"Unknown version number in firmware" running ipodpatcher, PowerPC OSX 3rd Gen

[andrew davidoff]

Hello,

I searched google, the wiki, and the forums and can't find info on this anywhere.  I am using a PowerPC Powerbook and my iPod was originally formatted HFS+.  It's a 3rd Gen running v2.3 code.

As a little background here, I started out my rockbox installation this morning trying various hackish things to avoid having to use a Windows machine to format my iPod to FAT32.  This resulted in me breaking and unbreaking my iPod several times, but at this point in time it appears to be properly initialized as a "Windows" (FAT32) formatted iPod.  I only mention the mucking I did originally in the event it becomes relevant.

So at this point I have a factory reset 3rd Gen iPod running v2.3 code that seems to work properly stand alone, hooked up to my Mac, and hooked up to a Windows laptop I have (which I used to get it in its current state).

When I try to install the rockbox bootloader using ipodpatcher, I get the following:

davidoff@superfly rockbox$ ./ipodpatcher /dev/disk3 -a bootloader-ipod3g.ipod
ipodpatcher v0.5 - (C) Dave Chapman 2006
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

[INFO] Reading partition table from /dev/disk3
[INFO] Sector size is 512 bytes
[INFO] Part    Start Sector    End Sector   Size (MB)   Type
[INFO]    0              63         80324        39.2   Empty (0x00)
[INFO]    1           80325      78124094     38107.3   W95 FAT32 (0x0b)
[ERR] Unknown version number in firmware (00000000)

Same error using the -l option to ipodpatcher.

Ideas?  I noticed some of the 3rd gen links (bootloader, for example) are missing from the docs though the docs mention 3rd gen and the files are still available if you browse to the folder that contains the others.  Is this an indication that there are currently issues with rockbox on 3rd gen iPods?

Thanks.
Andrew Davidoff

[andrew davidoff]

If it helps any of the gurus, I am hacking the ipodpatcher source (though my c is rusty at best), and so far it looks like ipod_version as ipod_directory[0].vers (note: unshifted) is 528.  Which seems way wrong if the shift to find the version is supposed to be 12 bits.

I'll keep hacking at this for fun.

Andrew Davidoff

[andrew davidoff]

I figured what the hell and hacked the code so that it forced the version to 3rd gen.  I know this isn't exactly smart, but I was willing to accept the consequences.

I backed up the exiting boot partition as the docs describe.  No errors.
I added the 3rd gen bootloader as the docs describe.  No errors.

However, when booting the iPod with the new bootloader, the iPod displays the bang folder icon then boots into disk mode.  Disconnected from my powerbook it just keeps rebooting, showing the apple logo, then the bank folder, repeat.

I restored the backed up boot partition.  No errors.  iPod is now back to normal.

Still looking for a way to make this work.

Andrew Davidoff

[linuxstb]

ipodpatcher doesn't (yet) support the 3g.  I had hoped to add support by now, which is why the instructions don't warn you of the fact.

For now, you'll need to use the old install instructions linked to from the IpodPort wiki page.

[andrew davidoff]

Well, that would explain a lot.

Thanks for the Christmas reply.  I'll try the older method in a bit.

Andrew Davidoff

[andrew davidoff]

The old method appears to have worked.  Now to get playing with this.

Thanks again.
Andrew Davidoff

[mcbear]

Sorry, to get this on first page again: I'm getting exactly the same message with a 3g:
 ([ERR] Unknown version number in firmware (00000000))

but the old method (read it on the wiki ipodport) does also seem to involve ipodpatcher as well, so I'm getting nowhere.
Anything I'm missing ?
Note that is worked flawlessly on a 30 GB iPod-Video...I know about the drawbacks of the 3G version, just want to play around a bit.
Thanks

mcbear

[linuxstb]

The old install instructions link to a different version of ipodpatcher.

[mcbear]

Thanks, I didn't notice that...now it works, even with ipl2 loader...