IPod Photo (4th gen) iusses- errors when using plugins or playing music [SOLVED]

[saratoga]

I don't know how I could do this Reformatting the Ipod would wipe it then I would have to use Itunes to fix it. Unless there is some way that I don't know about.

Formatting doesn't affect the rockbox bootloader or apple firmware, so no need to restore with itunes, although you can do that if you want.

With the 4th Gen iPod Photo, isn't everything on the HDD, SD or SSD?  I thought that reformatting this model will require everything to be reinstalled.  In any case, if you use H2testw on the storage and/or restore with iTunes you will certainly have to resync all your music.

I don't have a 4th gen, but IIRC the bootloader is on the disk outside of the partition you'd be formatting.

[iPodVT]

I don't have a 4th gen, but IIRC the bootloader is on the disk outside of the partition you'd be formatting.

And if you reformat the disk it doesn't reformat the entire disk?

Another confusion I've long wanted to resolve re the components of a Rockbox installation:  There's the bootloader and the /.rockbox directory.  Is there also a third component?  If so, by what name is it referred to?  And which component is "the firmware"?

[iPodVT]

The Rockbox Manual seems to indicate that on an iPod, the firmware is the file /.rockbox/rockbox.ipod.  If so, does "the Rockbox firmware" refer to just that file or are other components also implied?

My apologies to Dodo for distracting the topic away from his original questions and concerns.  I'll stick to that proper topic now.

[Dodo]

Please tell us the make and model of all components of your installed storage configuration:  all adaptors and the actual flash memory card(s).

Also, you can test the true capacity and integrity of the flash memory card(s) using the free H2testw.

iFlash-Solo with a 4th Gen iPod Converter.
SanDisk SD adapter with a SanDisk Ultra PLUS 256gb micro SD card

I am not exactly sure what you meant by, "you can test the true capacity and integrity of the flash memory card" so here what I think you wanted.

Writing - 243857 MBvte  Verifying 243857 MBvte
Test finished without errors.
You can now delete the test files *.h2w or verify them again.
Writing speed: 31.9 MByte/s
Reading speed: 90.5 MByte/s
H2testw v1.4
By the way, I also test the 32gb card and no errors where found if that means something.

Also, iPodVT, it's all good, no need to apologize.

[saratoga]

I don't have a 4th gen, but IIRC the bootloader is on the disk outside of the partition you'd be formatting.

And if you reformat the disk it doesn't reformat the entire disk?

You can't format a disk, just the partitions on the disk.

[iPodVT]

iFlash-Solo with a 4th Gen iPod Converter.
SanDisk SD adapter with a SanDisk Ultra PLUS 256gb micro SD card

I am not exactly sure what you meant by, "you can test the true capacity and integrity of the flash memory card" so here what I think you wanted.

Writing - 243857 MBvte  Verifying 243857 MBvte
Test finished without errors.
You can now delete the test files *.h2w or verify them again.
Writing speed: 31.9 MByte/s
Reading speed: 90.5 MByte/s
H2testw v1.4
By the way, I also test the 32gb card and no errors where found if that means something.

Some people say that a lot of SD and microSD are actually counterfeits with bogus stated capacity.  As well, cards can be defective or become damaged.  H2testw writes data across the entire card and then reads it all back, and then reports the actual capacity count and the success/failure status of its writes and reads.  The results from your test are good and seem to indicate that all is well and proper with your card.

Also, the iFlash website reports that some users have problems when using some SanDisk SD and microSD cards with iFlash-Solo and some other boards of theirs - check out their website [https://www.iflash.xyz/store/iflash-solo/] for reports on various card compatibility.  I avoid using SanDisk cards in my iPods - I almost exclusively use Samsung cards - but I do have a 200GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC in an iFlash-Quad in a 5th Gen iPod Video and have never had any problems with it.  As they say, your mileage may vary.

iPods are old and sometimes uncooperative.  If you're able, try a different card, or a different flex cable, or a different iPod, etc.  Any component could be the cause, and you've got a fairly long string of adapters between the logic board and the microSD card.  I have a 4th Gen Color and had all kinds of problems trying to make it reliably work with first an iFlash-Quad and then an iFlash-Solo, using their 4th Gen iPod Converter ribbon, and I finally gave up.  I eventally got a different 4th Gen Color working with an iFlash-ATA1 (that doesn't need the 4th Gen Converter) and that has worked well for me.  The flash in that one is a 256GB Samsung Pro Plus SDXC, so I also didn't need a microSD to SD adapter.  The fewer adapters the better.

[iPodVT]

You can't format a disk, just the partitions on the disk.

Thanks for the clarification.

[Dodo]

Some people say that a lot of SD and microSD are actually counterfeits with bogus stated capacity.  As well, cards can be defective or become damaged.  H2testw writes data across the entire card and then reads it all back, and then reports the actual capacity count and the success/failure status of its writes and reads.  The results from your test are good and seem to indicate that all is well and proper with your card.

Also, the iFlash website reports that some users have problems when using some SanDisk SD and microSD cards with iFlash-Solo and some other boards of theirs - check out their website [https://www.iflash.xyz/store/iflash-solo/] for reports on various card compatibility.  I avoid using SanDisk cards in my iPods - I almost exclusively use Samsung cards - but I do have a 200GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC in an iFlash-Quad in a 5th Gen iPod Video and have never had any problems with it.  As they say, your mileage may vary.

iPods are old and sometimes uncooperative.  If you're able, try a different card, or a different flex cable, or a different iPod, etc.  Any component could be the cause, and you've got a fairly long string of adapters between the logic board and the microSD card.  I have a 4th Gen Color and had all kinds of problems trying to make it reliably work with first an iFlash-Quad and then an iFlash-Solo, using their 4th Gen iPod Converter ribbon, and I finally gave up.  I eventally got a different 4th Gen Color working with an iFlash-ATA1 (that doesn't need the 4th Gen Converter) and that has worked well for me.  The flash in that one is a 256GB Samsung Pro Plus SDXC, so I also didn't need a microSD to SD adapter.  The fewer adapters the better.

Ok thank you. I will look into this and make a post when I get everything, and I will notify if it works.

Also, would it be wise if I bought the iFlash-ATA1 on Amazon? Or would it be better if I wait for it to come back on iflash's website?

[iPodVT]

Ok thank you. I will look into this and make a post when I get everything, and I will notify if it works.

Also, would it be wise if I bought the iFlash-ATA1 on Amazon? Or would it be better if I wait for it to come back on iflash's website?

Keeping an iPod running and modding it is not an exact science.  For me it's sometimes a process of trial and error which can be frustrating and even maddening.  But most of the time things work out well on the first try for me and I get a lot of satisfaction listening to music on an iPod that I fixed, modded, and souped-up.  The iFlash-ATA1 with a 256GB Samsung Pro Plus was the solution that worked for me in one particular 4th Gen iPod Color.  Looking back in my personal notes I see that I had previously unsuccessfully tried it in the other 4th Gen Color that also hadn't worked with an iFlash-Quad and iFlash-Solo.  So I don't claim that the iFlash-ATA1 is the best solution or that it will work for you.

Re Amazon:  I consider a lot of factors when choosing a retailer, including the following (and not in order of priority):  availability of product(s), location, prices, discounts, taxes and import duties, shipping (cost and delivery time), reputation, politics, labor relations, etc.  I'm in the U.S., so I purchase most of my iPod-specific parts from idemigods.com and eoe.works, and I purchase my SD/microSD cards when they are on sale at my local Best Buy store.

These are my personal experiences and practices.

[Dodo]

Great news!

It now works perfectly fine with no issues that I could find. All because I used a 256GB Samsung Pro Plus sd card, and not a Sandisc card. Didn't need to use a different adapter or anything. Thank you iPodVT and others for the help.

[iPodVT]

That's great news - I'm so happy for you - thanks for letting us know.  I hope you get tons of enjoyment out of listening to music on your iPod, and using it with Rockbox.