Partitions

[roadkillguy]

I realize that rockbox is much easier to install than iPodLinux.  I currently have iPodLinux installed, but because iPodLinux is effectively dead I plan on installing rockbox...

My question is, does the bootloader completely overwrite the apple firmware, and which partition does it expect rockbox to be on?

I'd like to use ext3 if at all possible, and I want to be able to boot from a different partition altogether.  I don't care if the apple partition is gone.  In fact, I want it gone.

[yapper]

This might answer some of your questions:
http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/IpodManualRestore

[bluebrother]

does the bootloader completely overwrite the apple firmware, and which partition does it expect rockbox to be on?

No.

I'd like to use ext3 if at all possible, and I want to be able to boot from a different partition altogether.

Neither possible.

I don't care if the apple partition is gone.  In fact, I want it gone.

Not possible.

[roadkillguy]

does the bootloader completely overwrite the apple firmware, and which partition does it expect rockbox to be on?

No.

I'd like to use ext3 if at all possible, and I want to be able to boot from a different partition altogether.

Neither possible.

I don't care if the apple partition is gone.  In fact, I want it gone.

Not possible.

Hmm well when I say "Boot from another partition altogether" I mean make it a live bootable usb stick as well.  Sorry for the confusion.

As for getting rid of the apple firmware completely, option 4 here seems to describe that.

Also with that guide there seems to be a problem with ipodpatcher itself.  You say to backup the apple_os firmware, but you can't restore it after taking option 4.  (ipodpatcher requires the apple firmware to be there already.)  What's the point in backing up at all if you cannot restore it?

[Chronon]

From that  wiki page:

Back up the Apple firmware! Run ipodpatcher -rf apple_os.ipod and save the file apple_os.ipod somewhere safe. You can restore this later with ipodpatcher -wf apple_os.ipod if something goes wrong.

Also, this only involves replacing the Apple firmware with the Rockbox bootloader, not removing the firmware partition.  As I understand it, there's a bootloader stored in ROM that loads the OSOS image at boot time.  If you remove the first partition you would need to start the iPod in Disk Mode and restore it (either manually or using iTunes).

[roadkillguy]

Right.  For whatever reason I thought apple had another partition.. I restored my ipod and it worked just fine.  I no longer have the apple firmware .  (I use 100% linux so iTunes is a no-go)

Thanks