Fat32 on a mac

[Sue]

Hi guys,

I'm having trouble installing the Rockbox Utility on my
- 5th Generation Ipod (Video) with the
- iFlash Video iPod Compact Flash Adapter (mk2) and
- Transcend Compact Flash 32 GB Ultra Speed 133x

I don't have access to a WindowsPC, so I used the guide "ipod conversion to fat32:
http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/IpodConversionToFAT32

My ipod is now FAT32 but when I try to install the RockBoxUtility, I get this error:
"Error reading partition table - possibly not an Ipod"

I tried both partition tables provided (for the 30GB version), but I always get the same error.

Is that because of the CF?
Or is it because the iPod doesn't have the iPod bootloader? I can't restore it in iTunes, because then it's not FAT32 anymore...

In any case, I'm stuck 

Thanks for your help!

Cheers,
Sue

[torne]

The partition tables provided are only guaranteed to work on the original iPod disks. The original firmware should be working before you can install Rockbox; if the original firmware works but our installer doesn't like the partition table then we probably should fix it, but if the original firmware doesn't boot then unfortunately you will need to experiment more. Generally the easiest thing to do is restore it with iTunes for Windows, even if you don't have a windows computer handy; it's probably less effort to borrow access to one than it is to futz around with partition tables for ages trying to get it to work.

[Sue]

Thanks for your reply!

The iPod works fine with the original software (when mac formatted). Obviously I don't know if it would when fat32 formatted, but I guess so.

I figure I have to find someone with a Windows PC (not so easy for me since nearly all of my friends are using a mac or GNU/Linux  ).

Thanks for your help!

[torne]

The iPod works fine with the original software (when mac formatted). Obviously I don't know if it would when fat32 formatted, but I guess so.

You need to reinstall the original firmware as part of the process of formatting it as FAT32, so you *should* know If not then you haven't done it correctly...

[Sue]

Sorry, I'm a rookie...

I assumed that there is a (easy) way to install Rockbox by using only macos, since there is the guide I linked in my first post. That confused me.
Why should I format the Ipod on a mac if I still need Windows to get the original firmware afterwards?

Or maybe I still don't get it 

Anyways, thanks for your patience!

I guess it REALLY need Windows *sigh* since I REALLY want Rockbox 

[bluebrother]

You need to install the Apple firmware once -- either by usin itunes restore or dd'ing the firmware as described in http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/IpodManualRestore The conversion wiki page assumes that you have it installed, which obviously isn't the case with a CF card.

It's perfectly possible to get it running without itunes, I did that for my Mini some years ago (though on Linux)