Stuck with a blank screen.

WinterRampage · 07-01-2012, 03:12 PM

Hey guys,

Yesterday I shutted down the reader (full shutdown) and haven't been able to start it ever since. The battery was full at the time. Currently, when I try to power it on, the led blinks orange continuously ( it lasts for a variable amount of time; a couple of minutes usualy and then stops ). I almost sure that it's fully charged since when I try to charge it (using a wall plug), the red light lasts 1-2 minutes then stops. If I keep pluging it the red light time becomes shorter unitl it doesn't appear at all. Also it was fully charged when I shutted it up. (Also if it's off any help, sometimes the orange light flashes during the contiunous red light)

In the last weeks I had problems with it discharging to fast. I fixed it removing all the books, but after that I added some of them back. Eventhough it didn't had any discharge problems, this is the first time I shutted it down, so a corrupt book is a possibility .

Taking all of this into account, I'm almost sure it's a software problem. From what i've heard (i may be wrong here), the orange light indicates some processing going on. Thus, the reader may be stuck trying to load or process something.

The big problem is that i can't do a hard reset (since I can't get to the opening book screen), or a sd recovery (same reason). Pressing the restart button doesn't help (just causes the orange light to start flashing when it's not). Also, I can't acces the files on my computer since it requires it actually running (tried both on Windows and on Linux). The PC simply doesn't recive any signal ( the /var/log/messages file on linux doesn't detect any event when connecting or disconnecting).

Do you guys have any other ideas of what I can try, or what the problem is?

Thank you.

DuskyRose · 07-01-2012, 03:31 PM

How long are you letting it charge from the wall plug? If it's completely out, I'd say give it a good four hours, if not overnight.

WinterRampage · 07-01-2012, 03:34 PM

I did charge it overnight last night. Still no use. After some time, the red light stops and only the orange pulse (or nothing) remains. Also it was wall-pluged for most of today.

DuskyRose · 07-01-2012, 04:03 PM

I wish you luck, but don't have any real ideas that could help.

bla · 07-01-2012, 04:22 PM

Do you have an sd card installed? if so take it out and try resetting it again... a bad sd card can cause the problems you describe and clean the screen I had a dirty screen cause problems... good luck...

WinterRampage · 07-01-2012, 04:39 PM

No, I didn't had any SD card inserted. As for the dirty screen, i doubt it could cause this problem, but i'll clean it anyways.

carpetmojo · 07-01-2012, 06:45 PM

Sounds like a duff battery - contact Sony Support - is it still in Warranty ?

Otherwise, somewhere on the Fotum is a source of batteries for Sonys, also, I think, info on where there's a how-to video.

WinterRampage · 07-02-2012, 04:02 AM

Looks like there may be a hardware problem afterall. This morning, the reader was completley discharged, as the led flashed three times red. This was to be expected since it flashed orange all night (at least a couple of hours then i went to sleep). If this indicates a process, full discharge is normal.

Anyway, I pluged it in my computer and the red light only lasted a couple of minutes, after that being replaced by the orange flashing. Maybe the battery doesn't charge afterall. I don't think it's the case, but could it have something to do with the USB cable am using? (the small one which comes with Nokia phones).

Thanks for the support guys!

peitsao · 07-02-2012, 07:56 AM

I have noticed that every charger has a tiny bit of difference even though they are supposed to be the same. Why not try the charger that came with the T1 and remove the cover in case it is the problem?

bla · 07-02-2012, 11:41 AM

that is Weird... the only time I see the orange led is when I insert the sd card the orange led indicates loading/reading the sd card I can only suggest you keep on charging and resetting sometimes it will fix itself... try a hard reset when really desperate... let us know how you make out

WinterRampage · 07-02-2012, 12:15 PM

I'll try charging with the provided cable as soon as i'll get home, which is tomorrow afternoon. I don't know if removing the case (for making sure that the battery is fit?) would void the warranty.

As for the hard reset, that's not possible since it doesn't even start. From what i know, it must reach the "Opening book" loading screen in order to do it.

Now the bad news. I can't find neither the receipt nor the warranty card (the one issued from the store I bought it from, not the card inside the box from Sony, which is unpersonalized). I asked them if the serial is written on the small sticker with 7 digits on the lower left back corner, but they said it's on the warranty card. I believe the Serial Number should be written somewhere on or inside the reader. Anyone knows where? Also, if it's inside, would removing the case void the warranty?

Edit: It's possible that I'm misinterpreting the email I received. It literally says (translation): "Also, the product's SN is on the warranty certificate, which proves from where (as in from which shop) you've bought the product". I'm not sure whether this means that the sticker doesn't list the SN or if they need the warranty certificate because they don't have the SN in a database.

Edit2: Just in case I don't manage to make them fix it: is it possible to have it repaired at a Sony Center for a fee?

WinterRampage · 07-02-2012, 06:13 PM

I just tried the Sony Tech Support, yet they didn't managed to find a solution (in the end they said it has to be the battery). I'm quite curious whether a corrupt book could cause this. Common sense indicates that it should at least try to load the OS (and show some prompt on the screen) before tempering with the user files.

Shopaholic · 07-04-2012, 10:51 PM

You opened the reader??? Yes I do believe that does void the warranty.

I never know how to explain this properly so forgive me if I don't but try using a dedicated AC charger that has a Micro USB plug not one of those iPod type chargers where you plug a USB cable into something that plugs into the wall.

Something like this Micro USB Wall Charger

WinterRampage · 07-05-2012, 06:18 AM

Well, I haven't opened the reader. I was just curious if you can do that without voiding the warranty.

Even though I used to charge it with a Nokia cable, and a cheap third party USB wall charger (which, if I remember correctly, came in a 3rd party Apple charging kit which I bought for my iPod), yesterday I tried that with a proper USB cable and wall plug (also with the PC) and nothing happens. I'm almost sure the way I charge it is not the problem, since the red light appears for some time, then stops.

Since I haven't been able to find the warranty, and the shop from which I bought it wouldn't help me without it, I think I'l go to a Sony Service Center and have it repaired for a fee.

carpetmojo · 07-06-2012, 06:06 AM

Any cable with the right plug will work OK, any charger with the same spec as a Sony one will work OK, a PowerMonkey will charge it OK.
Oh, and the PC/USB will to - only don't leave it charging on PC overnight, can lead to battery draining on rare ocassions.

AND, v. important, and may be relevant ?

NEVER use anything Apple-y on it, as they do not like each other very much, and has led to great unhappiness on the Sony .

07-01-2012, 03:12 PM	#1
WinterRampage Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T1	Stuck with a blank screen. Hey guys, Yesterday I shutted down the reader (full shutdown) and haven't been able to start it ever since. The battery was full at the time. Currently, when I try to power it on, the led blinks orange continuously ( it lasts for a variable amount of time; a couple of minutes usualy and then stops ). I almost sure that it's fully charged since when I try to charge it (using a wall plug), the red light lasts 1-2 minutes then stops. If I keep pluging it the red light time becomes shorter unitl it doesn't appear at all. Also it was fully charged when I shutted it up. (Also if it's off any help, sometimes the orange light flashes during the contiunous red light) In the last weeks I had problems with it discharging to fast. I fixed it removing all the books, but after that I added some of them back. Eventhough it didn't had any discharge problems, this is the first time I shutted it down, so a corrupt book is a possibility . Taking all of this into account, I'm almost sure it's a software problem. From what i've heard (i may be wrong here), the orange light indicates some processing going on. Thus, the reader may be stuck trying to load or process something. The big problem is that i can't do a hard reset (since I can't get to the opening book screen), or a sd recovery (same reason). Pressing the restart button doesn't help (just causes the orange light to start flashing when it's not). Also, I can't acces the files on my computer since it requires it actually running (tried both on Windows and on Linux). The PC simply doesn't recive any signal ( the /var/log/messages file on linux doesn't detect any event when connecting or disconnecting). Do you guys have any other ideas of what I can try, or what the problem is? Thank you.

07-02-2012, 12:15 PM	#11
WinterRampage Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T1	I'll try charging with the provided cable as soon as i'll get home, which is tomorrow afternoon. I don't know if removing the case (for making sure that the battery is fit?) would void the warranty. As for the hard reset, that's not possible since it doesn't even start. From what i know, it must reach the "Opening book" loading screen in order to do it. Now the bad news. I can't find neither the receipt nor the warranty card (the one issued from the store I bought it from, not the card inside the box from Sony, which is unpersonalized). I asked them if the serial is written on the small sticker with 7 digits on the lower left back corner, but they said it's on the warranty card. I believe the Serial Number should be written somewhere on or inside the reader. Anyone knows where? Also, if it's inside, would removing the case void the warranty? Edit: It's possible that I'm misinterpreting the email I received. It literally says (translation): "Also, the product's SN is on the warranty certificate, which proves from where (as in from which shop) you've bought the product". I'm not sure whether this means that the sticker doesn't list the SN or if they need the warranty certificate because they don't have the SN in a database. Edit2: Just in case I don't manage to make them fix it: is it possible to have it repaired at a Sony Center for a fee? Last edited by WinterRampage; 07-02-2012 at 12:30 PM.

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07-01-2012, 03:31 PM	#2
DuskyRose Guru Posts: 726 Karma: 9209502 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Virginia Device: Boox Palma, Kdle Scribe & Paperwhite, Kobo Eclipsa 2e & Libra 2, Ipads	How long are you letting it charge from the wall plug? If it's completely out, I'd say give it a good four hours, if not overnight.

07-01-2012, 03:34 PM	#3
WinterRampage Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T1	I did charge it overnight last night. Still no use. After some time, the red light stops and only the orange pulse (or nothing) remains. Also it was wall-pluged for most of today.

07-01-2012, 04:03 PM	#4
DuskyRose Guru Posts: 726 Karma: 9209502 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Virginia Device: Boox Palma, Kdle Scribe & Paperwhite, Kobo Eclipsa 2e & Libra 2, Ipads	I wish you luck, but don't have any real ideas that could help.

07-01-2012, 04:22 PM	#5
bla E bookworm Posts: 358 Karma: 2013666 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Sony PRS T1,Android Tablet, I phone	Do you have an sd card installed? if so take it out and try resetting it again... a bad sd card can cause the problems you describe and clean the screen I had a dirty screen cause problems... good luck...

07-01-2012, 04:39 PM	#6
WinterRampage Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T1	No, I didn't had any SD card inserted. As for the dirty screen, i doubt it could cause this problem, but i'll clean it anyways.

07-01-2012, 06:45 PM	#7
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Sounds like a duff battery - contact Sony Support - is it still in Warranty ? Otherwise, somewhere on the Fotum is a source of batteries for Sonys, also, I think, info on where there's a how-to video.

07-02-2012, 04:02 AM	#8
WinterRampage Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T1	Looks like there may be a hardware problem afterall. This morning, the reader was completley discharged, as the led flashed three times red. This was to be expected since it flashed orange all night (at least a couple of hours then i went to sleep). If this indicates a process, full discharge is normal. Anyway, I pluged it in my computer and the red light only lasted a couple of minutes, after that being replaced by the orange flashing. Maybe the battery doesn't charge afterall. I don't think it's the case, but could it have something to do with the USB cable am using? (the small one which comes with Nokia phones). Thanks for the support guys!

07-02-2012, 07:56 AM	#9
peitsao Addict Posts: 211 Karma: 32760 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Allegheny Mountains Device: Kobo mini, PW3,NookST	I have noticed that every charger has a tiny bit of difference even though they are supposed to be the same. Why not try the charger that came with the T1 and remove the cover in case it is the problem?

07-02-2012, 11:41 AM	#10
bla E bookworm Posts: 358 Karma: 2013666 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Sony PRS T1,Android Tablet, I phone	that is Weird... the only time I see the orange led is when I insert the sd card the orange led indicates loading/reading the sd card I can only suggest you keep on charging and resetting sometimes it will fix itself... try a hard reset when really desperate... let us know how you make out

07-02-2012, 06:13 PM	#12
WinterRampage Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T1	I just tried the Sony Tech Support, yet they didn't managed to find a solution (in the end they said it has to be the battery). I'm quite curious whether a corrupt book could cause this. Common sense indicates that it should at least try to load the OS (and show some prompt on the screen) before tempering with the user files.

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07-04-2012, 10:51 PM	#13
Shopaholic Cockatoo Mom! Posts: 1,509 Karma: 1812695 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: PW4, Kobo: A1, Clara, Libra 2, iPad Pro 11, iPad Mini	You opened the reader??? Yes I do believe that does void the warranty. I never know how to explain this properly so forgive me if I don't but try using a dedicated AC charger that has a Micro USB plug not one of those iPod type chargers where you plug a USB cable into something that plugs into the wall. Something like this Micro USB Wall Charger

07-05-2012, 06:18 AM	#14
WinterRampage Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Sony Reader PRS-T1	Well, I haven't opened the reader. I was just curious if you can do that without voiding the warranty. Even though I used to charge it with a Nokia cable, and a cheap third party USB wall charger (which, if I remember correctly, came in a 3rd party Apple charging kit which I bought for my iPod), yesterday I tried that with a proper USB cable and wall plug (also with the PC) and nothing happens. I'm almost sure the way I charge it is not the problem, since the red light appears for some time, then stops. Since I haven't been able to find the warranty, and the shop from which I bought it wouldn't help me without it, I think I'l go to a Sony Service Center and have it repaired for a fee.

07-06-2012, 06:06 AM	#15
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Any cable with the right plug will work OK, any charger with the same spec as a Sony one will work OK, a PowerMonkey will charge it OK. Oh, and the PC/USB will to - only don't leave it charging on PC overnight, can lead to battery draining on rare ocassions. AND, v. important, and may be relevant ? NEVER use anything Apple-y on it, as they do not like each other very much, and has led to great unhappiness on the Sony .