5.5 iPod with TB msata stopped mounting in Win10 and Rockbox can't see partition

[Harpua72]

Hi,
I’m pulling out my hair with a 2 year old DIY 1TB iPod project.  I’m stuck in a “No Partition Found.  Insert USB cable and fix it” state, with an ipod that can’t be seen by Windows.  Giving lots of detail below after looking at lots of previous forum questions...

System: Windows 10
Parts involved:
1.   5.5 Gen Ipod
2.   iFlash-sata
3.   Samsung 850 EVO msata
5.   Replacement 820-1975A logic board bought on ebay after I possibly screwed up pins on the original one.  Was tested by seller.
6.   Replacement 3000maH battery (2nd attempt, this version smaller than first one)
7.   Fat housing

Software involved:
1.   iTunes 12.10.4.2
2.   Rockbox 1.4.1
3.   JRiver Media Center

Steps taken:
1.   Replaced the logic board and hooked up the battery and screen.
2.   Attached 30 pin cable.  Windows assigned drive E to the ipod.
3.   Restored with iTunes, creating format and partition.  I transferred 1 test album (didn’t listen).
4.   Installed Rockbox v1.4.1 on ipod.
5.   Transferred 800gb of music via JRiver Media Center over 15 hours.
6.   Booted ipod to Rockbox start screen, then “No Partition Found.  Insert USB cable and fix it” message.  Read that low battery can cause. 
7.   Charged the battery overnight using Anker high speed charger (same cable).  No change.
8.   Tested cable on old ipod Mini.  Works fine.  So cable eliminated as issue
9.   Windows can no longer see or mount the ipod, so I can’t reformat and start over.
10.   I’ve charged, restarted, and re-connected the battery at least 5 times.11.  I’m stuck with the Rockbox message above.  Rockbox application now says there is no mountpoint.

I appreciate any advise you can provide.  I have not tested with multimeter since I haven't found any pictures online showing what exactly to test.

[Harpua72]

Hi, can someone please provide some wisdom? 

[LambdaCalculus]

See this sticky: http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php/topic,52561.0.html

Rockbox has compatibility issues with iFlash adapters. No one has stepped in to work on a fix for this and no one is certain when or if the issue will be resolved. Your better bet is to use a proper PATA SSD that's the correct size and connector for the iPod.

[Frankenpod]

SSD ipods were a PITA, in my experience, haven't tried one for years.  I find sdcard conversions are more reliable.

Have you:

(a) checked whether the computer can recognise the ipod when it has a normal hard-drive in it (thus eliminating the ipod itself as a source of the problem)?

(b) attached the ssd in an external enclosure direct to the computer's motherboard sata connector (or usb3 might be good enough, thus not requiring opening the computer case) and reformatted it, or at least restored the MBR, before starting again?  IIRC you can't reliably fix a messed-up SSD while it's still in the ipod.

(c) tried using a dual-lead usb/firewall cable that lets you connect the ipod to the computer and to a wall charger simultaneously (thus ensuring the battery doesn't drain dry during the sync process)

(d) tried only syncing that 800gb in small chunks at a time, so as to avoid the whole thing overheating?   SSD ipods can get very hot during large syncs.

That's all I can remember from early days of messing with those things!

[Harpua72]

I'm back after acquiring an enclosure.  If the msata iflash combo just fails, I've got a bigger problem on my hands.

Have you:

(a) checked whether the computer can recognise the ipod when it has a normal hard-drive in it (thus eliminating the ipod itself as a source of the problem)?
I haven't but will try that next.  I think I need to restore to iOS to do this, no?

(b) attached the ssd in an external enclosure direct to the computer's motherboard sata connector (or usb3 might be good enough, thus not requiring opening the computer case) and reformatted it, or at least restored the MBR, before starting again?  IIRC you can't reliably fix a messed-up SSD while it's still in the ipod.

I have now done this, reformatted, and installed Rockbox again.  Same partition error.

(c) tried using a dual-lead usb/firewall cable that lets you connect the ipod to the computer and to a wall charger simultaneously (thus ensuring the battery doesn't drain dry during the sync process)

I haven't, but there is only 1 song on the newly installed Rockbox ipod. 

(d) tried only syncing that 800gb in small chunks at a time, so as to avoid the whole thing overheating?   SSD ipods can get very hot during large syncs.

It didn't get hot, but in this new install I've only installed 1, so that's not an issue.

[Harpua72]

Hi,
It looks like my old thread has disappeared, so I'll reboot it...

I have a working iPod Video 5.5 30gb in great condition. 
I bought the iFlash msata adapter and a 1TB Samsung Evo850.  It works running standard iOS with iTunes.
I replaced the battery (twice) with a 3000maH version. It seems to hold a charge just fine.  It's been fully charged.
I formatted the SSD, first with then with NTFS, then later with Fat32.
I restored the iPod with iTunes.
I sync'd 1 album and played it back.  Clearly the adapter, battery and motherboard are good.
I sync'd 800gb of ALAC files over to the ipod.  They are visible in iTunes, but not surprisingly, the iPod can't show them.
I installed the bootloader, as an admin using ipodpatcher.exe.
I installed Rockbox using the Rockbox Utility 1.4.1 (not including the bootloader).

Back to my nemesis... "No partition found.  Insert USB cable and fix it."

Has anyone actually recovered from this status and gotten their TBPods working?

[saratoga]

^^ Merged with your previous topic since some of the relevant details are in there.

Anyway, from your first post it sounds like the disk worked with the Apple firmware, meaning that the hardware is ok, but that the rockbox ATA driver can't talk to the disk.  You probably don't want to hear this, but the solution here is probably to debug the driver and add support for your device. 

[Harpua72]

Thanks for merging.  Not sure why I couldn't find my former post yesterday.  I'm updating the title

I haven't done any programming since BASIC and LOGO in the 70s.  Anyone out there tackle this problem?