Create an iPod with both HFS and FAT32 partitions

Aug 29, '05 07:28:00AM

Contributed by: Jeff.hopper

I'm not a specialist, but I studied the Create a bootable HFS+ partition and a FAT32 partition on one external drive hint to do this. It works for me, with a Powerbook, iPod mini 4GB, Tiger, and tested on Windows XP.

Read on to see how I created an iPod with FAT32 and bootable HFS partitions, while maintaining its ability to be used as an iPod.

robg adds: Please note that the following tip contains instructions which will erase the contents of your iPod. And as you'll be working with the machine in single user mode, you could potentially mess up other connected drives as well. Please be sure you understand the instructions before proceeding, and do not try this if you don't have a current backup of your machine and iPod.

I have not tested this hint, and I'm not positive that everything works as described, so proceed at your own risk...]

Here's what I did...

  1. Update your iPod with the lastest updater (2005-06-26 for me).
  2. Now put a classical install of Tiger on it
  3. Reboot your classic Mac (PowerBook for me) with the iPod plug in. Turn on single user mode (Command-S during boot)
  4. Determine your device (eg /dev/rdisk1) using pdisk and then the L command.
  5. Delete your principal partition and make two others: the first one in HFS, the second one in FAT32 (beware with capitals). Do this all in pdisk, as show below:
    Top level command (? for help): e
    Name of device: /dev/rdisk1
    Edit /dev/rdisk1 -
    Command (? for help): d3
    Command (? for help): c
    First block: 65599 
    Length in blocks: 6433888
    Name of partition: iPod
    Command (? for help): p
    Command (? for help): C
    First block: 6499487
    Length in blocks: 1500001
    Name of partition: WIN
    Type of partition: DOS_FAT_32
    Command (? for help): p
    Command (? for help): w
    confirm and
    Command (? for help): q
    Top level command (? for help): q 
  6. Now change the MBR for the DOS partition:
    ~ Hopper$ fdisk -e /dev/rdisk1
    fdisk: could not open MBR file /usr/standalone/i386/boot0:
     No such file or directory
    The signature for this MBR is invalid.
    Would you like to initialize the partition table? [y] y
    fdisk:*1>edit 1
             Starting       Ending
     #: id  cyl  hd sec -  cyl  hd sec [     start -       size]
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     1: 00    0   0   0 -    0   0   0 [         0 -          0] unused      
    Partition id ('0' to disable)  [0 - FF]: [0] (? for help) b ou c
    Do you wish to edit in CHS mode? [n] n
    Partition offset [0 - 469020]: [63] 6499487
    Partition size [1 - 469019]: [469019] 1500001
    
    fdisk: 1> p
    Disk: /dev/rdisk2       geometry: 992/128/63 [7999488 sectors]
    Offset: 0       Signature: 0xAA55
             Starting       Ending
     #: id  cyl  hd sec -  cyl  hd sec [     start -       size]
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     1: 0B  805 126  30 -  991 127  63 [   6499487 -    1500001] Win95 FAT-32
     2: 00    0   0   0 -    0   0   0 [         0 -          0] unused      
     3: 00    0   0   0 -    0   0   0 [         0 -          0] unused      
     4: 00    0   0   0 -    0   0   0 [         0 -          0] unused      
    
    fdisk: 1> w
    fdisk: 1> q
    ~ Hopper$ pdisk
  7. You must reboot your Mac now, and you'll see two partitions on the Desktop.
Plug in your iPod, reboot, and press Option while booting, and you'll be able to boot your iPod. Now plug your iPod into a PC, and you'll be able to use your FAT32 partition. Now unplug, and listen to music.

The main problem I encountered is iTunes synchronization with the FAT32 partitions, and I must umount this volume for changing music on the 'iPod volume.'

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