iPod Mini Gen 2 not connecting to PC and boot looping to error screens

[ivory eagle]

I sadly dropped my mini gen 2 a bit ago, and after that it would boot to either the sad iPod screen or the bad drive screen.

Finally got the parts I thought I needed, a new Motherboard and CF flex cable.
figured it had to be one of those since I could take out the iFlash converter and connect to the micro SD through that or the micro SD itself using a reliable card reader.

Unfortunately I am still having the same issues, I have tried all 3 of my usb to 30pin cables and every USB pot on my PC but I can not get it to be discovered by my PC file explorer or iTunes.

I have again taken the drive out and reformatted it but still no luck.

I am at a loss, any suggestions?

My next thought is to try a new converter, but annoyingly the CF converters are sold out on eoe, where I prefer to get my stuff. (I like to support the guy, he keeps our stuff going at a reasonable price and is always super helpful when stuff doesn't work out)

[wind oak]

after conversion still sad ipod randomly mixed with bad drive?
there is a risk you could damage something more than just a drive. And what is funny the drive might be still OK.

Check carefully the drive flex (damagest to that one might be tricky to find), all the connectors, all the components on the motherboard.
use your phone as a microscope if you do not have one.

[ivory eagle]

My first thought was that it was something other than the drive, hence I replaced the motherboard and the drive cable

[wind oak]

and it does the same thing not being put inside the case?

[ivory eagle]

actually I did find that it doesn't boot outside the iPod mini chasis