iPod Classic 6g - bootloader not installing / storage issues

[millsy]

Hey all, first of all thanks for this fantastic software!

I've got an ipod classic 80 (and 120gb) - both the less optimal for modding versions unfortunately as I'm attempting to install an iflash quad (currently with 4x256gb micro SD cards)

I've had two issues, first is my current problem, second is my initial problem:
Firstly, I'm having issues getting the bootloader to install, I have tried the following:
- Plug ipod into PC, open aoemi, format the 127gb partition you'd expect to see on a 6th gen with too big a disc as fat32
- Open rockbox, point it to the 127gb volume and select ipod 6th gen
- Follow the process
Now Rockbox informs me it transfers, makes a beep. Rockbox says it's successfully completed but it stays on the 'do not disconnect' apple screen. Once I reboot by pressing menu and the middle button, it goes to the 'use itunes to restore' screen, so presumably the bootloader hasn't installed correctly (however there is a .rockbox file on the volume). I've been able to successfully do this on the original hard disc so I don't believe it's a hardware issue. Rockbox shows no errors and all it says in the log file is the version of the bootloader added.

The second issue I've had was before I had the issue getting rockbox to install, I was unable to access storage as I had understood to be possible. I've attempted to follow the following process (again this was when I could get the bootloader on):
- Use aoemi to format the visible space (127gb obviously) as fat32
- Install rockbox bootloader
- Boot into rockbox bootloader, at this point my understanding is that rockbox can address the full 1tb and you'd then reformat the parition using aoemi and reinstall rockbox
However at the third step I was still only seeing the 127gb.

Obviously a 5th or 7th gen would be preferable but I've already got two of these so hoping somebody can help!

[FoxLovesYou]

The 127G Partition is a limit set by the ipod official bootloader. I have this ipod working with a 256G iFlash drive. It is recommended you restore the ipod using iTunes rather than trying to format the disk yourself.

1. Plug iPod in normally
2. Restore iPod drive using iTunes
3. Ensure iPod restores to the "Choose a Language" screen
4. Close iTunes completely
5. Launch Rockbox Utility and proceed to install bootloader (only)
6. When requested, hold the reset [MENU+HOME] until notified of DFU mode (in 5 seconds, reboot starts, in 15 seconds, dfu mode starts, hold longer, reboot restarts)
7. Wait for Rockbox to restart. This sometimes fails, and requires a manual reset

If all goes well, your drive will still list 127G, but Disk Management software will see the additional partition space, and the iPod will show a black screen with some RockBox debugger information. Here's where it gets tricky. IF you resize the partition to fill the space, you'll lose the dual-boot mode. The iPod Classic 6th Gen will NOT boot properly if the partition is larger than the 127G, OR if any partition data exists outside of the 127G. Meaning using the space will require you to exclusively use RockBox. Once you've confirmed the desired partition table and formatted accordingly, you can proceed to use the Rockbox utility to install the firmware.

[millsy]

Thank you very much! I will give it a try

[millsy]

The 127G Partition is a limit set by the ipod official bootloader. I have this ipod working with a 256G iFlash drive. It is recommended you restore the ipod using iTunes rather than trying to format the disk yourself.

1. Plug iPod in normally
2. Restore iPod drive using iTunes
3. Ensure iPod restores to the "Choose a Language" screen
4. Close iTunes completely
5. Launch Rockbox Utility and proceed to install bootloader (only)
6. When requested, hold the reset [MENU+HOME] until notified of DFU mode (in 5 seconds, reboot starts, in 15 seconds, dfu mode starts, hold longer, reboot restarts)
7. Wait for Rockbox to restart. This sometimes fails, and requires a manual reset

If all goes well, your drive will still list 127G, but Disk Management software will see the additional partition space, and the iPod will show a black screen with some RockBox debugger information. Here's where it gets tricky. IF you resize the partition to fill the space, you'll lose the dual-boot mode. The iPod Classic 6th Gen will NOT boot properly if the partition is larger than the 127G, OR if any partition data exists outside of the 127G. Meaning using the space will require you to exclusively use RockBox. Once you've confirmed the desired partition table and formatted accordingly, you can proceed to use the Rockbox utility to install the firmware.

As an update on this, I found that this absolutely worked, though resizing didn't work I had to just delete all partitions and create a new fat32 one. I also found I had to assign it a drive letter manually (used AOMEI)

Seems the root cause of my issue was doing this in a VM, once I did it on native hardware I had no further issues!