Cybook battery fault?

Maggie · 12-15-2008, 07:43 AM

My Cybook Gen3 has started to have some problems which may be related to its battery, which I'd like to checkout first rather than contacting Bookeen straight away to try to get it fixed.

I've had my Cybook since it came out over a year ago and it does get hammered pretty well everyday so I normally put it on charge several times a week regardless of whether the battery indicator looks low or not. It has been very reliable and I'm very happy with it.

The Bookeen site says it can hold 10,000 books on a 2 Gb memory card, and my memory card currently has about 1,300 mobipocket books since I had other readers previously. All my books are on a 2 Gb memory card bought from Bookeen, and there is about 1/2 the memory card space remaining. It has been very useful having all my stuff on one card (but some sort of an index or quick ABC 'go to' upgrade would be VERY useful).

Since the Summer I noticed the battery indicator only gets up to 90% regardless of how long it has been plugged in, but didn't think this was an issue. However, in the last few days when the Cybook is turned on it only opens the inital 'big page' picture of the Cybook reader and then seems to 'stick' and doesn't automatically go onto the smaller page with dots indicating it is powering up. I have tried to re-set it several times, but the only thing which worked was putting it on re-charge for an evening and it was OK for a day or so after this, but then does the same thing.

I have a replacement battery which came as part of the initial purchase and could replace the current battery and charge it up to see if that makes any difference in case the current battery is faulty. Alternatively, I could just put it on re-charge every day, though there does seem to be a progressive fault with it.

Other than trying the replacement battery option, is it likely to be another fault, and would it be be best to contact Bookeen and ask them for a fix quote?

I would like to avoid having to send it back to Bookeen and possibly be sent a replacement reader rather than having a fix on my current reader, since this would require me to change security number with suppliers and re-download secure books, which is a bit of a pain.

If anyone has has similar problems I'd appreciate a reply.

Thanks

HarryT · 12-15-2008, 07:51 AM

Does taking the SD card out make any difference? Have you checked the internal and SD card file systems for errors?

tompe · 12-15-2008, 07:54 AM

I would also test with the spare battery.

Which firmware version are you using? Some people here have reported similar problem with the Cybook hanging when booting and they have to try a couple of times to get it to boot. But I think that was only with the latest firmware.

HarryT · 12-15-2008, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

Which firmware version are you using? Some people here have reported similar problem with the Cybook hanging when booting and they have to try a couple of times to get it to boot. But I think that was only with the latest firmware.

Mine very occasionally hangs on boot, but pressing "Reset" always sorts it. Failing to boot despite repeated resets sounds like something different.

It could be a power fault, I agree, but I suspect that a corrupt file system is more likely (and easy to check, too).

Maggie · 12-15-2008, 08:21 AM

My Cybook has the latest firmware (I checked it just recently though I don't recall the version number offhand), but thanks for the suggestion. I've also checked to see if there are any more recent firmware upgrades that I've missed but there weren't.

I've tried turn it on/ off and to reset without the SD memory card in, but it still hangs and pressing the re-set button doesn't seem to make any difference right now, though I only recharged a day and a half ago.

I'll replace the battery tonight with a new one and recharge it fully.

I'll also replace the system files in case something has been corrupted by all the on/off'ing.

Thanks again for the various advice which I will give a go.

HarryT · 12-15-2008, 09:09 AM

I honestly don't think you'll need to send it back to Bookeen - from the symptoms, it sounds like a firmware or file system issue, in which case, at the worst, a firmware reflash should sort it.

Maggie · 12-17-2008, 07:20 AM

Hopefully the fault has been resolved. I replaced the battery and recharged up to 70% in just 1 1/2 hours, and the Cybook has been not only fine but seems quicker/ more responsive than previously - so I think the old battery must have been on its way out for a while. Battery power now goes up to 100% pretty quickly. If I have any other problems I'll do the s/w re-set recommended above. Thanks for your advice.

sw122683 · 01-04-2009, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggie

Hopefully the fault has been resolved. I replaced the battery and recharged up to 70% in just 1 1/2 hours, and the Cybook has been not only fine but seems quicker/ more responsive than previously - so I think the old battery must have been on its way out for a while. Battery power now goes up to 100% pretty quickly. If I have any other problems I'll do the s/w re-set recommended above. Thanks for your advice.

I suspect I have the same battery issue as you.
After half a day of charging, it stayed at 20%. I unplugged the cable and see the number became 50%. Then I connected the cybook to my laptop again, it seems now it stays at 50%...

tompe · 01-04-2009, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sw122683

I suspect I have the same battery issue as you.
After half a day of charging, it stayed at 20%. I unplugged the cable and see the number became 50%. Then I connected the cybook to my laptop again, it seems now it stays at 50%...

The screen is not updated while charging so of course the battery indicator does not change. And you should not see the battery indicator unless you have pressed reset (which turns the device off) and the plugged it in to charge. The battery indicator seems to stay the same because the unit is off in this case.

12-15-2008, 07:43 AM	#1
Maggie Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Cybook	Cybook battery fault? My Cybook Gen3 has started to have some problems which may be related to its battery, which I'd like to checkout first rather than contacting Bookeen straight away to try to get it fixed. I've had my Cybook since it came out over a year ago and it does get hammered pretty well everyday so I normally put it on charge several times a week regardless of whether the battery indicator looks low or not. It has been very reliable and I'm very happy with it. The Bookeen site says it can hold 10,000 books on a 2 Gb memory card, and my memory card currently has about 1,300 mobipocket books since I had other readers previously. All my books are on a 2 Gb memory card bought from Bookeen, and there is about 1/2 the memory card space remaining. It has been very useful having all my stuff on one card (but some sort of an index or quick ABC 'go to' upgrade would be VERY useful). Since the Summer I noticed the battery indicator only gets up to 90% regardless of how long it has been plugged in, but didn't think this was an issue. However, in the last few days when the Cybook is turned on it only opens the inital 'big page' picture of the Cybook reader and then seems to 'stick' and doesn't automatically go onto the smaller page with dots indicating it is powering up. I have tried to re-set it several times, but the only thing which worked was putting it on re-charge for an evening and it was OK for a day or so after this, but then does the same thing. I have a replacement battery which came as part of the initial purchase and could replace the current battery and charge it up to see if that makes any difference in case the current battery is faulty. Alternatively, I could just put it on re-charge every day, though there does seem to be a progressive fault with it. Other than trying the replacement battery option, is it likely to be another fault, and would it be be best to contact Bookeen and ask them for a fix quote? I would like to avoid having to send it back to Bookeen and possibly be sent a replacement reader rather than having a fix on my current reader, since this would require me to change security number with suppliers and re-download secure books, which is a bit of a pain. If anyone has has similar problems I'd appreciate a reply. Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Spare Battery for Cybook	donbrubaker	Bookeen	2	01-01-2011 07:49 PM
Gen3 broken battery cover - respond from Cybook	poetbil	Bookeen	16	01-11-2010 12:44 PM
Battery life of Cybook Gen3	billyad2000	Bookeen	18	05-09-2008 05:15 PM
Cybook Battery Charge Before Loading	jtzarbs	Introduce Yourself	3	02-06-2008 06:58 PM
Real World CyBook Battery Life	Barcey	Bookeen	16	12-10-2007 03:46 AM

12-15-2008, 07:51 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Does taking the SD card out make any difference? Have you checked the internal and SD card file systems for errors?

12-15-2008, 07:54 AM	#3
tompe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,452 Karma: 7185064 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Linköpng, Sweden Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW	I would also test with the spare battery. Which firmware version are you using? Some people here have reported similar problem with the Cybook hanging when booting and they have to try a couple of times to get it to boot. But I think that was only with the latest firmware.

12-15-2008, 08:21 AM	#5
Maggie Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Cybook	My Cybook has the latest firmware (I checked it just recently though I don't recall the version number offhand), but thanks for the suggestion. I've also checked to see if there are any more recent firmware upgrades that I've missed but there weren't. I've tried turn it on/ off and to reset without the SD memory card in, but it still hangs and pressing the re-set button doesn't seem to make any difference right now, though I only recharged a day and a half ago. I'll replace the battery tonight with a new one and recharge it fully. I'll also replace the system files in case something has been corrupted by all the on/off'ing. Thanks again for the various advice which I will give a go.

12-15-2008, 09:09 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I honestly don't think you'll need to send it back to Bookeen - from the symptoms, it sounds like a firmware or file system issue, in which case, at the worst, a firmware reflash should sort it.

12-17-2008, 07:20 AM	#7
Maggie Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Cybook	Hopefully the fault has been resolved. I replaced the battery and recharged up to 70% in just 1 1/2 hours, and the Cybook has been not only fine but seems quicker/ more responsive than previously - so I think the old battery must have been on its way out for a while. Battery power now goes up to 100% pretty quickly. If I have any other problems I'll do the s/w re-set recommended above. Thanks for your advice.

Advert

Advert