Firmware upgrade = BRICK!

nathantw · 07-31-2008, 10:00 AM

Tried to do a firmware upgrade on my fiance's Reader and the upgrade took forever, quite literally. Decided to pull the plug and I ended up with a brick.

I was pretty embarrassed and upset about this considering my upgrade went without a hitch. In fact, this happened on Monday and it took me until now to get over it. The Reader is still under Sony's replacement program so she'll get a refurb to take its place. The problem is that it was engraved and that'll be gone. Such is life with firmware upgrades I guess.

So what needs to happen with the registration in order for the new unit to be able to read the books she purchased? Does she need to de-permission the older Reader or does the software go by computer and not Reader?

Thanks in advance.

Nathan

Catire · 07-31-2008, 10:29 AM

Did you try running the update on the reader again? that might fix it.

nathantw · 07-31-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catire

Did you try running the update on the reader again? that might fix it.

I tried running the firmware and it kept asking to "connect" the Reader to the computer. The amber light on the Reader remained on regardless if I moved the on/off switch or not. The only way to turn it off was to press the reset button on the back of the unit. I'm pretty sure it was hosed. The Reader wasn't even recognized by the computer.

acidzebra · 07-31-2008, 11:29 AM

Any chance of trying the same on a different computer? Some people report success with that.

nathantw · 07-31-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acidzebra

Any chance of trying the same on a different computer? Some people report success with that.

I already sent it out so I can't try it. I didn't read the suggestion to try a new computer until today and the problem happened on Monday. I was just too upset with myself to go to mobileread and read messages.

DrMoze · 07-31-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathantw

I already sent it out so I can't try it. I didn't read the suggestion to try a new computer until today and the problem happened on Monday. I was just too upset with myself to go to mobileread and read messages.

There's a lesson for you. I would have tried anything first (especially searching/posting here!) before returning an engraved Reader for a refurb. This is common sense, not hindsight.

Oh well. Too late for anyone here to help, eh?

jakewastaken · 07-31-2008, 06:38 PM

I bricked mine by accident and reflashed it and hacked it with another pc not five minutes ago, so yeah, it pays to check the forums first.

nathantw · 07-31-2008, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakewastaken

I bricked mine by accident and reflashed it and hacked it with another pc not five minutes ago, so yeah, it pays to check the forums first.

It's really weird because I would normally check ALL avenues before sending it off to get repaired. However, in this case I think I was just embarrassed and upset that I ruined her Reader that I just wanted it to get fixed as soon as possible.

I know it was dumb of me not to try to flash it on another computer first, knowing now that it probably would have fixed it, but her computer that I was trying to flash it on wouldn't even see the reader. I guessed, maybe wrongly, that all computers would be the same. I did, however, plug it into two computers at work and neither saw the Reader. Granted I should have downloaded the firmware and tried it before sending it off.

Maybe if I'm lucky Sony will just flash the unit for me and send the same one back.

charlieperry · 07-31-2008, 08:13 PM

Was it fully recharged before you started the upgrade

BobVA · 07-31-2008, 10:44 PM

Bummer. If you get a refurb, perhaps you can zip it over to your local jeweler and get it engraved before handing it over? (Maybe add a funny line?)

acemccloudxx · 07-31-2008, 11:44 PM

When in doubt - CALL TECH SUPPORT. I had the exact same problem and the tech support folks talked me through a complete and successful fix. Go Sony!

daffy4u · 07-31-2008, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acemccloudxx

When in doubt - CALL TECH SUPPORT. I had the exact same problem and the tech support folks talked me through a complete and successful fix. Go Sony!

What did they have you do? (if it's not too complicated)

acemccloudxx · 08-01-2008, 02:01 AM

Well, I remember that the following were involved, but not the order or even what else was required.

1. I reset the reader at least twice as we tried different things.
2. I rebooted my computer
3. I downloaded the firmware update and ran it directly rather than from the reader software.

nathantw · 08-01-2008, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acemccloudxx

Well, I remember that the following were involved, but not the order or even what else was required.

1. I reset the reader at least twice as we tried different things.
2. I rebooted my computer
3. I downloaded the firmware update and ran it directly rather than from the reader software.

Interesting. I tried all three, but on the same machine. Oh well, I'll get a replacement. At least my fiance wasn't upset at all. She doesn't depend on the Reader as much as I do. She still reads regular books and she really didn't look at the engraving so that was no big loss. She just wants to make sure the books she bought are still accessible and readable on the new unit though.

DrMoze · 08-03-2008, 08:25 PM

You can register the new device (if they don't fix your old one, which they might) on your pc and the books should be accessible. If not, CALL SONY TECH SUPPORT! And if it is a different Reader, be sure to un-register the old one.

07-31-2008, 10:00 AM	#1
nathantw Zealot Posts: 145 Karma: 230 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: 505	Firmware upgrade = BRICK! Tried to do a firmware upgrade on my fiance's Reader and the upgrade took forever, quite literally. Decided to pull the plug and I ended up with a brick. I was pretty embarrassed and upset about this considering my upgrade went without a hitch. In fact, this happened on Monday and it took me until now to get over it. The Reader is still under Sony's replacement program so she'll get a refurb to take its place. The problem is that it was engraved and that'll be gone. Such is life with firmware upgrades I guess. So what needs to happen with the registration in order for the new unit to be able to read the books she purchased? Does she need to de-permission the older Reader or does the software go by computer and not Reader? Thanks in advance. Nathan

07-31-2008, 10:44 PM	#10
BobVA Addict Posts: 230 Karma: 1500 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Kobo Clara, Sony PRS950, T1, T2, T3	Bummer. If you get a refurb, perhaps you can zip it over to your local jeweler and get it engraved before handing it over? (Maybe add a funny line?) Last edited by BobVA; 07-31-2008 at 10:46 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Opus I can't upgrade firmware	charex	Bookeen	17	09-21-2011 10:14 AM
iLiad How can I upgrade my firmware to 2.12?	npceodp	iRex	1	08-30-2010 05:03 PM
WARNING - New Astak firmware >may< 'brick' your reader	Xochipilli2012	Astak EZReader	5	03-13-2010 06:08 PM
PRS-500 Upgrade firmware	ambertape	Sony Reader Dev Corner	0	12-15-2009 09:04 AM
The new 12 firmware upgrade - My take	DDHarriman	Bookeen	17	09-08-2008 07:23 PM

07-31-2008, 10:29 AM	#2
Catire Lord of the Universe Posts: 670 Karma: 737849 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maturin , Venezuela Device: Sony Reader PRS-505 / PSP	Did you try running the update on the reader again? that might fix it.

07-31-2008, 11:29 AM	#4
acidzebra Liseuse Lover Posts: 869 Karma: 1035404 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Netherlands Device: PRS-505	Any chance of trying the same on a different computer? Some people report success with that.

07-31-2008, 06:38 PM	#7
jakewastaken Media Whore. Posts: 118 Karma: 265 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: IL Device: PRS-505	I bricked mine by accident and reflashed it and hacked it with another pc not five minutes ago, so yeah, it pays to check the forums first.

07-31-2008, 08:13 PM	#9
charlieperry Connoisseur Posts: 89 Karma: 174 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sydney Device: Sony PRS 505	Was it fully recharged before you started the upgrade

07-31-2008, 11:44 PM	#11
acemccloudxx Java Master Posts: 49 Karma: 169 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-505	When in doubt - CALL TECH SUPPORT. I had the exact same problem and the tech support folks talked me through a complete and successful fix. Go Sony!

08-01-2008, 02:01 AM	#13
acemccloudxx Java Master Posts: 49 Karma: 169 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-505	Well, I remember that the following were involved, but not the order or even what else was required. 1. I reset the reader at least twice as we tried different things. 2. I rebooted my computer 3. I downloaded the firmware update and ran it directly rather than from the reader software.

08-03-2008, 08:25 PM	#15
DrMoze Booknut Posts: 858 Karma: 2852 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida! Device: Sony Reader 500/505/300/350, Nook Glowlight Plus (6")	You can register the new device (if they don't fix your old one, which they might) on your pc and the books should be accessible. If not, CALL SONY TECH SUPPORT! And if it is a different Reader, be sure to un-register the old one.

Advert

Advert