FYI: RockboxUtil 3.6 + Gigabeat F40 = Musical Bliss

[lestatar]

Proud new owner of a carefully used, near mint Gigabeat F40 reporting in.

An amazingly simple experience.

- Charged the device;
- Plugged into PC;
- XP SP2 instantly recognizes as MSC device;
- Zero driver/software installation;
- Full Drag/Drop under Win Explorer;
- Rockbox 3.6 installed without a hitch;
- Rockbox running flawlessly on the device.

Entire process? Less than 20 minutes, including theme installation.

A really terrific sounding device this GigabeatF40. Solidly built with great fit and finish and accessories. The amp section seems very powerful - RB shows I am using my IEMs at around -35db volume. Though a bit large and heavy for me, the F40 will only see in home/local outdoor use when I am stationary.

And Rockbox continues to amaze, making good hardware great...

Thanks so much again TDS and and the entire RB contingent...
-lestatar

[CrowdAds]

[Marvin the Martian]

The utility is a nicer way to install, don't you agree?

[The DarkSide]

Enjoy it bro, it's da bomb.

And I personally use the RB installer utility myself.

[lestatar]

Addendum:

Just completed BatteryBench on Rockbox with the Gigabeat F40: Quite good results! Look here if interested:
http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/GigabeatRuntime

Bottom line: Gigabeat F40 with Rockbox gets me 22h28m playtime.

Sweet! :-D

[goody1]

Originally Posted by lestatar

Addendum:

Just completed BatteryBench on Rockbox with the Gigabeat F40: Quite good results! Look here if interested:
http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/GigabeatRuntime

Bottom line: Gigabeat F40 with Rockbox gets me 22h28m playtime.

Sweet! :-D

lestatar got my F20 today ..i installed rockbox using the utility tool, but when i try to boot up it says NO SYSTEM FOUND ON HDD ..can u tell me what i am doing wrong.. another thing is i suspect i might need the firmware for the f20 but cant seem to get it anywhere any suggestions thks

[lestatar]

Originally Posted by goody1

lestatar got my F20 today ..i installed rockbox using the utility tool, but when i try to boot up it says NO SYSTEM FOUND ON HDD ..can u tell me what i am doing wrong.. another thing is i suspect i might need the firmware for the f20 but cant seem to get it anywhere any suggestions thks

Hey buddy, man, i didn't have any issues at all...just lucky i guess...

Check here, found some sites:
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7595_102...threadID=55596

I don't need that Gigabeat Room software but:
http://www.**********/support/t49539..._windows_vista

WAIT!!!

Drumroll please!!!!

Here it is...
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/t...lFamily=727858

BUT! My word of advice goody1....

Get the gigabeat working normally first...DO NOT INSTALL ROCKBOX until the Gigabeat is up and running with stock FW...

I do not think there will be a prob, but this is my advice...

Also! Go to irc://freenode/rockbox on IRC...

Ask those guys as well...

Good luck!

[goody1]

Originally Posted by lestatar

Hey buddy, man, i didn't have any issues at all...just lucky i guess...

Check here, found some sites:
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7595_102...threadID=55596

I don't need that Gigabeat Room software but:
http://www.**********/support/t49539..._windows_vista

WAIT!!!

Drumroll please!!!!

Here it is...
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/t...lFamily=727858

BUT! My word of advice goody1....

Get the gigabeat working normally first...DO NOT INSTALL ROCKBOX until the Gigabeat is up and running with stock FW...

I do not think there will be a prob, but this is my advice...

Also! Go to irc://freenode/rockbox on IRC...

Ask those guys as well...

Good luck!

Thanks lestatar!! phew i finally got it working it took the best part of 3hrs..i don't know if its because i am using windows vista it was acting up files were not showing... rockbox utility was loading but when i turned the player on it kept saying no system on hdd.... so i formatted the hdd using the toshiba format utilty ...opened my player up then using the rockbox recovery procedure ..loaded the original firmware(which is horrid!!)
Got it working again, then this time i manually installed rockbox and voila it worked and it sounds awesome!!
I think the rockbox utility has some hiccups on vista, at least on my machine... The sound is excellent better than my other hard disk player creative vision m, but then again its rock box......

[lestatar]

Hey goody1, congratulations buddy

For damm sure, I find the Gugabeat F series to be simply awesome with Rockbox. I have been advised by several senior ABi people who know about this stuff that the guts of the Gigabeat F series are excellent, essentially first gen Zune hardware.

Whatever...good to know that, but the bottom line is the thing sounds incredible with Rockbox.

Take time to review the settings in the Rockbox manual - you will be able to tweak your own stuff to your heart's content, but it will take a little time to "master" Rockbox.

Pics man! I have several themes I installed on the Gigabeat, but pretty much have settled on a couple.

Do not hesitate to post any other RB/Gigabeat F questions - not a guru yet, but I have figured out quite a few things and would be happy to assist if you need help.

And yes, AlbumArt on the gorgeous Gigabeat screen is gorgeous

cheers,
-lestatar

[goody1]

Originally Posted by lestatar

Hey goody1, congratulations buddy

For damm sure, I find the Gugabeat F series to be simply awesome with Rockbox. I have been advised by several senior ABi people who know about this stuff that the guts of the Gigabeat F series are excellent, essentially first gen Zune hardware.

Whatever...good to know that, but the bottom line is the thing sounds incredible with Rockbox.

Take time to review the settings in the Rockbox manual - you will be able to tweak your own stuff to your heart's content, but it will take a little time to "master" Rockbox.

Pics man! I have several themes I installed on the Gigabeat, but pretty much have settled on a couple.

Do not hesitate to post any other RB/Gigabeat F questions - not a guru yet, but I have figured out quite a few things and would be happy to assist if you need help.

And yes, AlbumArt on the gorgeous Gigabeat screen is gorgeous

cheers,
-lestatar

Yeah i am am going have to read that manual for sure so much things to learn ..and yes your right that screen is gorgeous with the album art...i will post some pics soon ..i have not played with the settings yet but it sounds nice..
Another thing i forgot to mention the volume is loud...

[lestatar]

Originally Posted by goody1

...SNIPPED...Another thing i forgot to mention the volume is loud...

Oh yeah man! Amp section in Gigabeat is pretty great I find. I never go more than -38 to -40dB with any of my IEMs