Problems installing Rockbox

[gringogreaves]

Hello everybody,

I decided to sign up and post on this forum because I have been having a lot of trouble attempting to install Rockbox on my Ipod, and don't know what else I can do.
Although I am using a Mac Mini (running Os X Sierra 10.12.5), I did manage to format my Ipod on Windows PC beforehand in FAT32.

My Ipod is a modified SSD 256GB Classic (7th Generation).

I downloaded and ran the latest version of Rockbox Utility and opened that up for an automatic install, clicking the "show disabled targets" box and selecting "Ipod Classic (6th Gen) (Unknown).

All the boxes on the main window are checked, except for "Bootloader" which is greyed out and says "The selected player doesn't need a bootloader"

The installation process runs appears to run through OK with all the files being downloaded and installed within the summary window, and eventually says that the process is 100% complete.
My Ipod does not appear any different at any stage throughout this process and, once complete, I restart the device (holding menu and centre button for 12 seconds) but the original Ipod software loads up as normal.

I'm sure I am missing something and would really, really appreciate any help.

Please bear in mind that I am not  especially technically minded (although learning all the time!), so go easy on me 

Thanks for reading

[saratoga]

My Ipod is a modified SSD 256GB Classic (7th Generation).

I downloaded and ran the latest version of Rockbox Utility

That isn't going to work.  See the install directions linked from the wiki:  https://www.rockbox.org/wiki/IpodClassicPort

[gringogreaves]

Hello there,

Thank you for taking the time to reply and for pointing me in the right direction. I appreciate it very much.
I'll try it out and let you know how I get on, in the hope that this thread can be of use to anyone else who has had similar problems in the future.

All the best

[gringogreaves]

So, I'm following the instructions via the link supplied and have come across the first major stumbling block;
Cannot seem to find a download link for the m k s 5 l b o o t software, it appears to have been completely removed and every page
pointing to it is no longer active.

I guess I will try and get access to a Windows machine and go down the Em C o re route but, in the meantime, if anybody has a link for me
that would be much, much better for me so I can run it from my mac at home

[saratoga]

Assuming you mean the Mac version (you don't need it on Windows), there is a download link included with the instructions. It is working for me.

[gringogreaves]

Hello saratoga and thank you once again for getting back to me. It is much appreciated.

You are right by the way, I do indeed need a mac version.

I managed to get onto the following link via the Internet Archive Wayback Machine (otherwise unable to connect; server DNS address cannot be found) https://files.freemyipod.org/~user890104/bootloader-ipodclassic.html

I am able to navigate the site, but when I click on the download link I require (or nay of the donwnload links on that page) it comes out with "Failed - No file" 

[gringogreaves]

UPDATE: I was able to download the file off a friend's PC just a few moments ago with no problems at all, although I am still not able to even get into the freemyipod site from my mac, let alone download anything from there. I'm wondering if I should be concerned about this?...

In any case, I feel I now have everything I need to proceed with installation.

Thank you once again, saratoga

[gringogreaves]

Hello again,

I finally managed to follow all the steps within the installation process summary (on my mac).
It seemed to go smoothly right until the end, and got to the following stage in my Terminal window:

mks5lboot Version fb1b604-170227
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

[INFO] Building DFU:
[INFO]  type:         BL installer
[INFO]  BL size:      102336
[INFO]  DFU size:     110480
[INFO]  model name:   Classic 6G
[INFO]  platform:     ipod6g
[INFO]  RB name:      ip6g
[INFO]  RB num:       71
[INFO] libusb: found [05ac:1247] at bus 250, device 3, USB ver. 0200
[INFO] DFU image sent successfully (110480 bytes)

I should now have Rockbox installed on my Ipod, but it still isn't showing up on my device.
I tried rebooting but it still starts up with the original Apple software.

Any advice will again be greatly appreciated. I feel I am nearly there...

[gringogreaves]

Hi, I tried the installation procedure again and managed to get to the end this time.

However, on my Ipod screen it now reads:

Rockbox boot loader
Version: 1.0
Battery status ok: 40474 mV
Loading Rockbox...
Error!
Can't load rockbox.ipod:
Bad checksum

Entering USB mode...
Bootlaoder USB mode

I've managed to get it into "USB keypad Mode: Multimedia" and there is a graphic of a USB cable connection on the screen

However, if I go into my Ipod via my Mac Finder, I see there are 4 folders: "Claenders", "Contacts", "Notes" and "Recordings".

I guess I can find out how to start using it myself, but I just wanted to know if I was on the right track or not and if there is something I need to know...

[gringogreaves]

Hi, don't worry about replying.

A simple reboot seems to have sorted everything and I worked out from reading the FAQ that you just create a folder and drag your music files into that

Seems to be working fine now!

Very pleased.

Thanks for all your help saratoga

[GreyBeast]

Hey, gringogreaves!

Please give us an update on how well your iPod is working.

I ask, because I found out "the hard way" my 6g "thick" with an iFlash adapter + microSD cards won't work well with Rockbox, and leaving it in native iTunes mode only allows for the use of 128gb on the device.

Now, at first glance, it looks like the difference between 6g's and 7g's is the logic board, so if you can confirm that the 7g works with Rockbox with storage other than a spinning HD, I would go ahead and replace my 6g's logic board with a 7g one, hopefully turning my iPod into a de facto 7g.