Problems copying my m4a files onto newly rockbox'd IPOD Classic 160GB

[rectorspectre]

Hi,

I've arrived at Rockbox due to a lot of problems with ITunes and the aforementioned IPOD Classic that I have.

Everything seemed to be going well, Rockbox installed fine, then I started copying the m4a files from my PC's ITunes library onto the IPOD. I keep getting a "Data Error (cyclic redundancy check) error message.

Please tell me if the following methodology is correct for putting the m4a files onto my rockbox'd IPOD:

1. Select Folder from PC's library (I have these arranged by artist, so the folder will contain sub-folders for each album)
2. Copy, then paste into the root directory of the rockbox'd IPOD

This appeared to be working fine for a while, now I sporadically get the above error message. The only way I seem to be able to get around it is by dragging and dropping individual m4a files. I have 45GB of songs to copy across!

many thanks for your patience and help

[[Saint]]

emCORE main menu -> Tools -> Run Rockbox fallback image


[Saint]

[rectorspectre]

Hi Saint,

Thanks for the reply. I'm a novice, so some of my queries may be a little 'basic'. I have carried out your instructions, will let you know how I get on.

Just for further info, these m4a are largely (about 99% of them) are my own CDs ripped through itunes, VBR I believe. I'm not sure if this has any bearing on the problems I'm seeing but guess that any info is useful.

In terms of where I'm dropping the files onto my device, as mentioned in my original post, this is OK?

Thanks again

[rectorspectre]

Hi Saint,

Unfortunately this has made no difference whatsoever.

Actually, that's not true, I can now no longer drag and drop individual files either 

If I try again after the first "data error (cyclic redundancy check)" error, I get a slightly different message:

 "Cannot copy -filename-. The parameter is incorrect"

 the window (the one showing the ipod contents) then locks up. When I finally manage to get the window open again, sometimes the problematic file that I was trying to copy is then there where intended. But other times not 

All very odd, especially as the first few albums - about 200 songs- transferred no problem

Obviously this is beginning to look like this is not really a rockbox issue, more a 'system' issue. However, any advice as to how I can resolve this is greatly appreciated

[rectorspectre]

Update....

It now seems that I cannot add any m4a files to the ipod. Even attempting to do a single transfer of m4a file results in the "Data error (cyclic redundancy check)" error message.

Another annoyance is that when I connect the ipod via the USB cable, a lot of the time it shows up in 'My Computer' as just removable drive, with a size of 0 bytes. This 'removable drive' cannot be ejected, and the ipod is frozen. It requires a reboot of the ipod and re-plugging into the PC with fingers and toes crossed hoping it will recognized properly. Eventually it does, but it can take 4 or 5 attempts.

As before, ANY help would be appreciated as I am now sat here with a brick.....

thanks R

[[Saint]]

That is...rather disconcerting.

The fallback image has known working USB (the primary reason, other than facilitating the initial installation, it is included in the emCORE binary),  if it doesn't work in the fallback, there's really something wrong here.

The interesting thing is, we know it worked at some point.

It must have done so, otherwise you would never have been able to install Rockbox in the first place. We know the fallback image hasn't changed, it is the very same one that allowed you to install Rockbox to begin with, and now it suddenly won't transfer *anything* at all...

Signs here seem to point to the host.

What I'm going to ask you to do is attempt to verify the behaviour on another host, and/or on your current host, with a different cable and/or USB port (USB 3 ports cause us grief for some absolutely unknown reason, even though technically speaking they should fall back to a 100% USB 2 compatible mode, and front panel USB ports are almost always absolute crap...avoid them if possible).

Report back after having done so, and we'll go from there.


EDIT: For the sake of completion, I'll touch on a few other points raised prior,

Media location - this is a common question, and it is completely understandable to ask. The answer is short, however. Rockbox absolutely could not care less where you put your media, as long as you don't dump it in the /.rockbox directory (even though you technically could do so, we don't advise it, and the Database will refuse to scan here).

Media type - a /reasonably/ common question, again understandable. Short answer again. Rockbox couldn't care less about the file type being transferred, nor does it have any ability that I'm aware of to distinguish between file types. Its all just a bunch of 1s and 0s with an intended destination.

EDIT 2: Some users aren't aware of this, so I'll add this as well, in case anyone else stumbles across this post in future,

The iPod Classic is currently "unsupported", for various reasons (that should be changing in the reasonably near future).
Details of this are boring, the main implication of the unsupported target status in this case is that there's no device manual.

Fortunately, the iPod Video is practically identical in every relevant aspect.

The iPod Video 5/5.5G Rockbox user manual will serve as a replacement in the interim. None of the information given there is going to be incorrect (to my knowledge), the only slight issue one will encounter is with the few features the iPod Video has implemented that the iPod Classic (currently) does not.

ie. Recording, FM Radio, line out, line in, dual-boot, and anything pertaining to an accessory that uses IAP (iPod Accessory Protocol - not In App Purchasing ).



[Saint]

[rectorspectre]

Saint,

Thanks for all advice so far.

Was beginning to think along similar lines, especially after getting the system tray error message as follows:

"Windows – Delayed Write Failed

Windows was unable to save all the data for the file F:\music. The data has been lost. This error may be caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection. Please try to save this file elsewhere."

So I was thinking "failure of computer hardware" - sounds like try another PC, and "network connection" sounds like try another port/cable.

The other PC I can try tonight, the other cable may take a little longer.

Additionally, the advice regarding file type and location is reassuring, thanks.

Will report back

R

[rectorspectre]

OK,

Tried it on another PC, unfortunately no joy 

I made sure I was using the main USB port (I'm reliably informed that this port is the 'motherboard' USB port).

Also fairly sure that it is a USB2 port. Not sure how I would 100% verify this.

Will try and get hold of an alternative cable tomorrow and will again report back

[rectorspectre]

So, got hold of another (known functional & genuine apple) cable.

Still not doing it  Identical error messages......

So, 2 different leads and 2 different PCs, and all of the available USB ports (just for giggles), still no joy.

In my original post I mentioned that I'd come to Rockbox as I was having issues with itunes. I feel now may be a good time to elaborate on these issues. Basically the ipod was no longer synchronizing correctly when plugged into itunes (hanging etc.)

I followed the apple instructions and restored the ipod and removed all of the data. Then when it came to adding the songs back on to the ipod via itunes, it would get 6 or 7 albums in then hang, crashing itunes etc.

So, albeit I'm getting a few more albums on with Rockbox, it appears there are parallels.

I'm wondering if this is some hard disk issue within the ipod itself. Or if that was the case would I not be able to get anything on there at all?

Is this a lost cause? (Would be gutted if it was, as the albums I have managed to get on sound flippin' great through Rockbox)

Many thanks
R

[[Saint]]

Bugger.

That's rather the opposite of how I was hoping this was going to play out.

We learned one thing during this experiment, and unfortunately, it is that the iPod is the single common denominator here.
With the additional information that this behavior also presented itself with iTunes and the original firmware, this allows us to exclude software as a culprit as well, given that iTunes is non-essential for a Rockboxed iPod Classic and almost every single trace of Apple's stink is removed from the device during the installation of emCORE.

This doesn't bode well for our friend Mr. (and/or Mrs. we don't discriminate) iPod.


[Saint]

[rectorspectre]

Bugger indeed,

Perversely, I feel strangely calm now that we have kind of diagnosed the problem. Ipod was approximately 6 and half years old, so the world keeps spinning, as they say.

I've quite enjoyed the experience and have learned things, which is good. I have a spangly new Sansa Clip that is begging to be Rockbox'd, or balls'd up depending how it goes.....No doubt I'll be lurking back on here in the coming days

Three cheers for [Saint], your patience and advice have at least given me confidence to have another stab.

R