Home » How to Install Rockbox on the iPod

What is RockBox?

It is a little like the linux install I talked about.

I permits you to have another type of iPod, where you can play games, tweak your song playing with more than just a equalizer and actually use your iPod like a computer.

First download the build the suits you best, daily build, stable build etc... As long as you download for the right iPod on the rockbox website.

You are going to unzip the contents of the .zip file you download directly to the root of your iPod, once you have started it in drive mode. As discussed in a previous article in my blog.

After you need to go to the rockbox website. Download the iPodPatcher. Once you've downloaded it, download the bootloader-ipodvideo.ipod file (or what ever .iPod file you need for your iPod, this is all described on the website). Put these files in the c:\rockbox\ folder.

Next, click start then run on Windows and write down cmd. You should have a command prompt.

Write this in the command window.

cd rockbox

ipodpatcher --scan.

Remember the device number given by this last command.

Backup your stuff by writing this, replacing N by the number of your device:

ipodpatcher N -r bootpartition.bin

Now you install the bootloader, this is what is going to tell your iPod to load Rockbox at start up.

To install type this:

ipodpatcher N -a bootloader-ipodvideo.ipod

Voilà! Have fun with your new rockbox ipod, the User Interface is ugly but the options are cool!!

Do this at your own risk, if you break it it's not my fault! Although I will try and help anyone who comments.

Here is a great link for great iPod downloads and information. It's my blog, and it's full of great information on the iPod, click here to learn more.