Installation / Removal > Apple - Installation/Removal
modifying ipod bootloader and intalling fw to an other position
KoSa333:
Hi, the HDD of my iPod (5.5 video /80GB/) is physically damaged, but only the first few GBs (i scanned it with hdd surface testers). I made a fat32 partition (from right after the damaged part till the end of the hdd) and it is working as a file storage but of course I want to make the ipod work on it. The only way is to do it manually, make the hidden partition of the os/rockbox bootloader, and after it make the fat32 partition so I have to modify the original bootloader of my iPod (or at least the offset where it tries to load the os). I gave up on the original apple firmware because of the iTunes, but It doesn't matter because rockbox rocks! :D
Well, I need an expert who can help me doing it because I don't wanna throw my ipod away.
Currently, the original firmware is on the ipod, and it's only luck that it runs but usually it freezes.
Maybe I could make copy my song onto it if I modify the fat table so the songs would be copied to the right place.
The bad sectors are between lsa 0 and lsa 30.000.000 while the ipod's last lsa is around 160.000.000
I hope you understand the problem, if not, just ask, It is important to me..
KoSa333:
Anyone? I hoped rockbox developers could help me :(
Then tell me how I can reach the flash memory of the iPod and modify that with PC.
I know nothing about the working of iPods it would be easier if you shared your knowledge.
Is there any other forum where I may get help?
Thanks.
froggyman:
--- Quote from: KoSa333 on December 20, 2009, 06:15:29 PM ---Is there any other forum where I may get help?
Thanks.
--- End quote ---
This is pretty much the only active *english* rockbox forum.
--- Quote from: KoSa333 on December 20, 2009, 06:15:29 PM ---Anyone? I hoped rockbox developers could help me :(
Then tell me how I can reach the flash memory of the iPod and modify that with PC.
I know nothing about the working of iPods it would be easier if you shared your knowledge.
Thanks.
--- End quote ---
The devs that did most of the work on the iPods may not have checked the forums recently.
There might be some information on the wiki about the flash memory (although i think its ROM, so you would need specialized tools to change it, ie you cant edit it from your PC)
Keep it mind i am just ASSuming that last part there... feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
torne:
If you need to modify the in-flash boot loader code, this will be difficult and risky. We do not currently have any support for writing to the boot flash on the iPods, but I expect it's a fairly standard NOR part that can be written via CFI. You would need to write or find this code. You would also need to disassemble quite a bit of the flash to work out what to change, I expect. And if you get it wrong your iPod will be bricked.
Get a new disk. Working around a large number of bad sectors in a critical location is not worth the effort. You can get a much bigger one while you are at it :)
KoSa333:
Thanks for the replies. I could disassemble the code and modify it correctly that wouldn't be a problem.. There is an other way to get it work: where I would put the rockbox bootloader, I put a little "call code" that calls the bootloader from an other place. What do you think?
I haven't seen the code of the bootloader. How does it work? It also calls an offset or read the partition table and choose the second partition where the o/s files are stored?
I don't want to spend money on it, because I have an other mp4 player which works well, and i listen music on it while the ipod is down, and if i can't get it work I would only throw away, the only reason i would use it is because of its HDD. (if i could save the half of the 80GB HDD would be fairly enough against the 2GB mp4 player :)) That's why it doesn't really matters if it is risky.
The flash memory think I got from the rockbox manual:
--- Quote ---The Ipod bootloader. The Ipod bootloader is the program that tells your player how
to load and start the original firmware. It is also responsible for any emergency,
recovery, or disk modes on your player. This bootloader is stored in special flash
memory in your Ipod and comes factory-installed. It is not necessary to modify
this in order to install Rockbox.
--- End quote ---
That's the reason why I thought I could modify it at least.
I hardly can code out of o/s I don't have any experience in it, and really know what sohuld I do, either make a program that loads the code on the HDD into the memory and runs it or a simple JMP would be enough that's why I need technical help.
Thanks.
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