Q: Dropped iPod. Red "X" on reset. Tried everything. Anything else I can do?

I guys, I've searched high and low for all the things I can do to diagnose/fix this problem I have with my iPod. I seem to have run out of options and I just wanted to know if there's anything I can do short of bringing my iPod to a service center.

I have a Sixth Generation 160GB iPod Classic, and this is what happened:

I was taking my iPod out of my pocket and it slipped +(a common occurrence as I've come to realize while searching for answers)+. In my surprise and scramble to catch it, I inadvertently pushed it down harder with my hand... so it landed on the pavement even harder than it should have.

When I picked it up, I was sure that it was a goner. However, I was surprised to find that the song I was listening to was still playing +(Chopin's "Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 9, No. 2" for anyone interested)+. So, I thought all was well since it was still playing... ...until the song ended.

When the song was finished, it took me a while to realize that the next track wasn't playing. So I fiddled with my iPod until I finally decided to reset it by holding the center button and menu button at the same time. When it started to reset, it showed the apple logo and then took about a minute before it finally displayed a red circle with an "X" in the middle and the url "http://www.apple.com/support/ipod" was below it.

Naturally I got bummed out. But after a day or so, I went googling for answers.

* Reseting didn't work.
* Connecting the unit to the PC via USB cable didn't work since my system couldn't detect it at all +(even as a harddrive/storage device)+
* Running the diagnostic tools (by holding the back button and center button at the same time during startup) didn't work since HDSpecs and HDSMARTData both get stuck at *"open device.."* and then nothing happens

So I'm quite sure that my iPod has a failed harddrive and all I could possibly do is bring it to a service center to see if they can do anything about it.

But just so that I'm sure: Am I missing out on trying anything else? Is there anything else I can do? Have I tried everything I can? Or is Chopin's "Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 9, No. 2" the last song my iPod will ever play?

Additional question: If my HD is indeed screwed, does that mean that my unit is useless and I should buy a new one? Or can it be repaired/replaced?

Thanks a lot!

Message was edited by: quiapz

Message was edited by: quiapz