ATA error: -2 at boot after updating Sansa Clip+ (dev builds)

[qorx]

Thank you, installed and testing

[Bitstream]

Hi, I'm new here.

I just tried updating my Clip+ to the latest build offered by the Rockbox Utility, since I had a problem with playback stopping in the middle of files. Now I also have the ATA error shown in the picture.

The problem is I don't know how to go back to the latest stable (or any other) version, since the player is not recognized and therefore doesn't get a drive letter, so the Utility doesn't work anymore. I thought I had bricked it but this thread gave me new hope. How can I try the versions mentioned here or go back to stable? Thanks a lot!

[qorx]

Bitstream, boot the sansa firmware (hold left+power), then connect the player to the pc, save your settings configuration file "config.cfg" to the pc if you want to restore them later, delete the folder ".rockbox".

> download the last build Mihail posted
> move the folder .rockbox inside the .zip to the player
> safely unplug it from pc
> turn it off
> boot it (it'll boot rockbox again)
> run it and if any issues arise, report it to the devs.

edit: don't know if it was clear but do not use Rockbox Utility in this case

[Bitstream]

Thank you very much!  This was already the second time I thought the Clip+'s days were over. The first time was about 2 years ago when the original firmware was always hanging at "Refreshing your media". It was only when I was looking for a new Sansa player that I learned of Rockbox, tried it out, and it gave it a second life. It's fantastic that people are still working on improved software for such an old player. Keep it up please!

[qorx]

no problem, glad you're enjoying it again

[Bitstream]

Unfortunately I keep having problems with the latest version posted. For example, I haven't been able to access the Clip+ as USB drive(s) anymore. This has always been slow for me (sometimes it took 10 mins until the drive names showed up, so I'm used to it), but now it doesn't work with neither Rockbox nor stock firmware. Sansa firmware again hangs on "Refreshing..." forever - even when I take out the SD card before boot. Booting Rockbox I have several problems, for example "Error accessing playlist control file". The database doesn't seem to work, I can only play by file. And playback sometimes "hangs" like a broken CD (short loop)...

So to put it short, I'd rather return to the stable version I've been using for years. While playback sometimes ended mid-track, it was stable otherwise. But I cannot change firmwares as long as the Clip+ doesn't show up as drive, can I? The drive letters sometimes appear, but with no content. Sometimes Windows reports "Device not recognized". Maybe there is something broken after all?

On a side note, if I were to purchase a new, affordable, tiny FLAC player that supports Rockbox (I read that new Sansas don't), what would be the recommendation?

Thanks!

[Mihail Zenkov]

Unfortunately I keep having problems with the latest version posted. For example, I haven't been able to access the Clip+ as USB drive(s) anymore. This has always been slow for me (sometimes it took 10 mins until the drive names showed up, so I'm used to it), but now it doesn't work with neither Rockbox nor stock firmware. Sansa firmware again hangs on "Refreshing..." forever - even when I take out the SD card before boot. Booting Rockbox I have several problems, for example "Error accessing playlist control file". The database doesn't seem to work, I can only play by file. And playback sometimes "hangs" like a broken CD (short loop)...

I think you have another issue (not directly related to freq scaling) - hardware or software problem with file system.
When player off - try hold select (middle button) and connect it to usb. Then try check disk for errors.

[Bitstream]

Thanks for the hint. I tried that but the drive keeps disappearing even during CheckDisk, also the checking takes very long... I made one last attempt to get the old firmware back onto it during a period where the drive was visible (in Bootloader mode, it appears sometimes at least), but it seems this only killed the bootloader - boot is now hanging at Rockbox logo... The periods where I see the real drive name SANSA CLIP have become shorter and shorter.

Maybe it's really time for a new player, the Clip+ has served me many years of daily use, and I'm not disappointed at all. Before that I already had a Clip, which I only sold because it didn't have an SD slot.

[saratoga]

Try rebooting into the firmware and checking the disk for error.

[Bitstream]

I did that too in the meantime (been trying for 2 hours), the drive sooner or later always disappears during any operation. No matter if Checkdisk or trying to delete anything. MUSIC folder is corrupted, Rockbox folder is not. But trying to delete it (I'll just try anything now) I get an error about the files not being accessible.

Using the Utility I also get an error (with or without also installing bootloader) about drive not being writable, this seems to be the relevant part:

[rbutil\rbutilqt\base\utils.cpp:194 INFO] free disk space for "D:/" 154972160
[rbutil\rbutilqt\base\ziputil.cpp:80 INFO] extractArchive "D:/" ""
[rbutil\rbutilqt\base\ziputil.cpp:133 INFO] creating output file failed: "D://.rockbox/docs/sample.icons"
[rbutil\rbutilqt\gui\selectiveinstallwidget.cpp:195 INFO] continuing install with stage 2
[rbutil\rbutilqt\gui\selectiveinstallwidget.cpp:197 ERROR] Last part returned error.

Are there any players with Rockbox support still on the market that could replace a Clip+? Is the Clip Zip (still available from some sources) any good?

[saratoga]

I did that too in the meantime (been trying for 2 hours), the drive sooner or later always disappears during any operation. No matter if Checkdisk or trying to delete anything.

Does the Sandisk firmware's reformat option work?

MUSIC folder is corrupted, Rockbox folder is not. But trying to delete it (I'll just try anything now) I get an error about the files not being accessible.

Using the Utility I also get an error (with or without also installing bootloader) about drive not being writable, this seems to be the relevant part:

If you can't access the disk there is no point in trying to copy over files with rockbox utility. 

[Bitstream]

I did that too in the meantime (been trying for 2 hours), the drive sooner or later always disappears during any operation. No matter if Checkdisk or trying to delete anything.

Does the Sandisk firmware's reformat option work?

As stated above, I haven't been able to get into the Sandisk firmware since 2014, it always hung at "Refreshing your media", and still is. Booting Rockbox now says "File Not found..." and then "Plug USB cable". Which I've been doing all day.

The reformat, can it also be triggered by button combinations?

MUSIC folder is corrupted, Rockbox folder is not. But trying to delete it (I'll just try anything now) I get an error about the files not being accessible.

Using the Utility I also get an error (with or without also installing bootloader) about drive not being writable, this seems to be the relevant part:

If you can't access the disk there is no point in trying to copy over files with rockbox utility.

The drive sometimes looks normal for short periods of time (appears with correct name and capacity in explorer and can be accessed), so I was trying to get it done during one of those, but it never lasted long enough. Most of the time, I see no drive name, no capacity... I'm no expert at all, but considering that USB access has been very slow for me for years, I'd guess something is wrong with the hardware?

[qorx]

Bitstream, sorry to hear you're running into issues.
Mihail, so far my player is working fine with build 25_116, I had only one time the ata error but I can see a pattern now and hope it helps in any way:
If I use it frequently I don't have any errors, however, if I let it sit for a day and then power it on, the ata error may appear. (it happened once so far)

[Mihail Zenkov]

Ok, try this: http://knk.square7.ch/rockbox-clip_plus_26_116.zip

[qorx]

Ok, try this: http://knk.square7.ch/rockbox-clip_plus_26_116.zip

Installed and ready to go testing.