Downgrade firmware on iPod Video 5.5g?

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Level 1

110 points

Downgrade firmware on iPod Video 5.5g?

Is there a terminal command that I can use to downgrade my firmware to a previous version? I tried using the old iPod Updaters in my Utilities folder, but they won't let me install older firmware versions.

G4 iMac 1G RAM, Mac OS X (10.4.9), iPod Video 5.5g 30GB, iPod nano 2GB

Posted on Apr 24, 2007 7:55 PM

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Answer 1

Mitch 751

Level 6

11,644 points

Apr 24, 2007 8:22 PM in response to philsmac

No too sure whether it works for 5.5G iPod as it may needs mini requirement of the firmware, but you can have a try

For Mac computer
1. Open the disk utility, hope your iPod appears there (left hand side), highlight it
2. Go to Tab “Partition”, click either “Delete” or “Partition”, if fails, skip this step and go to 3
3. Go to Tab “Erase” , choose Volume Format as “MAC OS Extended (Journaled), and click Erase, again if fails, skip it and go to 4
4. Same as step 3, but open the “Security Options....” and choose “Zero Out Data” before click Erase. It will take 1 to 2 hours to complete.
5. Eject your iPod and do a Reset
6. Open the old iPod updater and click Restore.

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Answer 2

philsmac Author

Level 1

110 points

Apr 24, 2007 8:27 PM in response to Mitch 751

I'm aware that I can use Disk Utility to erase or reformat, but I think there's a way to force install an older firmware without having to erase or restore my iPod. Thanks for the response though.

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Answer 3

Mitch 751

Level 6

11,644 points

Apr 24, 2007 8:30 PM in response to philsmac

To ealier model of iPods, you may be right. But for 5.5 I am in a doubt

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Answer 4

philsmac Author

Level 1

110 points

Apr 25, 2007 3:25 PM in response to Mitch 751

Found this on iPodlinux:

Enter the following command in the Terminal, then press return:

mount | fgrep Volumes

The result should be a line that begins with "/dev/disk...". For example:

/dev/disk1s3 on /Volumes/ipod_nano (local, nodev, nosuid, journaled)

In the preceding example, the disk number is '1'.

Make a note of the numeric digit appearing after the word "disk"; disregard the letter "s" and following digit(s). Enter the following command in the terminal, then press return:

cd "/Applications/Utilities/iPod Software Updater.localized/iPod Updater 2006-03-23.app/Contents/Resources/Updates"

Now backup your current firmware. Enter the following command, but substitue the '?' with the number you made a note of in the first step,followed by "return":

dd if=/dev/disk?s2 of=my ipodfirmware

Now, perform the downgrade by entering the following command, but substitue the '?' with the number you made a note of in the first step, followed by "return":

dd if=Firmware-14.5.1.1 of=/dev/disk?s2

This would downgrade the nano firmware from 2006-03-23.
Firmware-13.6.1.1 downgrades the iPod Video.

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Answer 5

philsmac Author

Level 1

110 points

Apr 28, 2007 7:13 PM in response to philsmac

It worked!

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