Please help 30 GB iPod Video failed installation

[devilla]

Hi,
I just used the automated installation tool to install version 3.1 of Rockbox onto my iPod. The utility correctly identified my player, successfully installed the bootloader and began extracting the Rocksoft software. It ended with "failed to create .rocksoft directory".
So I thought no problem, I read the manual and I will do a manual install. Now here's the big problem. My iPod screen says
"Rockbox boot loader
version 3.0
IPOD version: 0x000B0011
TOSHIBA MK3008GAL
Partition 1: 0x0B 28521 MB
Loading Rockbox...
Error!
Can't load rockbox.ipod:
File not found
Hold down MENU+SELECT to reboot   <----- This works
then SELECT+PLAY for disk mode    <-----This DOES NOT WORK!!!

What now? Have I bricked my perfectly fine iPod? Please someone tell me no. Without being able to enable disk mode, I am unable to view the iPod on either my Windows or Linux computer.

 :'(

[LambdaCalculus]

First off all, there's no such thing as a .rocksoft directory, and there's no such thing as Rocksoft software. The folder that's to be created is called .rockbox, and the software is, and always will be, Rockbox.

Anyway, you're probably not hitting SELECT+PLAY fast enough. Press MENU+SELECT to start your iPod, and then immediately press and hold SELECT+PLAY at the Apple logo *before* the backlight comes on. You should see a simple monochrome "Do not disconnect" screen appear; this is Disk Mode. Connect your iPod to your PC, and use Rockbox Utility to install a Rockbox build to your iPod.

If Rockbox Utility still gives you problems, just download a current build and extract it to the root of your iPod (e.g. if your iPod appears as E:\ in Windows, then extract straight to E:\).

[devilla]

Thanks for the tip.
Excuse my French. It may have said "folder". Regardless, it failed to install the Rocksoft "FIRMWARE". No need to be pretentious.
I'm not an idiot nor computer illiterate, just panicked because I'm afraid I may have made a mistake with this experiment.
Been attempting the reboot then disk mode buttons during the apple logo, many times. Still trying...... hoping it will work eventually.

[woyciesjes]

  Also, another thought... Hit the buttons to get it to reboot, and as soon as you see the Apple logo, flip the Hold/Lock switch on the top of the iPod. This should tell it to load the normal iPod firmware. This may help also...
   If the iPod comes up fine, connect it to your machine. You should be able to see the iPod as a drive letter now, and re-do the manual install...

[devilla]

Thanks. Good idea. I tried that too and it didn't work. It was like the disk was frozen. 

BUT... it seems after having left it on hold for awhile, I was able to do a reboot and then successfully put it in disk mode!

No clue why that helped or if it was a fluke and the 50th try was just the lucky one.

Oddly, there IS a directory (yes a directory) called .rockbox that had been created. It must have been corrupted in the auto install. So I'm just manually installing now.

*fingers crossed*

[AlexP]

It may have said "folder". Regardless, it failed to install the Rocksoft "FIRMWARE". No need to be pretentious.

Re-read what he said - this is nothing to do with folder/directory.

It is ROCKBOX not Rocksoft, and you should have a .rockbox directory, not .rocksoft.  He is not being pretentious, the name of the directory is very important.  I honestly wonder how people manage to get to the website whilst not knowing the name...

[bluebrother]

then SELECT+PLAY for disk mode    <-----This DOES NOT WORK!!!

This does work. Definitely. Simply because it's hard-coded in the Apple bootloader that runs on every boot. We don't change this and can't change this. The FAQ holds this information too, and there is also a website at apple describing this. Please check the FAQ first.

Second, it would be quite interesting under which circumstances Rockbox Utility failed. That is especially the information provided in the About / System Info dialog.

[devilla]

I meant rockbox. I just mistyped because I was freaking out. Sorry if I misread. I thought he sounded arrogant and as a woman working in IT I tend to mouth off if I feel I am being spoken down to. It happens far too often.

Thank you for your help. The manual install was a success!!!

Now I'm going to try Foobar 2000 as my iTunes alternative and see how I like it, since it seems to be the one that's most recommended with Rockbox players.

P.S.
Bluebrother
NO it didn't work for about an hour of trying. Then I left it on hold tried it again and it worked. Why would I make that up? For kicks?

[bluebrother]

NO it didn't work for about an hour of trying. Then I left it on hold tried it again and it worked. Why would I make that up? For kicks?

Well, it's something that *does* work. The timing for pressing the buttons can be a bit tricky, but it *does* work. It's apple code, and even apple describes this mode. Just claiming it doesn't work doesn't make the functionality not work, magically appear or be wrong.

Still, I'd be interested to know under which exact circumstances Rockbox Utility failed.

[devilla]

It didn't seem to log anything, although it successfully installed the boot loader only to the device "E".

[froggyman]

have you got it to  work yet?

if not you could try to put it back into disk mode, connect to your computer, and do a restore with iTunes. and then trying to re-install rockbox.

just an idea, this has fixed problems with some of my installations of rockbox to other players, and when i have helped friends to install it.

[bluebrother]

It didn't seem to log anything, although it successfully installed the boot loader only to the device "E".

Hmm. There's no drive e: in the screenshot. By the way, you can copy and paste from the System Info dialog.

[LambdaCalculus]

I meant rockbox. I just mistyped because I was freaking out. Sorry if I misread. I thought he sounded arrogant and as a woman working in IT I tend to mouth off if I feel I am being spoken down to. It happens far too often.

I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. A lot of us also work in IT, and trust me, working with some of the people we have to tends to make you a little edgy towards people who aren't willing to RTFM or at least figure out how something works. The same thing occurs here on the Rockbox forums. Ask any of the staff members.

I'm glad you got your iPod working with Rockbox. Have fun with it!