Customer would like to know if I can repair MP3 players (it stopped working once it got dropped).

Generally, my answer is: yes, but you are usually better off buying a new one.

It has a 5GB drive, and he is prepared to have me give a diagnosis. After I pick it up, I notice it doesn’t seem to to start at all (nothing on the LCD display).

Anyway, I dismantle it.

It has a tiny 5GB microdrive, which happens to be the exact same size and shape of a compact flash card.

So I plug it into my CF reader, and the PC auto detects a new drive. But after that, I cannot view the contents, or even format it. Viewing the properties just returns a drive that is 0 bytes in size (not a good sign).

I try a few more tests, but in the end, it looks like the drive is fried.

I also try a known working CF drive, but the MP3 player will not start. I guess the battery is flat, and I wasn’t given the charger. If the battery is not flat, then there is other damage to the player.

Looking at the costs of MP3 players (given the rapid price changes in this market, I don’t bother keeping up)… I notice that there is barely any difference between getting a new CF drive, and getting the equivalent sized MP3 player.