Project ZeroSlackr - Stable Snapshot 2008-04-28

Contributor Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada

Note: Do NOT repackage the entirety of Project ZeroSlackr and release it as a new "Installer". This will confuse users who do not know where the original came from nor will have access to / know where to look for the documentation provided. If you plan to re-package things with significantly more added content, please contact me first before doing so. The only person I've given permission for repackaging so far is xs with iPLGotta. If you're not xs, do not re-zip the files as a new "easy installer". Link to this thread instead. Moderators of other forums, please lock threads that re-package instead of linking here.

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Project ZeroSlackr is based around the ZeroSlackr Framework, a highly customized, user-friendly iPodLinux system/installation targeted at new users. The project maintains and integrates numerous applications and packs created by the iPL community.

Installation of iPodLinux through ZeroSlackr will not require a reformat of your iPod (i.e. you will be able to keep all your music and files). The ZeroSlackr Framework will only install on iPods formatted on Windows (WinPod in FAT/FAT32) and iPods supported by the iPodLinux project. If you are unsure if your iPod is supported, see the Generations page. Unsupported models include: iPod shuffle (no screen), iPod nano 2G (full metal casing), iPod nano 3G (video-playing), iPod Classic (smooth sides), and the iPod Touch.

Release Notes wrote:

Install:
To install the ZeroSlackr snapshot to your iPod, connect your iPod to your computer as an accessible drive and make sure you have full admin permissions. Extract either the .7z or .tar.gz archive directly to your iPod (you do not need the "src" archive). Run the "patch.bat" script if you are on Windows or "patch.sh" if you are on Linux (x86) or Mac OS X (untested). If you wish to install Rockbox, download their latest build for your iPod model (http://www.rockbox.org/daily.shtml) and also extract the archive directly to your iPod. Make sure you have a rough idea of what iPodLinux is (http://ipodlinux.org) and how to use it.

Note:
Release documents can be found in the "/boot/docs" directory. For documentation for individual packs, read their "ReadMe from Keripo.txt" files. If you want to customize Loader2, modify the "/boot/loader.cfg" file. Please leave feedback and/or bug reports in the corresponding Project ZeroSlackr thread of the iPodLinux forums (http://ipodlinux.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=17).

Contains:
Base:
- Loader2 from SVN
- 2.4.32 kernel (loop-mount & iBoy patches)
- Modified, loop-mount userland
- User-generated schemes and fonts
- ZeroLauncher
- MPD (for ZeroLauncher and PZ2-SVN)
Emulators:
- iBoy
- iDarcNES
- iGameGear
- iPodMAME
Media:
- iDoom
- MV Player
- nano
- Podfather
- SBaGen
- ToeNailClipper
- XMP
Tools:
- CmdLine-Tools
- Encyclopodia
- PiCalc
Zillae:
- Floyd2illA
- Podzilla0-Lite
- Podzilla0-SVN
- Podzilla2-SVN
- TimeWalk
- viPodzilla
- ZacZilla

Extra Notes/Issues

- this is for WinPods ONLY (i.e. an iPod partitioned/restored by iTunes on a Windows computer)! MacPods will need to reformat to a Winpod to use this (iPodLinux can also be installed for MacPods through Manual_Installation)
- patch script is untested on Mac OS X and ipodpatcher provided is unpatched
- if you are using Linux (64) or Linux (PPC) you will need to replace the "ipodpatcher" binary with the appropriate (unpatched) one from here
- due to the larger number of SlackrPacks now and thus ZeroLauncher's larger footprint, Podzilla2-SVN is best launched directly from Loader2 (otherwise things will be slow and MPD will not work whatsoever)
- iBoy direct colour rom launching doesn't display colour properly for some reason - this is an iBoy issue but can be resolved by choosing "Reset Game" right after loading the rom once
- SBaGen doesn't have a built-in exit function and thus "exiting" requires a force reboot - I may add one later
- igpSP requires lots of memory; it is best launched directly from Loader2

Fast FAQ

Q: When I run the "patch" script I am told by iPod patcher that my iPod cannot be found when my iPod is clearly connected. Whats up with that?
A: If ipodpatcher says your iPod isn't connected but it is, you may not have full admin access; find a computer in which you do have admin access. If you have such privileges, iTunes is closed and your iPod shows up as a drive, it is possible that your iPod is not supported by iPodLinux. See the Generations page.

Q: After trying out a few apps I keep getting this "blahblahblah is too big" message or a lot of random numbers and letters or my iPod just freezes. What gives?
A: Due to large number of SlackrPacks now and thus ZeroLauncher's larger footprint, your iPod will run out of memory (think RAM, not hard-drive space). This is partially due to memory fragmenting in the kernel (for which we need kernel developers - see this thread) and sometimes due to bad programming in the apps (I did not write the majority of these applications and would not know how to fix such). The current solution to this is �reboot, reboot, reboot�. See the Key_Combinations page for information on how to force reboot your iPod.

Q: Help, I get a "Can't write to log on /dev/tty5!" every time I boot into ZeroSlackr! How can I fix of this?
A: This is a busybox-related issue but not one affecting anything (its just a warning message that you can just ignore - it doesn't do anything bad). I might recompile busybox one day with the message removed, but later.

Q: I installed ZeroSlackr and it works great, but how do I access the Linux partition?
A: The ZeroSlackr Framework uses a userland disk image through the "loop-mount" boot method originally introduced here by DataGhost. More information on it can be found in the ZeroSlackr Framework�s userland readme. For instructions on how to access/edit the userland image, see here.

Q: I�m trying to use your kernel with a normal iPodLinux installation and/or I am trying to use Loader2 args as the wiki page instructs but its not working. Why?
A: The kernel I use for the ZeroSlackr Framework is a modified version of the Experimental_Kernel. See the comments of the "/boot/loader.cfg" file for instructions on how to use the kernel and loader2 args (which I use "autoexec=").

Q: Your previous "Sneak Peak" and "Testing" pre-releases for Windows users had this nice little just-keep-clicking-"Next" GUI installer. Will there be one for this?
A: No. There won't be. And no, I don't plan to make one. If I wanted, it would take 5 seconds, but I won't because people shouldn't be that lazy. iPodLinux (and Linux for general) is not for everyone (i.e. the "keep clicking Next" generation) and at least this way (extract and run script) there is some kind of "manual" aspect of things. I will, however, be working on a Java-based package manager (small thread here) for managing SlackrPacks though work is being stalled at the moment while I work directly on ZeroSlackr stuff (I'll come back to it one day).

Q: All these packs are really cool but the ZeroSlackr SVN keeps getting updated and there are apps that have yet to be added. How can I build my own SlackrPacks?
A: To compile things for ZeroSlackr, follow the Introduction_to_Compiling_for_iPodLinux tutorial. I have not finished adding everything I know to Project ZeroSlackr but if you�re willing to help (and are an experienced C programmer), feel free to contact me via PM.

Q: I�m lame and want my iPod back to "normal". How do I uninstall this?
A: The only real "installation" that you did was add in the Loader2 bootloader. Everything else is just files copied over to your iPod (no partitioning or other modifications were done to your iPod). To uninstall the bootloader, use ipodpatcher with the "--delete-bootloader" argument. After that you can delete the directories containing ZeroSlackr files (i.e. bin, boot, dev, etc, and ZeroSlackr). More info can be found on Rockbox�s ipodpatcher page.

Q: Installing iPodLinux through Project ZeroSlackr is very easy! Will this ever be officially supported?
A: Project ZeroSlackr is a custom iPodLinux installation created by me (Keripo) but based off the work and ideas of many people. Because of my modifications, it is highly unlikely that it will become official (though I do hope the non-partitioning loop-mount install method becomes adopted as the official install method). Whenever I do make modifications that I believe are beneficial to the iPodLinux project, however, I do try to get the modifications committed upstream by the official developers (i.e. see here if Trac wasn�t down).

Q: Project ZeroSlackr is awesome! How can I thank you?
A: If you�re an experienced programmer, feel free to contact me if you want to help. Otherwise, just leave a word of thanks in this thread. If you�re really generous and want to donate, you can contact me (since I haven�t set up donations on SourceForge) though I would better recommend you instead donate directly to the iPodLinux project via the Donations page. Such money can go towards RE for the newer iPod models, etc.

Downloads

> Project ZeroSlackr Downloads"
- ZeroSlackr-stable-snapshot-2008-04-28 (either .7z or .tar.gz but not -src.tar.gz)
- iDoom PWADs (optional - read the release notes)
- igpSP Slackr Pack (optional - read the post)

> Rockbox builds
(extract the archive directly to your iPod after installing the ZeroSlackr Framework and after the first reboot)

Links

> Project ZeroSlackr SourceForge page
> Project ZeroSlackr SVN
> Project ZeroSlackr CIA stats
> Introduction to Compiling for iPodLinux (ZeroSlackr)

Last updated: May 26, 2008
~Keripo

Joined: 17 Sep 2006 Location: /mnt/zowki

Wow, just the update I have been waiting for! Testing this on my nano. After patching the bootloader, podpatcher.exe, loader.bin and the batch file gets deleted. I found out there was a delete command in the batch file to delete those files. I see no need to get rid of those files. The only emulator included is iboy. That sucks I was hoping Atari, nes and gamegear would be there too. You can't copy over the slackrpacks from the previous version because this new version uses a new scripting for launchers. I rather wait for a later version.

Joined: 02 Jan 2007

Nice. To be honest, I haven't tried the older version, so I don't know what I'm missing.

But I like it. The thing is, you can enable MPD, but then how do you play a song?

edit: (also, DOOM display is all messed up. I don't know if DOOM is supposed to work on a mini though. I'll try rockbox on this thing)

Joined: 26 Sep 2007

(With my modified installation) ZeroSlackr works fine. Thx very much.

And thx for uploading 2.4.32 kernel Smile

edit: Excuse me, but when I tried to use MPD, iPL showed:
kernel BUG at sohed.c:580

Modbreak: Do not double post, thanks --Der Papst

Joined: 26 Feb 2008

i got error... trying to install this version.

and it says pause press any key to continue and then it deletes all the files (not folders) in the directory.

Link to screenshot.

Image removed, it's far too large to be embedded in this page, particularly the first page of a topic that will be very popular. -- Rufus

Joined: 26 Feb 2008

don't worry i figured how to install, how do i install rockbox??

i extract to directory...

what do i do?

Moderator Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Location: Australia

ChronoXP wrote:

i extract to directory...

what do i do?

Congrats, you just installed rockbox. Reboot your iPod to boot into it.

Joined: 26 Sep 2007

ZeroSlackr has /boot/loader.cfg
So you have to add
Rockbox @ (hd0,1)/.rockbox/rockbox.ipod

Joined: 09 Mar 2008

Works fine for me. no u just go in the Zeroslackr folder and open loader. cfg with notepad and you should see #Rockbox just remove the "#". If not it wont read the Rockbox

Joined: 12 Mar 2008

Hey Keripo, this looks great so far, and was a breeze to install. But I have the same problem as The-Bleh-Bleh. I don't understand how to play music on it. Right now only Rockbox and the Apple firmware can play music.

Are you planning on getting rid of the other "Zillae" after you incorporate their remaining unique features (read: games) into Zeroslackr?

I can't wait for the release version.

Joined: 13 Mar 2008

Mod Note: Do not download from these links as they are outdated. Download from SourceForge as linked via SourceForge's many mirrors.

Code:

http://rapidshare.com/files/99364962/ZeroSlackr-stable-snapshot-2008-03-03.7z
http://rapidshare.com/files/99365134/ZeroSlackr-stable-snapshot-slim-2008-03-03.7z
http://rapidshare.com/files/99365145/ZeroSlackr-stable-snapshot-MPD-fix-2008-03-04.7z

**BANNED** Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Location: Ask the Gov't

Man... I finally got my iPod back up and FULLY running after accidently killing my MBR on my iPod. This is awesome. It is sooo awesome and is getting me back into iPodLinux after months of a normal iPod. THis is just soooo cool. I now have a hacked my firmware, iPL and Rockbox my ipod now only needs a iVue.

Joined: 13 Mar 2008

ChronoXP wrote:

i got error... trying to install this version.

and it says pause press any key to continue and then it deletes all the files (not folders) in the directory.

Link to screenshot.

Image removed, it's far too large to be embedded in this page, particularly the first page of a topic that will be very popular. -- Rufus

its suppose to do that it just deletes the files needed to install the loader2 cus their not needed any more

Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Location: Canada

Thanks alot Keripo, works great.

I get a message "cant write to log on /dev/tty5" when i boot into ipl or encyclopdia. It doesnt seem to be causeing any problems but id like to know what it means if any one knows.

Moderator Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Location: Australia

kepp1 wrote:

I get a message "cant write to log on /dev/tty5" when i boot into ipl or encyclopdia. It doesnt seem to be causeing any problems but id like to know what it means if any one knows.

I assume that means the klog and/or syslog aren't being stored anywhere. You can check by looking for them in /var/log.