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How to Install Ipod Linux on a 4th or 5th Generation, Photo, or Nano Ipod

If you have an iPod, then, like many people, you may have become interested in installing iPod Linux onto it. But what if you have a 4th or 5th generation? Or a photo or nano? The steps over at iPodlinux.org are dangerous, often don't work, as well as the people can be downright unhelpful! This article will show you how to safely install iPod Linux onto any 4th or 5th generation, photo or nano.

1. Plug your iPod into the computer. If your iPod is set up to work with iTunes, then go into iTunes. Click the Edit Menu, as well as then Preferences. Click the tab or icon labelled "iPod" at the top of the screen, as well as then make sure the "Enable disk use" checkbox is ticked. Note: Your iPod will function normally, even when this is ticked.
2. To download the installer, go on over to the iPod Linux forums as well as visit this thread: http://ipodlinux.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3748&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 There johnnywest has put together an incredible installer for iPod Linux. The page with downloads is here: http://ipodlinux.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3748&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30
3. Download it from any of the selected mirrors. (Use the list of mirrors given, rather than johnnywests' link.)
4. Open the file in a zip program. If you don't have one, WinAce is recommended. Extract it to a folder in My Documents called "Linux Folder" or "iPod Linux Folder". Visit this folder, then click on the folder named "iPod linux" as well as go into it. In the folder named "IPL INSTALLER", there is a file called "ipodlinux-installer.exe". Run this program. Make sure your iPod is still connected!
5. At first, the installer should ask you (in some way) whether you want to take a backup. Make sure any option to take a backup is selected or accepted. After the backup is taken, it should run you through a number of installation steps. Make sure that, when given the option you select the "Apple OS" as your choice for starting up iPod with.
6. Continue with the final steps to install Linux. It is critical that while it is installing you do not go to any other programs on the computer. If there are programs already open, leave them alone during the installation process. Just let the installer do its work.
7. After the installation, go to the folder "Put These Files In Ipod Root After Installing", which is in the same folder as the "IPL INSTALLER" folder is. There should be two files in this folder, named "podzilla" as well as "start". Copy these two files to the clipboard by selecting them, as well as either right-clicking, as well as clicking copy, or click file, then clicking copy, or pressing Ctrl+C.
8. Go into My Computer. Somewhere there should be a drive either labelled "iPod" or whatever you set the name of your iPod to. Double-click this drive to enter, as well as paste the two files into the iPod, without navigating into any other folders. To paste, right-click as well as click Paste, Click File as well as then Paste, or press Ctrl+V.
9. Close the iPod drive as well as the iPod Linux folders. Go back into iTunes as well as eject the iPod by clicking the little icon to the right of your iPod. If you don't know how to do this, then right-click on your iPod in the "Source" menu, as well as click Eject. After the iPod has been ejected, close iTunes as well as unplug your iPod.
10. The iPod should reset automatically. If it doesn't, see step 11. As soon as you see the Apple logo, put the Hold switch on. After the Apple logo, a picture of a penguin listening to an iPod should appear briefly. After that, a bunch of text should whizz past. When the text starts to whizz past, turn off the hold switch. Wait until the text has finished. Your iPod should boot into podzilla.
11. If you have already booted into podzilla, skip this step. To reset your iPod, turn on the hold switch, then turn it off. Quickly hold down the Menu button as well as then the center button. Keep them both held until the screen goes blank or until you see the Apple logo. As soon as you see the Apple logo, put the Hold switch on. After the Apple logo, a picture of a penguin listening to an iPod should appear briefly. After that, a bunch of text should whizz past. When the text starts to whizz past, turn off the hold switch. Wait until the text has finished. Your iPod should boot into podzilla.
12. Congratulations! You've successfully installed Linux onto your iPod! To see what things you can now do with your iPod, see some related wikiHows!

• Take a backup!
• If the installation screws up, you can reformat your iPod.
• To restore the backup you made, then (using the Run comm as well as from the start menu) execute '"ipodlinux-installer.exe" /r'
• Make sure you have the same music as well as files on your iPod as on your computer, so that if a reformat is neccessary, you won't lose anything.

• This may not work. If it does not, you will be required either to restore your backup or reformat your iPod.

• Windows or a windows-compatible system, such as WINE or ReactOS.
• An iPod 4g or later.
• Johnnywest's Linux package.

Submitted by: admin
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Added: Thu Feb 02 2006

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