HELP! PRS-T1 Opening book loop...

[njosnari]

So my PRS-T1 sat unused for quite awhile and I recently dug it out. Battery was flat dead, and when I recharged it, things were fine. Like an idiot, i decided to check if any updates were available and installed. About a week later, I'm stuck in this opening book loop, where the status bar doesn't move, and then the screen flashes white, just to land on the same page, and repeats over and over. I thought that maybe the battery was borked, so I've installed and charged a fresh one, and still the same. I've tried to follow up on restore/rescue options, but I'm rather confused. The latest rescue SD seems to be for 1.0.04, and thats not even available anymore... I've downloaded an image of a clean 1.0.07 install, but I have no clue what to do with it..

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can try to bring this thing back to life?

[DoctorM]

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...72#post3477672

More details if you need it with working links to software used: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...9&postcount=10

[njosnari]

Hi DoctorM
I'm trying to follow the instructions here, and I've done these steps:
Download Porkupan's SD rescue package for 1.01/1.02/1.03 firmware or uboot's SD rescue package for 1.04 firmware. Copy the folder "OS Firmware" to the root directory of your micro SD card and insert the card into the reader.
Press and hold HOME and MENU before pressing POWER on the Reader and keep HOME and MENU pressed (this is crucial!)
Wait until the progress bar in the “Opening book" page has reached the right side (about 20 seconds). The message will change to “Updating”. Release buttons. From now on there should be no more visible activity except for the constant blinking of the orange light (within the power button).

However, once the progress bar fills up, nothing happens. The loop resumes as it did before.

[DoctorM]

I'm guessing you tried resetting with a paperclip.
The only other thing I can think of that I've done in the past is modify the Sony flasher utility by changing the version number to a lower number, flashing the Reader and bricking it to stop the reboot loop.
I wouldn't recommend intentionally doing that though.

[njosnari]

Yes, the only way to do the shut down is to hold reset + power for a few seconds... So there is no way out of this loop?

[njosnari]

What is the sony flasher utility? Would I be able to use that? I can't even connect my PRS-t1 to my computer with usb.

[DoctorM]

Originally Posted by njosnari

Yes, the only way to do the shut down is to hold reset + power for a few seconds... So there is no way out of this loop?

Are you saying you can shutdown, but starting it up again with HOME and MENU doesn't start a firmware flash?

[njosnari]

By "shut down", I press reset and power for a few seconds, and the opening book loop stops refreshing. When I press HOME and MENU, either after "shutting down" or when the loop refreshes itself, the progress bar will fill all the way up, but it will never change to "updating"

[JSWolf]

Looks like it's time for a new Reader. Having used a T1, I moved to Kobo with a larger screen and I'm glad I did. If you do decide to get a new Reader, I highly recommend the 7" Kobo Libra H2O. It will so make your reading experience much better.

[DoctorM]

Yeah. I gotta agree with JSWolf. If you can shutdown and restart with Home+Menu and it won't update from the SDCard, I think it's done.

[njosnari]

Aaaaah boo...

No other recovery files to try?
Pity, as the reader seems fine otherwise... What a waste.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by njosnari

Aaaaah boo...

No other recovery files to try?
Pity, as the reader seems fine otherwise... What a waste.

How is it a waste if it's broken? You could sell it on eBay for parts. If the battery is good enough and then there is the screen.

But to be honest, if you were to get a Kobo Libra H2O, I think you would like it much better then the T1.7" screen, better contrast, better firmware, faster, better resolution, newer version of RMSDK (ADE), front light with comfortlight (to cut down the blue from the front light), and other things that make it a lot better then the T1. I still have a T1, but I've never used it since I got my Kobo Aura H2O. My mother used a T1 and if she had not died when she did, I was going ot get her a Kobo to upgrade her T1.

[4691mls]

There's plenty of discussion of the good and bad of the Libra (and other Kobo models) in the Kobo section of the forum if you want to know more.

There are also some people around here who have bought used Sonys cheap from various sources - if you really like Sony you can probably find one in working order.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

There's plenty of discussion of the good and bad of the Libra (and other Kobo models) in the Kobo section of the forum if you want to know more.

There are also some people around here who have bought used Sonys cheap from various sources - if you really like Sony you can probably find one in working order.

The problem with Sony Readers is they really bog down with high-res mages (such as the cover and the title page). They don't have the memory and/or the processor to properly hand;e them and if there are too many high-res images, there could be a lockup or a crash. Plus there is no front light and even if you have a light cover, you do notice when the battery is getting weak. Plus the light is not nearly as even as a front light. And if reading in bed with someone else trying to sleep, a front light is less obtrusive.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The problem with Sony Readers is they really bog down with high-res mages (such as the cover and the title page). They don't have the memory and/or the processor to properly hand;e them and if there are too many high-res images, there could be a lockup or a crash. Plus there is no front light and even if you have a light cover, you do notice when the battery is getting weak. Plus the light is not nearly as even as a front light. And if reading in bed with someone else trying to sleep, a front light is less obtrusive.

I'm sure the OP knows there are more modern readers available. I did, after all, refer him/her to the Kobo forum if they want more info on the Libra or other Kobo readers.

I was just pointing out that used Sonys may be available in case he/she likes Sony and doesn't care about some of the things you mentioned (maybe he/she doesn't read books with a lot of images, or doesn't care about having a light).

The only reason I quit using my Sony reader earlier this year was that it lost the ability to get library books directly due to Overdrive changes. Otherwise my T3 with the lighted cover was working just fine for my purposes. It almost never locked up.