OK, you have to be really careful with this step! If you pry too hard, the little plastic clamp that holds the cable will come up too far and break, and then you are ****ed. It only needs to be raised millimeter or two, but at first, it doesn't move at aIl, so it is easy to pry upwards too hard. I have found that using angled tweezers while VERY GENTLY prying upwards on both sides works best. But still, BE VERY CAREFUL AND GENTLE! It's also easy not to even know that it is up all the way! So every now and then try gently lifting the ribbon cable to see if it is already released.

I tried this on the first iPod I was trying to fix. This method really messes up the sides of the iPod. Go back and read earlier comments about using guitar picks or other tools!

I tried this on the first iPod I was trying to fix. This method really messes up the sides of the iPod. Go back and read earlier comments about using guitar picks or other tools!

I tried this on the first iPod I was trying to fix. This method really messes up the sides of the iPod. Go back and read earlier comments about using guitar picks or other tools!

Appreciated the earlier comment about using guitar picks. It is very easy to open the iPod with guitar picks. It still requires patience sometimes, but no noticeable damage to the iPod. Went to the local music store, they stocked Fender picks. Fender "Thin" work best for me for starters, but sometimes Fender "Medium" are needed. (Go to your local music store-- very cheap!) I have opened (and repaired successfully!) four different iPods just using guitar picks.

Appreciated the earlier comment about using guitar picks. It is waaaaaay easier to open the iPod with guitar picks. It still requires patience sometimes, but no noticeable damage to the iPod. Went to the local music store, they stocked Fender picks. Fender "Thin" work best for me for starters, but sometimes Fender "Medium" are needed. (Go to your local music store-- very cheap!) I have opened (and repaired successfully!) four different iPods just using guitar picks.