New Install on New F40--Now Nothing

[micfit]

I was attempting to install Rockbox on my just-out-of-the-box F40. I had downloaded (and unzipped) all of the necessary files--saving them to folders on my computer in preparation to follow the steps in the instructions for the manual installation. At the last minute, I chickened out and downloaded the Rockbox Utility. I clicked on "Complete Installation" and it went to town. It said it had installed the bootloader. I did not manually install anything on my player, so I can't be certain that the bootloader was installed correctly, but I do know that I was able to see the ".rockbox" folder on the root of my player before things went horribly wrong. I may have become distracted at this point and messed up the whole "power cycle" routine--I can't be sure that I did things in the right order from this point on.

The bottom line is that now, when I attempt to turn the player on, I get the original gigabeat splash screen, the progress meter gets about 1/2 way across and then nothing but a grey/white/dark blue screen. Of course, the player is no longer showing up on my computer. Once the blank screen appears, it will not shut off until I turn the battery switch off. Turning the battery back on then results in a repeat of the above symptoms. I've tried holding down the menu button while the splach screen is showing, but this has no effect on the outcome.

I'm REALLY hoping I don't have to take my player apart!! Please help??

[Febs]

What happens if you plug in the USB cable and then turn the player on?

[scharkalvin]

I've been told that if you connect the USB then press the power and menu buttons at the same time it will go into USB bootstrap mode.

BTW opening up the player is real easy.  Using the tip of a Stanley knife inserted into the gaps between the bottom cover plate and the side of the player where the cover plate curves around, the cover plate pops right out.  The bottom of the plate might be held in with a small dab of rubber cement like glue.  Then there are two tiny watch size screws with Philips heads holding the back of the player on that get removed.  The player back slides downward about 1/8"-1/4" and can then be lifted upward and off.  It's a bit hard to slide as it is sliding on the rubber shock mounts holding the hard disk in place.  I was impressed by internal construction of the Gigabeat.  Looks MUCH better build than any iPod I've seen.

[micfit]

--I've been told that if you connect the USB then press the power and menu buttons at the same time it will go into USB bootstrap mode.--

This didn't work for me. Nor did anything I read, so I took the plunge and followed the instructions for "Gigabeat Recovery Procedures" found at:

http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/GigabeatFXPort

Taking the thing apart wasn't too difficult. Once I had the f40 found on my computer, I had to download the "GBSYSTEM.zip" file that is at the bottom of this link and replace the GBSYSTEM folder on the gigabeat's hardrive. I then started over on the instructions for installation and it worked!

[psycho_maniac]

The only way to get the gigabeat into the Emergency Disk mode manually is turn it on with the hard drive disconnected and then it will go into emergency disk mode then plug in the hd and then that will load the hard drive. I know this for a fact because this is how i upgraded the hd in my gigabeat F40.