Can anyone give me a helping hand?

[JohnMidnight]

Well. I bricked my Sansa. Well, first started with a bit... over eagerly using the RockBox Util which later couldn't install everything to the Sansa and from what happened its Boot Loader couldn't find everything for RockBox and did a die every time.
Inadvertantly did something BAD for the Sansa and further bricked it. Others get a black screen and a light. Me? I get the Sansa Flash Screen, Light and nothing else.
Just stays that way... I read the Linux way of fixing it and it very confusing to me. I'm no Linux guy, actually the only Linux I've used was such a long time ago I hardly remember a thing from those days. So... if anyone can, can you help me? (Or help me litterally step by step how to unbrick my sansa, I really want to try this option out.. I really want to like... NOT prepare it for a trip back.)
Anyway its a Sansa e280, 8 Gig, version 1 (though duh lol....) anyway
Any help would be very appreciative!!!!


What works:
Recovery Mode, though it does say this: Enter USB2.0 MSD Mode (That bad, if so how do I fix?) and it comes up in Linux (Yes I have Linux, can't install it though, no room for it so I'm running the Unbuntu in Virtual mode) as disk-1 and a file called version.txt
Manufacturing Mode: I have no clue, if holding down center button, and power (while hold is initiated) is it supposed to be a black screen and a light?

[zajacattack]

I recommend trying recovery mode first to re-install the bootloader and original firmware.
If that fails, try using e200tool to get into recovery mode (I can give you Windows instructions if you want, but I recommend Linux because it is simpler and handles the USB for the Sansa better than Windows).

[JohnMidnight]

I recommend trying recovery mode first to re-install the bootloader and original firmware.
If that fails, try using e200tool to get into recovery mode (I can give you Windows instructions if you want, but I recommend Linux because it is simpler and handles the USB for the Sansa better than Windows).

How do I "reinstall the bootloader and original firmware" ?
I can use either Windows or Linux, but since everyones says use Linux I will, but I'm a extreme beginner. If this was back in Junior High, I'd of had it done without a problem, but I'm well past that.

[zajacattack]

OK, try this:
1. Turn off your player (if necessary, hold power for 15 sec.).
2. Turn ON hold.
3. Hold Rec WHILE plugging in USB cable.
4. Keep holding Rec until the Sansa connects in recovery mode.
5. Drag a fresh copy of the ORIGINAL bootloader and firmware (do a Google search for these) to the 16MB recovery disk.
6. Safely disconnect.

Describe your results.

[JohnMidnight]

Done so.. didn't quite work at all gave me same result: Sansa Video and just sits there... with Sansa plastered all over. plugged back into in recov mode, and the files I put there are not there anymore, just the same file, version.txt

[zajacattack]

So, you can get into recovery mode? Is this an R series?

[JohnMidnight]

So, you can get into recovery mode? Is this an R series?

Yes, and no. Its just a e280 V1.

[zajacattack]

OK, try getting to recovery mode, putting a bootloader and firmware image, as well as a blank file named "sansa.fmt"; warning! this will format your player, but I think the problem might be a corrupted file system.

[JohnMidnight]

OK, try getting to recovery mode, putting a bootloader and firmware image, as well as a blank file named "sansa.fmt"; warning! this will format your player, but I think the problem might be a corrupted file system.

Okay, done, atm it says "Formating ..." so I guess its a wait game from here.
Oh yea I've done formating before... here there... everywhere.

Okay formated. And it does its loading, and stuck at the SanDisk part of the loading complete with logo.

[zajacattack]

Are you absolutely sure you have the right version of the bootloader with the right version of the firmware?

[JohnMidnight]

Now I feel sure (and dangit I keep forgetting I'm on Linux, no support for my far right and far left buttons...) and

IT WORKED!!!
Yes thank you, thank you!!!!!!

[zajacattack]

I'm curious, what exactly did you do?
And, you are very welcome!

[JohnMidnight]

get the right sansa boot loader, and firmware, and have the sansa.fmt
all works. Though I had the older firmware put in it but eh, update worked fine.