Installation failure on ipod 5.5 gen

[bebber]

I've tried installing Rockbox both using the installation utility and manually, on my ipod video 5.5 generation.
The bootloader fails to recognize the installation at all (error can't load rockbox.ipod file not found).
I then installed Loader2 from http://ipl.derpapst.eu/wiki/Loader_2 which seems to work, but when selected the Rockbox installation says something about ".rockbox not found, installation incomplete"

All in all, a very unsatisfactory experience which makes me think wistfully of the hassle-free Apple software that came with the device.

[saratoga]

I've tried installing Rockbox both using the installation utility and manually, on my ipod video 5.5 generation.
The bootloader fails to recognize the installation at all (error can't load rockbox.ipod file not found).

That means you stopped half way through installation.  Load rockbox utility, and on the screen in front of you select "complete installation".  Don't stop until its done.

[bebber]

That means you stopped half way through installation.  Load rockbox utility, and on the screen in front of you select "complete installation".  Don't stop until its done.

I have tried that, and still get the same message. I have also checked the ipod itself using both Nautilus (I'm running Linux Mint 13) and ls -a, which show the .rockbox folder is present.

So, I can see the .rockbox folder but the software can't.

[saratoga]

Its possible the file system is screwed up.  Does the Apple firmware work?

[bluebrother]

Its possible the file system is screwed up.  Does the Apple firmware work?

Even if I'd do a filesystem check. The Apple firmware runs of a special firmware partition while Rockbox has important files stored on the data partition. If the filesystem of the data partition is corrupt it will affect Rockbox, but not necessarily the Apple firmware (it will of course affect playing back broken files, but the firmware by itself is a different story).

All in all, a very unsatisfactory experience which makes me think wistfully of the hassle-free Apple software that came with the device.

Replacing the firmware on any device is a nontrivial procedure. If you consider that too hard or are not willing to take the risks it brings you shouldn't do this. Nevertheless, there's pretty much no way you can permanently damage an Ipod.

Plus, you're always welcome to contribute patches to improve the experience.

[bebber]

I previously reformatted the ipod and re-installed the Apple firmware after my first attempt to install Rockbox. That worked fine. Now with Loader2 I can select Apple firmware and that also still works fine.

Just to check, the .rockbox folder is meant to go into the main partition? The other smaller partition is where the Apple firmware is?

I will wipe the whole lot and re-install the Apple firmware, then try again with the Rockbox utility.

Sadly I only know one language and its not the one used for Rockbox, otherwise I'd gladly look into the code!

[saratoga]

I previously reformatted the ipod and re-installed the Apple firmware after my first attempt to install Rockbox. That worked fine. Now with Loader2 I can select Apple firmware and that also still works fine.

Just to check, the .rockbox folder is meant to go into the main partition? The other smaller partition is where the Apple firmware is?

Oh, so you're asking about loader2 rather then our bootloader?  You'd probably have to try and track down one of its developers (or I guess look through the code).  To be honest I'm not sure if its still possible to use rockbox with loader2.  AFAIK that code hasn't been updated in many years.  

[bebber]

Oh, so you're asking about loader2 rather then our bootloader? 

Not really. The bootloader completely failed to find .rockbox, as I mentioned in my opening post.

The bootloader fails to recognize the installation at all (error can't load rockbox.ipod file not found).

I tried Loader2 because a post on another forum had mentioned it worked when bootloader didn't. Loader 2 seems at least to give some choices, though the Rockbox installation doesn't work.

I may try again to reinstall everything.

[gevaerts]

Is this a 80GB ipod? Did you reformat before installing? If so, which tools did you use?