c240 won't boot

[schwim]

Hi there guys,

I guess I bricked my c240, while attempting to follow the installation instructions, and I'm really bummed.

On startup now, I get a flashing sansa screen and if I hold down the power button, I get a flashing notice(I can't read it all, but the bottom of it states that "Can't load rockbox.mi4).

If I plug it into the computer via USB while it's turned off, it scrolls some text then allows me to use the sansa firmware, and I can play the music that is on the player, however, if it turns off, I'm screwed again

I've found troubleshooting docs for the e200 and a lot of posts concerning that model, but I can't find any help for the little brother, the c200.

Could someone please help me?  I'd like to be able to use my mp3 player again without carrying my laptop

thanks,
json

[Llorean]

You didn't properly extract a rockbox.zip to the player. Basically, you've installed the bootloader, but not the build. The manual should cover installing the build, and the utility should also allow you to install a current build.

[schwim]

Hi there,

wow, you're quick.    Thanks very much for your reply.

I should have said before that now I can't see the c240 to try to fix it.  No drives detected, bootloader installer does not detect it, sansa updater does not detect it.

I'm just at a loss on how to resolve the issue if it's disappeared.

thanks,
json

[Llorean]

I thought you said you could boot into the original firmware. If you can, simply plug it in while in the original firmware.

[schwim]

I have explained it poorly.

If I plug it in via USB, it turns the player on, and text scrolls across stating that it's trying to boot into the original firmware, and the sansa firmware does boot, however, I still don't mount anything to the computer.  The player stays in play mode, not connected mode.

I have tried on both my Win and Linux computer, and on both, nothing is detected on the computer side and the player stays in play mode.  I can't get the two to talk to each other.

thanks,
json

[Llorean]

If you're in the original firmware, and USB mode isn't working, something stranger is going on. Rockbox's bootloader doesn't interfere with the functioning of the original firmware. In fact, even after you install Rockbox, the way to get files on your player is to turn it off, plug in a USB cable, and wait for the original firmware to come up and connect.

Perhaps try rebooting your computer, and make sure you're not plugging in via a hub.

[schwim]

Thanks very much for your reply again.

My problem is that the c240(at least my c240) has never gone into file transfer mode by connecting the USB first.  If I do that, it will charge, but it stays in play mode.  The only way I've ever been able to get into file transfer mode is by starting the player, then once it's done refreshing media, connect the USB cable.

My problem now is that I can't start it first because it freezes on bootup.

I don't dispute that:

1) I caused this problem to occur
2) It's related to something I did, and not Rockbox firmware

however, minutes before I attempted to install the rockbox firmware, I uploaded files to the player and seconds after I attempted the install, three computers that could previously connect with the player were no longer able to.

I think I could probably properly install the firmware or remove the bootloader if I could only get to the data transfer mode, I just can't figure out how to do it.

thanks,
json

[Llorean]

Well wait, I'm confused. If you're in the original firmware, what happens if you unplug the USB cable, let it refresh media, then connect it?

Also, have you tried booting your player into recovery mode, and copying over a PP5022.mi4 from an official firmware update? (DO NOT EVER COPY ANYTHING BUT A SINGLE OFFICIAL MI4 IN RECOVERY MODE: Obligatory warning)

[schwim]

Hi there Paul,

If I unplug, then reconnect while in the official firmware, it will charge the battery, but nothing else happens.  It doesn't seem to do anything really.

I didn't know that I had a "recovery mode"!

I found these instructions on the forum(for c250, but thought it would pertain to the 240 as well)

1)turning off the c250
2)turning it on
3)putting the hold button into lock
4)pressing on the Previous/Rewind button WHILE plugging in the USB cable
(the USB cable already plugged into the computer's USB port)
as indicated in these two links

but of course that doesn't work for me because I can't turn it on before activating the hold button, since nothing boots up.  If I follow these instructions, it just does what it always done when I connect.

I'm still trying everything I can think of, but so far, I've not gotten much for my trouble

thanks,
json

[schwim]

Hey there,

I found the proper recovery mode method, and I'm in!

I have a problem though:  How do I find the file you specified?  Sansa updater now finds it, but says that it's up to date.  bootloader still doesn't see it.  I can see E drive again, but there's nothing but version.txt in it.

I visited Sansa's firmware page but it seems that nothing is offered for the c200 in particular, only offering me the updater software.

I've not found anything on how to proceed in Google yet.

thanks,
json

[schwim]

Ok, another update.

I found the connect-recovery application on Sansa and tried it, following the instructions.

It didn't state that it needed recovery, but the button-press combo while starting booted it up normally.  I am now connected for data transfer on the player, yay!

The bootloader installer says it's already up to date.

I tried to run the Rockbox installer again, and I see why I'm having a problem now.

I tried the complete install, and it stated that it failed.  I tried it with quickstart and it failed.  Finally, I tried the the installation/install rockbox/current version(recommended).  the resulting popup states HTTP error(Download Error: HTTP Error 7602289.)

I guess the reason I'm having my problem is because Rockbox was never installed.

Is there a way to get the http error resolved, or do I need to install manually?

thanks,
json

[AlexP]

Hi,

Please don't double (or triple) post - if no-one has posted since you use modify.

You can manually install rockbox very easily, seeing as you already have the bootloader installed.  Download a current build from the link on the left, and unzip it to the root of your player.  Voila!

[schwim]

Can I quadruple post?

thanks,
json

[AlexP]

Can I quadruple post?

Nope!

[Llorean]

Anyway, as BigBambi said, at the point that you have the bootloader installed, the only remaining step is download the appropriate rockbox.zip from the current build page, and extract it directly to your player's drive.