Replacement 50-pin Toshiba IDE/PATA hard-drive ribbon cable for iPod 2nd Generation A1019 / iPod (Touch Wheel). Use it when the HDD ribbon or drive flex cable is torn, creased, loose, corroded, or still causes folder, clicking, grinding, restore, or recognition trouble after FireWire and drive checks.
Product Overview
This hard drive cable listing covers 50-pin Hard Drive Ribbon Cable 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.
What 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 Buying Check
Buy this when
- hard-drive failure: Use the cable check when reseating, connector inspection, or a known-good drive points to the storage ribbon instead of the drive itself.
- The ribbon, connector, or cable is torn, creased, loose, corroded, or was disturbed during service.
- A known-good nearby part still fails through this cable connection.
Diagnose first when
- The same 50-pin hard-drive ribbon cable fits both 10GB and 20GB A1019 storage paths. Verify the cable shape and connector orientation before ordering.
- Try the simple power, cable, connector, or reset checks before ordering.
- If the problem started immediately after opening the iPod, inspect the parts that were disturbed first.
Do not buy for
- Do not use this part for: FireWire port, headphone, Hold, or Touch Wheel cable repairs.
- Check the storage cable, storage setup, battery power stability, and board connector when the symptom changes after reseating or swapping storage.
- Check the exact connector or assembly disturbed during the repair before treating the new part as failed.
- Listings that rely only on 632-0182-A without visual or SKU verification.
Specifications & Fitment
Part Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Model Number | A1019 |
| EMC | EMC 1942 |
| Condition | Used — factory original Apple part. Normal cosmetic wear expected. |
| OEM Part | 632-0182-A |
| Variant Notes | 2G 50-pin hard-drive ribbon cable identifier |
| Interface | 50-pin Toshiba IDE/PATA |
| Type | Flat hard-drive ribbon cable |
| Fits | 10GB and 20GB A1019 storage paths |
| Part-number status | Apple published no public parts catalog for this ribbon. Repair references and parts listings for this model identify it as 632-0182-A, so match the cable by its shape and connector as well as by that number. |
Compatible Variants
| Order Number | Capacity | Color | Case | Compatible | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M8737LL/A | 10GB | White | Thin / 0.72 in | Yes | — |
| M8740LL/A | 10GB | White | Thin / 0.72 in | Yes | — |
| M8738LL/A | 20GB | White | Thick / 0.84 in | Yes | — |
| M8741LL/A | 20GB | White | Thick / 0.84 in | Yes | — |
Failure Signs
Use these checks to decide whether this hard drive cable 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 cable 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 cable, 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. |
| click of death, click of death ipod, ipod clicking noise | A drive can make the same sound, so reseat the cable and compare against known-good storage before buying the ribbon. |
| restore error, ipod not recognized by computer, ipod won't restore | Check 50-pin cable seating, drive formatting, and FireWire restore behavior before treating the cable as failed. |
| error 1439 | Restore and iTunes errors can involve the storage path; reseat the cable, confirm adapter or drive format, and test known-good storage before replacing the ribbon. |
| folder with exclamation, folder with exclamation appears on screen | Reseat both 50-pin cable ends and inspect the fold line; the cable is stronger evidence when the icon appears immediately after the Apple logo. |
| ipod 2nd gen windows version won't format for itunes, ipod won't sync, wont sync | Treat this as a storage-path clue, then compare cable condition, drive behavior, and fitment. |
Repair considerations
Run these checks before replacing the hard drive cable — they confirm the hard drive cable 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 Cable Yet If...
| Situation | Start here instead |
|---|---|
| Variant or capacity does not match this listing | This is a different model — check your order number and generation before ordering. |
| The problem is the Hold switch or headphone jack, not this part | On this generation the headphone jack is soldered to the logic board — there is no separate headphone-jack assembly to order for it. Test known-good headphones, check the jack for debris or a loose feel, and confirm the Hold slider moves fully and changes the lock symbol; a physically broken jack is board-level work. |
| A symptom points to a different part | Start with battery for power/runtime symptoms; 10GB hard drive or 20GB hard drive 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. |
| You see a folder icon, clicking noise, or restore failure | A folder with an exclamation mark means the iPod cannot find its storage — the drive, its ribbon cable, or the software on it. Check the hard drive, reseat both ends of the 50-pin hard-drive cable, and work through the FireWire restore path before replacing any part. Storage on this model is the mechanical drive: no flash-storage adapter is compatible with it. |
| Cable, computer, sync, or port behavior is the primary problem | Check the matching drive, cable seating, and board-side connector before ordering. |
| Recent service or connector disturbance is the main clue | Inspect and reseat the cable, latch, or connector path disturbed during service before buying another part. |
Install Overview
Before You Start
Turn Hold off, then reset the way this generation resets: slide Hold on and then off and hold Menu + Play/Pause until the Apple logo appears, about 6 to 10 seconds. This is a touch-wheel iPod, one generation before the click wheel, so Menu + Play/Pause is its reset — the Menu + Select combination belongs to the later click-wheel iPods and does nothing here. Then 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 cable.
Repair steps
Documented repair-procedure steps for replacing the hard drive cable 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 Cable Replacement.
Show all 11 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.
For the next step, shift the locking bar only about 2 mm. Too much force or travel will damage the connector. Pull the brown locking bar toward the hard drive cable with your fingertips to loosen the connector.
Move the hard drive cable out of its connector.
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 50-pin Hard Drive Ribbon Cable. 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 |
|---|---|
| Test the connected part | Confirm the assembly on both ends of the cable behaves normally before closing the iPod. |
| Still not working? | Inspect the latch, cable orientation, and board-side connector before replacing another part. |
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.
How do I tell cable failure from drive failure?
Inspect the 50-pin ribbon for tears, creases, corrosion, loose seating, or symptoms that change when the cable is reseated. A known-good cable that leaves the same clicking, grinding, or restore failure points back toward the drive, battery load, or board path.
Do Error 1416, 1429, or 1439 point to this cable?
They point to the storage or restore path, not one guaranteed part. Check the 50-pin cable, drive seating, FireWire cable, FireWire host, and iTunes/Finder restore path before replacing the cable.
Is the hard-drive cable the same for thin and thick Toshiba drives?
Yes. The same 50-pin hard-drive ribbon fits both 10GB thin and 20GB thick A1019 storage paths; the drive and rear case depth are what change.
What should I check before replacing this hard drive cable?
Reseat the storage ribbon squarely and confirm the latch is closed before replacing the storage device again. Check case clearance and the drive height against your case depth: 10GB drive in the thin case, 20GB drive in the thick case; they do not swap. Choose this hard-drive cable 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 stable battery power first, then judge the drive and 50-pin cable. Choose this hard-drive cable only when storage access still fails after reseating the cable and checking FireWire restore behavior.
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).
Why people land on this part
Use the checks above to separate this hard drive cable from nearby parts before ordering.
Some buyers search for "hard drive IDE ribbon cable", "swollen", "folder after Apple logo", "cable vs drive", "Error 1429", or "thick vs thin Toshiba"; confirm the checks above point to this same part before ordering.
Some buyers search for "bent"; confirm the checks above point to this same part before ordering.
Inspect for bent contacts, creases, or movement-sensitive failure when people describe symptoms that change after opening the iPod, reseating parts, or disturbing nearby flex cables; a symptom starts after opening the iPod or disturbing an internal flex cable.
Also searched as: iPod 2nd Generation 50-pin Hard Drive Ribbon Cable, hard drive dead, showing a folder, format drive, 50-pin IDE ribbon cable, A1019 hard drive cable, ATA cable, board connector as aliases, iPod 2nd generation cable, hard drive IDE ribbon cable, folder icon, sad iPod icon, iTunes error, hard-drive failure, restore error, 10gb ipod 2nd gen, 20gb ipod 2nd gen, apple part number 632 0182 a ipod 2nd generation, hard drive flex cable, ipod classic 2nd gen, ipod classic hard drive cable, second generation ipod 2002, toshiba mk1003gal, error 1416, error 1429.
Worth Knowing
- 632-0182-A: 2G 50-pin hard-drive ribbon cable identifier
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.
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, and it re-formats the drive itself, so the manual format is a belt-and-braces step rather than a required one.
- Host reality — updates and restore on this generation run over FireWire only; there is no USB option. That means a Mac with FireWire, or a Windows PC with a FireWire port running iTunes for Windows.
Cautions.
- Replacement drives pair with the chassis by capacity: 10GB drive in the thin case, 20GB drive in the thick case; they do not swap.
- The iPod before this one and the one after it are different platforms — their drives, cables and cases are not this model's, so buy by this model's own fitment rather than by a look-alike listing.
Community signal. Reported by 1 owner.
You May Also Want
A weak battery can mimic storage spin-up or recognition problems.
Related: Replacement Hard Drive (10GB)Use the 10GB 50-pin drive listing when the cable is good but the 10GB drive still fails.
Related: Replacement Hard Drive (20GB)Use the 20GB 50-pin drive listing when the cable is good but the 20GB drive still fails.
