On my home PC, I installed the eBook Library software via the "autoplay" on the Reader itself, and that all worked perfectly; I no longer get the "Install Software" item popping up when I connect the Reader to my PC.

My machine at work, however, goes through a proxy server, which the auto-install can't handle, so I had to download and install the eBook Library software manually. This means that every time I connect my Reader to the PC, I get the popup asking me if I want to install the software.

I'm guessing that when it's installed via the Reader's installer, it sets a registry key, or something like that, which tells the autoplay "I'm already installed, so don't bother doing anything". Does anyone know what needs to be set, so I can set it on my work machine and stop the prompt to install the software?

That's strange HarryT, the reader we gave to my cousin on Sunday, the autoplay still pops up and I installed the ebook software on her laptop via the reader. I know it still does because she had to reset it while it was still attach to the computer after it was frozen and I was on the phone walking her through it. Anyway when the reader finally came to life she told me both the autoplay and ebook library now are automatically opened.

I already had the library software installed and have connected my new 600 several times but have not seen the Install Software Pop-up. Are you trying to connect to the Sony Store? I've never actually registered with the store, much to the confusion of the Tech Support people.

I also have this Autoplay issue which I raised in a post here recently. I have spoken to Sony support (UK) who because I experienced it on my two computers, one with XP and one with Vista, have told me that it must be the PRS-600 and that it should be returned for service. I do not think for one moment that this is likely to be the cause because the "Launcher" partition on the PRS-600 is write protected and so the Autoplay which is in this partition cannot be modified. I had also completely reset the reader to factory state to no effect.

It seems more likely that it was because I had manually installed EBL 3.0 before I got the PRS-600 that something is left behind in registry etc?.

I will not return the reader to Sony as this just a nuisance and can be worked around but I would love to know how to solve it. :chinscratch:

Harry,

When you mount the thing as a drive and view it with Windows Explorer can you see the "autorun.inf" file? If so is it possible to delete it (or at least rename it)? That should resolve this since it is the file that causes this to start the installer.

You can also disable autorun on your PC... but of course that will affect all external storage devices.

BOb

BOb,

The autorun.inf file lives in the "Launcher" partition on the reader and as I mentioned before this is write protected. I've tried all hte ways I can think of to un-protect this but no way.

Mike

BOb,

The autorun.inf file lives in the "Launcher" partition on the reader and as I mentioned before this is write protected. I've tried all hte ways I can think of to un-protect this but no way.

Mike

Isn't there a feature in Windows, how to handle this?
Whether to auto-start, launch explorer and things like that?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoRun#NoDriveAutoRun

I already had the library software installed and have connected my new 600 several times but have not seen the Install Software Pop-up. Are you trying to connect to the Sony Store? I've never actually registered with the store, much to the confusion of the Tech Support people.

Ha! Always good to keep 'em guessing. :)

BOb,

The autorun.inf file lives in the "Launcher" partition on the reader and as I mentioned before this is write protected. I've tried all hte ways I can think of to un-protect this but no way.

Mike

Interesting... you've tried partition software? What about a low level hex editor on the raw drive?

BOb

Isn't there a feature in Windows, how to handle this?
Whether to auto-start, launch explorer and things like that?

Yes this is a work round but means that there will be no autoplay available for any device inserted.

Interesting... you've tried partition software? What about a low level hex editor on the raw drive?

BOb

I've tried a couple of partition managers but I still can't access the files in "Launcher" . The other partitions on the reader are writeable.

Isn't there a feature in Windows, how to handle this?
Whether to auto-start, launch explorer and things like that?

You may have missed the point of my question.

It appears as if the autorun file on the internal partition of the PRS-600 is saying "Is <something> present on this machine? If it's not, I'll run the Library installer". I want to know what that <something> is, so that I can create it manually, and prevent the installer running.

I know how the stop "autoplay" running, but I don't want to do that.

You may have missed the point of my question.

It appears as if the autorun file on the internal partition of the PRS-600 is saying "Is <something> present on this machine? If it's not, I'll run the Library installer". I want to know what that <something> is, so that I can create it manually, and prevent the installer running.



You could try to run ProcMon (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx) while the program is running. It will show you the file and registry reads it is attempting. I assume it is looking for a file or a registry entry.

BOb

I'm giving this a bump because I'd love to know if anyone has found a solution.

My PRS 600 not only auto-launches the "install software/play music/etc" dialog every time I connect it, but I also get a lovely message from XP saying that the disk is write-protected (which I assume is because the Launcher partition is write protected).

I too have the auto install pop up every time I hook up my 600 on my Vista computer. Tech support was no help at all. The only conclusion that I can come to is that I already had the up to date ebook library installed. As you mentioned, the autorun feature is embedded in the launcher. I am not going to disable all autorun features to stop this. I have the autorun open up all the folders for viewing on each hook up, which I simply close up afterwards. I suppose unistalling ebook library, hooking up the 600, letting it reinstall the library, would probably fix this issue.

I want to be your LatexSalesMan!!!

I suppose unistalling ebook library, hooking up the 600, letting it reinstall the library, would probably fix this issue.

I want to be your LatexSalesMan!!!

Sorry - been there - done that - still the same problem :chinscratch: :)

Does anyone else get the write-protected drive error message I posted? I'd love to at least kill off that one dialog.

I'm giving this a bump because I'd love to know if anyone has found a solution.

My PRS 600 not only auto-launches the "install software/play music/etc" dialog every time I connect it, but I also get a lovely message from XP saying that the disk is write-protected (which I assume is because the Launcher partition is write protected).
This looks to me like you have a virus (or some other resident program) which tries to infect (write to) any mass storage device that gets connected to the system, and the programmer was sloppy and didn't check for for read-only systems.
Can't really think what else could it be.

ruka has a solution for the usb launcher :

Okay, after a week of frustration with the auto-launching/auto-install partition, I sat here and figured out how to disable this read-only partition. I don't have the Sony software installed, as I use Calibre exclusively.

This does not require disabling a drive letter.

I'm using Vista Ultimate 64-Bit, and I own the PRS-300.

First, open "Computer", and then right-click your reader's drive letter. Left-click "properties". You're presented with a series of tabs. Click the "Hardware" tab. Choose "Sony PRS-XXX Launcher USB Device", then click the "Properties" button. This opens a new window, with a new series of tabs. Click the "Driver" tab, and finally click the "Disable" button. Finally, you will be required to reboot your computer. This disables only the Launcher partition driver, and does not interfere with normal USB operation of the device.

ruka has a solution for the usb launcher :
That worked perfectly with my PRS 600 and Win XP, thank you so much ruka (and zelda)! :thanks:

That worked perfectly with my PRS 600 and Win XP, thank you so much ruka (and zelda)! :thanks:

Awesome! You are most welcome. I'm glad to see it work for others.

Your avatar rocks.

This looks to me like you have a virus (or some other resident program) which tries to infect (write to) any mass storage device that gets connected to the system, and the programmer was sloppy and didn't check for for read-only systems.
Can't really think what else could it be.

Thanks. Both McAfee and Trend Micro say my system is virus free.

I disabled the launcher driver and that's cleared up the most annoying issue.