FiiO M3K Install (Native port)

[Thew]

My experience of the battery life is that it is much the same as the Fiio UI which is really good. It’s certainly no worse and perhaps even a bit better. It drops of course if you use processor intensive features like some of the Sound adjustments. I have the “DAC’s power mode” set to “Save battery” in the “Sound Settings”.

The old XVortex version of Rockbox was slightly worse for battery life so this more recent, native, version is even more welcome.

[vitt13]

dconrad can you please try loading the fiio recovery with that and tell me the error code it gives? I'll need you to post the recovery kernel image too, which can now be dumped via the debug tools menu. Thanks!
This is the recovery kernel I dumped from my unit (for comparison):

I've also successfully loaded the fiio recovery from new bootloader. BTW my dumped recovery kernel image is different (I compared it with yours).
https://www.mediafire.com/file/xiuabtppl5fhqb6/of_recovery.img/file

[amachronic]

Thanks for testing the new bootloader, everyone. I'm preparing to release an updated bootloader soon, along with updated documentation.

I've also revived the web-based installer (jztool.js) contributed by astrolabe a while back, which I unfortunately had to put aside till now for lack of time and motivation. I've brought it up to speed with the recent bootloader changes and uploaded it to a GitHub repository, https://github.com/amachronic/jztooljs. I plan on hosting it using github pages. It needs a bit more polish, but it should make the installation go much smoother for a lot of users, especially on Windows. (No more need for Zadig!)

[AACC]

Re documentation, is there still any use for the following power on options?
# voldn + power
# volup + play + power

[amachronic]

Yes, voldn+power is the USB boot key -- that's baked into the hardware and unchangeable -- and volup+play+power starts the original Fiio recovery.

[AACC]

So the install's
"Make sure your player is fully powered off and connect the M3K in USB boot mode: plug in one end of the USB cable, and then plug in the other end while holding down the Volume Down button"
is equivalent to something like
"when off press voldn + power and then connect USB cable"?

[amachronic]

It's not quite equivalent - I word it that way because in my experience it sometimes doesn't connect properly if you power on and then plug in the USB cable. The way I suggest ensures the cable is present at power on.

[SteveDave]

Just realised I had not thanked all involved for working on this port.
I've found Rockbox's bookmarking features essential for audiobooks and downloaded radio shows and I've come to rely on the unique auto resume on start feature of the sleep function to get to sleep and get back to sleep.
After the batteries on my various Sansa Clips started to fail I thought I was screwed until you guys made the M3K port happen.
I can't thank you enough, especially Amachronic for continuing to work on it, just installed your latest build and it fixed the graphical glitch I had with the theme I'm using.
Really appreciate it.
Cheers.

[amachronic]

There's a new version of the M3K bootloader available today, bf3e67204c-20220402. This version should fix any dual boot problems encountered with earlier bootloaders, and there's a new multiboot feature which is mainly interesting for people who want to use the same SD card with multiple players.

Download links are in the top post.

[AACC]

Thank you again, excellent development!

[demon_slayer]

Hi all,

I have just purchased a Fiio M3K and have successfully installed Rockbox using this guide. Thank you for the guide, its great.

I've noticed a bug/issue. I still have the bootloader.m3k file in the root of my SD card, when I go to delete the file (since I don't want it to appear in my Files list) then eject and unplug my M3K then I get the following error:

*PANIC*
TLB refill handler at 0x800272fc! [0x4]

This error text appears on a white screen. I'm able to turn the device off then back on and the device then boots back into Rockbox. For now I've added the bootloader.m3k file back but don't really want the file there since it appears in my songs list.

Has anyone else experience this, or is this an unrelated issue. Not sure if it's relevant but I'm using a Samsung EVO Select 256GB microSDXC UHS-I U3 microSD card. I have also checked that the SD card is still FAT32 by right-clicking the fiio drive and looking at the drive properties.

Just to note that when I re-add the bootloader.m3k file and connect via USB then eject then I don't see the error text.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I also have some suggestions to make the guide clearer:
- On Step 5 there is a sentence that reads "Use the buttons on your to select Backup under the Bootloader menu.". There is a missing word between "your" and "to". Also should this specify that the volume buttons must be used to navigate?
- Personally I didn't know what to do after I completed Step 5, I didn't know what option to chose in the bootloader screen. Perhaps a sentence can be added to tell users to pick [Boot Select]->Rockbox if they wish to load into Rockbox.

Update

I think I've fixed the issue however I'm not sure why it worked. I deleted the bootloader file from the FIIO m3k itself using the context menu on the file. I haven't encountered the issue after that. Hopefully it's a permanent fix  We shall see.

On a side note, does anyone have tips for removing the micro SD card from the m3k? I don't need to remove it but upon trying to it seems really stuck in there. I don't want to damage the thing if I ever need to remove it.

[amachronic]

*PANIC*
TLB refill handler at 0x800272fc! [0x4]

You'll need to post the RB version (System > Rockbox Info) for that message to be useful.  Also, did it occur in Rockbox or the bootloader USB mode?

I also have some suggestions to make the guide clearer:
- On Step 5 there is a sentence that reads "Use the buttons on your to select Backup under the Bootloader menu.". There is a missing word between "your" and "to". Also should this specify that the volume buttons must be used to navigate?
- Personally I didn't know what to do after I completed Step 5, I didn't know what option to chose in the bootloader screen. Perhaps a sentence can be added to tell users to pick [Boot Select]->Rockbox if they wish to load into Rockbox.

Thanks! I'll update the wiki page.

On a side note, does anyone have tips for removing the micro SD card from the m3k? I don't need to remove it but upon trying to it seems really stuck in there. I don't want to damage the thing if I ever need to remove it.

On mine the SD slot is spring loaded so I haven't had any problems removing it. If anything, it has a tendency to fly halfway across the room...

[Thew]

On a side note, does anyone have tips for removing the micro SD card from the m3k? I don't need to remove it but upon trying to it seems really stuck in there. I don't want to damage the thing if I ever need to remove it.

I have two M3Ks and the SD cards on both spring out with no problem after a slight push inwards. However, I remember when the player first came out there were a couple of reviews that mentioned cards getting stuck so perhaps some have a fault.

[demon_slayer]

Code: [Select]

You'll need to post the RB version (System > Rockbox Info) for that message to be useful.  Also, did it occur in Rockbox or the bootloader USB mode?
It appeared straight after I removed the micro USB cable from the M3K.

Code: [Select]

I have two M3Ks and the SD cards on both spring out with no problem after a slight push inwards. However, I remember when the player first came out there were a couple of reviews that mentioned cards getting stuck so perhaps some have a fault.Mine isn't budging at all Might shoot the manufacturer/Amazon a message and see what they say

[demon_slayer]

Not sure if this is related to Rockbox but when I go to eject my M3K I see the following prompt even though there is no file explorer open.

Only when I eject using the Windows toolbar shortcut I see the prompt. If I right click the FIIO drive whilst in File Explorer then it ejects without the prompt.

Anyone know what's going on?