Parallels + Reader Update = Brick

SultanOfSuede · 09-16-2007, 07:52 PM

I updated my Reader to the 7/31 release using Parallels and bricked it. (I didn't know the Reader was so sensitive and Sony doesn't support Mac -- one more reason why I'll never buy another Sony product.) Soft, hard and diabloNL's resets don't work. Has anyone else found a way to solve this? If not, is it possible to get the unit reflashed locally? I live in a large metro area.

Thx,

Ian

JSWolf · 09-16-2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SultanOfSuede

I updated my Reader to the 7/31 release using Parallels and bricked it. (I didn't know the Reader was so sensitive and Sony doesn't support Mac -- one more reason why I'll never buy another Sony product.) Soft, hard and diabloNL's resets don't work. Has anyone else found a way to solve this? If not, is it possible to get the unit reflashed locally? I live in a large metro area.

Thx,

Ian

Too bad you didn't read the forum in more detail. You'd have found out that it's not just Sony, but Parallels that has the issue. If the USB is not given the priority it needs, then you can have a problem when the device expects a steady stream.

paulkbiba · 09-16-2007, 09:09 PM

Yes, I use Parallels quite a bit and one thing I have found out is NOT to use it with anything that is critical and involves USB. Definitely no firmware updates - no matter what the device.

JSWolf · 09-16-2007, 09:12 PM

Read the following. It may help you get your reader unbricked.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12865

beartard · 09-17-2007, 06:29 AM

One thing that *may* help, I've found, is to plug the reader in to a USB port on a computer with working drivers (usually a real Windows computer). Sometimes just hooking it up this way is enough to kickstart the reader into firmware update mode where you can use the real Windows computer to do the flashing over.

But then, that was generally when I bricked my reader using the hacks here, not during a firmware update. It all depends on just how messed up it is and at which point in the update it decided to drop out.

If anybody not using Windows wants to update firmware on the reader (or any other device) PLEASE DON'T USE parallels, vmware, qemu, etc.

jsutton02 · 09-17-2007, 07:55 PM

I had this same problem on my Mac. What i had to do was go to a Windows computer (of which I had), download the patch from Sony and install.

Seemed to work fine.

Jim

canicula · 09-20-2007, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beartard

If anybody not using Windows wants to update firmware on the reader (or any other device) PLEASE DON'T USE parallels, vmware, qemu, etc.

I've updated the firmware on mine using Vista running under Parallels. Others have done the same using XP SP2 under Parallels. See this thread:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13235

Ian

beartard · 09-21-2007, 03:35 AM

It's a fairly foolhardy thing to do for someone who lives in the US. Even more so for someone who had to import the reader.

JSWolf · 09-21-2007, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canicula

I've updated the firmware on mine using Vista running under Parallels. Others have done the same using XP SP2 under Parallels. See this thread:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13235

Ian

You risk bricking your reader doing it that way. If the USB priority is suddenly taken away during the flashing, you end up with a bricked reader. Do not listen. If anyone reads that it works and does it and then bricks, I have no sympathy. We've posted that it's a risk that can brick. It's not a risk you want to chance losing.

andym · 09-21-2007, 12:31 PM

Is it worth having a sticky on this? (Possible title: '50 ways to brick your Sony/Iliad'?)

cjschmidt · 10-03-2007, 04:25 PM

I'd love to see a "OSX & Sony Reader" category to cover all the tips and problems of using the Reader with OSX. Maybe it already exists and I'm missing it...

Dr Hook · 07-21-2008, 09:20 AM

Hi guys,

Just found this forum by a circuitous route. I recently bought a 505 for my wife and was told quite definitively by the Sony fella that Parallels and Vista would run the thing quite happily.

So doing, I find I have done nothing more then upload the software and then receive a viewing pane for the e-Library that has no left-hand source panel.

I have gone no further, I have no Windows machine, but would very much like someone with obviously more experience than I to tell me what to do next. I have not connected the reader to the computer since installing the software. Is it bricked already ? Do I have other options.

Panicking already.......

Dr Hook

canicula · 07-25-2008, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Hook

Hi guys,

Just found this forum by a circuitous route. I recently bought a 505 for my wife and was told quite definitively by the Sony fella that Parallels and Vista would run the thing quite happily.

So doing, I find I have done nothing more then upload the software and then receive a viewing pane for the e-Library that has no left-hand source panel.

I have gone no further, I have no Windows machine, but would very much like someone with obviously more experience than I to tell me what to do next. I have not connected the reader to the computer since installing the software. Is it bricked already ? Do I have other options.

If you haven't connected the PRS-505 to the computer then you won't have bricked it. IF you have access to Windows XP I'd recommend setting up an XP VM in Parallels, install the latest version of the Sony eReader software and see if it works okay. Then if it does move on to the next step of connecting the PRS-505.

I'm using a Sony Reader with an XP VM under Parallels with no problems.

Ian

JSWolf · 07-25-2008, 09:46 AM

You can use a Sony Reader under Parallels, but DO NOT use Parallels to update the firmware. We have documented reported cases of bricking 500s. Cannot say about 505, but don't risk it. The problem is firmware updating is timing sensitive and if Parallels loses control of the USB port for long enough, there you go, brick.

canicula · 07-25-2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You can use a Sony Reader under Parallels, but DO NOT use Parallels to update the firmware. We have documented reported cases of bricking 500s. Cannot say about 505, but don't risk it. The problem is firmware updating is timing sensitive and if Parallels loses control of the USB port for long enough, there you go, brick.

I've updated both a PRS-500 and a PRS-505 using Parallels hosted VMs on a Mac. All the times I make sure that there is nothing else running in the Windows VM or on the Mac that might grab the USB port. Others mileage might vary of course but I'll not worry about doing firmware upgrades using this method in the future.

Ian

09-16-2007, 07:52 PM	#1
SultanOfSuede Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2007 Device: PRS500	Parallels + Reader Update = Brick I updated my Reader to the 7/31 release using Parallels and bricked it. (I didn't know the Reader was so sensitive and Sony doesn't support Mac -- one more reason why I'll never buy another Sony product.) Soft, hard and diabloNL's resets don't work. Has anyone else found a way to solve this? If not, is it possible to get the unit reflashed locally? I live in a large metro area. Thx, Ian

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09-16-2007, 09:09 PM	#3
paulkbiba Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 45 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: United States Device: Nokia e61i, iPhone	Yes, I use Parallels quite a bit and one thing I have found out is NOT to use it with anything that is critical and involves USB. Definitely no firmware updates - no matter what the device.

09-16-2007, 09:12 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,458 Karma: 136564696 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Read the following. It may help you get your reader unbricked. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12865

09-17-2007, 06:29 AM	#5
beartard Minister of Linux Posts: 196 Karma: 73235 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Winter Haven, Florida, USA Device: nook, T-Mobile MyTouch 3G Slide	One thing that may help, I've found, is to plug the reader in to a USB port on a computer with working drivers (usually a real Windows computer). Sometimes just hooking it up this way is enough to kickstart the reader into firmware update mode where you can use the real Windows computer to do the flashing over. But then, that was generally when I bricked my reader using the hacks here, not during a firmware update. It all depends on just how messed up it is and at which point in the update it decided to drop out. If anybody not using Windows wants to update firmware on the reader (or any other device) PLEASE DON'T USE parallels, vmware, qemu, etc.

09-17-2007, 07:55 PM	#6
jsutton02 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: PRS-500	I had this same problem on my Mac. What i had to do was go to a Windows computer (of which I had), download the patch from Sony and install. Seemed to work fine. Jim

09-21-2007, 03:35 AM	#8
beartard Minister of Linux Posts: 196 Karma: 73235 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Winter Haven, Florida, USA Device: nook, T-Mobile MyTouch 3G Slide	It's a fairly foolhardy thing to do for someone who lives in the US. Even more so for someone who had to import the reader.

09-21-2007, 12:31 PM	#10
andym Groupie Posts: 189 Karma: 793 Join Date: Oct 2006	Is it worth having a sticky on this? (Possible title: '50 ways to brick your Sony/Iliad'?)

10-03-2007, 04:25 PM	#11
cjschmidt Thyme Lord Posts: 39 Karma: 118 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: PRS-505	I'd love to see a "OSX & Sony Reader" category to cover all the tips and problems of using the Reader with OSX. Maybe it already exists and I'm missing it...

07-21-2008, 09:20 AM	#12
Dr Hook Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Device: PRS-505	Hi guys, Just found this forum by a circuitous route. I recently bought a 505 for my wife and was told quite definitively by the Sony fella that Parallels and Vista would run the thing quite happily. So doing, I find I have done nothing more then upload the software and then receive a viewing pane for the e-Library that has no left-hand source panel. I have gone no further, I have no Windows machine, but would very much like someone with obviously more experience than I to tell me what to do next. I have not connected the reader to the computer since installing the software. Is it bricked already ? Do I have other options. Panicking already....... Dr Hook

07-25-2008, 09:46 AM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,458 Karma: 136564696 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	You can use a Sony Reader under Parallels, but DO NOT use Parallels to update the firmware. We have documented reported cases of bricking 500s. Cannot say about 505, but don't risk it. The problem is firmware updating is timing sensitive and if Parallels loses control of the USB port for long enough, there you go, brick.

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