Update firmware with a Mac?

jaybee · 08-27-2007, 01:27 AM

I just got my new Sony Reader! And yes, I'm a Mac user. I'm having no trouble loading books using the Docudesk browser, but I want to know if it's possible to install the new firmware upgrade from my Mac. Can someone tell me if this will work, and if there are any special tricks required.

Thanks,
Jaybee

HarryT · 08-27-2007, 02:33 AM

The only "safe" way to do it is with Bootcamp.

Don't take the risk. Find a PC (I assume you have friends with PCs) and run the firmware updater from the PC. You run the risk of leaving your Reader "half-flashed" and unbootable if you do anything else.

beartard · 08-27-2007, 05:13 AM

Voice of experience here. Don't try to do the update under a virtual environment (vmware, parallels, qemu, etc.) either.

After I destroyed my reader less than two days after purchase trying to update that way, I got a replacement and asked the Sony store people to flash the new firmware for me. This is *definitely* something to ask a friend for two minutes' computer borrowing time.

CLB_in_MD · 08-27-2007, 05:29 AM

First time poster here. Greetings all!!

As others have stated, if you use Bootcamp then you should be OK. However, if there is a way to perform the firmware upgrade through Parallels then I haven't found it yet. I've managed to blow up two PRS-500 units trying.

I will be taking the 2nd one over to a friend's XP machine in the morning to upgrade it there.

canicula · 08-27-2007, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLB_in_MD

However, if there is a way to perform the firmware upgrade through Parallels then I haven't found it yet. I've managed to blow up two PRS-500 units trying.

I updated mine using a Parallels hosted Vista VM on a MacBook Pro. It just worked. Of course, YMMY. I'm not responsible if anyone else's goes pear shaped!

Ian

CLB_in_MD · 08-27-2007, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canicula

I updated mine using a Parallels hosted Vista VM on a MacBook Pro. It just worked. Of course, YMMY. I'm not responsible if anyone else's goes pear shaped!

Ian

Glad to hear it! Vista may have made the difference. I'm running XP SP2 in my Parallels VM box.

beartard · 08-27-2007, 03:20 PM

That's what I had (XP SP 2). I'm not about to shell out money for Vista in order to be able to upgrade my reader ;-)

ndrake · 08-31-2007, 11:01 AM

I had issues trying to update using Windows XP via VMWare Fusion. Using boot camp worked ok for me.

StDo · 09-01-2007, 02:27 AM

I updated my Reader using a Parallels hosted Win XP SP2 - no problems at all. Reader still working.

adinb · 09-21-2007, 01:39 AM

Ditto, no problems updating firmware (XPSP2) here, though it was with an older version of parallels.

beartard · 09-21-2007, 02:32 AM

And you were both lucky.

adinb · 09-21-2007, 05:10 PM

not too lucky. My reader is going back to Sony for the third time (unrelated to the firmware-- first time was a screen issue, second time was b/c they set my device ID to 0, third time b/c they didn't fix the device ID).

beartard · 09-21-2007, 06:38 PM

I'm sorry to hear it, man. I bricked mine within the first three days of ownership trying to update the firmware using XPSP1 (only thing I had an install disc for...collecting dust in the bottom of a drawer somewhere) under QEMU. It's true what they say: it's like playing russsian roulette. The host system and the virtual system share the USB connection and if the host system goes "you still there?" to the reader while the firmware is updating, the whole thing gets screwed up and you're left with an expensive doorstop.

Sony is notorious for poor, slow, and expensive repair and replacement. I've gone through shortwave radios with them in the past and had no joy. I hope your experience is better.

08-27-2007, 01:27 AM	#1
jaybee Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 28 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Jackson, TN Device: iPad Touch PRS-500	Update firmware with a Mac? I just got my new Sony Reader! And yes, I'm a Mac user. I'm having no trouble loading books using the Docudesk browser, but I want to know if it's possible to install the new firmware upgrade from my Mac. Can someone tell me if this will work, and if there are any special tricks required. Thanks, Jaybee

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08-27-2007, 02:33 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	The only "safe" way to do it is with Bootcamp. Don't take the risk. Find a PC (I assume you have friends with PCs) and run the firmware updater from the PC. You run the risk of leaving your Reader "half-flashed" and unbootable if you do anything else.

08-27-2007, 05:13 AM	#3
beartard Minister of Linux Posts: 196 Karma: 73235 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Winter Haven, Florida, USA Device: nook, T-Mobile MyTouch 3G Slide	Voice of experience here. Don't try to do the update under a virtual environment (vmware, parallels, qemu, etc.) either. After I destroyed my reader less than two days after purchase trying to update that way, I got a replacement and asked the Sony store people to flash the new firmware for me. This is definitely something to ask a friend for two minutes' computer borrowing time.

08-27-2007, 05:29 AM	#4
CLB_in_MD Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: PRS-500	First time poster here. Greetings all!! As others have stated, if you use Bootcamp then you should be OK. However, if there is a way to perform the firmware upgrade through Parallels then I haven't found it yet. I've managed to blow up two PRS-500 units trying. I will be taking the 2nd one over to a friend's XP machine in the morning to upgrade it there.

08-27-2007, 03:20 PM	#7
beartard Minister of Linux Posts: 196 Karma: 73235 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Winter Haven, Florida, USA Device: nook, T-Mobile MyTouch 3G Slide	That's what I had (XP SP 2). I'm not about to shell out money for Vista in order to be able to upgrade my reader ;-)

08-31-2007, 11:01 AM	#8
ndrake Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: PRS500	I had issues trying to update using Windows XP via VMWare Fusion. Using boot camp worked ok for me.

09-01-2007, 02:27 AM	#9
StDo Translating Calibre... Posts: 657 Karma: 2902 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ER.de Device: [PRS-500], PB360	I updated my Reader using a Parallels hosted Win XP SP2 - no problems at all. Reader still working.

09-21-2007, 01:39 AM	#10
adinb RSS &amp; Gadget Addict! Posts: 82 Karma: 67 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Albuquerque, NM Device: Sony PRS-500, iPod Touch, iPhone	Ditto, no problems updating firmware (XPSP2) here, though it was with an older version of parallels.

09-21-2007, 02:32 AM	#11
beartard Minister of Linux Posts: 196 Karma: 73235 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Winter Haven, Florida, USA Device: nook, T-Mobile MyTouch 3G Slide	And you were both lucky.

09-21-2007, 05:10 PM	#12
adinb RSS &amp; Gadget Addict! Posts: 82 Karma: 67 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Albuquerque, NM Device: Sony PRS-500, iPod Touch, iPhone	not too lucky. My reader is going back to Sony for the third time (unrelated to the firmware-- first time was a screen issue, second time was b/c they set my device ID to 0, third time b/c they didn't fix the device ID).

09-21-2007, 06:38 PM	#13
beartard Minister of Linux Posts: 196 Karma: 73235 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Winter Haven, Florida, USA Device: nook, T-Mobile MyTouch 3G Slide	I'm sorry to hear it, man. I bricked mine within the first three days of ownership trying to update the firmware using XPSP1 (only thing I had an install disc for...collecting dust in the bottom of a drawer somewhere) under QEMU. It's true what they say: it's like playing russsian roulette. The host system and the virtual system share the USB connection and if the host system goes "you still there?" to the reader while the firmware is updating, the whole thing gets screwed up and you're left with an expensive doorstop. Sony is notorious for poor, slow, and expensive repair and replacement. I've gone through shortwave radios with them in the past and had no joy. I hope your experience is better.