Connect Software and Vista

geekraver · 05-09-2007, 12:35 AM

Is anyone out there using the connect software successfully with Vista? I find it is totally unusable; the entire left hand panel is missing (see attached screenshot).

HarryT · 05-09-2007, 03:00 AM

Are you using Connect 1.1? That should work fine with Vista.

Alexander Turcic · 05-09-2007, 04:13 AM

I confirm that Connect 1.1 works fine for me here (Vista Business).

Link to Connect 1.1 upgrade: http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu...d=2475&SMB=YES

dsyzling · 05-09-2007, 07:15 AM

Vista ultimate working here as well.

I think BookDesigner even works (at least my previous reported problems seemed to have cleared). I manged to install in a non "Program Files" location - e.g. c:\utils\book designer and then apply the group "authenticated users" modify permissions to the directories underneath the install which was important for the various temp files it creates. So far so good...

Rastafarian has a few issues mind.

Darren

geekraver · 05-09-2007, 01:41 PM

Yes, I am using the latest version off the Sony site (the one that is supposedly Vista compatible). I even finally went and did the firmware upgrade on my reader, which I had been reluctant to do. And I uninstalled and reinstalled the Connect software several times.

Of course Sony have no e-mail support, and I know from past experience trying telephonic support would just be an exercise in frustration. I guess that is the end of me and Sony Connect then. :-(

NatCh · 05-09-2007, 01:46 PM

We've had some reports recently that the Sony support folks have improved dramatically. You might try them once more. Even if it's just a short-term fluke, you might be able to get inside its window.

corflame · 05-15-2007, 05:33 PM

Let me guess, all those that have succeeded in getting the Connect soft to work under Vista are using the x86 (32bit) version?

I've tried everything that's been mentioned in this forum to get this working under my Vista x64 Ultimate. I've tried the admin install, I've tried the new (and old) version, but so far no go

If anyone has any solution, please share it with us

RWood · 05-15-2007, 06:07 PM

All I can share with you is that Sony has responded to me both through email and via telephone. I have found the support staff responsive and mild mannered. Although my early questions may have seemed dumb to them and they may have already heard the complaint hundreds of times they always seemed to communicate that they understood that this was important to me and therefore it was important to them.

JSWolf · 05-15-2007, 07:02 PM

I've always thought that x64 versions of Windows were not yet ready because too much software won't work with it and this is just another example. Sorry, but that's life. The only thing you can do is upgrade to the x32 version. And yes the x64 version is a downgrade.

Brainiac 5 · 05-16-2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corflame

I've tried everything that's been mentioned in this forum to get this working under my Vista x64 Ultimate. I've tried the admin install, I've tried the new (and old) version, but so far no go

Unfortunately, it looks like the Connect software only includes a 32-bit version of the driver it uses to talk to the reader. (At least, I only see a 32-bit driver when I do an admin install and look through the files.) So, it looks like the current package just won't work on x64 (actually, I think the Connect program will run, but it can't talk to the reader).

Does anyone know who we could contact at Sony to put in our vote for supporting x64? I imagine all they'd need to port is the driver; the rest can stay 32-bit. The driver is only 19K.

Brainiac 5 · 05-16-2007, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've always thought that x64 versions of Windows were not yet ready because too much software won't work with it and this is just another example.

This isn't an example of x64 Windows not being "ready." It's because Sony hasn't supplied a 64-bit driver. There's nothing to fix in Windows to make this work; the only solution is for Sony to write a 64-bit driver.

Quote:

And yes the x64 version is a downgrade.

I wouldn't put it quite that way. It's not that there's something wrong with the OS, it's just that software and hardware vendors, for whatever reason, are not supporting it much.

JSWolf · 05-17-2007, 12:02 AM

So if you don't get support, why bother then? You'll only end up with software you want/need to run that you cannot run. The x64 Windows needs to support 32-bit drivers as well as 64-bit drivers in order to be more compatible with the real world. Yes Sony did not include a 64-bit driver, bit if the x64 Windows supported 32-bit drivers, no problems would have arisen.

Brainiac 5 · 05-17-2007, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So if you don't get support, why bother then? You'll only end up with software you want/need to run that you cannot run.

Different people have different needs. If you want to be able to use more than 4GB of memory, or to run 64-bit applications (there are some), then you'd have to run the x64 version. And it's not a foregone conclusion that you'll have programs that don't run on it - it depends on what you are doing with your computer. I use Windows XP x64 at work, and for work-type stuff I've never run into any programs that wouldn't run. And for home, the Sony Connect software is the only thing I'd like to run that I know won't.

Quote:

The x64 Windows needs to support 32-bit drivers as well as 64-bit drivers in order to be more compatible with the real world.

For technical reasons, that's not really possible.

Quote:

Yes Sony did not include a 64-bit driver, bit if the x64 Windows supported 32-bit drivers, no problems would have arisen.

But since that isn't an option, the only solution is for Sony to supply a 64-bit driver.

I fully understand that if you want broad compatibility and don't need any 64-bit features, the 32-bit OS is the way to go. But the point I'm trying to make is that at least in this case (and in fact most others), the incompatibility isn't due to some deficiency in the 64-bit OS. By its nature, it requires that certain things be 64-bit specific, that's just the way it is. It's not that the 64-bit OS isn't "ready" to run the Connect software; it's that the Connect software isn't ready for the 64-bit OS.

JSWolf · 05-17-2007, 11:58 PM

if you can use the Connect software to connect to the Connect Store and purchase ebooks without a problem, then ask kovidgoyal is libprs500 can be made into a 64-bit version so you can transfer books to and from the Reader. That way you'll be all set and ready to go in a sort of round-a-bout way.

corflame · 05-18-2007, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brainiac 5

Unfortunately, it looks like the Connect software only includes a 32-bit version of the driver it uses to talk to the reader. (At least, I only see a 32-bit driver when I do an admin install and look through the files.) So, it looks like the current package just won't work on x64 (actually, I think the Connect program will run, but it can't talk to the reader).

Does anyone know who we could contact at Sony to put in our vote for supporting x64? I imagine all they'd need to port is the driver; the rest can stay 32-bit. The driver is only 19K.

That's right, the software runs, but doesn't talk to the reader.

Of all the software I use regularly, this is the second along with Cisco VPN client that doesn't "talk" 64bit

05-09-2007, 12:35 AM	#1
geekraver Addict Posts: 364 Karma: 1035291 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Device: iPad Mini,Kindle Paperwhite	Connect Software and Vista Is anyone out there using the connect software successfully with Vista? I find it is totally unusable; the entire left hand panel is missing (see attached screenshot). Attached Thumbnails

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05-09-2007, 03:00 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Are you using Connect 1.1? That should work fine with Vista.

05-09-2007, 04:13 AM	#3
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	I confirm that Connect 1.1 works fine for me here (Vista Business). Link to Connect 1.1 upgrade: http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu...d=2475&SMB=YES

05-09-2007, 07:15 AM	#4
dsyzling Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006 Device: Sony Reader	Vista ultimate working here as well. I think BookDesigner even works (at least my previous reported problems seemed to have cleared). I manged to install in a non "Program Files" location - e.g. c:\utils\book designer and then apply the group "authenticated users" modify permissions to the directories underneath the install which was important for the various temp files it creates. So far so good... Rastafarian has a few issues mind. Darren

05-09-2007, 01:41 PM	#5
geekraver Addict Posts: 364 Karma: 1035291 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Device: iPad Mini,Kindle Paperwhite	Yes, I am using the latest version off the Sony site (the one that is supposedly Vista compatible). I even finally went and did the firmware upgrade on my reader, which I had been reluctant to do. And I uninstalled and reinstalled the Connect software several times. Of course Sony have no e-mail support, and I know from past experience trying telephonic support would just be an exercise in frustration. I guess that is the end of me and Sony Connect then. :-(

05-09-2007, 01:46 PM	#6
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	We've had some reports recently that the Sony support folks have improved dramatically. You might try them once more. Even if it's just a short-term fluke, you might be able to get inside its window.

05-15-2007, 05:33 PM	#7
corflame Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Iceland Device: Sony eBook Reader PRS-500	Let me guess, all those that have succeeded in getting the Connect soft to work under Vista are using the x86 (32bit) version? I've tried everything that's been mentioned in this forum to get this working under my Vista x64 Ultimate. I've tried the admin install, I've tried the new (and old) version, but so far no go If anyone has any solution, please share it with us

05-15-2007, 06:07 PM	#8
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	All I can share with you is that Sony has responded to me both through email and via telephone. I have found the support staff responsive and mild mannered. Although my early questions may have seemed dumb to them and they may have already heard the complaint hundreds of times they always seemed to communicate that they understood that this was important to me and therefore it was important to them.

05-15-2007, 07:02 PM	#9
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,962 Karma: 128903250 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I've always thought that x64 versions of Windows were not yet ready because too much software won't work with it and this is just another example. Sorry, but that's life. The only thing you can do is upgrade to the x32 version. And yes the x64 version is a downgrade.

05-17-2007, 12:02 AM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,962 Karma: 128903250 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	So if you don't get support, why bother then? You'll only end up with software you want/need to run that you cannot run. The x64 Windows needs to support 32-bit drivers as well as 64-bit drivers in order to be more compatible with the real world. Yes Sony did not include a 64-bit driver, bit if the x64 Windows supported 32-bit drivers, no problems would have arisen.

05-17-2007, 11:58 PM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,962 Karma: 128903250 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	if you can use the Connect software to connect to the Connect Store and purchase ebooks without a problem, then ask kovidgoyal is libprs500 can be made into a 64-bit version so you can transfer books to and from the Reader. That way you'll be all set and ready to go in a sort of round-a-bout way.

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