Ipod classic - rockbox - its happening.

Hi. I hope anyone can help, well I have tried installing Rockbox and have followed the manual and copied the installer-ipodclassic.ubi file into the UMSboot volume and safely ejected the ipod and used the Rockbox utility to install Rockbox, ticking 'Show disabled targets' checkbox. It completed the Rockbox Utility installation & I safely ejected, shut off and booted up the ipod. I even copied extracted the contents of the latest build rockbox-ipod6g-20151024 folder into the ipod volume.  
 
But In the Rockbox Boot Menu, when I select it, it still tells me Loading Rockbox.iPod Failed! Trying Fallback Image. No .rockbox directory. Installation incomplete. I've tried three times, restoring the iPod and starting again. I don't understand what exactly is wrong... I must be missing something. There's no rockbox-ipod6g folder unless I install it myself in the ipod volume, the Rockbox utility doesn't install it which is wierd.
 
I could try using this sites method without running Rockbox utility  https://www.tarkan.info/20140804/tutorials/howto-install-rockbox-on-the-ipod-classics, but the method seems it's for iFlash only, like iPods with SD and mSata drives.
 
Sorry for the long post but trying to explain the prob as throughly as possible.
 
Thanks.

Can a virus be installed through an iPod with Rockbox?
 
Sorry, I don't mean to cross-post. I posted a more detailed message in the iPod SSD thread first, but thought I should make some mention of it here.
 
After the posts about the recent changes in Rockbox, I did some checking on the Rockbox code, I noticed an open "WIP" for DuckyScript plugin, which turns the iPod into a USB RubberDucky. A USB RubberDucky is a hack that exploits the blind faith of Plug and Play's trust in USB keyboards. Anybody can attach a payload to the script that will install whatever they want or make whatever system changes they want. I'm not sure why they're developing it, but there was another patch uploaded a couple of hours ago.
 
Makes me wonder about all of the used iPods I've purchased, and now I'm beginning to worry about all of the Rockbox versions and patches I've installed. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of defense or even detection.
 
 
What do we know about detecting malware on iPods or in Rockbox patches?

can I use rockbox from this build http://www.rockbox.org/dl.cgi?bin=ipod6g
 
to my iPod 120GB?

Hello,
 
Sorry about the confusion with the Rockbox bootloader files. I needed a quick way to host the files, but it looks like the website tries to install its own "download manager", which is a virus. I should have been more cautious.
 
The Rockbox bootloader and dual boot is a work in progress, and still not available as an official build. The files i'm linking to are built by the developer who submitted this patch: http://gerrit.rockbox.org/r/#/c/1221/
 
I have hosted them on the freemyipod server: http://files.freemyipod.org/~user890104/rockbox+bootloader/
 
MD5 sums:
710310ee3727a0c6a088b1464fe7b8ff  dualboot-installer-ipod6g.dfu
5d41afb1df3a0f490ac5009ee85f668c  dualboot-uninstaller-ipod6g.dfu
3f0413873a1322dc3f30114ccfb30606  rockbox.zip
 
Please double-check them before opening the files. Sorry again about the misleading links in my previous post.
 
About ipoddfu.py: the procedure involves entering DFU mode just like in the first step of the emcore installation. More info here: http://www.freemyipod.org/wiki/EmCORE_Installation/iPodClassic/PrepareDFULinux
It was written with linux in mind, but should also work on windows.
 
About using the official rockbox version with this bootloader: it won't work, you need a patched version. See the information in the upper-left corner on the patch page.
 
I have been busy the past few months, but now i have subscribed to the topic so i can answer questions, if you have any.
 

discoprojoe said:

...
 
Does this version fix the "humming lock-up" bug that I tend to get once every few days? Occasionally it can happen while changing an EQ preset. The iPod freezes up and puts out a very loud, distorted humming noise (through the headphones) at around 170 Hz, and I have to press and hold menu+select for 5 seconds to reboot. It's a very minor problem (as it happens, on average, once every few days), but has anything been done to address this issue?

Click to expand...

This sounds like Rockbox has crashed. It happened on my Classic 120 GB a few times, but i'm not able to find what causes it. It used to do it when a specific part of a track plays, maybe it's corrupted and crashed the whole Rockbox OS, or the disk sector is bad and Rockbox fails to read it. The sound you're hearing is the last data in the DAC buffer of the ipod looped forever, because the DAC doesn't receive any more data from Rockbox. If the screen shows some black text on white background, ending with "bt end", it might give us a clue of what's happening, so please post its text. Example:
Data abort at 000092C4
bt pc: 000092C4, sp: 0
A: 0004CA8C
bt end
 
Regards,
Vencislav Atanasov
freemyipod Team

iPod Classic dual booting with Apple OS and Rockbox works perfectly! This has also Apple Disk Mode and in Rockbox the Hold button work too! This should prevent corruption problems with Rockbox USB drivers, since music files are transferred through Apple Disk Mode or Apple OS.
 
Credits go to the following:
user890104
from the freemyipod Team
http://www.head-fi.org/t/532426/ipod-classic-rockbox-its-happening/3375
http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=freemyipod-support
 
And master developer:
Cástor Muñoz
http://gerrit.rockbox.org/r/#/c/1221/
 
The following are the steps needed to install your own iPod Classic dualbooting setup. 
 
First the setup that I am using:
Windows 7 - 64-bit OS laptop
Apple iPod Classic 7.5 Generation (Restored through iTunes with no Emcore bootloader)
Original Apple USB cable (Not dock or china fake usb cable)

Files needed to be downloaded:
1.
WinPython-64bit-3.4.3.5
http://sourceforge.net/projects/winpython/files/WinPython_3.4/3.4.3.6/
Download: WinPython-64bit-3.4.3.6.exe that is 278.0 MB
 
2.
pyusb (walac-pyusb-1.0.0b2-62-g2105dc3)
http://walac.github.io/pyusb/
Download button is the .zip black folder icon on the top right
Direct download link is:
https://github.com/walac/pyusb/zipball/master
 
3.
zadig_2.1.2
http://zadig.akeo.ie/
Direct download link is:
http://zadig.akeo.ie/downloads/zadig_2.1.2.exe
 
4,5,6.
dualboot-installer-ipod6g.dfu
dualboot-uninstaller-ipod6g.dfu
rockbox.zip
http://files.freemyipod.org/~user890104/rockbox+bootloader/
 
7,8.
ipoddfu.py
libipoddfu.py
http://www.freemyipod.org/wiki/EmCORE_Installation/iPodClassic/PrepareDFULinux

Place the above downloaded files no 4, 5, 7 and 8 in the same folder.
Make sure that the Rockbox you use for file 6 is the one from the freemyipod website link provided.
 
Installation Instructions:
1. Install program 1 'WinPython'
 
2. Extract program 2 'pyusb' from the .zip file to a folder
 
3. Run 'WinPython Command Prompt.exe' from the WinPython installation folder
 
4. In the command prompt type: cd "INSERT-HERE-LINK-TO-PYUSB-FOLDER-IN-STEP-2"
Press 'Enter' button
 
5. You should have the link to the Pyusb folder in the command prompt
 
6. In the command prompt type: python setup.py install
Press 'Enter' button

7. Connect iPod to PC. Enter DFU mode on iPod by pressing and keeping pressed 'Menu button and Select button' together. Ipod will restart then since you will keep the buttons pressed, the screen on the iPod will get black and PC will make a usb connected noise. You have now connected your iPod in DFU mode.
 
8. Open Zadig - go to options in Zadig - and tick 'List all Devices'
 
9. Select the DFU device
 
10. Driver entry change it to 'libusb-win32 (v1.2.6.0)' and press the large button to install the driver.
 
11. It should say that driver has been installed. You can now close Zadig.
 
12. Make sure that the files named ipoddfu.py libipoddfu.py and dualboot-installer-ipod6g.dfu are in the same folder
 
13. Run 'WinPython Command Prompt.exe' from the WinPython installation folder
 
14. In the command prompt type: cd "INSERT-HERE-LINK-TO-FOLDER-WHICH-CONTAINS-FILES-LISTED-IN-STEP-12"
Press 'Enter' button
 
15. In the command prompt type: python ipoddfu.py dualboot-installer-ipod6g.dfu
Press 'Enter' button
 
16. You have installed the Rockbox Dualboot loader.
 
17. The iPod will complain that it cannot find the Rockbox folder. Reset iPod and press Select + Play to go to Disk Mode.
 
18. Connect iPod to PC and paste the Rockbox extract folder .rockbox to the iPod. It is very important that you use only the Rockbox build found in the freemyipod.org weblink above, as other builds may not be compatible.
 
19. You now have your iPod Classic with both Apple OS and Rockbox OS.
 
20. Natively it will load Rockbox OS. To reset, press and hold Menu + Play. To go to Apple OS, reset and then press any button like for example select button when booting. To go to Disk-Mode, press Select+Play when booting. To go to diagnostics press select+Rewind button.
 
To uninstall the dualboot function just restore your iPod with iTunes when you are in the Apple OS or Apple Disk Mode.
 
It seems that the bootmenu option functionality mentioned by Cástor Muñoz on his webpage does not work by pressing select+Forward button. It could be that the freemyipod team has only implemented up to Patch 2 so far.

Enjoy.

Hey, thanks for the excellent write-up.
 
I do have a question. 
 
Is this compatible with both 6g and 7g ipods, or 6g only? I have a 160GB 7g and walked through the instructions. Everything works great (including the python parts) when the bootloader install completes the python script returns "done" and the ipod beeps in a high tone and then a lower tone. Then it restarts with what appears to be the standard apple bootloader, and does not complain that rockbox is not installed. 
 
any assistance or insight you could provide would be helpful. Thanks!

I did it on a 7th generation iPod Classic, so I can confirm that it works on a 7th generation one.
 
What happens when you paste the .rockbox folder in your iPod? It is important that you extract the folder from the downloaded rockbox.zip file, and not pasting the .zip file without extracting the folder within it. Does it work when you reset your iPod?

As soon as the python script executes, the iPod makes two beeps and immediately restarts with the apple logo and into the regular iPod UI. There isn't an opportunity for me to copy the .rockbox folder over before this happens.

I suppose I'm expecting to see the bit about the boot loader complaining it can't find rockbox to move to the next step. That makes me wonder if the boot loader was never copied dispite the lack of errors in the python script.

I can try (once it's booted back into the stock UI) copying the rockbox folder and forcing the restart again, though I think that I've tried that in the multiple attempts at some point.

I've restored my iPod to make sure it's a fresh example to work with and replicated the steps on two computers to try and make sure there wasn't something wrong with the computer.

I'm probably doing something wrong; I just can't figure out what.

When the bootloader is installed and makes the beep sounds, you need to reboot the iPod in stock Apple OS, then you paste the .rockbox folder (which is the extracted folder from the rockbox.zip downloaded from the freemyipod website) in the iPod. Then you reboot your iPod without touching any other buttons after the beep sound.
 
It is important that you paste the '.rockbox' folder and not the 'rockbox/.rockbox' parent folder when extracted.

Thanks for the ideas. Copied the .rockbox folder over (being careful to being the one with the period and not the parent) and still the device boots into the apple UI.

The directions are super clear and everything goes as expected until step 17. This never happens. Following the python command execute, the screen says:
"Connected to S5L8702 Bootrom DFU mode, USB version 1"
Followed by:
"Upload: .................... done"

At this point the iPod beeps twice and restarts into the stock interface. I never get the complaint that rockbox is installed. (Step 17)

I proceed to set the ipod to disk mode, copy the .rockbox folder to the root of the iPod drive and reboot. Each time the device is restarted, it boots the apple logo into the stock UI.

My suspicion is that I'm doing something wrong with the boot loader step via winpython as that's when the instructions no longer mirror my experience.

Hi knate, what type of iPod are you using exactly? Also what hdd size? and is it thick version or thin version.
 
The one that I was using was an iPod 7th Generation 160Gb Thin version. I think it would be considered as the 7.5 Generation (the last one manufactured) which had the 'Genius' functionality in the music menu.

discoprojoe said:

  Does this version fix the "humming lock-up" bug that I tend to get once every few days? Occasionally it can happen while changing an EQ preset. The iPod freezes up and puts out a very loud, distorted humming noise (through the headphones) at around 170 Hz, and I have to press and hold menu+select for 5 seconds to reboot. It's a very minor problem (as it happens, on average, once every few days), but has anything been done to address this issue?

Click to expand...

 
   Quote:

user890104 said:

 
This sounds like Rockbox has crashed. It happened on my Classic 120 GB a few times, but i'm not able to find what causes it. It used to do it when a specific part of a track plays, maybe it's corrupted and crashed the whole Rockbox OS, or the disk sector is bad and Rockbox fails to read it. The sound you're hearing is the last data in the DAC buffer of the ipod looped forever, because the DAC doesn't receive any more data from Rockbox. If the screen shows some black text on white background, ending with "bt end", it might give us a clue of what's happening, so please post its text. Example:
Data abort at 000092C4
bt pc: 000092C4, sp: 0
A: 0004CA8C
bt end

Click to expand...

 
When it happens (once every few days, on average, while changing an EQ preset), the screen just freezes up, and is usually stuck on the "Loading..." message that's normally displayed when changing the preset. There isn't any error text.
 
If you want to hear a simulation of the loud noise that the iPod puts out (through the headphones) when this "humming lock-up" bug happens, click on this link. On the drop-down menu next to "Waveform," choose the "Square" option. In the "Frequency" box underneath it, enter "170." Finally, click the "Download .wav file" button, and enjoy the bad memories of the humming lock-up bug! 

markatlis said:

  iPod Classic dual booting with Apple OS and Rockbox works perfectly! This has also Apple Disk Mode and in Rockbox the Hold button work too! This should prevent corruption problems with Rockbox USB drivers, since music files are transferred through Apple Disk Mode or Apple OS.

Click to expand...

 
Does Rockbox run any faster with this latest build? (For example, when booting up, moving through menus, changing EQ presets, etc.?)
 
Also, if I want to listen to the same MP3 file in Rockbox and in Apple OS, does that MP3 file need to be loaded onto the iPod twice (i.e., copied directly to the iPod in Rockbox, and added through iTunes in Apple OS separately)?
 
Not that I would actually be interested in doing something like that, since the EQ in Apple OS sucks bigtime, but I'm just curious.
 
But if I ever really wanted to watch .FLV or .MP4 videos on my iPod (using the RealPlayer Converter tool to convert it to the iPod format first, then loading the video file through iTunes), then this dual-boot feature would certainly come in handy for that purpose. But unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to use my beloved EQ presets in Rockbox with those videos!  Grrrrrrrrr....   

markatlis said:

  Hi knate, what type of iPod are you using exactly? Also what hdd size? and is it thick version or thin version.
 
The one that I was using was an iPod 7th Generation 160Gb Thin version. I think it would be considered as the 7.5 Generation (the last one manufactured) which had the 'Genius' functionality in the music menu.

Click to expand...

I believe it's the same one. It's a 160GB 7th Generation thin (A1238 is the model number on the back) Late 2009. Has the genius setting in the music menu. Bought it new from the apple store about 3 months before Apple officially discontinued.

knate said:

 
I believe it's the same one. It's a 160GB 7th Generation thin (A1238 is the model number on the back) Late 2009. Has the genius setting in the music menu. Bought it new from the apple store about 3 months before Apple officially discontinued.

Click to expand...

 
knate, what version of Apple OS do have you installed on your iPod Classic? Is it 2.0.4, being the latest one?