CompactFlash Zune? - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

michael.conner · 05-10-2008, 03:31 AM

Has anyone successfully modded a Zune with a ZIF-to-CF adapter and replaced the hard drive with a Compact Flash card?

I like my 32gb CF-modded iPod Video quite a bit, but have heard such good things about the Zune SQ, might be fun to compare...

Ricardo Dawkins · 05-10-2008, 04:34 AM

I haven't hear about modding a Zune HDD into CF. But Zune uses the same HDD as the iPods, so pretty much the same connector.
You can try asking on the hack and mods section of Zune Boards - Home

Follow the Rapid Repair: iPod Repair, iPhone Repair, Batteries, LCD Screens and more! guides on how to break apart the Zune 30 - Zune 80.

michael.conner · 05-11-2008, 12:13 PM

Thanks -- have posted a thread over there. I may just bite the bullet and get a refurbished or second-hand Zune 30 off of eBay and try it out. Worst thing that can happen is it doesn't work w/the CF card.

nsx_23 · 05-11-2008, 12:18 PM

I'm gonna try to do this with my H320. The adapter was shipped out earlier this week, so hopefully I'll get it soon.

nsx_23 · 05-12-2008, 05:55 AM

Got the adapter today. Swapped in a Sandisk Ultra 1GB CF card in FAT32 format.

Works like a charm.

Drag0n · 05-12-2008, 08:21 PM

Make a slot so you can pull out CF cards and change them when you want, and buy the highest capacity cards, and keep a load of them in a card case

nsx_23 · 05-12-2008, 11:49 PM

I'm trying to see which 32GB CF cards would work with the H320.

mmwwhats · 05-13-2008, 01:30 AM

How the hell do people figure out how to mod this stuff.... I am impressed.

nywytboy68 · 05-13-2008, 04:02 AM

I modded my mini to 16gb cf and was gonna do it with my Zune30. Got into shizzle over it at zunemods and said screw it. It can be done though. There's an adapter created by a guy in Great Briton that is used to put a cf in the 5g ipod. He states that since the two devices (ipod and zune 30) use the same type of hardware they should be cross-compatible. Also, there is the added bonus of having extra space for a larger size battery (provided you can find 1 with the same connector) to boost playtime in a MAJOR way.
I'm providing a link to his site and hoping that SOMEONE completes this mod and I get to read about it on a few sites (cnet, engadget, etc) and secretly GLOAT!!!
Store » Tarkan Akdam’s BORED
PS: if it gets done please provide info on the compatible battery & thanks!!!

nsx_23 · 05-13-2008, 04:05 AM

Originally Posted by Drag0n

Make a slot so you can pull out CF cards and change them when you want, and buy the highest capacity cards, and keep a load of them in a card case

Can't do that since the original HD sits behind the battery.

But yeah, boot times and file transfer times are a lot faster with the CF, not to mention improved battery life.