deinstitutionalize or factory restore

my dad just got out and I have his trying to unlock … he was told Radio Shack will do it for $15, although have not verified … from what I can tell it’s got some NSA level firmware as I’ve found others who cannot crack either 

I haven’t heard that Radio Shack has this capability, but by all means check it out. I think you have to send it into a specific company, and if I recall correctly it’s $25.

Try to find a Radio Shack–they are all closing.

Here’s the official info.

http://www.corrlinks.com/MP3Reset/

http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12839/~/atg-mp3-player-deinstitutionalization-and-warranty-processing

I would like to know how I could revalidate my player until I can get it serviced.

There’s no way to revalidate without getting the service in the links two posts up.

There is a program called iCare Data Recovery they will need to get by searching google, free version is available.  There is a size limitation on how much you can download on the free version but if you post how much you like the program on a website or facebook they claim they will give you a code to unlock unlimited recovery.

Once installed on any windows machine just plug the mp3 player in and open the program.

When the program comes up click on lost partition recovery and click next.

You should now see where it list Sandisk Sport Player so highlight it and click next.

Will take roughly 15 minutes to discover all music on the device.

Click to download all files that have been discovered.

Viola, you have your music back.

The mp3 player, I connected with a JTAG yesterday and bleep they have it locked down (JTAGS connections are on the front of device under the cover). After I played around with the firmware I can say getting the player to work again is never going to happen, they have a hex file to program the device but it has a flag in the programming to specifically note when the device has come from an institution.

I told myself I never would pay to get something I already purchased back and I can say I didn’t have to!

icare2.JPG

icare3.JPG

icare4.JPG

After a long wait the step by step illustrated guide of how to unlock the sandisk sport is now up.  Instead of posting it here I just posted it to the blogpost.  Do hope this helps someone and remember to download your music with the icare method first, don’t feel like decrypting the firmware to enable saving music when an option is already available.  sandisksportfirmware.wordpress.com

And make sure you try https://sourceforge.net/projects/album-art/ which is free after you dump your music back on the player, nothing nicer than album covers for all the music to appear.

Sport firmware is probably not going to load on the Clip Plus.

Oops, posted in the wrong section.  Thanks for verifying that for me.  

Pulling this info down.

Well it won’t let me pull it down, no edit link available.  Maybe an admin can help pull it.

You could see if there is a Chinese firmware for the Clip + and try it.

@wipedout wrote:

 

 

Well it won’t let me pull it down, no edit link available.  Maybe an admin can help pull it.

What exactly do you want removed from the post? We can have a moderator edit the post for you. 

@drlucky wrote:


@wipedout wrote:

 

 

Well it won’t let me pull it down, no edit link available.  Maybe an admin can help pull it.


What exactly do you want removed from the post? We can have a moderator edit the post for you. 

I think he wants Message #27 removed from the thread as it does not apply to this player.

Tapeworm has it correct, post #27 to be removed would be great.  Thanks for your help

The Clip+ is a fully custom player so you won’t be able to load another firmware onto it. 

You can actually remove the locked down BOP firmware from the Clip+, but it is extremely complex and requires shorting out some pins on the board to expose the raw storage and then overwriting the firmware. As far as anyone is aware there is no other recovery mode available on the Clip+, although it is possible one exists that no one has found.  

@saratoga wrote:

The Clip+ is a fully custom player so you won’t be able to load another firmware onto it. 

 

You can actually remove the locked down BOP firmware from the Clip+, but it is extremely complex and requires shorting out some pins on the board to expose the raw storage and then overwriting the firmware. As far as anyone is aware there is no other recovery mode available on the Clip+, although it is possible one exists that no one has found.  

You mean the Clip+ _ BOP version _ of the Clip+, right?

@saratoga wrote:

The Clip+ is a fully custom player so you won’t be able to load another firmware onto it. 

   

You mean the Clip+ _ BOP version _ of the Clip+, right?

They’re the same device, so either.

@saratoga wrote:
They’re the same device, so either.

Maybe I misunerstood your earlier point–as alternative firmware Rockbox can be added to the Clip+ . . . .

Maybe I misunderstood your earlier point–as alternative firmware Rockbox can be added to the Clip+ . . . .

I mean with respect to the “Chinese firmware” remark above. No such thing exists for the Clip+ because its a custom designed player and processor. The processor was never even sold to another company as far as I know. The reason you can download a generic firmware onto the Sport is that its not actually made by or unique to Sandisk.