iPod Mini (4gb 2nd Gen) problems

[morgan]

I recently replaced the battery in my iPod mini 2nd generation player which I'd installed RockBox on, a few years ago. The iPod has sat in my cupboard with a dead battery for a couple of years. RockBox version r17932-080703 is reported under 'Rockbox info' in the system settings. When I connected the iPod via USB to my Dell Inspiron 1525 running Ubuntu 9.10, the iPod charged fine, and plays the music that was already on the iPod. However, I have two problems:

1. I cannot mount the iPod under linux. dmesg simply returns two lines when I plug the iPod in:

[ 5467.817089] usb 6-2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 4
[ 5467.987327] usb 6-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice

2. I cannot load the original firmware. If I have set the "hold" switch on after I turn the iPod on, it gets to printing "Loading original firmwa" on the screen, the resets itself, cycling ad nauseum.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

-Morgan

[Chronon]

Can you load Apple's emergency disk mode?

[morgan]

Good point, Chronon. I tried last night, and I can. I can then access to iPod as /dev/sdb, but it mounts as a read-only filesystem, so I still can't transfer files...

[Chronon]

I'm not sure what went awry, but if I found myself in your position I would try restoring the iPod from emergency disk mode.

Here is a method to restore with Linux:
http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/IpodManualRestore

[gevaerts]

but it mounts as a read-only filesystem

The filesystem is corrupted. fsck.vfat is your friend

[morgan]

Awesome, thanks guys, worked a treat!