Ipod 2.01 updater for Win98 Users

[ibons]

Well it seems that there's no way for us v3 ipod owners who are Win98 users to update our firmware without running Apple's programme, which only supports WinMe and above, but after experimenting around with the installer, i found something very interesting that allowed me to do so

here's what i did:

1) run apple's installer programme(setup.exe), it will load till the "welcome screen" where it says "Welcome to the Installshield Wizard for iPod For Windows download installer".

2) usually, win98 users are screwed because when you click "next" it says "This Version of Operating System is not supported" which results in much cursing at the screen and the setup programme closing

3) well, when you reach the "Welcome screen", DON'T click "next" first. go open up a "find files or folders" from the start menu and search for "updater" in your windows directory: you should see the below file appear: "iPod-for-win-updater-instlr.exe". it should be in one of the temp folders in your windows directory

4) run the program! it'll install the ipod firmware updater, which *does* work in win98... and bob's your uncle!

remember, the file only appears when the apple installer programme is running! once you close the setup.exe the file is automatically deleted from the temp directory, thus i would recommend copying it to a safe place before running it.

hope this helps all my fellow win98 users

Edit update 08/22/2005: Windows 98 & 98SE users please use this link:
http://win98.drivers.w.interia.pl/ipod.html

[ipeddler]

ibons,

Your batting two for two now! Thanks for helping us windows 98 users out. I will add to your post.

After you install the updater, you might not notice that it actually installed. After it runs it's course, the setup might just close all by itself and you'd think that you just installed 2.01 onto your iPod. However, it gets installed on to your computer. If the setup didn't ask, or tell you where the updater got installed, go to Start -> Find -> Files or Folders. Search for updater.exe.

If you have multiple drives like I do, search each one till you find it. For example, I found updater.exe in my "E" drive. (I have A - H hard drives). Once you find it, double click on the icon (make sure the ipod is connected to your computer of course) and the install will begin. It takes a few minutes. I also had to get my win98 CD to install something. When this happened, the ipod disconnected itself from my computer (which freaked me out because it was halfway through the install). I just put the win98 cd in and clicked "ok" and the the ipod reconnected itself and the install went through.

The Play list upgrade is oh so great! No more clicking in between songs!

Thanks again ibons

[b_nightingale99]

First of all, THANKS! It is great that you figured this out. However, I still can't get it to work. Everytime I run it an error message comes up saying 1155 File Not Found: (and then a bunch of random letters/numbers which is a folder in the Temp folder, however it doesn't show which file it cant find because the folder name is so #### long). Anyone got any suggestions?

[ibons]

glad i could help

yep, to confirm ipeddler's post, when you run the "iPod-for-win-updater-instlr.exe" file, the firmware is not installed yet. instead, another installshield programme should pop up and install some files. this programme will run and close by itself,

when it's done, you can plug your ipod in, wait for it to mount as a drive,
then run the updater from under Start-->Programs-->iPod-->system software 2.01-->updater. It will then allow you to either update or restore your ipod to firmware v. 2.01 depending on what you want to do.

since it actually creates a programme group you don't need to search your hard drives, but if it somehow doesn't appear then ipeddler's method's the best.

i didn't have to insert my win98 cd during the update process.. but i guess that's a case by case basis.

well again, a picture says a thousand words

[ibons]

Originally posted by b_nightingale99
First of all, THANKS! It is great that you figured this out. However, I still can't get it to work. Everytime I run it an error message comes up saying 1155 File Not Found: (and then a bunch of random letters/numbers which is a folder in the Temp folder, however it doesn't show which file it cant find because the folder name is so #### long). Anyone got any suggestions?

i would venture that you closed the apple installer before running the updater program.. my advise would be to copy the "iPod-for-win-updater-instlr.exe" file into another folder (perhaps your deskop?) *before* closing apple's installer programme as that would automatically remove the file even though it may have showed up in your "find" dialog box.

remember, don't click "next" when you see the "Welcome to the Installshield Wizard for iPod For Windows download installer" window, until you have copied the "iPod-for-win-updater-instlr.exe" file to another directory or it will scream "This Version of Operating System is not supported" at you and close down by itself.

then, you can run the updater-instlr.exe file from whatever directory you copied it to.

hope this works

[b_nightingale99]

Alright, I thought I had fixed it by reinstalling my firewire port and keeping the iPod unplugged. The software installed and showed up in the programs menu, but when I ran it with the iPod plugged in and saying "do not disconnect" I got an error message saying "can't open iPod" GRRRRRR..... Any suggestions (please don't tell me I have to install MMJB again!)

[eyez73]

managed to install the updater ... has anyone got the usb driver working under win98se?

[c.c.r.]

iBons and iPeddler,

Outstanding work. Where there's a will, there's a way, and I'm very glad that you two have done such a stand-up job on this. Windows 98 users everywhere thank you.

I'll make this sticky for the time being, if it's all right with y'all.

[ipeddler]

Originally posted by eyez73
managed to install the updater ... has anyone got the usb driver working under win98se?

I got a quick question:
With the usb cable costing $19.00, why not chip in another $10 - $15 and get a firewire card? Plus you get to charge the ipod that way.

But back to your question:
So when you plug your ipod into the connector and then the usb end into the computer, is your ipod mounting? Meaning is it registring as a another harddrive?

If yes, what software are you using to transfer songs?

[eyez73]

Originally posted by ipeddler
I got a quick question:
With the usb cable costing $19.00, why not chip in another $10 - $15 and get a firewire card? Plus you get to charge the ipod that way.

But back to your question:
So when you plug your ipod into the connector and then the usb end into the computer, is your ipod mounting? Meaning is it registring as a another harddrive?

If yes, what software are you using to transfer songs?

There is a number of reasons for using usb ....

1) Its my father ipod and he doesn't have a firewire card and only has one pc slot of his laptop which he's using for a network connection and there is usb built into the pc.

2) Also I would like to use the usb cable on my ipod so I can carry it around with me so when I visit friends I don't have to worry if they have firewire cards (very hard to find a pc without usb these days)

Oh also I don't believe the ipod charges from most pcimcia cards on laptops.

As for if I get a drive letter ... I do not just get a ipod usb device in the device manager which can't find a driver.

Is anyone have the ipod installed on usb in Windows ME? maybe they can let me know the driver files its using.

Rich

[eyez73]

Oh sorry I'm using Ephpod & XPlay on 2 pc's a XP Home desktop and windows 98se laptop .... both working get with firewire.

[c.c.r.]

On the side, the USB cable will work for charging, if you can dig it.

It's a three-ended cable... one end for the iPod, one end for your USB port, and one end goes to your AC adapter. If you leave the cable plugged into the USB and the AC at all times, then when you plug into your iPod, it will charge.

It won't charge without the AC adapter connection, tho.

[ibons]

Originally posted by eyez73
There is a number of reasons for using usb ....

1) Its my father ipod and he doesn't have a firewire card and only has one pc slot of his laptop which he's using for a network connection and there is usb built into the pc.

2) Also I would like to use the usb cable on my ipod so I can carry it around with me so when I visit friends I don't have to worry if they have firewire cards (very hard to find a pc without usb these days)

Oh also I don't believe the ipod charges from most pcimcia cards on laptops.

As for if I get a drive letter ... I do not just get a ipod usb device in the device manager which can't find a driver.

Is anyone have the ipod installed on usb in Windows ME? maybe they can let me know the driver files its using.

Rich

well it actually doesn't matter where the firewire port is located, because as long as it is the "large" 6 pin type it should be powered and thus able to charge the ipod. it's only the "mini" 4 pin type that isn't powered and thus can't charge, presumably because it's too small to squeeze in two extra pins for power (neutral and live, i'd venture).

as to the usb2 support for ipod in win98se, i've a feeling it'd be pretty tricky as that would involve somehow pulling the ipod usb2 driver out of the setup.exe package and i'm not sure if the installer would give up the driver if you don't run it to the end. however, there's a good chance that it would be compatible as win98 and winme are technically very similar. in fact, it escapes me utterly as to how apple can refuse win98 support when it's still the second most popular version of windows...

perhaps you can ask a friend who has a compatible version of windows to run the setup.exe programme for you to completion, then root around and search for any *.vxd, *.ini or such driver files which might be the usb2 driver and allow the ipod to mount as a removable drive. i don't have the usb2 cable so i'm afraid i can't experiment for this case.

[ipeddler]

Originally posted by ibons
well it actually doesn't matter where the firewire port is located, because as long as it is the "large" 6 pin type it should be powered and thus able to charge the ipod. it's only the "mini" 4 pin type that isn't powered and thus can't charge, presumably because it's too small to squeeze in two extra pins for power (neutral and live, i'd venture).

ibons -

Since its a laptop, it more than likely won't charge. The pcimcia cards either 1) don't allow it or 2) its not setup to because they don't want power being sucked out of the batteries. Even when its plugged into an outlet it still won't happen. I don't know the exact technical reasons why, but I've heard many people say it won't work when using a Windows laptop.

As for the USB driver, beats me. Sorry.

[ibons]

Originally posted by ipeddler
ibons -

Since its a laptop, it more than likely won't charge. The pcimcia cards either 1) don't allow it or 2) its not setup to because they don't want power being sucked out of the batteries. Even when its plugged into an outlet it still won't happen. I don't know the exact technical reasons why, but I've heard many people say it won't work when using a Windows laptop.

As for the USB driver, beats me. Sorry.

hmm i was expecting only the pcimcia cards with the 4 pin connectors not to charge and those with 6 pin connectors to do so. i'm planning to buy a notebook soon with a 6pin firewire port or a 6 pin pcimcia card for use with my ipod so that's rather disappointing news..

that'd mean i'd have to keep plugging my cable in and out of the laptop and charger alternately.. darn, well i guess it can't be helped.