FAT32, Step by Step help?

[poikkeus]

Clearly, I'm blundering and need help. I have an iPod Video and want to do the FAT32 conversion.

The easiest way to convert your iPod to FAT32 is to attach it to a Windows computer which has iTunes installed. When iTunes detects your ipod, it will offer to reformat it for you.

Acknowledged, but our part of the world is profoundly Mac-centric. It will be necessary to do a...

Manual conversion
a) Find your iPod and unmount it. Before you proceed you must find the device name Mac OS X has assigned to your iPod and unmount the disk. To unmount your disk, open Disk Utility (located in Applications/Utilities). Then select your iPod and click 'Unmount'.

Unmounted.

b) Download the partition table file that match your iPod. To recreate the partition table of a Windows formatted iPod you need to download the partition table file that exactly matches your iPod model. You should save this file in the same folder as files you downloaded in step 1 a).

NOTE: If you have the 30GB video ipod, you need to determine your sector size. This can be done with the ipodpatcher command - after identifying your ipod, type "ipodpatcher /dev/diskN" (replacing diskN with the device name assigned to your ipod). This should then display the sector size.

I have a 5.5g, 30gig, so mine is 2048 byte. But if I double-click on the file that says mbr-video30gb-2048.bin, I get an error message:

The file...does not appear to be compressed or encoded. It is advised that you obtain further information abot the contents of this file from the...provider of this file.


What exactly has to be done with this file? How can I proceed?

 

[saratoga]

Bin files cannot be run.  They're just data.

Read the sentence immediately following your last quote.  Do what it says.

[poikkeus]

Thanks for the help. We're almost thee....

b) Download the partition table file that match your iPod

Done.

To recreate the partition table of a Windows formatted iPod you need to download the partition table file that exactly matches your iPod model. You should save this file in the same folder as files you downloaded in step 1 a).

Done.

NOTE: If you have the 30GB video ipod, you need to determine your sector size. This can be done with the ipodpatcher command - after identifying your ipod, type "ipodpatcher /dev/diskN" (replacing diskN with the device name assigned to your ipod). This should then display the sector size.

Assuming my device's name is My Ipod, i run the bootloader (right?) and then end run the bootloader:

Last login: Fri Apr 27 21:06:35 on ttyp1
/Users//Desktop/ipodpatcher; exit
Welcome to Darwin!
adsl-69-109-125-164:~ $ /Users/Desktop/ipodpatcher; exit
ipodpatcher v0.9 with v1.0 bootloaders - (C) Dave Chapman 2006-2007
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] Scanning disk devices...
[INFO] Ipod found - Video (aka 5th Generation) ("macpod") - /dev/disk1
[INFO] Reading partition table from /dev/disk1
[INFO] Sector size is 2048 bytes
[INFO] Part    Start Sector    End Sector   Size (MB)   Type
[INFO]    0              63         32830        64.0   Empty (0x00)
[INFO]    1           32832      14651271     28551.6   HFS/HFS+ (0xffffffff)
[INFO] Ipod model: Video (aka 5th Generation) ("macpod")
[INFO] ************************************************************************
[INFO] *** WARNING FOR ROCKBOX USERS
[INFO] *** You must convert this ipod to FAT32 format (aka a "winpod")
[INFO] *** if you want to run Rockbox.  Rockbox WILL NOT work on this ipod.
[INFO] *** See http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IpodConversionToFAT32
[INFO] ************************************************************************
Enter i to install the Rockbox bootloader, u to uninstall
 or c to cancel and do nothing (i/u/c) :^[

At which point I realize I may have done something wrong, because...

c) Apply the correct partition table
Run the below command to write the partition table to your iPod:

dd if=mbr-xxxx.bin of=/dev/diskN

Replace mbr-xxxx.bin with the name of the MBR file you downloaded in step b).

NOTE you must replace "diskN" with the correct name of the disk device assigned to your iPod - disk1, disk2 etc. Using an incorrect device name in this command may result in the partition table for another hard disk in your system being changed. Which is very bad news.

Where is dd if=... etc. found? What's with the Rockbox warning?

Your specific advice is appreciated. Perhaps other naive potential non-Wndows users are having the same questions.

[saratoga]

I really don't understand what you're asking.

How about this.  What happens if you run:

dd if=mbr-xxxx.bin of=/dev/disk1

where the mbr-xxx.bin is changed to whatever bin file you downloaded before?  Maybe you could post the output of that command so I have some idea what problem you're having.

[poikkeus]

First, pardon my non-existent Terminal experience. And thanks for your patience.

Specifically, where is the text "dd if=mbr-2056.bin of=/dev/disk2" in the Terminal Window, or how should the current text be modified?

Last login: Sat Apr 28 16:09:26 on ttyp1
/Volumes/ipodpatcher-0.9/ipodpatcher; exit
Welcome to Darwin!
adsl-69-109-125-164:~ $ /Volumes/ipodpatcher-0.9/ipodpatcher; exit
ipodpatcher v0.9 with v1.0 bootloaders - (C) Dave Chapman 2006-2007
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] Scanning disk devices...
[INFO] Ipod found - Video (aka 5th Generation) ("macpod") - /dev/disk2
[INFO] Reading partition table from /dev/disk2
[INFO] Sector size is 2048 bytes
[INFO] Part    Start Sector    End Sector   Size (MB)   Type
[INFO]    0              63         32830        64.0   Empty (0x00)
[INFO]    1           32832      14651271     28551.6   HFS/HFS+ (0xffffffff)
[INFO] Ipod model: Video (aka 5th Generation) ("macpod")
[INFO] ************************************************************************
[INFO] *** WARNING FOR ROCKBOX USERS
[INFO] *** You must convert this ipod to FAT32 format (aka a "winpod")
[INFO] *** if you want to run Rockbox.  Rockbox WILL NOT work on this ipod.
[INFO] *** See http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IpodConversionToFAT32
[INFO] ************************************************************************
Enter i to install the Rockbox bootloader, u to uninstall
 or c to cancel and do nothing (i/u/c) :

Moreover, the above "WARNING FOR ROCKBOX USERS" gives the impression that "Rockbox WILL NOT work on this ipod" given the way things are now. The message gives the impression that I have to go to the email address listed. Twice, the display has given me the frozen Apple of Death.

 

[robin0800]

I think you have the right partion table, note the empty partion.
Your problem is the second partion, this is stated as HFS/HFS
this is not Fat32 this is the partion that needs to be Fat 32 for rockbox to be loaded and run you still have to carry out part d) of the URL this is not an email address but a link to the instructions your supposed to be following.

[poikkeus]

Thanks...that reflects my suspicions re: the partitions.

Actually, I already have the link you referred to...but it takes me back to the text I'd quoted (Post #1). Frankly, it's a waste of everyone's time and energy to pursue this much further, especially since I've not progressed beyond the Install stage. Just imagine the jungle of snafus beyond. I do, however, appreciate the help I've received so far.

 

[saratoga]

Specifically, where is the text "dd if=mbr-2056.bin of=/dev/disk2" in the Terminal Window, or how should the current text be modified?

Its a command.  You're supposed to type it and then hit enter. This "runs" the command. If this doesn't make sense, try google or wikipedia.  They should be able to explain how the command line works.

The text you quoted is the output of a different command which tells you the sector size.  You already know the sector size, so there is no reason to run that command at all (as noted in the instructions).  

Moreover, the above "WARNING FOR ROCKBOX USERS" gives the impression that "Rockbox WILL NOT work on this ipod" given the way things are now. The message gives the impression that I have to go to the email address listed. Twice, the display has given me the frozen Apple of Death.

The purpose of the guide you linked in your original post was to fix this problem.  After you complete the steps in the guide, your Ipod will be able to work with Rockbox.

[robin0800]

Why can't you do even the first of the instructions in section d)?

You will not get past the installation untill Section d) has been completed
(Rockbox needs Fat32)

[linuxstb]

Why can't you do even the first of the instructions in section d)?

You will not get past the installation untill Section d) has been completed
(Rockbox needs Fat32)

poikkeus needs to perform steps a), b) and c) before step d) - that's why they're written on the page....  ipodpatcher is showing that his ipod is still a "macpod" - which means it has an "Apple Partition Map", and not a "DOS Partition Table".

Rockbox requires both a DOS partition table and a FAT32 partition.

poikkeus - the step that you're struggling with (the "dd" command) is a command that you type into the terminal.  If you're not familiar with how to use the terminal, then this conversion method isn't for you.  

I would suggest either trying harder to find a Windows computer with iTunes installed, asking a friend to help you with the Terminal steps, or doing some research and teaching yourself how to use the Terminal.

[poikkeus]

poikkeus - the step that you're struggling with (the "dd" command) is a command that you type into the terminal.  If you're not familiar with how to use the terminal, then this conversion method isn't for you.  

I would suggest either trying harder to find a Windows computer with iTunes installed, asking a friend to help you with the Terminal steps, or doing some research and teaching yourself how to use the Terminal.

Some wise counsel here, and it definitely clears up some things. Nevertheless, dealing wtih Terminal would be counterproductive at this point compared to "The Easy Way" of installing Rockbox software. Then, I can drive saratoga, robin0800. Febs, and llorean batty with a new set of problems on another forum. You tried your best, but you can do only so much with your material.

Sadly, we still live in a world where people assume Windows is a superior platform, when it's simply the dominant one.

[GodEater]

Sadly, we still live in a world where people assume Windows is a superior platform, when it's simply the dominant one.

I'm not sure many of the devs at least would agree with that assessment - *most* of them don't even own windows - let alone use it. I certainly wouldn't describe it as a "superior platform".

That aside - are you still stuck then? I'm finding it hard to tell from the current thread what step you're at.

[saratoga]

Sadly, we still live in a world where people assume Windows is a superior platform, when it's simply the dominant one.

The "people" in question would be Apple computer, who have restricted the tool you need to be Windows only.  I suggest complaining to them, since no one here can change that fact.