Broken IHP-140 ?

[unkle]

Hi,

it seems my iHP-140 (Rockboxed) will no longer boot... Either in Rockbox or original firmware. It seems to still be able to charge (at least green light is on) but I do not hear the disk spinning at all and booting is not possible...

What are your main ideas ? I would like to keep my old player for a little longer  . How would you test if it is the battery, the disk or something worse ?

Thanks a lot !

[LambdaCalculus]

Are you getting any sorts of errors when you attempt to boot? I just recently repaired a friend's iriver H120, and he had similar issues to you.

[Davide-NYC]

If you get absolutely nothing on the screen I would worry that the wrong charger was plugged into it thus frying the unit. A dead unit shows a green charging light and nothing more. (I've been there)

[petur]

I thought that an iriver with a really dead battery (below safety voltage) would also not boot at all (I think the pcf needs a certain batt voltage before booting, anything below is just charging)

[LinusN]

I thought that an iriver with a really dead battery (below safety voltage) would also not boot at all (I think the pcf needs a certain batt voltage before booting, anything below is just charging)

That is correct, apart from the fact that the H100 series don't have a PCF power management chip.

unkle, what did you do with the player before this happened?

[unkle]

Thanks for your replies.
I was in a plane, listening to music, and then it just stopped... There was some remaining display on the screen (completely fixed, all buttons were useless). Looking at it the next day, screen was blank. I tried to recharge it, but apart from the green light, nothing...

I never changed the battery, and it is more than 4 years old now I think.... Is there any way I can check that without buying a new battery ? I'd definitely buy a new one if this is it.

[unkle]

by the way when I say residual display, it was really random fixed pixels...

[petur]

did you reset it at that point of just leave it like that?
If you just left it, it probably drained the battery completely.

possibilities:
- really flat battery: charge longer
- drained battery now dead: replace battery
- crash caused by hardware malfunction: player borked

I'm sure Linus will correct me if I'm wrong

[unkle]

I am almost ready to buy the idea of that the battery is weird, moreover it seems to me (when I open the player) that the cables are strange (from unit to battery), I would no be surprised if the was an open here....

So I'll check for a new battery and guide on the web. If you have any recommendations....  

[unkle]

Very strange...
I opened the player, repaired  (weld) the battery cable, and now the player seems in a better but far from perfect shape...
Green light (charge) is blinking, and from time to time, the player is booting directly in iriver's firmware. Nothing I can do while it is on, and it then goes off, suddenly. I guess it is not completely fried, so I will let it charge for the night, and try more stuff tomorrow.

I am very surprised to not get a chance in booting Rockbox. Would you guys have a suggestion here ? Is it over for the player ?

[LinusN]

I suggest you try a new battery.

[unkle]

I'll grab a new  battery. Still checking what my best options are...

[petur]

CameronSino is a good brand, not too expensive. Get them on ebay

[Multiplex]

There is (used to be) good information on iRiver H100 and H300 battery changing over on Mistic River http://www.misticriver.net but if you've taken your player apart and soldered the wires you probably know most of it already.

The vital information is that you can use the same battery as an iPod, 2nd Gen I think - you should check this

forum search seems to be down right now but I found this link via Gogle http://www.misticriver.net/wiki/index.php/Battery

But you MUST change the polarity of the wires in the plug (it's the same plug but the wires are the other way round)

[unkle]

Thanks LinusN, petur and all.
I am checking for a CameronSino on ebay, will update you when it is (or not  ) repaired. Does it requires reversing polarity ?

Just replied while I was writing:
Multiplex, thanks for the info. I know about mysticriver . I do not know if getting an Ipod Gen2 battery is easier. Plus the polarity reversal sounds chilling. Screwing up means dead IHP... Anyway I do have the info, which is good as always.

In all case I am surprised that I cannot boot the player while charging. That would have made my day better (knowing I am on the right track).

Rockbox fans, you rock !!

I'll check here later if I need another player (I wish not, for sure)