PRS+ "Invalid Type" error - Sony 505

[vans]

I downloaded the latest PRS+ software yesterday put it in the main memory of my Sony PRS505. It seemed to be working but then I got a message that said "invalid type". Can anyone let me know what this means?

When I restarted the Sony the original menu was still working.

I had removed all books from the Sony and no SD card was inserted.

Later I could not get the Sony to have another go at loading the PRS+ software. I tried copying fresh files to the Sony but the PRS+ software would not autoload.

Thanks

[kartu]

PRS+ can NOT simply disappear once you've installed it (unless you uninstall it/install other firmware over it). However if reader is connected to USB during boot, PRS+ simply doesn't start.

It is very easy to get corrupt file system on older models, that's why you should restart the reader and boot in safe mode, to delete installer.

I'm not sure what could have caused "Invalid Type" .

[vans]

Originally Posted by kartu

PRS+ can NOT disappear once you've installed it.. However if reader is connected to USB during boot, PRS+ simply doesn't start.

It is very easy to get corrupt file system on older models, that's why you should restart the reader and boot in safe mode, to delete installer.

I'm not sure what could have caused "Invalid Type" .

Sorry I should have been clearer. PRS+ did not disappear, it did not install. The error message happened quite early in the process just after a comment about partitions.

When I booted the Sony again, the PRS+ installation process did not start again. Instead the Sony went to its normal menu home screen.

I will have to find out haw to boot the Sony to safe mode.


Thanks

[Mark Nord]

Hi vans,

if PRS+ isn't installed there is no safe-mode.
(With PRS+ starting up the reader (after reset or full shutdown) connect to USB will prevent PRS+ from loading = safe mode = standard Sony FW)

I, for my own, install PRS+ with a SD-Card onto my PRS-505.
See http://code.google.com/p/prs-plus/wiki/InstallGuide

As all books are backed up I suggest you format internal memory via settings - advanced settings - format memory

then extract the PRS+505 v2.012 installer ZIP and copy the folder PRSInstaller to the root of an empty SD-Card (512MB will suffice).

Insert the card into the SD-card-slot and follow the instructions on screen.
Process will end with a automatic reboot. You can remove the SC-card, otherwise the installer will start up again.
HTH
Mark

[vans]

I may be doing this wrong?

After unpacking the zip file I get a folder "PRSPinstaller" going down a couple of levels I get a folder "software" Inside that folder are other folders and files:

Data
Firmware
Languages
Tools
autorun.xml
installer.js
piAssets.png


These are the files I put either in root SD card or root device.

The first time I did this I got the loading circular arrows and at the top of the screen some PRS+ warnings and instructions. I tried to install PRS+ but it stopped with the error message in my first post.

Since then, I cannot get my Sony 505 to start the install process. I have put the files on the sd card and the device (not at the same time). I have tried using setting to close down the device and reboot it. Nothing happens.


Can anyone give me any advice?


Thanks

[Mark Nord]

Hi,
just put the whole folder "PRSPInstaller" in IM or to your SD.
Just the folder with all the sub-folders within.

Installation should start right after disconnect form USB, or if you use an external card-reader, just after inserting the card into the SD-card slot.

Make sure your reader isn't conneted to USB.

This should do the trick.

[vans]

I put the folder in root IM and the PRS+ installation started again.

Thanks for the advice.

However, I got the same error message as before, here is a screen shot. It mentions having the wrong firmware. I have downloaded the earlier firmware from Sony but I was unable to load it using the Sony installer exe file.

[Mark Nord]

"downgrade" to 1.1.0.18040 should be done automatic, thats why the partitions of your current fw are saved, next step should be the flashing of the 1.1... rootfs.

Are you sure that the IM of your reader is empty (beside the installer files)?

when installing PRS+ on non US version of the reader, make sure that you have at least 50mb of free space on internal memory. This space is needed for the backup of the original firmware. (you can delete/save backup files somewhere else after the installation)

If I remember correctly (I'm at work, no device nearby) that there is a Expert-Mode in the Installer-Main-Menu.

You can try this and force installation of rootfs and fsk-partition.

You can also use the PRS+ Uninstaller from the project page to setup 1.1. 0.18040. This is a standard-sony-fw-updater modified in only one way, so that it will work with all possible fw-versions.

[vans]

Originally Posted by Mark Nord

"downgrade" to 1.1.0.18040 should be done automatic, thats why the partitions of your current fw are saved, next step should be the flashing of the 1.1... rootfs.

Are you sure that the IM of your reader is empty (beside the installer files)?

If I remember correctly (I'm at work, no device nearby) that there is a Expert-Mode in the Installer-Main-Menu.

You can try this and force installation of rootfs and fsk-partition.

You can also use the PRS+ Uninstaller from the project page to setup 1.1. 0.18040. This is a standard-sony-fw-updater modified in only one way, so that it will work with all possible fw-versions.

No I did not delete the original files in IM because I have no ebooks loaded and there was more than 50MB of free space.

I will delete the original Sony folders

Digital Editions
Database

I will then let you know how I get on.

Thanks

[vans]

I deleted all the folders in MI and this caused the "loading" circular arrows to rotate slowly for about 2 hours at which point I gave up and pasted the folders back into the IM. It took a couple of hard resets to get the 505 into a position to successfully connect to my PC and working again.

With the original files back in IM but no ebooks there is over 200MB free.

After another couple of attempt to install PRS+ I went back to the developer site and downloaded an earlier, non beta installer and tried this one. Unfortunately I got exactly the same error message.

I think I will give up for a while and try again later.

[Mark Nord]

Hello vans!

This sound strange. Flashing any PRS+ is a matter of secondes, it should never take that long, or show this kind of behaviour.

As kartu says

It is very easy to get corrupt file system on older models,

which seams is the case with your device. (Scanning for ever, a.s.o)

Have you really done "hard-resets" (Sony_Reader_Start-Up_and_Reset_Guide or just pressed the reset-botton?

Difference is: soft-rest (pressing reset-button and flipp the power-switch) is a cold restart of the OS - with unchanged file-system, while a true "hard-reset" with holding down buttons while restarting resets the device to factory-defaults and formats IM)

Have you ever tried to format IM?

As all books are backed up I suggest you format internal memory via settings - advanced settings - format memory

For what it's worth:
stop thinking, stop worrying,
do a true hard-reset and try installing from a SD-Card, that's the way it is/was done thousends of times.

Good luck
Mark

[vans]

Originally Posted by Mark Nord

Hello vans!

This sound strange. Flashing any PRS+ is a matter of secondes, it should never take that long, or show this kind of behaviour.

As kartu says
which seams is the case with your device. (Scanning for ever, a.s.o)

Have you really done "hard-resets" (Sony_Reader_Start-Up_and_Reset_Guide or just pressed the reset-botton?

Difference is: soft-rest (pressing reset-button and flipp the power-switch) is a cold restart of the OS - with unchanged file-system, while a true "hard-reset" with holding down buttons while restarting resets the device to factory-defaults and formats IM)

Have you ever tried to format IM?


For what it's worth:
stop thinking, stop worrying,
do a true hard-reset and try installing from a SD-Card, that's the way it is/was done thousends of times.

Good luck
Mark

Thanks

No I just pushed the reset button. I will not have time today but I will try a hard reset tomorrow.

I did try to format the IM a few days ago, but once again all that happened was the "!" icon was displayed for about an hour or so. How long should formatting take?

[Mark Nord]

Originally Posted by vans

How long should formatting take?

Merely up to a minute. Or not much longer then a ordinary restart will take.

[vans]

Originally Posted by Mark Nord

Merely up to a minute. Or not much longer then a ordinary restart will take.

Thanks.

I have tried the hard reset, but still got the invalid type error. So I started the format of the IM about ten or fifteen minutes ago and the "!" icon is still showing. I will leave it another half hour and do a soft reset.

I am starting to wonder if there is a hardware fault with the IM. I have not really tested the IM. I have only put two books on it, the rest are on the 4GB sd card.

[Mark Nord]

At this point, I'm stuck.

May be kartu will jump in with some advice?