PRSCustomizer: Customize and personalize your PRS505 Reader

[JeffElkins]

Originally Posted by Arcticnick

Does this software updater work with a 505 from Europe?

You'll probably have to install the US 1.1 kernel.

[Arcticnick]

I am trying to flash a UK PRS-505.

I pressed #5 then #6 as your help file suggested but now the device has frozen. When I plug the USB cable the device says 'Updating firmware now' but nothing seems to happen.
When I unplug the USB cable the device says 'Firmware Update did not complete successfully. Please try again.' I have tried this with the SD card both plugged in and unplugged.
With the USB cable unplugged it will only turn off after sliding the standard on of button to the right for about ten seconds.
In Windows Explorer I have double clicked on the SDcard folder and copied all the files in it to an SD card which I then plugged in to the 505.

When I plug in the USB cable instead of Explorer showing me the files on the 505 it now says' protected!'

It also says 'error' in the Sony Library software next to the device.

I have tried resetting the 505 but still nothing happens.

I guess I now have what they call a brick!

Any advice please?

Thanks
PS Now it wont turn off at all! Oh God! My lovely 505!!

[Arcticnick]

How long should it take to update?

[Valwit]

Originally Posted by Arcticnick

How long should it take to update?

less then 5 minutes.

[gwynevans]

Originally Posted by Arcticnick

I guess I now have what they call a brick!

Any advice please?

Don't Panic!

Download the standalone Sony Firmware Update app from their US site and that will let you reset to the 1.1 firmware, at least. If it says you're running a later firmware, don't worry, that can be bypassed by tweaking the app (in short, unzip it & change the config version it's comparing - details elsewhere).

[JeffElkins]

Originally Posted by Arcticnick

I am trying to flash a UK PRS-505.

I pressed #5 then #6 as your help file suggested but now the device has frozen. When I plug the USB cable the device says 'Updating firmware now' but nothing seems to happen.
When I unplug the USB cable the device says 'Firmware Update did not complete successfully. Please try again.' I have tried this with the SD card both plugged in and unplugged.
With the USB cable unplugged it will only turn off after sliding the standard on of button to the right for about ten seconds.
In Windows Explorer I have double clicked on the SDcard folder and copied all the files in it to an SD card which I then plugged in to the 505.

When I plug in the USB cable instead of Explorer showing me the files on the 505 it now says' protected!'

It also says 'error' in the Sony Library software next to the device.

I have tried resetting the 505 but still nothing happens.

I guess I now have what they call a brick!

Any advice please?

Thanks
PS Now it wont turn off at all! Oh God! My lovely 505!!

Recovering from errors
In the PRS 505, Sony has produced a very robust device. It's actually very hard to cause the device to become unresponsive, otherwise known as a "brick." However, when making complex changes to your Reader inadvertent errors on your part may cause it to become stuck on the "Reader starting up..." screen. Recovery is usually
simple.

Recovering a brick

1. You're stuck at "Reader starting up..."
2. Use a a paperclip to press the reset button on the back of the Reader
3. Quickly slide the power toggle.
4. When the Reader reboots, immmediately connect it to your PC via usb cable.


After a minute or so, the usb connection message should appear; now you can use the US/Canadian Sony Updater to reflash your Reader. When finished, your Reader will be using Sony firmware 1.1

[v1m]

My new PRS-505 has firmware 1.1.01.25200.

Any known problems using PRS Customizer with this version?

Also, is it true that, in the event of bricking, I'll have to flash the reader to an earlier firmware since this newer version isn't available? Asking as it's unclear to me from the instructions how backing up the firmware allows it to be reinstalled, unless Sony's flashing utility allows specifying a different disk image.

Thanks -- want to proceed at least semi-cautiously.

[JeffElkins]

Originally Posted by v1m

My new PRS-505 has firmware 1.1.01.25200.

Any known problems using PRS Customizer with this version?

Also, is it true that, in the event of bricking, I'll have to flash the reader to an earlier firmware since this newer version isn't available? Asking as it's unclear to me from the instructions how backing up the firmware allows it to be reinstalled, unless Sony's flashing utility allows specifying a different disk image.

Thanks -- want to proceed at least semi-cautiously.

PRSCustomizer supports two firmware versions: US/Canada and UK. 1.1.00.18040 and 1.2.00.18050. If you're not using those versions you have to reflash with the Sony Updater.

Personally, I wouldn't call it a "downgrade," despite the lower version number (1.1.00.18040). AFAIK you lose no functionality and gain a lot of customization.

You can re-install the fsk filesystem from a backup. This type of re-install is accomplished with Igorsk's Universal Flasher, not Sony's updater.

The rootfs can only be updated by the Sony updater - and currently it only does US/UK 1.1.

[akemi]

Oh dear. I really wanted the clock so I decided to take the plunge and hack my PRS-505.

I told my husband if it bricked it I would cry, well I haven't shed any tears yet, but it's a near thing

I put the stuff in the root of a clean sd card from the sdcard directory.

I hit 5 when prompted

but my reader has been stuck at

Run script
Creating new cramfs image.
This might take a few minutes

for over 2 hours.

I've tried to reset it, but it won't turn off. I tried just with the power toggle, I tried with a paperclip in the back, but it doesn't change.

I downloaded the prs505 updater from sony, but it doesn't recognize that there is anything plugged into the USB cable so the Update button is greyed out.

Any ideas?

[DixieGal]

It does that. Pull the USB cable and stand back while it settles down. Then restart it. I'm sitting here hitting refresh and waiting to hear back from you when you complete this.

Oh yes, and don't grab the paperclip first. It helps me a lot to try pushing the power on/off slider and hold it 30 seconds or more. Most things unfreeze or stop processing and go back to normal doing this, at least in my experience.

[akemi]

Wow. You are awesome. I don't know how come, but I pulled the USB cable out again (it had been out before, but I plugged it in when I was trying to do the sony firmware update to reflash back) and it rebooted!


Then I just tried again (brave eh?) and it all worked flawlessly!

So now I have my clock

Thanks so much DixieGal, you saved my sanity

[DixieGal]

Originally Posted by akemi

Wow. You are awesome. I don't know how come, but I pulled the USB cable out again (it had been out before, but I plugged it in when I was trying to do the sony firmware update to reflash back) and it rebooted!


Then I just tried again (brave eh?) and it all worked flawlessly!

So now I have my clock

Thanks so much DixieGal, you saved my sanity

YAY! I'm glad my limited skills -- gained from much panicky making-it-up-as-we-go-along -- were able to help. HAPPY READING!

PS: The clock only changes time with page turns, so don't worry if it says 3:00 for 20 mins, just page forward.

[Bilbo1967]

Just like to say thanks for the customizer. I finally plucked up the nerve to try it last night and it has worked and I love the clock, new icons and the ability to personalise the top left corner of the home screen.



I did get the same error as hmgreen below, but found that just selecting 5 and then 6 again seemed to just work. Maybe some kind of glitch, but it seems like its a minor one given that you just repeat the steps and all is well.

Originally Posted by hmgreen

I did everything as instructed, successfully ran option 5 on the reader, it rebooted, and when I ran opt 6 I get the message "/tmp/self_upgrade/new_opt.img not found". Any advice?

Thanks.

Just two questions:

What are the unicode fonts. I didn't check this option as I wasn't sure what it was. What does this give you?

How do you switch the clock between 12/24 hr display mode (I know I've seen the answer to this on this thread but I just can't find it!)?

[All4Fun]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

How do you switch the clock between 12/24 hr display mode (I know I've seen the answer to this on this thread but I just can't find it!)?

Using your Menu button, go to the About screen. Press on the number "0" to change the clock format.

[Bilbo1967]

Many thanks.

Found that, changed it and even happier now!