Prs 505 Locked up.

scotteggshell · 03-08-2008, 02:34 PM

Hi I have a sick 505.
It is about 4 mos old.
Recently it has been "locking up " during reading, requiring a reset (pinhole). This was happening approx every 200 - 300 pages (estimated)
The last couple days the problem has accelerated so I couldn"t read 10 pages without a reset.
I tried removing SD card. NoJoy
I tried Formatting internal memory.NoJoy
As a last ditch I attempted the Russify hack to try to replace the O/S etc.
The flash seemed to work until the reboot , when it rebooted a dozen or so times then displayed " Firmware Upgrade did not complete succesfully , please try again"
When I attach USB, the message changes to: Updating firmware Now.
The connect software simply says "Error"
The mass storage drive displays one file "Protected !!" and the drive only appears to be 44kb in size. Other drives not displayed.

I know there are some very clever, experienced people on this forum...

Please Help

Thanx
Scott

Ervserver · 03-08-2008, 05:27 PM

I've had a specific book do this to me, I deleted it and went on to other books. All ok now

scotteggshell · 03-09-2008, 03:39 PM

I now believe that is is a hardware problem I have.

I disassembled the unit last night disconnected the battery and left overnight.

This AM i did some more tests and sometimes the unit comes up with the firmware fail screen, and sometimes locks up on the logo screen. Sometimes the status light flashes continuously, sometimes it stays on, sometimes it flashes once then goes out. Seemingly random behavior.

I was able to try the 10X reset script posted here with no luck.

I think, due to the nature of the problem before I started playing the firmware and the nature of the symptoms displayed after , that my issue is hardware as opposed to firmware / software.

If anyone else believes otherwise , please fill me in.

Now I have to decide whether to throw the xtra bucks for an iLiad, or get another Sony, seeing as I have a spare battery, display and housing now.

Thanx
scott

JSWolf · 03-09-2008, 03:51 PM

Scott, are you in the USA? What it sounds like it that you may need just a firmware reinstall. Seeing as it is still under warranty, I'd call Sony and tell them it's broke. But do not tell them you tried to hack it. That was a bad idea anyway given it's symptoms. That doesn't put in a new firmware. It just changes settings.

Support like this is so much easier if your location in your profile was filled in. This goes for everyone reading this with location not filled in.

scotteggshell · 03-09-2008, 05:58 PM

Thanx Jon, unfortunately I do not reside in the USA.
I dont even know if the new firmware is going to work as it doesnt connect properly with the CONNECT software. Also the variety of symptoms before and after the hack attempt gives me reason to think hardware could be the issue.
As of 5:00 today I cnt even get the thing to attempt a reboot. It rebooted any number of times this AM.

Thanx for you help Jon

Scott

igorsk · 03-10-2008, 08:16 AM

Your unit is now in firmware update mode, you can put it back in "normal" mode with a firmware updater (when one is out).
Since you disassembled the unit, you can try accessing the console and switching it back into "normal mode".
http://www.msh-tools.com/ebook/internals505.html

scotteggshell · 03-10-2008, 11:23 AM

Thanx Igork:

I see by the drawings the TX and RX, and ground. I assume I can terminal in with anything (hyerterminal, procomm) What are the Baud, Parity etc settings ?And assuming I get in, what are the command(s) to change mode ? Is ther a Root password etc ?
I would like to give it a try, but the translation for the Russian site thru google is iffy.

Thanx for taking the time to help me out

Scott

igorsk · 03-10-2008, 12:44 PM

You will need a TTL-RS232 or TTL-USB converter as I described on my blog for Kindle. Simplest way is a mobile phone cable. Serial settings are 115200,8n1, no flow control. Root login has no password. To switch to the "normal" mode use the command "/usr/local/sony/bin/nblconfig -ksel normal".

scotteggshell · 03-10-2008, 05:05 PM

Thanx Igorsk, I thought I had a Max232 IC handy but I dont, so I'll have to hunt a bit. I live on an Island and things like that are hard to come by (I'm going to see if I canb cannabilize an old sec panel for one). I appreciate your help and will update when I get comms.

Thanx again
scott

scotteggshell · 03-15-2008, 01:46 PM

Ping IGORSK

OK I got in to the OS and ran the command
nblconfig -ksel normal

I got message saying read addy. 0x.....
Write Addy. 0x..

then back to the prompt.
I did a restart. The unit restarted 10 or so times. Idiot I am I did not have capture on the session.... Now the unit is locked at the start screen.
The error I did see flash by was ILLEGAL SEEK

The unit is currently locked , but it seems to come unlocked after being on USB for a time. If I can get in again I will capture the session.

Thanx
Scott

scotteggshell · 03-15-2008, 01:50 PM

Ping IGORSK again

This seems to be the hangup....

Sending all processes the TERM signal... disconnect

done.
Sending all processes the KILL signal... done.
latest nblconfig read from 0x00027800
latest nblconfig written to 0x00028000
Unmounting remote filesystems... done.
Deactivating swap... done.
Unmounting local filesystems... umount2: Device or resource busy
umount: tmpfs: not found
umount: /etc: Illegal seek
done.

Any Ideas ??

Scott

scotteggshell · 03-15-2008, 01:51 PM

Sorry, the next line after ¨DONE¨ is:

Rebooting... Restarting system.

scotteggshell · 03-15-2008, 02:12 PM

Hi Igorsk:

Here is the capture of a whole (last few reboots are truncated) session. But you will see my commands (my lack of Linux evident) and my reboot (didnt capture the reboot command for some reason) at the top. The rest of the text is the system´´s output.

Thanx again

Scott

JSWolf · 03-24-2008, 06:27 AM

BUMP!

03-08-2008, 02:34 PM	#1
scotteggshell Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cayman Islands Device: SONY READER 505	Prs 505 Locked up. Hi I have a sick 505. It is about 4 mos old. Recently it has been "locking up " during reading, requiring a reset (pinhole). This was happening approx every 200 - 300 pages (estimated) The last couple days the problem has accelerated so I couldn"t read 10 pages without a reset. I tried removing SD card. NoJoy I tried Formatting internal memory.NoJoy As a last ditch I attempted the Russify hack to try to replace the O/S etc. The flash seemed to work until the reboot , when it rebooted a dozen or so times then displayed " Firmware Upgrade did not complete succesfully , please try again" When I attach USB, the message changes to: Updating firmware Now. The connect software simply says "Error" The mass storage drive displays one file "Protected !!" and the drive only appears to be 44kb in size. Other drives not displayed. I know there are some very clever, experienced people on this forum... Please Help Thanx Scott

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03-08-2008, 05:27 PM	#2
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	I've had a specific book do this to me, I deleted it and went on to other books. All ok now

03-09-2008, 03:39 PM	#3
scotteggshell Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cayman Islands Device: SONY READER 505	I now believe that is is a hardware problem I have. I disassembled the unit last night disconnected the battery and left overnight. This AM i did some more tests and sometimes the unit comes up with the firmware fail screen, and sometimes locks up on the logo screen. Sometimes the status light flashes continuously, sometimes it stays on, sometimes it flashes once then goes out. Seemingly random behavior. I was able to try the 10X reset script posted here with no luck. I think, due to the nature of the problem before I started playing the firmware and the nature of the symptoms displayed after , that my issue is hardware as opposed to firmware / software. If anyone else believes otherwise , please fill me in. Now I have to decide whether to throw the xtra bucks for an iLiad, or get another Sony, seeing as I have a spare battery, display and housing now. Thanx scott

03-09-2008, 03:51 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,591 Karma: 145863177 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Scott, are you in the USA? What it sounds like it that you may need just a firmware reinstall. Seeing as it is still under warranty, I'd call Sony and tell them it's broke. But do not tell them you tried to hack it. That was a bad idea anyway given it's symptoms. That doesn't put in a new firmware. It just changes settings. Support like this is so much easier if your location in your profile was filled in. This goes for everyone reading this with location not filled in.

03-09-2008, 05:58 PM	#5
scotteggshell Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cayman Islands Device: SONY READER 505	Thanx Jon, unfortunately I do not reside in the USA. I dont even know if the new firmware is going to work as it doesnt connect properly with the CONNECT software. Also the variety of symptoms before and after the hack attempt gives me reason to think hardware could be the issue. As of 5:00 today I cnt even get the thing to attempt a reboot. It rebooted any number of times this AM. Thanx for you help Jon Scott

03-10-2008, 08:16 AM	#6
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	Your unit is now in firmware update mode, you can put it back in "normal" mode with a firmware updater (when one is out). Since you disassembled the unit, you can try accessing the console and switching it back into "normal mode". http://www.msh-tools.com/ebook/internals505.html

03-10-2008, 11:23 AM	#7
scotteggshell Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cayman Islands Device: SONY READER 505	Thanx Igork: I see by the drawings the TX and RX, and ground. I assume I can terminal in with anything (hyerterminal, procomm) What are the Baud, Parity etc settings ?And assuming I get in, what are the command(s) to change mode ? Is ther a Root password etc ? I would like to give it a try, but the translation for the Russian site thru google is iffy. Thanx for taking the time to help me out Scott

03-10-2008, 12:44 PM	#8
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	You will need a TTL-RS232 or TTL-USB converter as I described on my blog for Kindle. Simplest way is a mobile phone cable. Serial settings are 115200,8n1, no flow control. Root login has no password. To switch to the "normal" mode use the command "/usr/local/sony/bin/nblconfig -ksel normal".

03-10-2008, 05:05 PM	#9
scotteggshell Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cayman Islands Device: SONY READER 505	Thanx Igorsk, I thought I had a Max232 IC handy but I dont, so I'll have to hunt a bit. I live on an Island and things like that are hard to come by (I'm going to see if I canb cannabilize an old sec panel for one). I appreciate your help and will update when I get comms. Thanx again scott

03-15-2008, 01:46 PM	#10
scotteggshell Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cayman Islands Device: SONY READER 505	Ping IGORSK OK I got in to the OS and ran the command nblconfig -ksel normal I got message saying read addy. 0x..... Write Addy. 0x.. then back to the prompt. I did a restart. The unit restarted 10 or so times. Idiot I am I did not have capture on the session.... Now the unit is locked at the start screen. The error I did see flash by was ILLEGAL SEEK The unit is currently locked , but it seems to come unlocked after being on USB for a time. If I can get in again I will capture the session. Thanx Scott

03-15-2008, 01:50 PM	#11
scotteggshell Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cayman Islands Device: SONY READER 505	Ping IGORSK again This seems to be the hangup.... Sending all processes the TERM signal... disconnect done. Sending all processes the KILL signal... done. latest nblconfig read from 0x00027800 latest nblconfig written to 0x00028000 Unmounting remote filesystems... done. Deactivating swap... done. Unmounting local filesystems... umount2: Device or resource busy umount: tmpfs: not found umount: /etc: Illegal seek done. Any Ideas ?? Scott

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03-15-2008, 01:51 PM	#12
scotteggshell Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cayman Islands Device: SONY READER 505	Sorry, the next line after ¨DONE¨ is: Rebooting... Restarting system.

03-24-2008, 06:27 AM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,591 Karma: 145863177 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	BUMP!