Help with Walkman S540?

[superluig164]

I really, really, really want to use RockBox.  But I am not that experienced when it comes to using a command line, and other things like that.  I have experience with custom software on Android, but that's mostly using tools that hide the underlying code and things.  Anyways, upon reading https://www.rockbox.org/wiki/SonyNWZS540 , it says the firmware is shared between a whole bunch of Walkmans, specifically E340, E360, E440, E440K?, S540, and BB.  Based on my past experience with installing custom softwares on devices, that tells me I can install the same software from any of those and it will work fine.  (I even did this on a Samsung Galaxy Note 4, since the T-mo model and the Canadian model are basically the same)  So, I went fishing on this site, and found a project going for the E360.  Now, I want to at least give it a shot to install it (it's really not a big deal if it doesn't work, or even if it bricks my Walkman.  I can get 'em real cheap.) but I cannot use the utility, I have to do it myself.  Aight, I thought I could handle that.  Well, nope.  The port page for the E360 says see ImxInstall.  So I went and looked, and everything was great till I reached the bootloader section.  It said I have to compile it myself.  As soon as I went to the HowToCompile page I was totally lost.  So I read on, and well now I realize I also have to compile the image too.  At this point, I'm completely lost.  So I'm wondering if anyone would be kind enough to either help me figure it out or just do it and provide me a link to get what I need to go from there. 

tl;dr I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to compiling the bootloader.  Can someone explain it/do it for me?

Thank you,
superluig164

[saratoga]

So I went and looked, and everything was great till I reached the bootloader section.  It said I have to compile it myself.

That is not what it says.  There are instructions on that page if you want to compile a bootloader yourself, but they are only if you don't want to download the precompiled ones on that page.

However, before you do this, you may want to go ask on our IRC channel about the odds of this working.

[superluig164]

Based on the screenshot I have attached, it says "no release, you need to compile it."  If there was a precompiled release there, I wouldn't be posting here.

[saratoga]

Based on the screenshot I have attached, it says "no release, you need to compile it."  If there was a precompiled release there, I wouldn't be posting here.

Unless I am missing something, the download link is just above the top of the image you posted.

[superluig164]

My understanding is you need the *.sb file AND the original firmware and the other thing which you need to compile.

[superluig164]

Well what do you know.  I got it to work, kind of.  I am left with a white screen once the upgrade screen goes away.

[superluig164]

Aaaaand now it won't turn on.  I feel like the battery died, but I did press the reset button a couple of times...

[superluig164]

Well... I bricked it... Oops...  I was not able to put the .rockbox folder onto the root before the bootloader... Does that have something to do with it?

[saratoga]

I don't know much about the imx players, but I don't think you can even brick them.  Take a look at the unbrick instructions wiki and then go onto IRC and ask for help.   

[superluig164]

Sorry, where are the unbricking instructions for Imx players?  I can't find them on the wiki, I'm probably just blind.  And I will ask the IRC for sure once I find those instructions.