iPod video 30Gb. Apple firmware won't load after install

[prikolchik]

Hi!

I've installed Rockbox yesterday via Rockbox utility and Rockbox is working great, however original Apple OS will not load. It just says: "Loading original firmware... No RetailOS detected" I have not deleted any files on the iPod and I don't understand why it doesn't want to load. Is there any way i can restore Apple OS? Will it damage my Rockbox installation? If so, what files do I need to backup?
I was also wondering about what files should be kept (including hidden files) in order for Rockbox to work and rest deleted (all the Apple OS files, temp files, etc)?

Thank you!

[soap]

Hi!

I've installed Rockbox yesterday via Rockbox utility and Rockbox is working great, however original Apple OS will not load. It just says: "Loading original firmware... No RetailOS detected" I have not deleted any files on the iPod and I don't understand why it doesn't want to load. Is there any way i can restore Apple OS?

I've only seen this complained of once before:
http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=15038.0
and wish I had something better to offer you.

Posting a dump of all you know (version numbers of everything involved) might be helpful for the next time this happens to someone so we can look for a common thread.

Will it damage my Rockbox installation? If so, what files do I need to backup?

  Yes, the restore option will remove every aspect of your Rockbox installation.

I was also wondering about what files should be kept (including hidden files) in order for Rockbox to work and rest deleted (all the Apple OS files, temp files, etc)?

Thank you!

If you want to keep the Rockbox install you have currently, everything should be in the .rockbox hidden directory.  Everything outside any media or other data files you have intentionally placed on the device that is.

If you do not use the Apple firmware you can delete all the Apple folders at will.  They are just data directories as the firmware itself is not on the partition you are looking at.  The Apple OS will recreate those folders as needed.  That being said - any iTunes (or equivalent) loaded music will also be lost in a restore or lost if/when you manually delete the "control" folder (IIRC.  I forget the folder name as I don't use Apple OS).

[prikolchik]

I like customization and freedom so I've never used Apple OS for playing music. I also didn't like that you can't add songs from different computers, it can't play FLAC and Wavpack, etc. That is why i turned to Rockbox =D

The reason I wanted to restore to Apple OS is because I bought my iPod used and I wanted to remove all useless files and have a clean install of the OS. And also because in Apple OS USB transfer speed is 10Mbyte/s and in Rockbox 4Mbyte/s.

So to fix "No RetailOS detected" error I backed up .rockbox folder and my music folder, then installed iTunes and restored original firmware. Then I used Rockbox Utility and installed Rockbox once again. After that I simply copied back .rockbox folder (replacing all existing files on iPod), my music, and I was up and running in no time  . The whole process took about 20mintes (including 15min for iTunes install/uninstall). Now i can easily boot into Apple OS for fast USB transfer speed and then go back to Rockbox!

Also, since you asked, according to iTunes the firmware I had on the iPod was v1.3 (iPod Video 5G 30Gb), which seems to be the latest.

I figured out that I could have deleted every single file and folder (including hidden ones) on my iPod and Apple OS would work without a problem (I would of course lose all settings, music, contacts, etc).

There was one more problem I ran into. I turned off iPod (held Play button), plugged in USB cable and tried to turn it on, but it would not respond to any key (hold switch was off) even after I disconnected cable. I took back cover off, disconnected battery for 20sec, connected it back and iPod worked!

So thanks to your reply I've managed to resolve the issue. In fact, this is the most helpful forum I've ever been to! 

[Febs]

I figured out that I could have deleted every single file and folder (including hidden ones) on my iPod and Apple OS would work without a problem (I would of course lose all settings, music, contacts, etc).

Why do you think that would work?

There was one more problem I ran into. I turned off iPod (held Play button), plugged in USB cable and tried to turn it on, but it would not respond to any key (hold switch was off) even after I disconnected cable. I took back cover off, disconnected battery for 20sec, connected it back and iPod worked!

If this happens again, there is no need to disconnect the battery.  Just flip the hold switch on and the off again, and then reset the iPod by pressing and holding Menu and select simultaneously.

[prikolchik]

Because Apple OS is stored on a hidden partition and I have no access to it? It seems like it works differently from Rockbox, which loads from "main" storage, And I've literally deleted all the files and Apple OS would work, just lose all its settings.


I can't remember for sure, but I think I've tried to do manual reset after hold switch toggle and it made no difference.

[AlexP]

And also because in Apple OS USB transfer speed is 10Mbyte/s and in Rockbox 4Mbyte/s.

These are both Apple USB modes - Rockbox on the ipods doesn't yet have a native USB.  When you plug in USB under Rockbox, it reboots to the Apple emergency disk mode, which on some models is slower than the Apple firmware USB.