Clip+: cannot install bootloader!

[SysteX]

Hello,

I'm having trouble installing the Rockbox bootloader to my Sansa Clip+. After using the install utility and rebooting the player, the original firmware loads as if nothing has changed. If I reconnect the player to the computer, the modified "clppa.bin" firmware file is still in the root directory. I can and have successfully updated the firmware using the unmodified file. It's as if the modified file is not being recognized by the player.

I've also tried a manual install and the same thing happens. The modified firmware file just sits in the player's root directory and is never applied. I've tried using both the most recent original firware (V 1.02.15) as well as the older firmware (V 1.02.09) to feed to the utility. No luck.

I just upgraded to this Clip+ from a Clip v1, but as far as I'm concerned if I can't get Rockbox working on the Clip+ it's a huge downgrade!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[saratoga]

Are you able to downgrade to an unmodified 1.02.09?

[SysteX]

Yes, I have no problems whatsoever with unmodified firmware files. I have successfully downgraded to unmodified 1.02.09 and back to unmodified 1.02.15.

[funman]

You can try building mkamsboot from SVN to see if it makes a difference.

I see that the OF version number is present in the Clip+ files and we overwrite it, but it should not matter given that you can downgrade.

EDIT: It is likely the problem fixed in r27441.

There is a newer Clip+ hardware similar to the newer Fuzev2 hardware.

If you build mkamsboot from SVN, it should patch but then I expect the Clip+ to show "ATA Error: -2" when it boots.

The OF version string is only checked by these newer revisions Clip+/Fuzev2, even if for the Clip+ all the firmwares which were released by Sandisk are supported, so we can suppose that this hardware revision was planned from the start.

[omsburiks]

I recently bought a Clip+ and had the same problem; I tried SVN mkamsboot and sure enough it updated the firmware but Rockbox gives ATA error: -2 on startup.

How much of a fix is it to get rid of the ATA error?

[mc2739]

One of the developers now has the new variant of the Clip+ and has been working on getting it to work properly.

Keep checking the SansaAMS wiki page for status updates.

[omsburiks]

Awesome, thanks for the help, I'll watch out for it.

[bertrik]

The newer clip+ players need some small changes in the SD card driver (basically the same as are already in SVN for the fuze v2). Also, some newer clip+ players seem to have a slightly different OLED controller, which results in poor brightness of the display with code currently in SVN.

I now have a borrowed clip+ player that has both of these changes (SD controller and OLED controller slightly different). I know how to fix both issues, but just need to figure out how to do this as clean as possible. A lot of code is shared between all of the AMS sansas and we have to make sure it works for all of them with as little unnecessary overhead as possible for these kind of tweaks.

[SysteX]

Fantastic. Thanks so much for taking the time to do this. I'll be keeping my eyes out for an update that works with my newer Clip+.

[ameketa]

Ha! I just got my new Clip+ this morning and was dismayed that the patched firmware was refusing install. I'll also be waiting to see when this is available!

Cheers

[saratoga]

Ha! I just got my new Clip+ this morning and was dismayed that the patched firmware was refusing install. I'll also be waiting to see when this is available!

Cheers

AFAIK the manual install directions should work fine for your player.

[ameketa]

Ha! I just got my new Clip+ this morning and was dismayed that the patched firmware was refusing install. I'll also be waiting to see when this is available!

Cheers

AFAIK the manual install directions should work fine for your player.

Yes, but I assume the ATA error will still show up, unless bertrik has solved it already?

[saratoga]

Ha! I just got my new Clip+ this morning and was dismayed that the patched firmware was refusing install. I'll also be waiting to see when this is available!

Cheers

AFAIK the manual install directions should work fine for your player.

Yes, but I assume the ATA error will still show up, unless bertrik has solved it already?

Well the wiki says to try it, so I assume it works.  Wouldn't make much sense to say how to do it if it didn't work.  Did you try?

[mc2739]

Yes, but I assume the ATA error will still show up, unless bertrik has solved it already?

The ATA error has been fixed, but you will need to use the manual installation instructions on the SansaAMS wiki page and download the version 1.4 mkamsboot and the version 3.0 clip+ bootloader (follow the links in the manual instructions).

[bertrik]

The problem with the OF not flashing the patched firmware has been fixed in mkamsboot in SVN. You need a new mkamsboot for this.
The ATA -2 error is caused by a different problem, which has also been fixed in SVN. You need a new bootloader for this.

funman was working on getting new versions mkamsboot and the bootloader up, but I don't know if this has been completed (I think it is by now though).