resolved: always rebooting Ipod Mini 2G

[thias]

Hi there!
I just wanted to post my solution for the problem I had.
I wanted to try the Rockbox-software on my Mini. But I didn`t read the install-instructions carefully enough and forgot to unzip the files to the Ipod. I used ipodpatcher to backup my old firmware and write the new one. After reboot the device (of course) didn't start. Instead, it said "Error -1... rebooting original Software" (or something similar) did a reboot and started from the beginning. This loop continued until the bat was empty. I tried several button-combinations, to start into "Diskmode" (pressed << and >> at the same time, pressed menu+select a.t.s.t.), but that didn`work, too. The thing just kept rebooting. Plugging it to the Computer didn't work out, too. The USB-Device wasn't detected... (I really did panic at that point, I can tell you!)
In the end, I disassembeled the Mini and took out the CF-Disk. Using an external Card reader, I accessed the HD. I realized, that there are two partitions on the disk. The first one had the size of 39MB, just the size of my backupped .bin-file. So the whole firmware is on the Harddisk?? But the partition was not readable or deletable by XP. Then I thought to myself: "Why don't you try to use ipodpatcher again? What can I say? It worked! It even detected the device using the --scan option. Now, My Ipod is up and running again.

Now - I will try the Rockbox-SW once again. And I won't forget the zip-file this time!

(I hope I dont run into further Problems...
... and sorry for my english... I am german.)

PS: I just read the instructions once again, how to get into Diskmode. Seems I did the wrong combination. Damn! So much work for nothin'

[thias]

I have now installed rockbox. Seems to work fine.

But, working through the manual I tried to start the original firmware my swithing the hold-button immedialtely after starting the ipod. But it doesn't work. The device keeps on rebooting... until I swith back the hold-button. Then rockbox starts normally.

[scorche]

What is displayed on the screen as this happens?

[darkomen]

i have the same problem that you. I dassembled the ipod, and connect de microdrive into the pc. But, when i acces to the disk, i can't write  because its protect. How do you resolve this problem?? i trie in windows or linux, and nothing.
Im spanis, and i use the google translator

[sugarcubes]

I have the same problem with a 4th Gen greyscale ipod.  It shows the error code and keeps rebooting.  I don't really want to crack it open (especially as I don't have a 1.8" IDE connector).  Any suggestions on what I can do to either stop the ipod rebooting and how I can let it be seen when I plug in the usb?  I'm really freaked I've just made my ipod into a paper weight.

[linuxstb]

As your ipod reboots (when you see the Apple logo), hold SELECT+PLAY.  This will put your ipod in disk mode and you can then restore with itunes.

[sugarcubes]

Thanks for the quick reply.  But this was the first thing I tried.  It just keeps on rebooting over and over again.

[sugarcubes]

Arr finally got it to work.  Once again thanks for quick reply.

[thias]

To make things clear: To get into diskmode, you have to
SWITCH HOLD ON AND OF FIRST.
Then Press Select+Play at the same time.
I forgot the "Hold"-thing on my first try. This was caused by my weak english, I think. Because they often write "press Hold Select and Play"... but a direct translation into german of that would be press Select+Play, but this is obviously wrong...

Now back to my reboot-original-fw-problem:

It says (the last two lines):
partition1: 0x0B 3859
loading original firmware
then "klick!"-reboot - no error, nothing.

Besides that, rockbox works fine. I am atm working on a little ipod-clone-theme. I will open a new thread for that in the wps-section

[mikeage]

I just went ahead and attempted to installed the rockbox boot loader (I used to use the iPL, but I wanted to test a patch that appears to require the RB loader).

My iPod (4g gray) boots into RB just fine, but if I try and boot into the Apple firmware, I see "Loading Original Firmware," hear a click (as described by thias), and it reboot. In order to boot the apple firmware, I have to reinstall the bootpartition.bin 40MB file I created when I first installed rockbox about 8 months ago. After doing that, of course, I can not access rockbox at all until I reinstall the loader.

Just to make sure it wasn't some weird side effect of having used the old RB loader, then iPL, then the new one, I restored my ipod (and wiped out everything). Same results.

I'm installing bootloader-ipod4g.ipod from the site indicated in the manual along with the version of ipodpatcher found there (http://download.rockbox.org/bootloader/ipod/ipodpatcher/win32/ipodpatcher.exe -- v0.6).

Code: [Select]

C:\rockbox>ipodpatcher.exe 1 -a bootloader-ipod4g.ipod
ipodpatcher v0.6 - (C) Dave Chapman 2006-2007
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 \\.\PhysicalDrive1
[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)
[INFO] Ipod model: 4th Generation
[INFO] Checksum OK in bootloader-ipod4g.ipod
[INFO] Moving images to create room for new firmware...
[INFO] Reading original firmware...
[INFO]  Wrote 3563520 bytes to firmware partition
[INFO] Bootloader bootloader-ipod4g.ipod written to device.

[thias]

I, in my case, was told to try http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/WebHome?topic=IpodInstallation
This is supposed to be the "old way" to install rockbox. They told me in the irc, tha newer ipodpatcher has that specivic problem and is not able to load the original firmware.

[mikeage]

Ah, interesting. There, it says "NOTE: These instructions are known to have problems with the 1st and 2nd Generation Mini and 4G (Greyscale) ipods - Rockbox loads correctly, but the original Apple firmware will not start. If you have one of these ipods, you should continue using the old installation instructions linked to from the IpodPort page. "

which somehow did not make it into the manual :-/

Can someone who understands the bootloader better please explain if there's a way to run the kernel_on_cop patch (which needs the new bootloader, I'm told; not the old one or iPL) and also retain the ability to boot the Apple firmware?

[thias]

Today I did a new install of the bootloader, following this:
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/WebHome?topic=IpodInstallation
But my Ipod still wont boot the original FW...
I reset the Ipod, switch on HOLD, then it says "cleared" and rockbox is started. There is no reboot and no line saying "booting original firmware" like it did before...

[Llorean]

Because the old bootloader requires you to hold down the Menu button, not use the hold switch.

[thias]

Thanks... it works now.