Sansa e260 formatted from computer during recovery mode

[hotnuts]

Hi everyone,

I was suggested by another rockbox user to post my problem here as there seems to be a lot of knowledgeable users hanging out around here. While, it does not concern a problem with rockbox use per se, it stems from an error I made while trying out rockbox.

I read on the wiki that "Do not format this 16MB drive"

Unfortunately, it did happen "inadvertedly"...

Is there hope?

Now, I get the "Load main image failed, switch to recovery mode" and I am able to boot into recovery mode. However, the VERSION.txt that on the 16mb disk appears corrupted, it contains only weird characters and:

Code: [Select]

file /media/disk/VERSION.TXT  /media/disk/VERSION.TXT: data

Compared to a VERSION.TXT that I obtained from a another user:

Code: [Select]

file VERSION.TXT  VERSION.TXT: ASCII text

What I have done so far:

1- Mounted the device in recovery mode
2- Copied a blank sansa.fmt file onto it, along with the PP5022.mi4 file
3- Unlock the hold button and hold the power button until the device shuts down.
4- Power on the device.

Invariably, with every permutations of that process I come up with the message: Load main image failed. Switch to Recovery mode.

Edit: I also tried overwriting the VERSION.txt with a correct one, but the corrupted one keeps getting re-written on boot.

The sandisk tech support only suggests I do the same steps that I already did. Plus, my warranty is not valid anymore.

So, are my options through?

Thanks very much for your time and the great community!

Vincent

[rayjgu3]

its just a thought but if you use linux & you know someone with a working e260 id think using the dd utility you could get an  imgae of a working e260 then drop that image onto yours or if there are any images out on the net ?
again just a thought , it maybe simpler than this i dont know
 i myself am new to rockbox & have been fortunate not to have such issues ,yet, hopefully i wont.
id offer the image but mine is an e280 so my image wouldnt fit on your e260

[hotnuts]

Awww, if only it was that easy. But I really don't see how that would work, I think the way the device works is more complicated than just one partition with one image...

Thanks for the input though