Home

Multi Boot Your iPod The Easy Way

« previous entry | next entry »
Jun. 3rd, 2006 | 02:32 pm

If you remember my Diamond Rio SP90 to iRiver hack you probably already know that I get annoyed when my hardware has the capability to offer features that aren't available simply because the sortware authors decided not to include it.

Following in that vain, my iPod Nano has been severely modified to add lots of lovely new features.

I'm using a Nano 2GB, but this also works with most other iPods.

It now multiboots Podzilla (ucLinux for iPod), RockBox, Disc Mode and Apple OS.

You can get installers for Podzilla and RockBox.

To multiboot your own iPod follow these steps:

1. Connect your iPod so it goes into Disc Mode.

2. Download the Podzilla Installer.

3. Run it and follow the wizard's instructions.

4. Right-click on the PC Card with Green Arrow in your System Tray and Safely Remove Hardware.

5. Select the USB device your iPod is on and hit Properties.

6. Select your iPod and click the button to Stop it.

7. Unplug your iPod and let it boot into Linux.

8. Download the RockBox Installer.

9. Plug in your iPod and scroll to Yes using the mouse wheel, then push Select to confirm you want to reboot into Disc Mode.

10. Run the RockBox Installer and follow the wizard.

11. Repeat steps 4 through 7 and let your iPod reboot.

12. Plug in your iPod.

13. Download iPod Application Manager and run iPod Application Manger.bat.

14. Follow the wizard and select Loader Manager.

15. Select whether you want to use the Latest Beta or the Stable Version (it's up to you, I chose the Beta).

16. Wait for the installer to complete.

17. Eject your iPod again and let it reboot.

Congratulations, your iPod is now setup to quadrupel boot Linux, RockBox, AppleOS and Disc Mode.

EDIT 12/5/2006: Disabling comments as this article is starting to draw spam.

Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Tell a Friend

Comments {70}

Page 1 of 2
<<[1] [2] >>

congrats

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 4th, 2006 08:26 pm (UTC)
Link

your post made it to the front page of digg.com. nice article by the way, i love rockbox on my 4g ipod

Reply | Thread

emovagina

What OS?

from: [info]emovagina
date: Jun. 4th, 2006 08:55 pm (UTC)
Link

Is this guide for Mac or Window's users? Or both?

Reply | Thread

foxmajik

Re: What OS?

from: [info]foxmajik
date: Jun. 4th, 2006 09:02 pm (UTC)
Link

This guide is for Windows.

Reply | Parent | Thread

(no subject)

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 4th, 2006 09:04 pm (UTC)
Link

Thanks, but now my AppleOS won't boot :(

Reply | Thread

foxmajik

(no subject)

from: [info]foxmajik
date: Jun. 4th, 2006 09:09 pm (UTC)
Link

You can restore your iPod to factory settings by running the iPod Updater.

Reply | Parent | Thread | Expand

(no subject) - (Anonymous) Expand

Mac style...

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 4th, 2006 09:20 pm (UTC)
Link

Do you know how to do this on a Mac. Cause I love my little 2GB nano, and would like to try this out. But I have an iBook G4. And no windows computer available. :(

Reply | Thread

foxmajik

Re: Mac style...

from: [info]foxmajik
date: Jun. 4th, 2006 09:27 pm (UTC)
Link

iPod Linux installer for Mac:
http://ipodlinuxinstl.sourceforge.net/

I haven't tried this myself.

I wasn't able to locate a Application Launcher or RockBox installer for Mac.

Reply | Parent | Thread

(no subject)

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 4th, 2006 09:38 pm (UTC)
Link

Your link to the Rockbox installer is only for Archos devices - not Ipods.

You should probably link to http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IpodPort or http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IpodInstallation instead.

Reply | Thread

foxmajik

Re: Mac style...

from: [info]foxmajik
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 07:51 am (UTC)
Link

Oh yeah, good catch!

Reply | Parent | Thread

Am I going to lose my music stored in the iPod ?

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 4th, 2006 09:57 pm (UTC)
Link

I have a lot of music on my iPod that I don´t have in any other place. =( I don´t wanna risk losing it

Reply | Thread | Expand

foxmajik

Re: Am I going to lose my music stored in the iPod ?

from: [info]foxmajik
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 07:52 am (UTC)
Link

I don't think the installers overwrite your disc, but you may want to try one of many third-party iPod backup tools before you install a new OS on your iPod.

Reply | Parent | Thread

Double boot?

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 4th, 2006 11:32 pm (UTC)
Link

I only want to boot between Apple, Disk Mode and Rockbox. Can I skip the Podzilla part and just start at the Rockbox instructions? Or do I need Linux to be able to install any sort of multi boot?

Reply | Thread

foxmajik

Re: Double boot?

from: [info]foxmajik
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 07:54 am (UTC)
Link

You can do any one of the installer steps by itself. If you run just the Rockbox installer you'll get just Rockbox. Although running the application manager installer by itself would be rather silly.

Reply | Parent | Thread | Expand

Re: Double boot? - (Anonymous) Expand

(no subject)

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 01:01 am (UTC)
Link

do you know if this would work on a 30GB ipod video?

Reply | Thread

great article, thanks!

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 01:18 am (UTC)
Link

Hey, great post, thanks a lot. Also in your first paragraph, you used the wrong spelling for "vein". Not "Vain". Thanks again!

Reply | Thread

foxmajik

Re: great article, thanks!

from: [info]foxmajik
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 07:55 am (UTC)
Link

I was wondering if anyone would notice that... :P

Reply | Parent | Thread

(no subject)

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 01:22 am (UTC)
Link

i cant seem to get rockbox on my ipod photo...im not sure wut to do when i download it and WinRar pops up

Reply | Thread

foxmajik

(no subject)

from: [info]foxmajik
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 07:58 am (UTC)
Link

Make a new folder. Drag and drop all of the stuff that is in the Winrar archive into the new folder. Double-click on Installer and follow the onscreen instructions.

Reply | Parent | Thread

(no subject)

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 02:03 am (UTC)
Link

Worked thanks. Just a note though. The rockbox installer you linked too doesn't work for iPods. Some more detailed instructions would help out less informed people.

Reply | Thread

How about Linux

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 03:03 am (UTC)
Link

Great article if you're running Wondurz, but how about the How-To for Linux.

mike

Reply | Thread

foxmajik

Re: How about Linux

from: [info]foxmajik
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 07:59 am (UTC)
Link

I figure most people who run Linux are bright enough to figure this out on their own. ;-)

Reply | Parent | Thread

Wow

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 05:14 am (UTC)
Link

Thank you soo much for this easy guide!

Reply | Thread

(no subject)

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 05:20 am (UTC)
Link

Odd, I only get "Apple OS, iPodLinux, Disk Mode, Sleep" on mine as options. :(

Reply | Thread

ipodlinux video

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 06:57 am (UTC)
Link

I made a video of podzilla and Application Manager running on my 4gb ipod nano.

Check it out: http://media.putfile.com/ipodlinux-91

-Bryan White

Reply | Thread

Re: ipodlinux video

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 16th, 2006 06:39 am (UTC)
Link

wow, good job popularizing iPodLinux!
I just wanted to ask, what is that great song playing in your video

thx,
bongissimo at [the same as email provider of author of the video]

Reply | Parent | Thread

iPod Video?

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 02:27 pm (UTC)
Link

Does this work with the video ipods?

Reply | Thread | Expand

foxmajik

Re: iPod Video?

from: [info]foxmajik
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 08:43 pm (UTC)
Link

I don't know because I don't own a iPod Video, but if you'd like to send me one I'll be happy to try it. ;-)

Reply | Parent | Thread

iTunes?

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 03:05 pm (UTC)
Link

I'm just going to put RockBox on mine. I'm wondering if iTunes is still going to work with my Ipod. Will I still have my podcasts folder on it as well? Thanks

Reply | Thread

foxmajik

Re: iTunes?

from: [info]foxmajik
date: Jun. 5th, 2006 08:41 pm (UTC)
Link

I'm able to use iTunes with RockBox, but I don't use the Podcast feature, so I'm not sure how/if it will work with RockBox.

Reply | Parent | Thread

os x?

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 6th, 2006 03:25 am (UTC)
Link

what about a version of the application manager for os x users? Podzilla is running great, but i'm looking for a) the app manager and b) an easier way to install rockbox. any help?

Reply | Thread

foxmajik

Re: os x?

from: [info]foxmajik
date: Jun. 6th, 2006 04:32 am (UTC)
Link

I don't think those installers exist yet.

Maybe you can make one for OS X?

Reply | Parent | Thread

Woo

from: [info]chrisduffer
date: Jun. 6th, 2006 09:21 am (UTC)
Link

Followed to the letter on ym 60Gig 5G.
Added the Doom wads for RockBox.
My life is complete.

Reply | Thread

Is it possible?

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 6th, 2006 05:02 pm (UTC)
Link

Is it possible to have the original iPod Nano os and a new os?
p.s.- i have a 4gb nano, will it work?

Reply | Thread

How much...

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 6th, 2006 07:46 pm (UTC)
Link

How much space do each of the os's take up?

Reply | Thread

Music files to be played

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 6th, 2006 08:11 pm (UTC)
Link

With booted Rockbox OS I can do folder navigation on my nano to play music.
With the original Apple OS booted I can play the songs transferred with iTunes. They are also seen inside the folders but the filenames are somewhat weird and you cannot search for artists or titles. Is there a way to copy the music files onto the nano by using it as a hard drive and rebuild the iTunes database with those files?
Cheers, Michael

Reply | Thread

(no subject)

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 7th, 2006 01:45 am (UTC)
Link

Is it supposed to boot to a screen that enables you to select what you want to boot to? Mine boots right into the apple os unless I hold down the rewind button. When I hold down the rewind button it books into linux. When I boot into linux i get an error message saying "unable to connect to mpd" ... what does that mean? When I hit "ok" it continues to load though.

Reply | Thread

(no subject)

from: [info]brandon311
date: Jun. 7th, 2006 06:07 pm (UTC)
Link

Great Tut. But for some reason my Apple OS wont boot up on my Nano. But everything else works fine. I about had a heartattack though because I thought I had bricked my iPod. But I restarted it but it still works. Anyone know how to get the Apple OS to boot up though? Thanks

Reply | Thread

foxmajik

(no subject)

from: [info]foxmajik
date: Jun. 19th, 2006 02:47 am (UTC)
Link

I haven't been able to get the Apple OS working on mine. I'm not sure why. But I never use it. If you really want the Apple OS you can always factory reset it.

Reply | Parent | Thread

Apple OS

from: anonymous
date: Jun. 8th, 2006 05:28 pm (UTC)
Link

My appleOS doesnt work.
have i done something wrong? and is there any way to fix it?

Reply | Thread