I'm sorry to hear about your Ipod, I suspect you may have got a lemon. Why don't you take it to the nearest Apple store and ask for a replacement? Any moving part is subject to failure, in this respect the newer flash type memory disks may be more reliable (Ipod Mini). No one I know with an Ipod has had an issue with the hard disk, though many have complained of the battery dying out (first generation, I beleive issues have been ironed out for the 3rd generation). There was a class action suit filed against Apple last year in regards to the battery problem. Not sure what the resolution was.