[How To] Install Rockbox On the H10/20

[itsmeguys]

This tutorial helps you install Rockbox onto your h10 (5/6gb) or h20 (20gb). Please Read to the end, as there are some important notes

First of all, you will need to download a bootloader for your device:
5/6gb UMS bootloader can be found here .
5/6gb MTP bootloader can be found here.
20gb MTP bootloader can be found here.

You will need to download Rockbox itself, the latest build can be found here:
Here is the link to the rockbox daily builds list. The H10/20 is down the bottom of the list. 5gb also aplies for 6gb.

Extra fonts can be found here.
Just extract these to the root of your H10/20. You don't need these fonts to run rockbox.

Now, to install rockbox onto your h10, you will need to connect into UMS mode (unless UMS device, IF you don't know how to connect into UMS mode, there is a link in my signature ). Once that is done, unzip the rockbox.zip that downloaded before, into the root of your h10/20. So, say your h10 shows up as E:/, simply unzip the file onto the E:/.

Now, navigate to your System Folder. If you can't see a System Folder, go to Tools > Folder Options > View (tab). Make sure 'Show Hidden Files and Folders' is ticked, and 'Hide Protected Operating Files' is not selected, like so:

Once in your System Folder, rename the H10_20GC.mi4 (20gb) or H10.mi4 (5/6gb) to OF.mi4. Then, copy across the bootloader that you downloaded in Step 1. This file should already be the right name, but if not, name it H10_20GC.mi4 (20gb) or H10.mi4 (5/gb).

wps's (While Playing Screens, which can also refer to themes for rockbox) can be found at:
Here, for 5/6gb, and Here for 20gb.

Put the wps into the .rockbox/wps folder. If there were images aswell, and other stuff, in folders, add those to the same folders in .rockbox folder.
If you download a wps and it has: a wps folder, themes folder, and a backdrops folder. Place the .wps file into the .rockbox/wps folder, anything in the themes folder into the .rockbox/theme folder, and anything in the backdrops folder into the .rockbox/backdrops folder.

To add album art, go here. Also included are some cool plugins etc. Thanks to AngryMan_h10. There are instructions on what to do.

[indent]

To revert back to your original firmware, change the h10.mi4 or h10_20gc.mi4 to rockbox.mi4, and then rename your h10_bak.mi4 or h10_20gc_bak.mi4 to h10_20GC.mi4, to the correct name .

ALSO: If your files are not showing up, you need to unhide the folders with windows (You may need to connect in UMS mode). Don't unhide the System, .rockbox, or rockbox.h10!

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE H10 ROCKBOX MANUAL, OR THE H20 ROCKBOX MANUAL before starting a new thread asking questions

(If you don't want to dual boot, skip the quote below)

To put a video onto your h10/20, follow this tutorial.
Or, alternatively, download this, thanks to TrueJournals, who has made a converter with a GUI

Thanks to the Rockbox Team, and especially Barry Wardell. And Thanks to anyone who contributes wps's, and tutorials

I hope it worked for you, if not, any questions, feel free to PM me , or discuss it in the Rockbox For H10/20 sub forum

[posstefmikala]

i keep getting an error message in rockbox

[posstefmikala]

Never mind I'm an idiot. I figured it out

[Pizzalauncher]

When I connect my iRiver to the PC, nothing comes up saying where my H 10is located, so I don't know where to extract the files to. Is there any way I can find this out?

[TheKind_H10]

When? With the original firmware or with rockbox?
5/6 or 20gB ?? UMS or MTP??

We can't guess!

[Pizzalauncher]

Never mind, I figured it out, but when he says copy across the bootloader, IDK what he means, thats where I'm stuck now.

[Pizzalauncher]

Sorry for double posting, but how much memory does rockbox take up on the H 10 5 gb?

[druidfire217]

Hey, itsmeguys, I would change the text to read changing the firmware, instead of changing the bootloader. The firmware change is adding another bootloader on to of it, and would explain why people keep thinking others are messing with the .rom file (the iriver bootloader).

The path that it goes through is: iRiver bootloader (.rom file)->Firmware file containing Rockbox bootloader (.mi4 file above)-> Rockbox firmware (rockbox.h10).

[Pizzalauncher]

So I don't need to copy the bootloader across? It's already where it needs to be?

[druidfire217]

You do need to copy the .mi4 file across (the link at the top of the page). What I was talking to itsmeguys about, was that the bootloader for Rockbox=iRiver firmware, so when talking about any problems you might have, make sure you mention the Rockbox bootloader, or call it the .mi4 file. Do Not Mess with the .rom file!. That is the initial bootloader that turns everything on, and tells it to look for the .mi4 file. Messing with that can turn your player into a paperweight. This way (replacing the .mi4 file) has the same chance of bricking your player as reinstalling iRiver's firmware (exremely remote).

[Pizzalauncher]

When I try to open up the bootloader, a message comes up saying that windows cant find the file to open it with, and so I cant do anything with it. How do I copy it across, and across to what? Do you mean drag and drop it from my desktop onto the H 10, if thats what you mean, does it have to be in a certain folder?

[druidfire217]

Yes, drag and drop it. You dont need to open it with anything. Simply save it to your desktop, rename it, and then drop it into your System folder. You do need to have it in UMS mode.

[Pizzalauncher]

I did that, I disconnected it from my computer, and it says rockbox is installed and I have a new menu, but now, I wanna add some songs and its not being recognized by my computer, is it bricked?

[druidfire217]

No, if you are getting the screen that looks like a USB cable end. I would turn it off and hold O when powering back on, to start in UMS mode. Currently there is no way to start in MTP mode. One of the benefits of Rockbox, is that it powers it off completely, saving me from hitting the reset button.

[Pizzalauncher]

I know I have rockbox on there, but it doesnt allow me to view the music I put on there, whats going on?

[carlstar]

show hidden files/folders? like you have to with original firmware.

[Febs]

Pizzalauncher-

You should just be able to browse to your music in the File Browser. Where on your player is the music located? What happens when you browse to that directory? And what type of files are your music files?

[barrywardell]

The problem with Music on the H10 is that on MTP players, the Music directory is set as a hidden directory so Rockbox doesn't show it when it is set to show Supported files. You have to set Rockbox to show all files by holding '<-' then when the quickscreen comes up pressing down until it says all. Alternatively, you can use a PC to change the Music directory's attributes so it's not hidden (right click on it and select properties). A third option is to use TagCache which is described on the Rockbox wiki.

[munkifisht]

im just getting the boot loader screen, its not gettin passed it, any ideas?

[druidfire217]

Does it show a spinning clock? If so, make sure the .mi4 file is named correctly (h10.mi4 for 5/6gb ones, h10_20gc.mi4 for 20gb ones). That needs to go into the System folder, and .rockbox and rockbox.h10 need to be in the root directory.

[munkifisht]

no just getting the rockbox boot loader screen with the version number. I have left it for about 2 mins and nothing happened

[munkifisht]

just to be clear... if it says mtp at the bottom of the irver boot it's an mtp player right?

[barrywardell]

Does it say anything else on the bootloader screen? Also, try resetting your settings by switching hold on before you see the Rockbox logo. It should say "Cleared" to indicate your settings have been reset.