E200R Automatic Bootloader and Rockbox Installer

[John Brown]

Mabe we could just go back to the days where we try to "crack" the key.  

[scorche]

What does that have to do with getting e200tool working on Windows?

[zajacattack]

Well, what if we could directly write to the hidden partition on the R series? Then, the program could just overwrite the BL and firmware automatically instead of requiring e200tool. By the way, I can't figure out to compile e200tool in cygwin. Could someone post the latest version compiled in cygwin? I want to try something...

[chrisjs169]

e200tool in cygwin

I doubt it'd work, since the libusb filter for Windows doesn't seem to like the Sansa's Manufacturing mode.

[Bagder]

Well, what if we could directly write to the hidden partition on the R series? Then, the program could just overwrite the BL and firmware automatically instead of requiring e200tool.

The second partition is not exposed over USB on the R model, so we don't know how to access it from a host program. This is why the current installer method being worked on is to upload a "patch program" to the player to do the patching there in manufacture mode.

Feel free to work on getting access to the truly hidden partition from a host, it would sure simplify things - my guess is however that it isn't possible.

[JdGordon]

Well, I had a quick attempt at getting libusb working with my sansa last night, but failed misrably...
their docs are fairly terrible...

apparently the filter driver isnt needed, just the inf needs to be created.

I'm not sure if it failed because im running vista or another reason. ill try on a xp comp later tonight if i remember.

[scorche]

This was asked in IRC as well, but has anyone/can anyone test e200tool in Mac OS X?

[JdGordon]

http://libusb.sourceforge.net/ seems to suggest libusb works on OSX, and i would assume it works better than it does on windows... but we need barry to check on his mac.

[DavidGWRawson]

well, for RAZR, the cell phone, the razr's filesystem was hidden from direct usb connection, however, there was a program that allows us to edit and look at the filesystem. I don't know if this is the case with the sansa, but I think that it would be a lot easier in the long run just to do it the original way. It would be easier just to download linux live cd, or ubuntu(which I multiboot with windows and mac ).

[e280ruser]

It would be easier just to download linux live cd, or ubuntu(which I multiboot with windows and mac ).

Yes it would be easier if you just did that, or if all computers were open source, but it's the challenges in life that make it fun.

[DavidGWRawson]

I agree. That's what this is about. Solving problems. Working TOGETHER  

[zajacattack]

Well, I'm trying to work on a Windows solution because my computer won't boot from my Ubuntu CD, and I don't really have another computer to use. So, please, can someone upload e200tool compiled with cygwin because I want to try something, but I'm not very good with linux or cygwin.

[DavidGWRawson]

Why wont it boot on your computer. Keep in mind that you must burn it to a CD and 'shut your computer off', and put your CD in, turn it on, go to your boot menu (F12), or hold C, and it should boot. This is out of topic though...  

[zajacattack]

I know, I got a free one from Shipit, I boot from it, select "Start or Install Ubuntu", the Unbuntu logo with a progress bar runs, and then, when it's done, it freezes and repeats the error "hdc: drive not ready for command" over and over. But, anyways, I, for the life of me, cannot figure out how to compile e200tool in cygwin, could someone do it and post it along with libusb compiled in cygwin?

[DavidGWRawson]

sorry, don't have any.