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**jeff** · 12-05-2023, 11:38 AM

Datman: 12-27-2010 01:32 PM

Do you like the original firmware?... Have you ever seen
Rockbox?...

**jeff** · 12-05-2023, 11:40 AM

labrat: 12-27-2010 01:32 PM

Yes, you can.
The iRiver H1x0 controller can access and use 128 Gb of
harddisc storage, both with RockBox and original
firmware.
I installed 120 Gb harddiscs is both my iRiver
IHP140/HP140 players, and at the same time also
upgraded the batteries.
You might have some problems formatting your drive
initially after you have installed it in the player and
connected the player to the computer with USB, I did.
Also using Swissknife to format the drive was not possible.
Then I took the drive out, connected it in an external USB
enclosure, and formatted it correctly using Swissknife,
and it worked, and then reinstalled it back into the iRiver
player.
Have had no problems after that!
http://download.cnet.com/SwissKnife/...-10389770.html

**jeff** · 12-05-2023, 11:44 AM

shoerhino: 12-27-2010 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Datman

Do you like the original firmware?... Have you
ever seen Rockbox?...

I do like the original firmware. For me, it does everything
that I need. I have not loaded Rockbox but have looked
into it. I think that the software looks great but I'm not
sure I want to load anything that could potentially brick
the player and it's my understanding that this could brick
the player.

Originally Posted by labrat
Yes, you can.
The iRiver H1x0 controller can access and use
128 Gb of harddisc storage, both with RockBox
and original firmware.
I installed 120 Gb harddiscs is both my iRiver
IHP140/HP140 players, and at the same time
also upgraded the batteries.
You might have some problems formatting
your drive initially after you have installed it in
the player and connected the player to the
computer with USB, I did.
Also using Swissknife to format the drive was
not possible.
Then I took the drive out, connected it in an
external USB enclosure, and formatted it
correctly using Swissknife, and it worked, and
then reinstalled it back into the iRiver player.
Have had no problems after that!
SwissKnife 3.09 - Free software downloads and
software reviews - CNET Download.com

Thanks for the information. I'll check into that.

**jeff** · 12-05-2023, 11:47 AM

jumbuck: 12-27-2010 02:58 PM

Hi Shoerhino, welcome to the forums.

I'll through in a list of drives that will work on the h120
with iriver firmware for you.

Standard drives which will fit straight in.

MK2004GAL (20GB)
MK2006GAL (20GB)
MK3006GAL (30GB)
MK4007GAL (40GB)

Drive that are known to work with the use of a libmart
adapter.

MK4009GAL 40Gb
MK2008GAL 20Gb
MK3008GAL 30Gb
MK4009GAL 40Gb
MK6028GAL 60Gb
MK8025GAL 80Gb (I've got this in one of my H120's and it
works fine on iriver firmware)

Larger capacity drives (ending in GAH) wont fit into your
player as they are dual platter and 3mm thicker than the
original drives (Though you can swap the end caps and
side covers with a dead h140).

The Libmart adapter fits perfectly into the lif(zif) drives
and the combination of adapter and drive is the same
dimensions as the original drive assembly. they are
available from ebay http://shop.ebay.com/libmartcom
/m.html and (I think he's still got them) Snapper007

Originally Posted by snapper007
I'm still able to sell these adapters for $22.50
incl. shipping and packaging anywhere in the
world (+ incl. instruction manual)
Just send mail to: snapper@bluewin.ch
Payment: PayPal

You may be able to use FAT32formatter

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&so...ObZTUg&cad=rja

for formatting it was used successfully here iRiver
H120 with 80GB HDD guide - Head-Fi.org Community
when fitting a MK8025gal drive to a h120.

Good luck with the modding and if you run into trouble
yell otu and someone here will be glad to help you.

**jeff** · 12-05-2023, 11:49 AM

shoerhino: 12-28-2010 07:05 AM

Thanks for the information everyone!
Do you guys happen to know if an SSD drive would work
on the original firmware? I don't have any pricing yet so I
haven't made up my mind but it would seem to me that an
SSD drive might be a better solution than a hard drive.

@Datman - Yes, I do like the original firmware. For my
needs, it works perfectly. Although loading Rockbox is
relatively safe, I'm somewhat concerned about bricking
my unit after reading the threads that talk about using
specific bootloaders. I thought it might to better to stick
with something that works on the original firmware than
upgrade to something that requires Rockbox.

I have not used this player for a few years now but I'm
considering going back. I have a creative ZEN that uses
MTP and the implementation is horrible. Every few
months, I have to reform the device and totally reload it
because the database becomes corrupted. I'm just tired of
dealing with it. When I need to transfer something quick,
it's just a pain to work through.

**jeff** · 12-05-2023, 11:53 AM

jumbuck: 12-28-2010 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by shoerhino

Thanks for the information everyone!
Do you guys happen to know if an SSD drive
would work on the original firmware? I don't
have any pricing yet so I haven't made up my
mind but it would seem to me that an SSD
drive might be a better solution than a hard
drive.

You have to have the rockbox bootloader flashed to your
firmware for a SSD to be recognised

Originally Posted by McMusic

The H120 with 128GB SSD only works with
rockbox, not with the original FW. I'm mot
sure, if this applies to all SSDs. To be on the
safe side, you should in any case install
rockbox before you switch the drives.

Originally Posted by daveray

I just installed a Kingspec 64GB SSD in an
iHP-120 and it works great. So it should work
on an H320 which I think is the same size. The
SSD isn't recognized by the iRiver firmware but
works fine with Rockbox firmware, just make
sure that Rockbox bootloader is installed
before pulling out the old drive and installing
the SSD.

It'd be worth your while reading both these threads
concerning SSD's as there can be a few problems once
you've got one installed.H340 Upgrade to 128GB SSD and
H120 with 128GB SSD -> IT WORKS!!! . The H3xx and
H1xx share a lot of the same hardware so a lot of the info
you can find in the h3xx forums will be relative to the h1xx
players.

Originally Posted by shoerhino

@Datman - Yes, I do like the original firmware.
For my needs, it works perfectly. Although
loading Rockbox is relatively safe, I'm
somewhat concerned about bricking my unit
after reading the threads that talk about using
specific bootloaders. I thought it might to
better to stick with something that works on
the original firmware than upgrade to
something that requires Rockbox.

You should give rockbox a whirl, It's easy and safe to
install and gives your player so many more features than
the OE firmware.

**jeff** · 12-05-2023, 11:55 AM

shoerhino: 12-28-2010 08:07 PM

Thanks for the information on the SSD drive. IF I would
have read the thread titled "IDE SSD Drives - drop in
replacement for H120?", I would have known. I've been
reading a ton of threads trying to understand the options
and I appreciate everyone's help.

I somewhat one the line between an 80 GB drive and a
64gb compact flash card. The 64 Gb would use less power,
cost a little more (~$160), be generally more reliable (no
moving parts) and require Rockbox. The 80 drive will cost
less ($125 or so), use the original firmware, use more
power, and be somewhat less reliable, although it can't be
that bad since my original drive still works.

I'm starting to think I should try to load Rockbox just to
see what that's about.

**jeff** · 12-05-2023, 11:56 AM

shoerhino: 12-30-2010 09:28 PM

I downloaded and played with Rockbox. Overall, I'm
impressed. I think it has some pretty cool advanced
features. Even thought Rockbox seems like it would work
well, I bought a MK8025GAL drive and the adapter from
snapper007. For me, I think it might be the best solution.

I thought about trying the MK8034GAL drive because it's
supposed to be the replacement for the MK8025GAL but I
read that others have had problems making the
MK1234GAH work and since the MK8034GAL is related, I
thought that there would be a good chance that it would
not work.

What exactly makes a drive compatible? Is it the ATA
modes?

**jeff** · 12-05-2023, 11:57 AM

jumbuck: 01-01-2011 11:48 AM

As far as I understand it, you need the right interface, the
right sector size, the right capacity and not a apple
branded drive.

Though the chip in the player and rockbox support large
drive capacity and sector sizes I don't know of any one
successfully fitting a drive over 120GB.

**jeff** · 12-05-2023, 11:58 AM

shoerhino: 01-08-2011 09:38 AM

I received the new hard drive (MK8025GAL) and the
adapter from snapper007. Installed the drive and have no
problems at all. Everything is working great.

Thanks for all the help. I'm pretty excited to start using
the H120 again.

**jeff** · 12-05-2023, 11:59 AM

jumbuck: 01-11-2011 01:58 PM

Congrats on your successful upgrade :-).

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Question on H120 Drive upgrade - Firmware question

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