iPod 5.5 MK2431GAH (240GB) upgrade, PC = Linux

[Misspell]

A MK2431GAH (240GB) drive is on its way, would like to get alittle advice on this check list.
(did some research here at the forum, but alot of the threads for iPods and 240GB are old, 2009ish)

PC os = Ubuntu (Linux)
Don't have iTunes

After installing the drive, can i hook the iPod to my PC and format to fat32 via linux (not using iTunes) ?

1) Turn on iPod
2) Hold 'Center + Play' to enter Disk Mode
3) Plug iPod into PC
4) Format to FAT32
5) Unmount then unplug iPod
6) Restart iPod
7) Plug iPod back into PC
8 ) Install RockBox using 'Rockbox Utility' (any normal stable version after 3.6)

Any insight, suggestions or experiences would be great to know.
- thanks

(NOTE for people searching the net and coming across this thread, its Dated June 2011)
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[bluebrother]

After installing the drive, can i hook the iPod to my PC and format to fat32 via linux (not using iTunes) ?

Yes and no.

The Ipod needs a special partition layout to work. You can create that from Linux, see http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/IpodManualRestore Just formatting it to FAT32 won't be sufficient, and you need to install the Apple firmware in its firmware partition.

[Misspell]

Thanks for the info and link.
I now understand about the firmware partition; is there any reason doing this via Linux or windows/iTunes would be better, "more solid" (for the lack of words) or make any difference ether way ?

I do have a dual boot, but have not seen windows in 2.5 years, and would like to keep it that way
The linux directions seam simple enough, but if letting iTunes do it - is better, then thats the rout i will take.
 

[torne]

Letting iTunes do it is certainly a lot easier. It should work either way, though: as long as the original firmware boots and functions after you do the restore manually then everything is fine and you are good to install Rockbox.

[Misspell]

ok, thanks.

After the drive comes in and i get some free time to spend on it, ill post back with the notes & links im keeping (maybe it will help someone else out).

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[Misspell]

A small follow up, drive came in.
Opened up my iPod following this guide and installed the new drive. Booted up iPod, was greeted with a funny looking cartoon character, iPod restarted by itself  then displayed the a error stating drive needed to be restored, while looking at that screen plugged iPod into a windows machine with iTunes already running, followed the screens and iPod was running. Shut it down, restarted in Disk Mode (Play + Select), pluded it in to my linux box, installed Rockbox and everything is OK.

Don't have time to play with formatting via linux, but thank you the link above. Maybe down the line i will toss the old drive back in and go through the linux format just to see how it goes.

Another happy camper with an oversized drive and RockBox.

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