SANSA ClipZip Clip+ Fuze+ FuzeV2 Multiboot Bootloader and Firmware

[Bilgus]

Multiboot bootloaders for Sansa Clip+ ClipZip, Fuze+ Fuzev1 and Fuzev2 are now on the mainsite

Multiboot bootloader and firmware allows Sd card boot.

By putting the multi-boot bootloader on your device you can still run rockbox from the internal memory like normal.

Edit 11-15-2019:

Dev versions of the firmware now include redirect code
simply place the .rockbox folder and rockbox_main.<playername> on the root of the SD card and you should be good to go
[/color]

Edit 4-28-2021:
Windows users make sure you have show file extensions for known filetypes
or use the trick for forcing windows to use your filename in entirety - including quotation marks around 'pathname/filename.<player>'
see:
https://www.thesitewizard.com/faqs/save-without-txt-extension-notepad.shtml


Alternatively by using a special firmware build that allows the boot drive to be passed from the bootloader
you can run Rockbox from a sd card and you can even direct the bootloader to run the firmware from a
different root folder within the sd card.
http://www.mediafire.com/folder/x9hvpqrmfx76n/Multiboot_Firmware

Currently only for select players; The list of supported players will eventually be expanded.

For those of you who can compile your own builds see:
(Gerrit) g#1556 g#1613
for the requisite patches

Edit -2022-
DOWNLOAD A RECENT DEV VERSION FOR YOUR DEVICE
https://www.rockbox.org/daily.shtml
Clip+, Fuze+, FuzeV2, ClipZip users I have compiled everything you need, builds are at this link:
https://www.mediafire.com/folder/jmkihef72v62p/Multiboot_Bootloaders
http://www.mediafire.com/folder/x9hvpqrmfx76n/Multiboot_Firmware
https://www.mediafire.com/folder/bt7aow95pwlo8/MultiBoot_Bootloaders
Multiboot bootloaders for Sansa Clip+ ClipZip, Fuze+ Fuzev1 and Fuzev2 are now on the mainsite

The proper layout of file: rockbox_main.<playername> is imperative;
The file either needs to be completely empty for the root of the SD card
or a single slash '/' this will instruct the bootloader to look in SD/.rockbox
The text editor within RB seems to add a (EOF) as does linux so use
'touch rockbox_main.<playername>' in linux
or simply put a single forward slash in the file '/' (no quotes)

Clip+ User:
Edit-2022-
Multiboot bootloaders for Sansa Clip+ ClipZip, Fuze+ Fuzev1 and Fuzev2 are now on the mainsite
First download clppa_MBOOT.zip
unzip the file clppa_new.bin to root of internal storage rename as clppa.bin,
safely remove device then reboot and enter original firmware ( left button on DPAD )
wait till device turns off
DOWNLOAD A RECENT DEV VERSION FOR YOUR DEVICE
Next download MultiBoot_FW_ClipPLUS [latest date]_rockbox-full.zip and unzip to the root of your SD card
Finally create an empty file called rockbox_main.clip+ in the root of the SD card
now put sd card in device and reboot; Under Debug menu you should have a new entry 'Bootdata' that lists the current boot drive
if not check that the rockbox_main.clip+ file is actually empty or single slash '/'.

Fuze+ User:
Multiboot bootloaders for Sansa Clip+ ClipZip, Fuze+ Fuzev1 and Fuzev2 are now on the mainsite
First download fuzeplus_MBOOT.zip
enter original firmware ( Volume Down )
unzip the file firmware_new.sb to root of internal storage while connected in the Original Firmware USB MODE rename as firmware.sb,
safely remove device then reboot and again enter original firmware ( Volume Down )
wait till device turns off
Edit-2022-
DOWNLOAD A RECENT DEV VERSION FOR YOUR DEVICE
Next download MultiBoot_FW_Fuze+ [latest date]_rockbox-full.zip and unzip to the root of your SD card
Finally create an empty file called rockbox_main.fuze+ in the root of the SD card
now put sd card in device and reboot; Under Debug menu you should have a new entry 'Bootdata' that lists the
current boot drive if not check that the rockbox_main.fuze+ file is actually empty or single slash '/'.

ClipZip User:
Multiboot bootloaders for Sansa Clip+ ClipZip, Fuze+ Fuzev1 and Fuzev2 are now on the mainsite
First download clpza_MBOOT.zip
unzip the file clpza_new.bin to root of internal storage rename as clpza.bin,
safely remove device then reboot and enter original firmware ( left button on DPAD? )
wait till device turns off
Edit-2022-
DOWNLOAD A RECENT DEV VERSION FOR YOUR DEVICE
Next download MultiBoot_FW_ClipZip [latest date]_rockbox-full.zip and unzip to the root of your SD card
Finally create an empty file called rockbox_main.clipzip in the root of the SD card
now put sd card in device and reboot; Under Debug menu you should have a new entry 'Bootdata' that lists the current boot drive
if not check that the rockbox_main.clipzip file is actually empty or single slash '/'.

FuzeV2 User:
Multiboot bootloaders for Sansa Clip+ ClipZip, Fuze+ Fuzev1 and Fuzev2 are now on the mainsite
First download fuze_v2_MBOOT.zip
unzip the file fuzpa_new.bin to root of internal storage rename as fuzpa.bin,
safely remove device then reboot and enter original firmware ( Left on the click wheel while powering on )
wait till device turns off
Edit-2022-
DOWNLOAD A RECENT DEV VERSION FOR YOUR DEVICE
Next download MultiBoot_FW_FuzeV2_[latest date]_rockbox-full.zip and unzip to the root of your SD card
Finally create an empty file called rockbox_main.fuze2 in the root of the SD card
now put sd card in device and reboot; Under Debug menu you should have a new entry 'Bootdata' that lists the current boot drive
if not check that the rockbox_main.fuze2 file is actually empty or single slash '/'.

Advanced:
you can also redirect the firmware to a different directory on the sdcard with Redirect file
rockbox_main.<playername> should again be placed in root of
drive you would like to be main, if this file empty or there is no leading
slash firmware will be loaded from /.rockbox in root of the internal drive
If instead a /<*DIRECTORY*> is supplied in rockbox_main.<name> then
firmware will be loaded from /<dir>/.rockbox/

The directory can have multiple levels however
leading slash MUST be included
trailing slash can be omitted
(eg. /test/.rockbox would be simply '/test' in the redirect file)

Notes:
Redirect file will not work on internal drive (whatever is default boot drive)

Volume with the highest index containing redirect file will be loaded
first.

Firmware file is checked for boot data region.
If bootdata region is missing, firmware
image will not be loaded.

On failure or if no redirect file is found load will fallback to
internal drive

As a safety feature a blank file, a single '/' or a /<directory> needs to be in the redirect file otherwise internal storage is loaded.

Firmware (.rockbox directory) may be copied to the sd card while still in device no need to actually remove the card to copy the firmware to it

Bootloader file goes in root of the internal storage on these 3 devices,
the Fuze+ however, needs to be in Original FW USB mode to recognize the addition of a new boot loader file (firmware.sb)

ROLO reboot after transferring the firmware is not supported yet so you need to actually turn off and turn on the player.

The proper layout of file: rockbox_main.<playername> is imperative;
The file either needs to be completely empty for the root of the SD card
or a single slash '/' this will instruct the bootloader to look in SD/.rockbox
The text editor within RB seems to add a (EOF) as does linux so use
'touch rockbox_main.<playername>' in linux
or simply put a single forward slash in the file '/' (no quotes)

[Orbiter]

I have installed a special Rockbox build that boots from an external SD card (reported version fc9c7d7M-170228). When I take out the SD card and then power on the player, it switches into "Bootloader USB mode".
In this mode, the player is recognized as an external drive. But when I put the SD card back and restart Rockbox,
 it does not show up in the computer.
Is there a way to make the USB connection work in regular mode, provided it works in the bootloader mode?

[johnb]

The version fc9c7d7M-170228 is only mounting the external drive. I am using that on purpose.

Are you sure you have RB put onto the internal drive at all, i.e. is there a .rockbox directory with content?
If so, you can simply (re)move the rockbox_main.clip+ on the SD root and next time it should boot from internal.


If not you can download a newer version which boots from SD and shows both internal and external from here:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/ulqkbvq64a819rp/MultiBoot_FW_Clip%2B_5-22-17_rockbox-full.zip

Edit -2022-
DOWNLOAD A RECENT DEV VERSION FOR YOUR DEVICE
https://www.rockbox.org/daily.shtml
by Bilgus.

[Orbiter]

Thanks for the detailed explanation, but booting is not the problem. The problem is that the player does not show up as an external
USB drive and I cannot transfer audio files to it when it boots normally.
In USB bootloader mode it is recognized as two drives, one of which is the internal drive, and the other is probably the SD card slot.
So the question is how to make the player show up as an external drive under normal boot.
Currently it does not even appear as 'Unknown device', plugging it in has no effect.

[johnb]

Have you hidden the internal drive?:
https://download.rockbox.org/daily/manual/rockbox-sansaclipplus/rockbox-buildch8.html#x10-1500008.5.9

Try and clear the .rockbox/config.cfg file or check whether you find the relevant line/setting in there ...

[saratoga]

They are entries on our gerrit server here:

http://gerrit.rockbox.org/r/

[Bilgus]

You are going to want to see https://www.rockbox.org/wiki/WorkingWithPatches

When you go into gerrit you will want to click Download and save the patch files

Multiboot Firmware
http://gerrit.rockbox.org/r/#/c/1556/
http://gerrit.rockbox.org/r/#/c/1613/

They will need to be applied in sequence so save them and add a sequential number at the end eg. 1;2;3
[they download as zip files so do this as you unzip them as well]

So first lets start from a clean branch
note: if you already have stuff going on you will need to commit it or 'git stash ; All the below commands ; git stash pop'

type

Code: [Select]

git checkout master
git pull --rebase
git checkout -b multibootFW
patch -p1 < /path/to/fab3535-1.diff <-repeat for each patch
patch -p1 < /path/to/78d621f-2.diff


next after you are done adding the patches to your build (you might need -p0 or -p2 instead of -p1)
it is time to compile the firmware

so from the root of your rockbox dir ~/Desktop/rockbox for instance
type

Code: [Select]

mkdir <yourplayer>-multibootFW
cd clipzip-multibootFW
../tools/configure

then type the number of your player from the list for instance the clip zip is #65 so I type 65 then hit enter
next type 'N' for normal build
and finally type

Code: [Select]

make -j && make fullzip
this zip will get unzipped to your sd card

If you are continuing with other builds you will want to commit these edits

Type '..' to return to the root folder
first type 'git status' to get a list of the modified files
make sure the files don't start with ../ or you will need to go up a level by typing '..'
type
git add <fullfilepath>(..For each of the files we just patched)

OR if you FOR SURE don't have any other modified files
type

Code: [Select]

git add `git status | grep modified | sed 's/\(.*modified:\s*\)//'`

Finally type 'git commit'
add some text for description at the top (note empty commits do not save)
then hit CTRL 'o' and press enter to write commit message then press CTRL 'x' to exit

after all is done you can go back to master 'git checkout master'
and then start on your next branch git checkout -b <my totally awesome edits>'
or go back to your previous work and type git stash pop ( if you stashed work )

Thanks @ [Saint]


Multiboot bootloaders for Sansa Clip+ ClipZip, Fuze+ Fuzev1 and Fuzev2 are now on the mainsite
Multiboot Bootloader [Most likely You won't need this use the precompiled bootloader instead]

You risk bricking your player if you mess up a bootloader build

Although most of these players do have recovery modes You Have Been Warned

Bootloader code is now in dev builds
Multiboot bootloaders for Sansa Clip+ ClipZip, Fuze+ Fuzev1 and Fuzev2 are now on the mainsite

[Bilgus]

Multiboot bootloaders for Sansa Clip+ ClipZip, Fuze+ Fuzev1 and Fuzev2 are now on the mainsite

The bootloaders are on the mainsite now Rbutility will install them

[SamoDadela]

Multiboot bootloaders for Sansa Clip+ ClipZip, Fuze+ Fuzev1 and Fuzev2 are now on the mainsite

The bootloaders are on the mainsite now Rbutility will install them

What does it mean it's on mainsite? Where is the option to install to sd card in rockboxutility?
Which version of rbutility should I use?

Thanks.

[Bilgus]

do a bootloader install
the bootloader is backwards compatible

However,
rbutil doesn't have the option to install to the sdcard you need a special firmware version for the time being

[SamoDadela]

do a bootloader install
the bootloader is backwards compatible

However,
rbutil doesn't have the option to install to the sdcard you need a special firmware version for the time being

I see... can you please tell me where I can get such firmware and what's the procedure to install it? The links above are all striken out or not available... I guess my Clip+ internal nvram is going bad and I'd like to transfer RB to the external card, before it dies...

[Bilgus]

Edit -2022-
DOWNLOAD A RECENT DEV VERSION FOR YOUR DEVICE
https://www.rockbox.org/daily.shtml

http://www.mediafire.com/folder/x9hvpqrmfx76n/Multiboot_Firmware

That is a bit older than the current dev builds but perfectly serviceable
I'm not completely sure how RbUtil handles the bootloader I assume it'll just let you install the new one
If not I can walk you through how to do it manually


The firmware just needs to be unzipped to the sdcard and
a file named rockbox_main.clip+ with a single '/' (no return and no quotes)
made on the root of the card

The proper layout of file: rockbox_main.<playername> is imperative;
The file either needs to be completely empty for the root of the SD card
or a single slash '/' this will instruct the bootloader to look in SD/.rockbox
The text editor within RB seems to add a (EOF) as does linux so use
'touch rockbox_main.<playername>' in linux
or simply put a single forward slash in the file '/' (no quotes)

[SamoDadela]

Oh, I see... thanks for the link. I need some more help, please.

First... some clarification... just in case: when we say SD card it means the external card plugged into the side of the Clip+, when we say internal memory it means the memory on the SoC.

What I did until now:
1. Downloaded MultiBoot_FW_ClipPLUS_11-17-2018_rockbox-full.zip and extracted it to the SD (SD card's: /.rockbox) card (that's my drive G).
    Note: that I'm transfering files with the SD card inserted into the Sansa Clip+ booted via rockbox. Is this OK?
2. Created the file on the SD card(!) G:/rockbox_main.clip+ (using cygwin: printf "/" > /cygdrive/g/rockbox_main.clip+). Checked the size, it was 1 byte.

I then went to rbutil 1.4.0 (on Windows) and installed the boot loader on both G: (that's my SD card) and also E: (that's the clip+ internal memory)
I also took care to eject both drives. Note that when installing the boot loader I get asked to provide the original firmware (clppa.bin). I see the firmware
file on the target drive, when finished.

When I rebooted the device I noticed that I'm still seeing all the old playlists from the internal memory (this should not happen, I guess).
I also checked the Debug menu for the Bootdata (is this Debug(Keep Out) ->Bootdata or something else?)... but could find no such entry. How can I check where did it boot from?
 
I also diffed the contents of SD/.rockbox before and after boot - no new files were created or changed (md5sum of all files under SD card's /.rockbox), which
leads me to believe it did not boot from SD card.

I installed the boot loader using both the stable (3.14) and dev version (5afdcdd) - no difference at all. I also tried to uninstall the bootloader
using rbutil, but it says that the bootloader could not be uninstalled on this device (that I should flash the original firmware to remove it).

I also tried to create empty SD/rockbox_main.clip+ - no luck, either. Heck, (in desperation) I even tried to create rockbox_main.clip+ on the
internal card   Still no luck.

I guess I'll need the instructions on how to install the correct boot loader. If possible on windows (cygwin)... or if that's not possible, I'll try to get hold of linux box. Maybe somone removed the multiboot code from the dev build?

[Bilgus]

The bootloader has to be installed by booting into the sansa firmware
If you are doing it manually the bootloader here is the same one rbutil would build for you
https://www.mediafire.com/folder/jmkihef72v62p/Multiboot_Bootloaders

Clip+ User:
First download clppa_MBOOT.zip
unzip the file clppa_new.bin to root of internal storage rename as clppa.bin,
safely remove device then reboot and enter original firmware ( left button on DPAD )
wait till device turns off
Next download MultiBoot_FW_ClipPLUS [latest date]_rockbox-full.zip and unzip to the root of your SD card
Finally create an empty file called rockbox_main.clip+ in the root of the SD card
now put sd card in device and reboot; Under Debug menu you should have a new entry 'Bootdata' that lists the current boot drive
if not check that the rockbox_main.clip+ file is actually empty or single slash '/'.

You have already copied your FW on the SD card I'd recommend you eject it prior to booting into the Sansa OF
otherwise it'll make you wait while it indexes it,
put it back after the device turns off when finished updating

[SamoDadela]

Oh, Yeah! Thanks, Bilgus!

Worked as a charm - the only minor detail was to set the USB mode to MSC when booted into the original Sansa firmware. Otherwise you see only the MTP Internal Memory device (which you can't safely remove). Did not try the update in MTP mode, though...

I can also see the Boot data menu in Debug and the old playlists are gone!

Thanks again... hope this will prolong the life of my salsa clip until there's (hopefully) a better device to put RB on.