[eeprom]

Thanks for your prompt replies!

@PeterT - the device is NOT recognized as a removable disk on any of my computers, but when I remove the internal microSD and put it into my card reader, Finder shows a mounted partition called "KOBOeReader" and then disk utility shows two other linux partitions, which seems normal. I have a hunch that I need to somehow manually update the firmware on the internal microSD to make it work, any thoughts on that?

@GeoffR - I haven't been able to activate/setup the device at all, the Kobo desktop software won't acknowledge that it is connected. The reader itself just says "Please set up your eReader". Also I am unable to connect via wifi, my wireless network doesn't show up even though I am definitely in range of my router (I think this is because the wireless adapter is disabled until the device is activated through the desktop software perhaps?).

Is there anything I can do with the internal microSD card that might get this thing working? I made a backup disk image for it just in case. I was thinking sideloading a newer firmware might help but I don't really know how I'd go about doing that.

EDIT: Also, yes I have factory reset the device twice now from the menu system.

ALSO I wish I could activate the device without the desktop software, but I'm guessing that's only possible with a newer firmware, which I can't get yet! Catch 22...