Sansa E260 bricked by SDFormatter

[Toni]

Hello all,

after my Sansa e260 US stopped playing mp3s due to occasional read errors from the internal card (with both Sansa and rockbox firmware) I formatted the card via Windows format.
Because that didn't solve the problem I tried the hard way by using the 'Panasonic SDFormatter V2.0'. The formatting itself went fine, but unfortunately the hidden partition has been formatted straight away.

Now I want to try to restore the original partitioning via e200tool.

I get so far:
After running "./e200tool recover bootloader.bin" I can run the original
Sansa software (with some flaws: USB doesn't work as expected, fdisk -l /dev/sda gives me no info)

So it seems:
1. bootloader is executed correctly from flash
2. many of the original sansa firmware's data are still available on the internal card.

What I want to try:
With a modified rockbox bootloader I want to write the MBR from an existing 'good' e260 to get the hidden partition back.

Now if someone please can send me the appropriate MBR, I can try the above.

Even if it fails to load the 'old' flash data, I hope to come one step further in the unbrick process.

Or is there a better way?

Thanks,
 Toni

[Bagder]

Why oh why oh why did you torture your poor player by doing this? You should basically never ever format your sansa "disk".

Try creating a file name 'sansa.fmt' while in recovery mode, I believe it sets up the partitions correctly.

[Toni]

I think the internal disk of the Sansa has some issues. But as a last chance, I wanted to try a low level formatting before setting the status to 'completely bricked'.
Currently I get two working modes to run:
 - manufacturing mode (completely working)
 - Sansa OF (after e200tool bootloader.bin injection) with some flaws
The recovery mode is not accessible (blue ring of death).
If I recall correctly, then sansa.fmt has to be stored on the hidden partition, but this partition no more exists (I think).
So again: Can someone post the MBR data of a working e260 please?

Toni

[Bagder]

When you run e200tool and recover with the bootloader, you might be able to get into recovery mode?

If you do, try copying the file then.

If I recall correctly, then sansa.fmt has to be stored on the hidden partition, but this partition no more exists (I think).

I doubt that. When you start recovery mode you get a 16MB partition exposed over usb, and I actually guess that "disk" is pure ram in the sansa.

[Toni]

Thanks Bagder for your hints!

I finally got my Sansa working again. Time will tell wether it is now better than before. :-)
You were right, that the hidden partition is created virtually.
Following the steps in the other Sansa unbrick thread solved the problem here:
1. load BL_SD_boardSupport.rom via e200tool and directly boot into recovery mode by holding the REC button
2. copy Sansa.fmt to the hidden partition and let formatting start by disconnecting the USB cable
3. restart into manufactory mode again when formatting has finished
4. repeat step 1
5. copy original PP5022.mi4 and BL_SD_boardSupport.rom to the hidden partition and disconnect USB

That's it.

[aLexx]

Hallo Toni,
under which OS you managed to recreate the partitions?
I tried under win2000 but I only get the Recovery Mode on the Sansa Display: windows doesn't create any 16MB Drive.
Under Linux Ubuntu amd64 I almost always get a failure by writing the BL.

Any help?