Ipod Nano 1G: preventing the orginal Apple firmware

[mborus]

Hi,

currently my Ipod Nano boots into the original Apple firmware,
whenever it is started with the HOLD switch on.

This also happens, when the player is turned off and I plug it into
a charger. It randomly also happens when I connect it to USB or
disconnect it. Normally I keep my Nano on hold, so it's very easy
to forget the switch.

For me this feature is just annoying. I know how to reset the player.
Normal people don't - and forget how, even if you tell them in advance about this feature. It has happend a few times to friends I gave my player, and they were stuck completely.

Is there any way to permanently disable the original firmware on a Nano
in a way that Rockbox will boot even with the hold switch activated?

[torne]

Yes; you can not install the bootloader. However, this will produce a *worse* outcome: every time you boot with the hold switch turned on, it will clear Rockbox's settings (since this is what happens if you turn on hold later in boot).