May 17, 2003

Wahoo!

As we have seen, in order for the iPod to work with Windows, it must be formatted using FAT32 (the Windows format). The new iPods all come formatted using HFS+ (the Mac OS X format). Windows users are expected to run an installation program that reformats the iPod with FAT32 and re-installs the iPod software. But the included software didn't work for me, and doesn't work for many others (though lots of people have had success with it). I could mount the iPod as a hard drive, and I could format it as FAT32 manually, but this wipes out the iPod software. I could connect it to a Mac and restore the software, but doing so reformats the drive with HFS+. What I needed was the ability to install the software on a FAT32-formatted iPod without reformatting.

Linux to the rescue! Using Linux and documentation for the GNUpod project, I was able to:

  1. restore the iPod using the iBook, resulting in a Mac-formatted drive with iPod v2.0 software,
  2. copy the v2.0 software off the iPod,
  3. repartition and format the iPod with FAT32, and
  4. copy the v2.0 software back onto the iPod.

Presto, a Windows-formatted iPod with v2.0 software! I can now mount and use the iPod with Linux and Open Source software, use the iPod with the Mac and iTunes 4, and even use the iPod with Windows and EphPod if I wanted to. (A Windows user should never have to touch the CD-ROM that came in the box, if they can get their iPod into this state.)

I wonder if the Mac version of the Updater can do a software update (not a restore) with a Windows-formatted iPod without having to reformat. I assume it does. If it doesn't, hopefully sites like iWeenie.com will provide images of the latest version, which can be installed with more instructions from GNUpod.

Bliss!

A couple more iPod links and I'll try to shut up about it for a while: If your iPod clicks between tracks, you're not alone. I understand this to be an acknowledged problem for which Apple is working on a software upgrade to fix.

Also: iPod developer documentation, including dimensional diagrams for case designers and technical information on using the new "NotesOnly" (Museum) mode.

comments...

subbes, May 22, 2003 7:01 AM:

Possibly an idiotic question: Using GNUPod is not feasible for users with Windows, right? All my mp3s are on the windows machine, not to mention that the Linux one doesn't have firewire [old laptop]. I suspect I'll have to plonk down money for MacOpener.



Just researching some stuff before I buy an iPod. Glad to have found your chronicles.

Dan Sanderson, May 23, 2003 12:57 AM:

GNUPod is actually a collection of Perl scripts, so you could easily install Perl for free (such as ActiveState's Perl) and use it there. You might have better luck with EphPod, free Windows software for the iPod that Apple tech support even seems to be encouraging for people having problems with the Windows software that comes with the iPod. You don't need MacOpener.



http://www.ephpod.com/



Oh hey, check it out, the latest version of EphPod for Windows 2000/XP has Audible support! I wonder how well it works.

Dan Sanderson, May 23, 2003 12:59 AM:

Oop, pardon me, you'd need MacOpener if you left the iPod in Mac format. The GNUPod conversion instructions I mentioned would eliminate the need.

Adam Spiers, May 25, 2003 4:16 AM:

Thanks for giving me the confidence to

use the Linux/GNUpod approach to repartition

my 30GB iPod - worked great for me too, so

I've managed to avoid installing Windows yet

again :-) (And thanks for understanding

the value of combining google and blogs;

that's exactly how I found your pearls of

wisdom ...)



I did have a nightmare getting the device

presented to Linux in the first place though;

see the linux1394-user sourceforge list for

the gory details.