RESOLVED: Unable to remove Rockbox from Clip+; stuck in "bootloader" mode!

[Ambex]

Hey, all.

After trying out Rockbox with my Sansa Clip+, I decided it wasn't for me.  Using the Rockbox Utility (I'm using Windows XP Pro SP3, if it makes any difference in troubleshooting), I uninstalled Rockbox.  Things worked as though they were back to normal...until the unit powered off and I tried to turn it back on.  Now, I'm seeing:

"Loading firmware
File not found
Rockbox (logo)"

A few seconds later "Plug USB cable" appears on the screen.  When I attach the Clip+ to my computer via USB, the message changes to "Bootloader USB mode," but neither my computer nor the Rockbox Utility recognize any device attached.  When I try to specify one manually (as I did during the install), it says the mountpoint doesn't exist.

Any help is greatly appreciated.  This player was a replacement for my lost iPod, and I am a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines, so I have no access to be able to replace this unit.

Thank you!

UPDATE: Problem is resolved by following the advice given by gevaerts.  It did not initially fix my problem due to a malfunctioning USB cable.

[gevaerts]

You uninstalled the rockbox main build, but not the bootloader. You should be able to reset the device by holding power for a while, and then boot the original firmware by holding left during boot. Once you're there, reinstall the original firmware (i.e. copy the original .bin file which you can download somewhere on the sandisk website, this is the same file you had to get there when installing rockbox).

[Ambex]

Not completely out of the woods yet, but you've gotten me to a semi-usable state of the Clip+.  I'm at the point where I can navigate the unit in its original firmware, but it is completely unrecognized by my computer.  The battery charges, but it does not show it as being connected, either on the device or on my computer.

I've done research on new issue online, but nothing seems to fit the exact description of my problem.  Any ideas?  Thank you for the help you've been able to provide thus far!

[nick_p]

Settings>System Settings>USB Mode>MSC

[Ambex]

MSC Mode is already turned on.  I have tried all three settings (MTP, MSC, and AutoDetect) to no avail.  Thank you for that suggestion, though.

[funman]

If USB mode is set to MSC there's not much else we can tell you.

Since it's a problem with the Original Firmware, I'd advise to ask support from Sandisk.

But you said USB bootloader mode of rockbox didn't work so I'd think something is broken: your Clip+, your cable, or your laptop USB port.

[Ambex]

Thank you all for the help.  It turns out that the cable that I had been using stopped working during this whole process, which tricked me into not trying another.  I admit that, after following gevaerts' instructions, this should have been one of the first things to try. 

I am now back up and running.  Thanks again for all of the great support!

[DCars]

You should be able to reset the device by holding power for a while, and then boot the original firmware by holding left during boot.

I have a similar problem with my Clip V2. I've tried to uninstall the bootloader and Rockbox from the player with the Rockbox utility but neither works. Now my Clip does not work and the Sandisk utility does not recognise it.

I can power off / reset by holding the power switch for 15 seconds, but what does "holding left during boot" mean, please?

[bluebrother]

I can power off / reset by holding the power switch for 15 seconds, but what does "holding left during boot" mean, please?

There's a button labelled "left" in our manual, and it shows some kind of "left" thing on the physical device.

[DCars]

Got it! All problems solved now. Thank you very much.

[harri2cool]

I want to remove it too... I uninstalled using the utility but the boot loader doesnt go even after manually putting the .bin and redoing sansa original firmware.
the bootloader always boots saying no frmware found... want to get rid of it.

[Eyjaffjaffjokull]

Hey,

I'm trying to get rid of the bootloader but the Sansa Firmware refuses to install.

I tried the Sansa Updater and the manual way by copying the firmware file to the root folder of the Clip+, but the Updater says: Firmware up to date and the manual installation does not start after restarting the device.

I switched to a Clip Zip (with Rockbox of course) and want to send the Clip+ back to amazon but I prefer to leave no traces of Rockbox.


Any further suggestions?


Thanks!
Post Merge: July 13, 2012, 07:19:35 AMOk,

after formatting the device and copying the clppa.bin to it, it worked.