iHP-120 with CF Card - Check HDD Error

[enigmo]

I have a H120 whose hard drive packed up, so I replaced it with a CF adaptor similar to this one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0039OA67G
and a 32GB 400x Transcend CF card. Now, the iRiver will attempt booting but give me a Check HDD Connection message, and then just Check HDD before going to  the home/summary screen displaying 0000 Folders and 0000 Songs. No listing is displayed when displayed. Menu doesn't let me format either with a Can't Format error. However, if I plug the unit into my PC, I can see the storage, rename it, format it, whatever I want. Rockbox installation from the tool appears to work fine, but rebooting returns the same Check HDD error.
This problem seems to have been raised in the past with no solution offered. Any ideas?

[monoid]

What bootloader do you have installed in IRiver? You need 7pre4 for CF solution to work, I think.

[enigmo]

That's just it, I don't even get that far. I've tried the automatic tool, I've also tried manual installation with .hex file patching, but if the unit itself doesn't recognise the drive there's nowhere for it to install from. Also, I have gone through the CFMod wiki page and have the 7pre4 bootloader file, but there aren't any instructions on what to do with it. Unless I'm being a potato and missed it utterly

[enigmo]

No ideas anyone? Is any of this a symptom of an incompatible adaptor or card?

[peteswensson]

The iRiver original firmware cannot connect with a CF card, period.  That's why you are getting that Check HDD message from iRiver and are unable to flash the OF from the CF card.

So the work-around is to patch the OF with the 7pre4, but do it FROM A HARD DRIVE (i.e., the same 1.8" Toshiba style as the original hard drive), not from a CF card.  Once it is patched, then replace the hard drive with the CF card assembly.  The iRiver will boot into the Roxbox you installed on the CF card.

To recap, you need to do this upgrade as a two-step process: 1) patch the iRiver firmware by putting the modified .hex file on the hard drive of the device.  Since your drive died, you'll need to get a replacement from eBay or some such place.  It doesn't have to be the biggest and best, it just needs to work; I would get a 20 GB MK2004GAL (same as your original), which only cost $12-$16 on eBay.  Then follow the iRiver procedure for flashing the firmware.  2) Replace the hard drive with the CF card and its adaptor, with Roxbox pre-installed on the card (I like to do that using the card reader in my computer).  Next time you boot up, the iRiver will automatically go into Rockbox.

If you feel like booting up into the original iRiver firmware instead of Rockbox, you will get the same error message and see the same screen displaying a lack of files.  It will be for the same reason: the OF is unable to read CF cards.  This doesn't bother me, because I prefer Rockbox.  It is a trade-off, but one I am happy to make.

This method should work for you.  Good luck!

--Pete

[enigmo]

I scared of this... I'll see if I can scratch up a spare 1.8 from a friend instead of spending more money on this, but if it comes to it I might have to.
Thanks, though