How do I reset the archos 5 IT firmware, when it's struck in developer's edition mode. And my PC does not does recoguize the unit.

Unlocking a password protected harddisk During development of the Rockbox firmware, on several occations the harddisk has become locked, i.e. password protected. This results in the Archos displaying:
Part. Error
Pls Chck HD
We are still not 100% sure why it happened. Theories range from low-power conditions to accidental chip select failure. It has also happened for normal users, using the standard Archos-supplied firmware, although it was more frequent for us developers.
Note: None of us developers have experienced this problem since march 2002.
We do however know how to unlock the disk:
Windows/DOS unlock Note: This requires taking the Archos apart, which will void your warranty!

1. Grab atapwd (written by Alex Mina)
2. Create a bootable DOS floppy disk, and put atapwd.exe on it
3. Remove the harddisk from your Archos and plug it into a laptop (or a standard PC, using a 3.5" => 2.5" IDE adapter)
4. Boot from the floppy and run atapwd.exe
5. Select the locked harddrive and press enter for the menu
6. For Fujitsu disks: Choose "unlock with user password", then "disable with user password". The password is empty, so just press enter at the prompt.
7. For Toshiba and Hitachi disks, if the above doesn't work: Choose "unlock with master password", then "disable with master password". The password is all spaces.
8. Your disk is now unlocked. Shut down the computer and remove the disk.

Big thanks to Magnus Andersson for discovering the Fujitsu (lack of) user password!
There is also a program for win32, ArchosUnlock.exe, that creates a linux boot disk with the below mentioned patched isd200 driver.
Linux unlock For those of us using Linux, we have written an isd200 driver patch for unlocking the disk. This modified driver will automatically unlock the disk when you connect your Archos via USB, so you don't have to do anything special. Apply the patch to a 2.4.18 linux kernel tree.
Still locked? If the above suggestions don't work, here's some background info about the disk lock feature:
The disk lock is a built-in security feature in the disk. It is part of the ATA specification, and thus not specific to any brand or device.
A disk always has two passwords: A User password and a Master password. Most disks support a Master Password Revision Code, which can tell you if the Master password has been changed, or it it still the factory default. The revision code is word 92 in the IDENTIFY response. A value of 0xFFFE means the Master password is unchanged.
A disk can be locked in two modes: High security mode or Maximum security mode. Bit 8 in word 128 of the IDENTIFY response tell you which mode your disk is in: 0 = High, 1 = Maximum.
In High security mode, you can unlock the disk with either the user or master password, using the "SECURITY UNLOCK DEVICE" ATA command. There is an attempt limit, normally set to 5, after which you must power cycle or hard-reset the disk before you can attempt again.
In Maximum security mode, you cannot unlock the disk! The only way to get the disk back to a usable state is to issue the SECURITY ERASE PREPARE command, immediately followed by SECURITY ERASE UNIT. The SECURITY ERASE UNIT command requires the Master password and will completely erase all data on the disk. The operation is rather slow, expect half an hour or more for big disks. (Word 89 in the IDENTIFY response indicates how long the operation will take.)

Hi,

Did you try power cycling the unit?

A) Download the firmware from Archos and save it to your desktop (Make sure the file name on the desktop hasn't changed from the original download file name)

B) The Archos 705:
1- Connect the unit to its power source.
2- Start the unit in recovery mode: Press the TV button first then the power on/off and keep pressing TV button (do not release it)
3- The recovery mode will start (the screen that asks for repair or format etc…)
4- Select "Repair" by scrolling up and down with the TV Button (it is all explained to move through the menu at the top of the Archos screen) (Do not press "Format" at any time)
5- Now that you are on "Repair" select it to validate your selection
6- The unit will go to "Plug the unit etc…" plug it with the USB cable to the computer
8- Wait until Pc should recognizes your Archos (around 5 seconds)

C) Computer
1- From your computer select the firmware file you downloaded from the net and put it in your Archos (in the root folder, nowhere else, where it has the folders, music, videos, pictures etc… as a file)

D) On the Archos 705:
1- Select "Ok" on the Archos (on & off button) shortly to select and confirm the file is now on the Archos
2- you are done! The Archos 5 or 7 should now read through the file you have transferred and repair the system
3- DO NOT DISCONNECT the power cable until the process is finished
4- When done safely disconnect (as you usually do, for Mac trash the letter of the Archos to the bin or for PC's: right click the green icon bottom right of the screen for xp & vista)
5- Press on/off button to reboot

Your unit should restart with a fresh repaired, updated system like day one.
Good luck!

Hi,
Before you hook up to usb go into tools/settings/storage & see if your archos is set for pc hard drive mode which turns the unit into a external hard drive. That should fix it,Make sure you have a copy of the latest firmware downloaded onto your desktop from the Archos website before you try formatting or recovery functions. if that doesn't you might have to do a repair or format. You can try these functions in Customer assistance function in the tools/settings/customer assistance, but I have much better luck doing a hard reset. Sometimes the unit gets a glitch in it & you have to do a hard reset.
Turn on the power when the Archos screen comes on which has the Archos logo on it Immediately hold down the volume + button until the recovery page comes up

A) Download the firmware from Archos and save it to your desktop (Make sure the file name on the desktop hasn't changed from the original download file name)

B) The Archos 5 or 7:
1- Plug the unit to you computer via the USB cable.
2- The unit should start automatically and open the following page:
3- From the recovery console (the screen that asks for repair or format etc…)
4- Select "Repair" by scrolling up and down with the volume control on the right of the unit (Do not press "Format" at any time)
5- Now that you are on "Repair" press the on and off button, shortly to validate your selection
6- The unit will go to "Plug the unit etc…" but it is already plugged from point 1 - DO NOT press anything anymore on the Archos
8- Wait until Pc should recognizes your Archos (around seconds)

C) Computer
1- From your computer select the firmware file you downloaded from the net and put it in your Archos (in the root folder, nowhere else, where it has the folders, music, videos, pictures etc… as a file)

D) On the Archos 5 or 7
1- Select "Ok" on the Archos (on & off button) shortly to select and confirm the file is now on the Archos
2- you are done! The Archos 5 or 7 should now read through the file you have transferred and repair the system
3- DO NOT DISCONNECT the USB cable until the process is finished
4- when done safely disconnect (as you usually do, for Mac trash the letter of the Archos to the bin or for PC's: right click the green icon bottom right of the screen for xp & vista)
5- Press on/off button to reboot

Your unit should restart with a fresh repaired, updated system like day one.
Good luck!

Your system is somehow corrupted, could be music downloaded from the net, whatever it is easy fixable.

A) Download the firmware from Archos and save it to your desktop (Make sure the file name on the desktop hasn't changed from the original download file name)

B) The Archos 5 or 7:
1- Plug the unit to you computer via the USB cable.
2- The unit should start automatically and open the following page:
3- From the recovery console (the screen that asks for repair or format etc…)
4- Select "Repair" by scrolling up and down with the volume control on the right of the unit (Do not press "Format" at any time)
5- Now that you are on "Repair" press the on and off button, shortly to validate your selection
6- The unit will go to "Plug the unit etc…" but it is already plugged from point 1 - DO NOT press anything anymore on the Archos
8- Wait until Pc should recognizes your Archos (around 5 seconds)

C) Computer
1- From your computer select the firmware file you downloaded from the net and put it in your Archos (in the root folder, nowhere else, where it has the folders, music, videos, pictures etc… as a file)

D) On the Archos 5 or 7
1- Select "Ok" on the Archos (on & off button) shortly to select and confirm the file is now on the Archos
2- you are done! The Archos 5 or 7 should now read through the file you have transferred and repair the system
3- DO NOT DISCONNECT the USB cable until the process is finished
4- when done safely disconnect (as you usually do, for Mac trash the letter of the Archos to the bin or for PC's: right click the green icon bottom right of the screen for xp & vista)
5- Press on/off button to reboot

Your unit should restart with a fresh repaired, updated system like day one.
Good luck!

I have found a solution for this issue, if you hold down the volume button and the power button for several seconds the Archos goes into a restore type mode. You then plug it into your computer and download the latest firmware update and cut and paste it onto the archos removable hard drive icon that appears in my computer. It will take a few minutes to update but then it will work perfectly.

Hi there, these instructions are for the archos 705 but they are the same for the 605.

A) Download the firmware from Archos and save it to your desktop (Make sure the file name on the desktop hasn't changed from the original download file name)

B) The Archos 705:
1- Connect the unit to its power source.
2- Start the unit in recovery mode: Press the TV button first then the power on/off and keep pressing TV button (do not release it)
3- The recovery mode will start (the screen that asks for repair or format etc…)
4- Select "Repair" by scrolling up and down with the TV Button (it is all explained to move through the menu at the top of the Archos screen) (Do not press "Format" at any time)
5- Now that you are on "Repair" select it to validate your selection
6- The unit will go to "Plug the unit etc…" plug it with the USB cable to the computer
8- Wait until Pc should recognizes your Archos (around 5 seconds)

C) Computer
1- From your computer select the firmware file you downloaded from the net and put it in your Archos (in the root folder, nowhere else, where it has the folders, music, videos, pictures etc… as a file)

D) On the Archos 705:
1- Select "Ok" on the Archos (on & off button) shortly to select and confirm the file is now on the Archos
2- you are done! The Archos 705 should now read through the file you have transferred and repair the system
3- DO NOT DISCONNECT the power cable until the process is finished
4- When done safely disconnect (as you usually do, for Mac trash the letter of the Archos to the bin or for PC's: right click the green icon bottom right of the screen for xp & vista)
5- Press on/off button to reboot

Your unit should restart with a fresh repaired, updated system like day one.
Good luck!

In order to fix this issue, we are going to need to force the unit into a
recovery application. In order to do this please make sure that the unit is
completely shut off. When the unit is off, you are going to want to press and
hold the TV/LCD button and the power button at the same time until a recovery
code 101 pops onto the screen. As soon as you see this, let the buttons go.
Once you got this screen up, you are going to want to repair the operating
system by arrowing down and clicking repair. After this is done it is going
to ask you to connect your device to the computer and install an update file.
In order to do this, you are going to want to go to www.archos.com and go to
downloads. You are going to want to download the firmware for your unit.
After the firmware is saved to your desktop, plug the unit into the computer
and open up "My computer" and you should see the Archos in the list
of drives.
Your going to want to copy the firmware onto the root directory and not in
any file folders. Once the firmware is on the Root directory, go ahead and
unplug the unit from the computer. It should still say Please plug your
device into the computer and install an update file. Click OK. After this is
done, it is going to tell you to please connect DC or USB in to continue with
the update. Go ahead and let the unit install and reboot. After this is
done, you should be able to use the unit properly. If the unit still does not
work properly, we are going to have to create an RMA for the Archos. If you
need anything else, Please feel free to contact us via Email or at
877.300.8879.

I had the same problem and manage to solve it. You need to do the following

a. go to Archos website and download latest firmware and save on your pc
b. turn on 504 and select repair - unit not connected to pc
c. connect 504 to pc and wait until pc recognise it
d. copy firmware from pc and past to 504 root directory.
e. press done on 504. that should work. I've spent the best part of 10 hours looking for a solution to the dreaded recovery code 4. The problem is a corrupt os. I hope you're as lucky as me.
I still have a problem with mine though...a screen that blink constantly.