MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - PRS-500 PRS-500 died

tmx · 09-29-2009, 04:14 PM

Hi to everybody, that's my first post here and I'm sad I need to write because of problems I have with my PRS-500.

That's another 'unbricking' problem, however I already tried all solutions I found here and on other forums (in several different languages) and nothing helps... I decided to flash my reader in order to get missing accents in my native language (Polish). Here is what I did and what I tried to do in order to bring my PRS back into live.

1) Tried to flash my reader with Igorsk's universal SD flasher:
Flasher started, but couldn't complete as my reader used to have newer version of software applied (1.0.03.07170). Yes, I know it was designed for v1.0.02.01300 but I couldn't find a 'downgrader' to get back to previous firmware.

I got the main menu back and pressed 7 (switch to firmware update mode). After that reader started to reboot and ended up with allmighty message:

"Firmware update is not finished correctly. Please execute firmware update again."

That's it, reader stuck. After that I tried to use all kinds of rescue missions, but so far didn't get anythign positive:

1) Tried to get the flasher again, not succed as reader doesn't seem to see the SD card.

2) Back to factory settings shortcut: MARK + VOL+, nothing.

2) Tried to launch original Sony updater but got same problems as some other users -- application doesn't see my PRS-500 connected and the OK/START button is greyed out. I changed USB cables, I tried to launch it in several different ways (first reader, first launch application then reader, first launch, then connect with a cable) but always the same behaviour.

I also tried the method with changing the updater version from 170 to 171 in text file, but that didn't change anything.

I tried to launch Sony updater from the ZIP archive, from separarte folder, sooner, later -- didn't help.

3) Tried to reset: soft and hard, exactly as described here.

4) Tried to unbrick as described here.

5) Tried the Ten-Times reset method, nothing.

My reader seems to work fine: by charging I do have a red led (yes, I charged it for longer time), after resetting it keeps starting up (Starting Up... message appears and yellow led blinks), but it always stops on the message with 'Firmware update is not finished correctly'. I also get 'Updating firmware now...' message whenever I connect my reader to the PC with USB cable (tried several different cables). If I could only make it visible for the Sony updater or for Igorsk magic tool on my SD card (I use 2GB SD card which was previously visible). I still didn't try to change anything from Igorsk files, eg. by renaming main.xml to applicationstart.xml but I'm not sure it would change anything if his software is not loaded.

What could be the next step? Throwing the reader away? Ask Sony for help? (no warranty anymore), try to give it back for 100$ and get something newer (does the program still exist?). Please help.

Thanks!

09-29-2009, 04:14 PM	#1
tmx Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-500	PRS-500 died Hi to everybody, that's my first post here and I'm sad I need to write because of problems I have with my PRS-500. That's another 'unbricking' problem, however I already tried all solutions I found here and on other forums (in several different languages) and nothing helps... I decided to flash my reader in order to get missing accents in my native language (Polish). Here is what I did and what I tried to do in order to bring my PRS back into live. 1) Tried to flash my reader with Igorsk's universal SD flasher: Flasher started, but couldn't complete as my reader used to have newer version of software applied (1.0.03.07170). Yes, I know it was designed for v1.0.02.01300 but I couldn't find a 'downgrader' to get back to previous firmware. I got the main menu back and pressed 7 (switch to firmware update mode). After that reader started to reboot and ended up with allmighty message: "Firmware update is not finished correctly. Please execute firmware update again." That's it, reader stuck. After that I tried to use all kinds of rescue missions, but so far didn't get anythign positive: 1) Tried to get the flasher again, not succed as reader doesn't seem to see the SD card. 2) Back to factory settings shortcut: MARK + VOL+, nothing. 2) Tried to launch original Sony updater but got same problems as some other users -- application doesn't see my PRS-500 connected and the OK/START button is greyed out. I changed USB cables, I tried to launch it in several different ways (first reader, first launch application then reader, first launch, then connect with a cable) but always the same behaviour. I also tried the method with changing the updater version from 170 to 171 in text file, but that didn't change anything. I tried to launch Sony updater from the ZIP archive, from separarte folder, sooner, later -- didn't help. 3) Tried to reset: soft and hard, exactly as described here. 4) Tried to unbrick as described here. 5) Tried the Ten-Times reset method, nothing. My reader seems to work fine: by charging I do have a red led (yes, I charged it for longer time), after resetting it keeps starting up (Starting Up... message appears and yellow led blinks), but it always stops on the message with 'Firmware update is not finished correctly'. I also get 'Updating firmware now...' message whenever I connect my reader to the PC with USB cable (tried several different cables). If I could only make it visible for the Sony updater or for Igorsk magic tool on my SD card (I use 2GB SD card which was previously visible). I still didn't try to change anything from Igorsk files, eg. by renaming main.xml to applicationstart.xml but I'm not sure it would change anything if his software is not loaded. What could be the next step? Throwing the reader away? Ask Sony for help? (no warranty anymore), try to give it back for 100$ and get something newer (does the program still exist?). Please help. Thanks! Last edited by tmx; 09-30-2009 at 03:05 AM.