Everything Apple (the Mac heads thread)

could be the hard drive crapping out mid read and causing it to pause maybe.

it is possible to replace them in most ipod classic sized ipods (likewise maplins do new batterys) could try overhauling it yourself but it's possibly not worth the bother if it's the logic board that's knackered.

If it's the HDD it's dead easy to replace. Think battery is easy too, unless it requires a bit of soldering like in first version iphones?