iPod Mount Point errors

[Cahl]

Hi there.

I am trying to install Rockbox on a 6G classic, using Mac OSx. I keep getting stopped when I attempt to select it in the utility. An error reads "No Mount Point given // You need to fix the above errors to continue". I cannot figure out what that means, or how to fix it. I've extensively searched and read through forums that date back over a decade. I cannot believe how elusive this information is. There are people who have asked this question in the past, and the responses have been: "Just re-set the mount point" or "Download the correct partition table and set your ipod to fat32" or "Look in the 260-page manual, it says what to do."

I have looked through the 260-page manual. I still can't figure out the problem. Is it possible for me to accomplish this without being programmer or possessing a degree in computer science? Is there anyone out there who can explain this in language that I can understand?

I don't think I'm particular stupid, and do know a thing or two about computers. But this is hands down the most convoluted and un-user-friendly software I've ever touched. Would love some help.

[bluebrother]

https://www.rockbox.org/wiki/GraphicalInstall

[Cahl]

The link you shared says: "you need to choose the correct mountpoint (Windows: drive letter) from the dropdown list and the correct player. The dropdown list will show additional information when expanded to help you to identify the correct player."

The dropdown they are referring to is blank. There are no options and thus nothing to select.

[bluebrother]

The dropdown they are referring to is blank. There are no options and thus nothing to select.

Now the question changes from "what is the mountpoint" to "why is the list empty".

There are several possible reasons for this.
- The player is not mounted (i.e. doesn't show up in Finder)
- Itunes blocks access to it. Make sure it's closed.
- It's filtered out because it isn't compatible. This usually happens when the Ipod uses the wrong filesystem. Check the output of Help / Troubleshooting / System Info for its type. It needs to be FAT (iirc appears as "msdos" on Mac)

[Cahl]

here are several possible reasons for this.
- The player is not mounted (i.e. doesn't show up in Finder)
- Itunes blocks access to it. Make sure it's closed.
- It's filtered out because it isn't compatible. This usually happens when the Ipod uses the wrong filesystem. Check the output of Help / Troubleshooting / System Info for its type. It needs to be FAT (iirc appears as "msdos" on Mac)

So the player definitely appears in finder. iTunes recognizes it and opens when ipod is plugged in, and I always shut it down, as instructed.

Your third suggestion doesn't make sense to me. I've looked through the Troubleshooting section (page 20 of the manual) and its quite brief. Are you referring to somewhere else that has a troubleshooting section? I've looked into what it means to be FAT and I would kindly request to receive more rudimentary guidance, as I cannot make heads or tails of it. The language everyone is using is too technical for me. Do I need a PC to convert to FAT?

Thank you

[bluebrother]

Your third suggestion doesn't make sense to me. I've looked through the Troubleshooting section (page 20 of the manual) and its quite brief. Are you referring to somewhere else that has a troubleshooting section? I've looked into what it means to be FAT and I would kindly request to receive more rudimentary guidance, as I cannot make heads or tails of it. The language everyone is using is too technical for me. Do I need a PC to convert to FAT?

I'm talking about the entry in the menu bar of Rockbox Utility, not the manual. On MacOS this appears at the top of the screen, not the window (as in the screenshots)

Any disk (regardless if it's a hard disk, flash disk or anything else) needs a filesystem to organize files. Several file systems exist. On Ipods both HFS+ and FAT are possible, but Rockbox only supports FAT. FAT is common on Windows, HFS is only used on Mac. If your Ipod was only used on a Mac there's a good chance it's HFS. You can convert that on a Mac at least for older Ipods, but that's a rather involved process. Easiest way is to use Itunes on Windows.

For more details on filesystems see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_system#macOS

[Thew]

On your Mac launch the “Disk Utility” and highlight your iPod in the list on the left. Click “Erase” which enables you to Format the iPod. A drop down Menu will appear with a list of Disk Formats available. On the list should be “MS-DOS(FAT)". You can then decide if you want to format the iPod.

[bluebrother]

On your Mac launch the “Disk Utility” and highlight your iPod in the list on the left. Click “Erase” which enables you to Format the iPod. A drop down Menu will appear with a list of Disk Formats available. On the list should be “MS-DOS(FAT)". You can then decide if you want to format the iPod.

Unfortunately it's not that simple.

At least on the Ipods up to 5.5G you also need to change the partition table. I have no experience with the 6G but expect this to be the same. The manual way is usually by overwriting the partition table with a known one.

[philden]

I have found that it is much easier to install Rockbox on an iPod Classic using Windows rather than MacOS. So you can make a Bootcamp installation of Windows 10, just to use iTunes and the Rockbox installer. You can download Windows 10 freely from Microsoft to do this.

[Cahl]

So I checked the troubleshooting section. In it, I found my ipod under "Attached USB Devices", labeled like this:
VID: 05ac PID: 1261, Apple Inc. iPod.

Below, it states the following for Mount Point, Label, Cluster Size etc.

/Volumes/Cahl’s iPod
Cahl's iPod
0.00 GiB
0.00 GiB
0

Still completely lost, and still no idea if I can accomplish this without a mac.
Next steps?

[Cahl]

Okay after spending some more time with it I feel less lost. I have the Disk Utility window opened and am thinking of hitting "Erase" but it seems scary, especially because there is no partition table to download for the 6th Gen.

I'm wondering what will happen if I hit erase? Will all of the contents of the ipod disappear? And more important to me, is will I still be able to use it with iTunes? Or will it become incompatible and I'll have to do all organizing off of iTunes? I haven't been able to find a clear answer to this.

Thanks

[bluebrother]

This is strange, you should at least see the total and free size of the Ipod. Seems a bit like something is interfering here. What version of MacOS are you using? And what version of Rockbox Utility are you using?

[Cahl]

Mac is Yosemite 10.10.5
and Rockbox is v1.4.0, I just downloaded it from the site so figured it would be current?

[bluebrother]

Mac is Yosemite 10.10.5
and Rockbox is v1.4.0, I just downloaded it from the site so figured it would be current?

No. Latest released Rockbox Utility is 1.4.1, but no binary of that has been released due to build issues back then. While that older version still runs you'll end up with SSL errors later. There's an updated version here: https://forums.rockbox.org/index.php/topic,53588.0.html That one also updates some libraries, please try that version and see if that improves things.

[Cahl]

It seems like v1.4.0 is the most current one available for Mac though...? That's the one that's listed on the release page, and I can't tell what I'm downloading on the Google drive you linked due to their cryptic labels.