Formatted to NTFS, now totally unusable?

[dazbradbury]

Hi,

Basically, I formatted my iRiver HP-120 to NTFS, as I no longer wanted to use the music functionality. In fact, I wanted to use it as a portable hard drive. As the file I was trying to transport was over 4gb, I needed to use the NT file system.

However, it seems that it doesn't boot at all anymore... The reset button seemingly does nothing. (What is its function with Rockbox installed??)

Is this because the Rockbox firmware can't read any of it's files?

Is there any way to flash it seeing as I don't have USB access anymore?

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks,
Daz.

[GodEater]

The Rockbox bootloader, which resides in flash and not on the disk should still be able to provide you with USB access to the drive. It's not going to be able to provide anything else though. So if for some reason the bootloader *isn't* functioning - then the only way I can see for you to recover the disc is to get it mounted in some other chassis (like a regular USB hard drive), and repair it from there - as there is no way now to change the flash content with the drive totally given over to NTFS.

FWIW, I'd have partitioned the drive with a tiny bit of FAT32 at the beginning to give Rockbox room to breathe and operate in, and the rest of the drive as NTFS - but you're a bit late for that advice now

[LinusN]

Yes, the bootloader has  a bug that makes it a pain when it's NTFS formatted. However, the bootloader should still allow USB access if you start the player with the USB connector inserted.

The problem is that the bootloader will then crash when you remove the connector. Then you have to use the reset button to recover.

Please file a bug report, so I don't forget to fix this in the future.

BTW, the reset button is a hardware feature, so Rockbox can't change the behaviour or even prevent it from working. If it doesn't work for you, the button is simply broken.

[dazbradbury]

Phew, ok, it turns out I just wasn't pushing the reset button hard enough. I got a REALLY fine pin, and jammed it in. The thing booted up fine.

Good news.

Thanks for the help!

[Multiplex]

DON't USE A PIN - folks have reported that it can ruin the switch - an oppened out paperclip is good.

[bluebrother]

Btw, if you don't want to use your player for playing music -- why don't you just get a portable hard drive? I bet there are quite a few people around searching for players ... ;-)

[dazbradbury]

I've had my iRiver since it came out, that makes it pretty old. I decided to treat myself to an iPod classic, couldn't say no to 160GB!

I just think the resale value of my iRiver isn't that high, so it's probably going to be made to better use as a hard drive!

Thanks again for your help,
Daz.

[AlexP]

I think you will be surprised, they go for a lot on ebay owing to having more features than any other dap, especially where recording is concerned.  I think you could sell it, buy a much larger 2.5" external hard-drive and still have some extra money.