cable positions organized.
- Place Replacement Hard Drive (20GB). Seat the exact storage part, cable, or adapter in the original storage path and match its orientation, case depth, and supported configuration.
- Reassemble without force. Reverse only the access steps needed for this repair, keep cables clear of case edges and screw posts, and close clips in stages.
- Validate before final closure. Before final closure, verify detection, Disk Mode or restore behavior as applicable, and stable startup without repeat clicking or a loose connection.
Stop condition: Stop if a connector, latch, screw, clip, housing edge, or the replacement part resists normal alignment. Recheck model fit, orientation, cable routing, and trapped hardware instead of forcing it.
After This Repair
| Check | What to do |
|---|---|
| Restore and sync | Confirm the iPod restores cleanly and mounts with the computer and cable you plan to use. |
| Check under load | Listen for repeated spin-up, adapter resets, or restore loops that can point back to cable seating, formatting, or battery stability. |
| Still not working? | Reseat the storage cable and verify formatting or storage setup before blaming the logic board. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Use these questions to narrow the part path before ordering. They keep each answer focused on a different diagnostic or fitment decision.
Which drive fits the 20GB 2G option?
Use the MK2003GAH 8mm 50-pin Toshiba IDE/PATA option for the stock 20GB A1019 iPod (Touch Wheel). The 10GB option uses a different drive height and rear-case depth.
What do Error 1416, Error 1429, or Error 1439 mean after a drive change?
Treat those as storage or restore-path symptoms. Check the 50-pin hard-drive cable, drive seating, FireWire cable, FireWire host, and iTunes/Finder restore path before blaming the new drive. Formatting or restoring can erase the data on the iPod.
Why is my 2G iPod not recognized by the computer?
A1019 iPods restore and sync over FireWire, not USB. Check the FireWire cable, FireWire port, host support, battery load, and the hard-drive cable before treating the drive as the only fault.
What should I check before replacing this hard drive?
Reseat the storage ribbon squarely and confirm the latch is closed before replacing the storage device again. Check case clearance, and capacity/format expectations when using a flash path. Choose this drive only when the storage path remains isolated after ribbon and fitment details. Check the cable and storage connector path first when the symptom started immediately after a storage swap.
Can power symptoms make storage diagnosis misleading?
Confirm the battery can hold the iPod on before judging a drive or storage device. Watch whether shutdown happens exactly when storage is accessed. Choose this drive only when power is stable but storage access still fails. Check battery and charger behavior first when the iPod cannot stay powered long enough to test storage.
Is this an iPod Classic?
Apple's 'Classic' branding started with the 6th Generation (2007). This is the iPod 2nd Generation (2002), model A1019. Apple's official name for this model is iPod (Touch Wheel).
Does this hard-drive page cover flash-storage setup?
No. This page is for original mechanical-drive service. Focus on the mechanical drive, 50-pin storage cable seating, FireWire restore behavior, and battery stability before ordering another storage part.
Why people land on this part
Use the checks above to separate this hard drive from nearby parts before ordering.
Some buyers search for "drive dead", "hard drive dead", "ipod hd whirring", "ipod won't show up in itunes", or "format drive"; confirm the checks above point to this same part before ordering.
Some buyers search for "hard drive failure" or "flash storage"; confirm the checks above point to this same part before ordering.
Also searched as: showing a folder, restore error, 50-pin IDE 1.8 hard drive iPod, 1.8 inch ATA hard drive iPod, A1019 HDD, ATA-100 1.8 hard drive, iPod 2002 20GB hard drive replacement, iPod 2g hard drive, restore iPod, restore iTunes, ipod classic 2nd generation a1019 hard drive, folder icon, sad iPod icon, iTunes error, hard-drive failure, hard drive dead, apple logo, format drive, 20gb toshiba mk2003gah, error 1416, error 1429.
Worth Knowing
- HDD cable(s): 632-0182-A (2G 50-pin hard-drive ribbon cable identifier)
- A 40GB MK4004GAH thick-case swap is a community experiment, not a normal 20GB replacement path — the documented stock-firmware ceiling for the 2G is 20GB (30GB community-disputed).
What Owners Report
These are anecdotal owner reports, not guarantees or authoritative proof that a particular part will fix a symptom. Use them as a troubleshooting starting point: confirm the symptom, run the quick checks, then match the fix.
iTunes does not recognize, sync, or restore correctly
Symptoms. A folder with an exclamation mark appears on the screen; the unit shows up in Disk Utility as an external drive yet iTunes refuses to see it; a restore starts and then refuses to finish, or the device asks to be restored on every connect.
Quick diagnosis.
- Put the unit in diagnostics mode and read what the built-in tests reveal before replacing anything.
- Check whether the hard drive is reachable in Disk Mode — that confirms the drive itself before any sync software takes the blame.
- Inspect the FireWire port for corrosion and switch to a known-good FireWire cable before drawing software conclusions.
- Remember the transport rule: restore on this generation runs over FireWire only — "not detected, so try USB" is a misdiagnosis on this device, not a workaround.
Fixes.
- The folder-with-exclamation sequence — charge the unit first, then restore with the latest iTunes release that still talks to this generation. If the alert offering a repair or reformat appears on connect, take it.
- A stalled restore may just want wall power — to finish a restore the iPod may need a FireWire AC power adapter; a unit that looks stuck mid-restore can simply be waiting for the charger.
- Reset before any hardware step — hold Menu and Play/Pause until the Apple logo appears. The Menu-plus-center-button combination belongs to later wheel generations and does nothing here.
- Escalation ladder after a failed restore — the expert-reported order: replace the hard drive; if that fails, the hard drive cable; if that also fails, the signs point to the logic board.
Cautions.
- Wrong platform is a recoverable state, not a hardware fault: iTunes on Windows restores a Mac-formatted unit to FAT32, and a FAT32 unit mounts on a Mac read-write.
- Windows Disk Management will not format a volume larger than 32 GB as FAT32 — the iTunes restore path is the bypass, which matters when preparing replacement drives.
- Recognition on current macOS is reported unreliable (as of 2026); an older macOS or a Windows machine with standalone iTunes is the community-recommended sync host.
- Treat iTunes-version folklore with suspicion: many "2G" version claims trace to a different, USB-era 2008 device that shares the shorthand — verify which hardware a version fact describes before acting on it.
Community signal. Reported by 3 owners.
Formatting the drive without dismantling (Disk Mode)
Symptoms. File-system trouble — over-long file names, a corrupt library, a restore that will not complete — and the owner wants to wipe the drive without opening the case.
Quick diagnosis.
- Back up anything worth keeping first; a format erases the drive.
- Confirm the unit has a charge before starting — Disk Mode is not the place to run flat.
- Toggle the Hold switch to Hold and back off.
- Reset: hold Menu and Play/Pause until the Apple logo appears, then release.
- As soon as the logo shows, hold Previous and Next until the Disk Mode screen appears, then connect; the display should show its do-not-disconnect message and the computer should now see the iPod as a plain drive.
Fixes.
- Format from the host, then restore — with the unit mounted in Disk Mode, format it with the host's own disk tool (Disk Utility on a Mac), then run an iTunes restore to lay down fresh device software. The restore is what returns it to a working player.
- Host reality — updates and restore on this generation run over FireWire only; there is no USB option. Community-reported practice favors a FireWire-equipped Mac for the format-and-restore pass.
Cautions.
- On Windows, Disk Management will not create a FAT32 volume larger than 32 GB — let the iTunes restore handle formatting instead. This matters mainly when preparing a replacement drive.
- Replacement drives pair with the chassis by capacity: the factory tiers are 10 GB in the thin body and 20 GB in the thick body, and the constraint is one-directional — a thick drive will not close inside a thin backplate, while a thin drive in a thick case needs padding judgment.
- A community-documented larger replacement exists at the 40 GB tier with the same thickness caveats; it ships as an owner-reported upgrade, not an official or guaranteed configuration.
Community signal. Reported by 1 owner.
Returning a Windows-formatted iPod to Mac format
Symptoms. The unit was set up for Windows years ago and its owner wants it back on a Mac — the search is usually for a standalone "firmware updater" download.
Fixes.
- No separate updater is needed — the reported path is simply to connect to a Mac and restore from iTunes there: iTunes fetches the correct device software itself and leaves the unit Mac-formatted (HFS+).
Cautions.
- The host still has to speak FireWire: sync and restore on this generation have no USB path, so the Mac doing the restore needs a FireWire connection.
- The platform split is original to the product line: Mac editions shipped HFS+ with iTunes, Windows editions shipped FAT32 with a different jukebox app of the era — moving between the two has always been a restore, not a patch.
- The direction also works in reverse, and losslessly for the hardware: a Mac-formatted unit restored from iTunes on Windows becomes FAT32, and a FAT32 unit mounts on a Mac read-write.
You May Also Want
A weak battery can keep the 1.8-inch drive from spinning up reliably.
Related: 50-pin Hard Drive Ribbon CableInspect the 50-pin hard-drive ribbon cable during drive replacement.
Related: Replacement Hard Drive (10GB)Use the highest-capacity compatible mechanical hard drive when increasing storage on this early FireWire-only model.
