New "Error" with My 500

RWood · 05-30-2009, 10:37 AM

After over two and one-half years of faithful service, I have had my first "error" with my PRS-500.

Reading from the 500 is fine, no problems. When I connect it to the computer via the USB and the Sony USB driver it will charge fine. The problem is that it reports "error" rather than display the contents of the reader. Therefore I cannot transfer new material to the reader or remove old content from the reader. Add-in cards such as Memory Sticks and AD chips still work when used outside the reader but never show up in the Sony software on the computer when the reader is plugged in via the USB.

I have reset the reader and reinstalled the software. Any additional thoughts?

Wetdogeared · 05-30-2009, 11:50 AM

There have been other MR members who have just upgraded to Vista SP2 that are reporting USB problems, if that's of any help.

WDE.

dordale · 05-30-2009, 01:37 PM

Not sure if this is related at all, but I recently had an "Invalid Format Error" on my 505. It would hook up to the PC and the PC would see it just fine. I could transfer files to it, but when I disconnected the reader, I would see the "error" icon in the middle of the screen and "Invalid Format" at the bottom.

I found this thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16067

And followed the advice to hold the menu button down until the reader gave me the option to format the internal memory. I did that, it of course erased everything on my reader, but I reloaded my books and everything is now working fine.

Don't know if the option to reformat by holding down the menu button works on the 500 like it does on the 505, but it might be worth a shot.

Good luck--hope you get it figured out!

dordale

JSWolf · 05-30-2009, 02:40 PM

Have you pluged in your 500 to a different computer since the error? I had a problem with my computer where the system did not come up with a drive letter for my reader. Worked fine on my wife's computer. Turns out I needed a reboot.

RWood · 05-30-2009, 02:46 PM

Thanks for the comments, nothing has worked so far.

I am still running WinXP and there is a required driver from Sony for the 500 that is installed. (Unlike the 505, the 500 is not a plug-and-play USB device to Windows. This is why there are so few Mac owners that bought the 500.)

I am going to upgrade the Calibre on the back machine this afternoon and see what it does with the 500. If there are still problems with that then I know the problem is the reader. If it works, it is just a problem with the Sony software.

RWood · 05-31-2009, 02:47 PM

I can manipulate files on the 500 with Calibre. As an exercise I copied all of the existing files from the internal memory to the hard disk. Four files reported internal errors and refused to be copied. When I opened them on the Sony they refused to open and I had to plug in the USB cord to get the unit to move on. I was able to delete them through Calibre.

I added the new issue of Analog from Fictionwise via Calibre and it works fine. When I plug the unit back into the original computer with the Sony software it still reports "error". I have rebooted this computer sever times and it still reports an error. When I do plug in the reader it makes a sound and will recharge the battery.

The few remaining unread Sony DRM files (LRX) are on a Memory Stick in the reader and should be finished by next week.

JSWolf · 05-31-2009, 09:03 PM

Have you tried running chkdsk on the 500's internal memory?

igorsk · 06-02-2009, 12:39 PM

PRS-500 is not visible as mass storage device, so chkdsk won't be able to do anything.

pilotbob · 06-02-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWood

I have rebooted this computer sever times and it still reports an error. When I do plug in the reader it makes a sound and will recharge the battery.

Have you rebooted (hard reset) the reader?

BOb

RWood · 06-04-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Have you rebooted (hard reset) the reader?

BOb

That is next on the list of things to try. Before that I want to finish reading the remaining texts that I have already started that are in the memory of the 500. Books that I have not started have been deleted from main memory and now reside on the card.

It is interesting that the cards (I have tested both SD and Memory Stick) can be used directly in a memory card reader with no problems and through Calibre when inserted in the Reader, neither card is readable through the Sony software and both report "error" in the display of the Sony software on the PC.

RWood · 06-05-2009, 11:38 AM

A hard reset did solve the problem. It now works fine with the Sony PC software.

A funny thing happen throughout all of this, I shifted to Calibre as the main tool and don't want to go back. I suspect that I will use the Sony software only when I have to use it -- perhaps if I ever need to dig an LRX book out again. Given my history of not rereading books, this seems unlikely.

What this proves to me is that Calibre is a far more robust program that the Sony PC software. Sure it does more things (except LRX files) than the Sony PC software; but, it is more fault tolerant operates over a wider range of conditions than the Sony PC software.

05-30-2009, 10:37 AM	#1
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	New "Error" with My 500 After over two and one-half years of faithful service, I have had my first "error" with my PRS-500. Reading from the 500 is fine, no problems. When I connect it to the computer via the USB and the Sony USB driver it will charge fine. The problem is that it reports "error" rather than display the contents of the reader. Therefore I cannot transfer new material to the reader or remove old content from the reader. Add-in cards such as Memory Sticks and AD chips still work when used outside the reader but never show up in the Sony software on the computer when the reader is plugged in via the USB. I have reset the reader and reinstalled the software. Any additional thoughts?

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05-30-2009, 11:50 AM	#2
Wetdogeared Storm Surge'n Posts: 5,780 Karma: 8213195 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Polar Vortex Device: S0ny PRS-300/350/505/700/T1	There have been other MR members who have just upgraded to Vista SP2 that are reporting USB problems, if that's of any help. WDE.

05-30-2009, 01:37 PM	#3
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	Not sure if this is related at all, but I recently had an "Invalid Format Error" on my 505. It would hook up to the PC and the PC would see it just fine. I could transfer files to it, but when I disconnected the reader, I would see the "error" icon in the middle of the screen and "Invalid Format" at the bottom. I found this thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16067 And followed the advice to hold the menu button down until the reader gave me the option to format the internal memory. I did that, it of course erased everything on my reader, but I reloaded my books and everything is now working fine. Don't know if the option to reformat by holding down the menu button works on the 500 like it does on the 505, but it might be worth a shot. Good luck--hope you get it figured out! dordale

05-30-2009, 02:40 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,564 Karma: 145863177 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Have you pluged in your 500 to a different computer since the error? I had a problem with my computer where the system did not come up with a drive letter for my reader. Worked fine on my wife's computer. Turns out I needed a reboot.

05-30-2009, 02:46 PM	#5
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	Thanks for the comments, nothing has worked so far. I am still running WinXP and there is a required driver from Sony for the 500 that is installed. (Unlike the 505, the 500 is not a plug-and-play USB device to Windows. This is why there are so few Mac owners that bought the 500.) I am going to upgrade the Calibre on the back machine this afternoon and see what it does with the 500. If there are still problems with that then I know the problem is the reader. If it works, it is just a problem with the Sony software.

05-31-2009, 02:47 PM	#6
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	I can manipulate files on the 500 with Calibre. As an exercise I copied all of the existing files from the internal memory to the hard disk. Four files reported internal errors and refused to be copied. When I opened them on the Sony they refused to open and I had to plug in the USB cord to get the unit to move on. I was able to delete them through Calibre. I added the new issue of Analog from Fictionwise via Calibre and it works fine. When I plug the unit back into the original computer with the Sony software it still reports "error". I have rebooted this computer sever times and it still reports an error. When I do plug in the reader it makes a sound and will recharge the battery. The few remaining unread Sony DRM files (LRX) are on a Memory Stick in the reader and should be finished by next week.

05-31-2009, 09:03 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,564 Karma: 145863177 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Have you tried running chkdsk on the 500's internal memory?

06-02-2009, 12:39 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	PRS-500 is not visible as mass storage device, so chkdsk won't be able to do anything.

06-05-2009, 11:38 AM	#11
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	A hard reset did solve the problem. It now works fine with the Sony PC software. A funny thing happen throughout all of this, I shifted to Calibre as the main tool and don't want to go back. I suspect that I will use the Sony software only when I have to use it -- perhaps if I ever need to dig an LRX book out again. Given my history of not rereading books, this seems unlikely. What this proves to me is that Calibre is a far more robust program that the Sony PC software. Sure it does more things (except LRX files) than the Sony PC software; but, it is more fault tolerant operates over a wider range of conditions than the Sony PC software.

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