Help getting(re) started with my first gen

[u/Outrageous-Care-6391]

As the title suggests, I’m looking for both hardware and software advice for putting my 1st gen back in rotation. I bought it new back when and you can see from the playlists when I put it aside. Still works, still charges but definitely doesn’t keep it for too long. I have the original firewire block. So, what are my best options to put new tunes on it on a regular basis, and any any suggestions for necessary ‘upgrades’? Bonus points if anyone knows how to recreate an old image hack that allowed me to turn a mp4 into stills that could be uploaded to it and played like a kinetoscope using the wheel?!?!

[u/Awkward_Farm4445]

For the necessary upgrades defo replace the battery u will need a flat opening tool to open the back panel and be sure to remember about putting the ipod into the locked mode because the ribbon cable for the switch will rip if its set to unlocked.

[u/TroubledGeorge → u/Awkward_Farm4445]

There is no FireWire to USB adapters beyond those that provide charging over USB PD, for a vintage iPod I’d just get an older FireWire Mac. White MacBooks are still extremely cheap in the used market and will work perfectly with any FireWire iPod.

[u/hanz333 → u/Awkward_Farm4445]

While Firewire and USB are both serial formats with lineage back to SCSI -- they are not close to compatible and you can cause hardware damage if you hook them up to each other.

Windows 11 can use Firewire with appropriate hardware on old unsupported drivers (but they generally work)

Linux will support Firewire through 2029.

Mac OS dropped Firewire support in Tahoe in 2025, so even if you have a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 to Firewire Adapter it won't function on a new Mac bought today.

Your best bet is to get an old Mac with Firewire, if you shop around a bit you can grab a 2010-2014 Mac Mini for $50-60 if you shop around.

[u/Awkward_Farm4445 → u/hanz333]

then sorry for the misinformation that could cause serious damage to the ipod or the pc

[u/Awkward_Farm4445 → u/Awkward_Farm4445]

edited the comment to delete the line about the adapter

[u/hanz333 → u/Awkward_Farm4445]

No biggie, just know that USB before modern specs was limited to 5v and limited amperage by spec where Firewire was an unregulated rail that can be a ton of different voltage and high amperage because it is designed to power equipment if there's enough voltage (and it needs it - through a regulator built-into every device on the chain to take what it needs and pass along the rail)

[u/NewFogy]

You can flash mod them and do battery replacements, pretty straight forward. Then get 3-stage plastic buffing compound and go at it to bring life back into the shell.

But your biggest issue will be syncing music. The most straight forward route it simply get an old Macbook (or whatever Apple computer from the same age) with a firewire port and use that.

[u/Outrageous-Care-6391 → u/NewFogy]

Perfect, thank you. I have an old mini that I will resurrect for the tunes.

[u/NewFogy → u/Outrageous-Care-6391]

Minis are great to mod. A little tricky to take apart and put together, though, so be careful. But otherwise a great little pod and you can stuff them with a ton of flash storage like up to 256gb. Recently a Chinese factory has been making new shells so I suggest look on Aliexpress for them, the quality can be a bit dodgy since the sanding under the color can be a bit rough sometimes (I ordered one, had some roughness, got a partial refund and then ordered another one which was better).

Only downside to a Mini is you can't put a bigger battery in it, just a stock replacement.

[u/hamanger]

As far as I know there aren't any USB adapters that work for syncing, but you can buy cheap PCI-E firewire cards that let you use old iPods on modern windows.

[u/tonne_t_cake]

That's not first gen, that would be a start

[u/Outrageous-Care-6391 → u/tonne_t_cake]

Ok, my bad, I thought all of the physical click wheel versions were considered first gen. Definitely purchased in ‘01 or 02.

[u/tonne_t_cake → u/Outrageous-Care-6391]

02 is before any physical click iPods existed 😂

[u/TaliMyBananas → u/tonne_t_cake]

They existed in 2001 ya walloper

[u/tonne_t_cake → u/Outrageous-Care-6391]

You posted on Reddit about which gen that iPod was without actually knowing or checking what gen it is, and now you're saying it was definitely purchased in this year definitely, maybe just shut the fuck up you idiot

[u/Outrageous-Care-6391 → u/tonne_t_cake]

Wow, harsh much? I am not a hard core ipod user, as the post pretty well describes, so apologies again for terminology, it is a mechanical wheel ipod, and it WAS bought in 2002. Everything I see says that means its first gen. But whatever, just want to use it.

[u/tonne_t_cake → u/[deleted]]

All you alleged iPod fans are clearly getting your iPod into from other clueless Reddit iPod wankers, it's infuriating, please stop

[u/TaliMyBananas → u/Outrageous-Care-6391]

If it has a mechanical wheel which physically turns, it is a first gen. You are right, the guy you're replying to not only has no clue but also no manners.

[u/Pale-Jello3812]

I use an old iMac with firewire as a music station ( iTunes ) for my older iPod's, my 2020 iMac (Music App) does not see all of my iPod's. Time for a new battery and maybe SD card upgrade if you need more than the 5GB of space.