Please Read This Everyone

[Abandonio]

Firstly: I must begin by saying that I think this is the best site out there to mess around and fix/upgrade/tune up your Ipod, Chipod, MP3/4 etc.

However... in my opinion we all should attain to some kind of rules like: Posting in the subject of FW petitons the BOARD and CHIPSET of the troublesome unit (may you ignore this information, first learn how to find it out) and making the other minor comments in the description of the topic. This way it would bea lot easier for everyone to help you, and to find valuable information for the rest of us.

Including a couple of pics (inside, outside) of the unit, or al least a link to some picture would be also most helpful, and/or a good enough description of the circumstances of the failure. When I see: "HEEEEELP!!! My chipod died!!!" In the subject, and nothing else not even in the description of the topic, I know more or less how is gonna be the inside of the post, and as most of we do, I guess, I pass over it not paying too much attention to it.

Secondly: I found that the information about how to reload the firmware to our busted MP3/4 is rather confusing (not that I'm complaining or anything).

I mean:
* What the differencce is between Full firmware (full.bin), dumped firmware (dump.bin) merged firmware (merged.bin) and the others firmwares you usually get to download, with all sort of names even chinese ones?

* What about the ".fw" file extension?
Is it mandatory to rename/change file ext. of those before uploading them?

* How can you tell when a file is full, dumped or merged only through the (usually very long) name and the size?

May someone know about this, I (we) would greatly appreciate to know as well. Thank you.

[Abandonio]

By reading Slowly and Very Carefully the information provided at: "http://www.s1mp3.org/es/docs_advanceduguide.php"
I found what looks like bad news:

"""A backup will be saved at "dump.bi$" automatically and the repaired file is now available as "dump.bin". Notice that its not possible to do a firmware recovery with this file (only regular firmware updates) since there are missing files needed by the "Mp3 Player Update Tool" recovery mode."""

This is only part of the info contained there, but it seems that we should distinguish/mark the files we upload to make clear that they will be useful to do a total recovery of a wrongly flashed/dead MP4, or otherwise simply good to "make-up" the buttons configuration, themes, menu, etc.
For what I think, a full fw contains ALL the files needed to fix a dead player (if possibe), including the base boot-loader which takes care of the electronics, and the "nice" firmware which takes care only of the eye candy, buttons, etc. Most of the dump.bin´s out there look like they are only useful if your player is not wrongly flashed (dead) and so, they are useless to the 90% of people around here. Maybe it would be good idea to start moving to the "Full Firmware" section the right stuff to make it clearly available to the comunity. Any coments would be welcome.

[admin]

Hi Abandonio,

Thanks for your comments.

I TOTALLY AGREE with your comments about having a more descriptive subject heading when posting in the forum. I always try to edit as many posts I can to make them more descriptive from members. I agree, having a subject such as "HEEEEELP!!! My chipod died!!!" isn't descriptive at all and doesn't really help. I will try to make a sticky about this and hopefully everyone reads about it.

Let's see if I can help answer some of your questions here...

A "Full Firmware" is one that has everything you need to completely recover a dead player. This is usually released by the manfaucturer themselves and always has the .fw file extension. Some .bin files are full as well. You can see if it's a FULL FIRMWARE by running the s1fwx tool on the file. It will show more files than a firmware file that has been 'dumped'.

A "dumped firmware" is one that has been extracted using the s1fwx tool. This is helpful if you are wanting to modify your firmware by changing the images and text in it. Then you would reload the modified firmware back onto your player. The problem is, a dumped firmware doesn't have everything necessary and is missing some files critical in the operation of the player. So that means it will work fine on your OWN player using the SAME dumped file, however, you will have problems if you are using a dumped firmware file on your own player as it will be incompatible as it will require other files to make it operational which will be different.

The problem is, the manufacturers of the ACTIONS chipset players haven't released an official tool to extract and modify the firmware for their players. I guess it's protecting their Intellitical Property. The s1fwx tool was created by wiRe, indepent from the manufactuers of the ACTIONS chipset manufacturers. He's done a create job on it so far but as he doesn't work for them, won't fully know the ins-outs of the chip, how it works etc....

Hope that helps.

[admin]

Hi Abandonio,

Thanks for your comments.

All the FULL FIRMWARE files were in the "Full Firmware" section, but I found it was harder to find when all the different versions were mixed together (ie: 3.5.xx and 9.x.x firmware etc..).

So, what I did was move all the FULL 3.x.x FIRMWARE into their respective categories but make sure I title it as "FULL FIRMWARE" so members downloading it will know it's the FULL firmware.

What does everyone else think?

1. Would you prefer to have the FULL FIRMWARE moved into the "Full Firmware" category but have all the different firmware versions bundled together as well? Or

2. Move all the Full Firmware into their respectively version categories? ie: Downloads --> Firmware --> 3.5.35 category to have also the FULL 3.5.35 firmwares?

What do you find is easier for you to search and look?

[zrock]

Wow!.Nice conversation there sir Admin and fellow guy Abandonio.I'ts very serious.Cool. :shock: