iPod fatally frozen after Rockbox install **SOLVED!** (see reply 13 below)

[poikkeus]

I've installed the bootloader almost successfully, but there's a problem.

"Rockbox boot loader" appears on screen.
Several lines down, it says "No partitions found," followed by "Press MENU and select to reboot then select+play to reboot." No response. Listening carefully, I can hear the iPod's drive faintly in the background.

I tried Apple Reset, and the Apple boot icon appears, but then freezes.  Under both situations, I tried to connect to my computer with my iPod in the sync port, but there's no response. Eventually, the iPod goes off. It's fully powered.

I can't access the bootloader. How do I get things back to normal?

iPod 5.5g, 30gig

[saratoga]

It sounds like you installed the bootloader but not Rockbox.

Happens if you follow the directions on your Ipod's screen to put it into disk mode?

[poikkeus]

You just may be right! Given this, how can the iPod be brought back to normal?

I tried to wear down the battery - but the Apple or bootloader are still the only things that want to appear.

[Febs]

Put the ipod into disk mode by rebooting and then immediately pressing and holding Select and Play at the same time.

[poikkeus]

Put the ipod into disk mode by rebooting and then immediately pressing and holding Select and Play at the same time.

Solid advice, but...my iPod will not reboot. It goes to either the top (Rockbox) or bottom pic (Safe Mode) below. Even with the battery worn down and the screen black, any recharge leads to either of the two screens below. I need some way to get to Safe Mode in the first place.

Are there any ways of resetting my Mac under these conditions? Has Rockbox finally "broken" an iPod?  

Images of frozen iPod:

[saratoga]

Rockbox has nothing to do with the reset feature, so either you're missing something, or you've suffered an unrelated hardware failure.

[GodEater]

Has Rockbox finally "broken" an iPod?  

No it hasn't because Rockbox *can't* break an iPod. You're simply doing the steps for getting into diskmode wrong, or is there is something *physically* wrong with it.

[Llorean]

What happens if you reset it by holding Menu+Select, and while the screen is blank, turn on (and leave on) the hold switch? (You have to turn hold on before the apple logo shows up, or very very very early into when it has).

[Febs]

Reboot the iPod.  As soon as you see this:



Press and hold Select and Play simultaneously.

[poikkeus]

First, thanks for all the help so far. Here's what's happening. My iPod is well-charged.

APPLE LOGO IS ON SCREEN
1. I depress MENU-SELECT (reboot) for four seconds. The screen goes blank for two seconds, I hear a short drive sound, and the Apple icon appears.
2. I depress MENU-SELECT, with HOLD switch when screen is blank. The screen goes blank for two seconds, and the Apple icon appears. No drive sound.
3. I depress MENU-SELECT (reboot), wait for screen to go black, then depress SELECT-PLAY. Two seconds pass and I get the Second Screen (without the Apple icon).

SIX LINES OF SMALL TEXT ON SCREEN
1. I depress MENU-SELECT. Screen goes black for about two seconds, a short drive sound, and then an Apple icon.

No other key combinations seem to do anything.

What's my next step?

[frause]

First, thanks for all the help so far. Here's what's happening. My iPod is well-charged.

2. I depress MENU-SELECT, with HOLD switch when screen is blank. The screen goes blank for two seconds, and the Apple icon appears. No drive sound.

How long did you wait with the Apple logo on the screen? IIRC the OF takes a rather long time to boot.

3. I depress MENU-SELECT (reboot), wait for screen to go black, then depress SELECT-PLAY. Two seconds pass and I get the Second Screen (without the Apple icon).

SECOND SCREEN
1. I depress MENU-SELECT. Screen goes black for about two seconds, a short drive sound, and then an Apple icon.

What is this "Second Screen" you speak of? Can you describe it?

[poikkeus]

How long did you wait with the Apple logo on the screen? IIRC the OF takes a rather long time to boot.

My power's going down, but right now absolutely no more than five seconds or so. I haven't attempted extreme times like thirty seconds or a minute; things seem to stabilize in well under ten seconds.

What is this "Second Screen" you speak of? Can you describe it?

I'm sorry. I'm referring to the screen with the six lines of small text. I'll correct that.

[frause]

How long did you wait with the Apple logo on the screen? IIRC the OF takes a rather long time to boot.

My power's going down, but right now absolutely no more than five seconds or so. I haven't attempted extreme times like thirty seconds or a minute; things seem to stabilize in well under ten seconds.

I got rid of my ipod a while ago, but I definately remember the OF taking longer than five seconds to start. 15-30 seconds is more like it.

And if holding down SELECT and PLAY immediately when the ipod reboots (as soon as you hear the hdd click and spin down) doesn't take you to disk mode, I don't know how to help. I can only suggest you keep trying.

The lines of small text is the Rockbox bootloader output.

[poikkeus]

Again, I really appreciate all the help forum members are providing.

I do get reboot and the drive noise (a kind of soft clicking). I even kept the keys down for a minute just to be on the safe side, and did so several times. Once or twice, I've wanted to take a mallet to the thing.

The indicator of success would be if the iPod booted up into a battery icon. I'm wondering if anyone has had experience with a problem like this?

Two more developments. Research suggests that there are three potential solutions to my problem:

1. Dropping the iPod. Don't laugh. A number of users report that after they accidentally dropped their iPod onto the carpet, or slapped it hard against their thigh, the drive came alive again. Of course, I tried this, albeit with less success than others.
2. Letting the battery go out completely. Letting the battery go out is not enough. Don't use the iPod anywhere from a week to a month. Some claim it works every time. Of course, that means you can't use your investment for all that time.
3. The Apple Genius Bar. Presuming there's one in your neighbornhood. And that they're willing to replace the iPod.

 

[chub1982]

Have you tried rebooting and then flicking the "hold" button on and off while the apple icon is onscreen, to reboot into the ipod firmware instead of rockbox?

Cheers,
Carl