Device not recognised

[Solicitous]

Originally Posted by rxsz

I have no idea about what controller chips are in the laptop. It is a NEC Versa S5600, with Intel Core 2 Duo P9500 @2.53GHz.

Oh yes, under Bus Adaptors it shows this:
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2934
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2935
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2936
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2937
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2938
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293A
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293C

I want to say again, that prior to this weekend, I didn't have any problems connecting it as USB storage devices, both PP and the SD card. Up and down transfers with nary a corruption.

recognised by ADE, but of course that no longer is the case. And therein lies a big problem. How to drag from K4PC to ADE to PP? Going from My Kindle folder to the SD card just won't allow the DRM .prc book to open.

The PP doesn't support DRM .prc. The only DRM the PP supports is the ADE (.epub and .pdf).

You mentioned in a prior post that vista doesn't recognise the device, it comes up Unknown Device in device manager when trying to install a driver? I'm not a Windows user, but from memory I think you can do a manual hardware install and select a driver. I think if you select something like USB Mass Storage it should then connect and come up fine. Any Windows users able to clarify my suggestion as viable?

[rxsz]

Originally Posted by Solicitous

You mentioned in a prior post that vista doesn't recognise the device, it comes up Unknown Device in device manager when trying to install a driver? I'm not a Windows user, but from memory I think you can do a manual hardware install and select a driver. I think if you select something like USB Mass Storage it should then connect and come up fine. Any Windows users able to clarify my suggestion as viable?

I like your problem solving, but,

Nope. No success to report. I forced a manual install of a USB Storage device, and it came back, after the driver was installed with: This device cannot start (Code 10)

And indeed Device Manager now flags it with a yellow exclamation point as a USB strage device. And ofcourse PP device happily autoconnects in charging mode.

Maybe it is a solder joint went bad. Or blown chip. Whatever. So disappointing.

Oh, btw, looking at the drivers for Unknown Device (PP) and for a working Storage Device (thumb drive), they both showed as one and the same under Properties\Driver\

[Solicitous]

Are you able to reboot your laptop and go in to the bios? Might have to hit the DEL or F2 key (should tell you which). If so look around to menus for something like USB Legacy Support. If it is on, turn it off, if it is off turn it on.

Unfortunately, other than finding a usb 1.1 hub like Dave_S and testing that, changing the USB Legacy Support in your bios is the only other suggestion I can make given all the other tests you have done.

Could always flash with the new firmware and give it a shot (I know you reflashed with the older version)

[rxsz]

Originally Posted by Solicitous

Are you able to reboot your laptop and go in to the bios? Might have to hit the DEL or F2 key (should tell you which). If so look around to menus for something like USB Legacy Support. If it is on, turn it off, if it is off turn it on.

Unfortunately, other than finding a usb 1.1 hub like Dave_S and testing that, changing the USB Legacy Support in your bios is the only other suggestion I can make given all the other tests you have done.

Could always flash with the new firmware and give it a shot (I know you reflashed with the older version)

I'll wait till I can hit on a IT buddy next week to mess with BIOS. Or find the cheapest USB hub I can at Shenzhen's electronics mecca.

But a reflash of the latest 091201 firmware gave the exact same result: straight into charging mode. grrr

[theducks]

Originally Posted by rxsz

I have no idea about what controller chips are in the laptop. It is a NEC Versa S5600, with Intel Core 2 Duo P9500 @2.53GHz.

Oh yes, under Bus Adaptors it shows this:
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2934
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2935
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2936
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2937
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2938
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293A
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293C

I want to say again, that prior to this weekend, I didn't have any problems connecting it as USB storage devices, both PP and the SD card. Up and down transfers with nary a corruption.

recognised by ADE, but of course that no longer is the case. And therein lies a big problem. How to drag from K4PC to ADE to PP? Going from My Kindle folder to the SD card just won't allow the DRM .prc book to open.

You have Intel (an way newer than what I have )
See those 2 entries that say USB2 Enhanced Host Controller?
As a test (only): Right click on them, one at a time and select Disable (not delete). This turns OFF USB2.0 mode

Reboot, then plug in you PEz and see what happens.
BTW during my failures, the PEz never, "just" dropped out of the "communicating" screen, once I had enabled it. I had to pull the cord.

[eGeezer]

Just wondering if the karma system in this forum is like the corporate atta-boy / dumb-shot system -- It takes 10 atta-boys to wipe out one dumb-shot, but only one dumb-shot to wipe out all atta-boys.

The reason I ask is its hard to believe someone with such an extremely helpful attitude and willingness to stick with the problem, with 341 (and counting) posts only has earned 130 karma.

Its either you made one mistake, or it resets at 9,999.

But I am impressed with your tenacity in attempting to resolve this issue, theducks.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by eGeezer

Just wondering if the karma system in this forum is like the corporate atta-boy / dumb-shot system -- It takes 10 atta-boys to wipe out one dumb-shot, but only one dumb-shot to wipe out all atta-boys.

The reason I ask is its hard to believe someone with such an extremely helpful attitude and willingness to stick with the problem, with 341 (and counting) posts only has earned 130 karma.

Its either you made one mistake, or it resets at 9,999.

But I am impressed with your tenacity in attempting to resolve this issue, theducks.

I am a Technician at heart
"I can get this to work, Really."

[rxsz]

Originally Posted by theducks

You have Intel (an way newer than what I have )
See those 2 entries that say USB2 Enhanced Host Controller?
As a test (only): Right click on them, one at a time and select Disable (not delete). This turns OFF USB2.0 mode

Reboot, then plug in you PEz and see what happens.
BTW during my failures, the PEz never, "just" dropped out of the "communicating" screen, once I had enabled it. I had to pull the cord.

Thank you theducks.

Did *exactly* as you said, and the PP still went straight to charging mode on connect.

btw, I have pushed the Reset button previously with all different possible states of the PP. Apparently not the solution.

Hope Astak support comes to work on time on Monday. Ain't fun being 16 hours ahead of Pacific Time. Ugh!

[theducks]

Originally Posted by rxsz

Thank you theducks.

Did *exactly* as you said, and the PP still went straight to charging mode on connect.

btw, I have pushed the Reset button previously with all different possible states of the PP. Apparently not the solution.

Hope Astak support comes to work on time on Monday. Ain't fun being 16 hours ahead of Pacific Time. Ugh!

All those steps were un-necessary if I had tumbled that It would Not go into (or stay) in communications mode. All that was what I needed to do to get mine to communicate to XP. This has worked for others that got USB communications failed messages from XP


I would guess that the USB connector or circuit is only Unidirectional (Broken ) and can not negotiate (needs Bi-Directional). My first PEz had a bad connector, that worked if you held a light pressure upwards(screen side is up). Any jiggles, and the connection was disrupted permanently and the PC had to be re-booted to even try again.

[rxsz]

Originally Posted by theducks

I would guess that the USB connector or circuit is only Unidirectional (Broken ) and can not negotiate (needs Bi-Directional). My first PEz had a bad connector, that worked if you held a light pressure upwards(screen side is up). Any jiggles, and the connection was disrupted permanently and the PC had to be re-booted to even try again.

Yup, that's what I'm thinking. A bad solder joint. I'll see what Astak support says. Ain't no way I'm going to bother to send it back and forth.

Simpler to find a Hanlin dealer in Shenzhen. Service would be way less than air-freight! Or lust after something like this: $249 tablet!

[theducks]

Originally Posted by rxsz

Yup, that's what I'm thinking. A bad solder joint. I'll see what Astak support says. Ain't no way I'm going to bother to send it back and forth.

Simpler to find a Hanlin dealer in Shenzhen. Service would be way less than air-freight! Or lust after something like this: $249 tablet!

I just noticed your location. Someone over there should be able to fix it.

Thank goodnes the Charg still works AND you can use a SD card reader to load books.
The only thing that can not be done is authorize DRM infested books.

[jusmee]

Originally Posted by theducks

The only thing that can not be done is authorize DRM infested books.

infested!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by rxsz

Thank you theducks for sticking with me on this.

Did exactly as you said.

Connected PP, sees that it is listed as Unknown Device in Device Manager. No errors (no yellow or red). But Uninstalled anyway.

Disconnect PP.

Cold boot laptop.

Reconnect PP. Same problem. Goes straight to charging mode. Meantime Vista tries to install driver, but came up empty with Unknown Device again. As shown in Device Manager.

Guess I'll have to wait till Monday for Astak support.

Dear rxsz:

I am grateful for all the advice all the others have given. However, this is intriquing and you should call tech support at Astak:

Email: support@astak.com or just call tollfree: 1-866-368-8788

Our people really know these devices and how to get to the bottom of a funnel of questions quickly. Our Head Techie is leaving for vacation on December 25... so do NOT wait!!

Let us solve this for you or make things right with what it might need. You do NOT have to worry alone and I want you reading well by Christmas!!

[rxsz]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear rxsz:

I am grateful for all the advice all the others have given. However, this is intriquing and you should call tech support at Astak:

Email: support@astak.com or just call tollfree: 1-866-368-8788

Our people really know these devices and how to get to the bottom of a funnel of questions quickly. Our Head Techie is leaving for vacation on December 25... so do NOT wait!!

Let us solve this for you or make things right with what it might need. You do NOT have to worry alone and I want you reading well by Christmas!!

Wow Robertb, I have just had a 32 minutes conversation, first with Elliot and then with WalterS. Wow wow wow, is all I can say!

First, to the matter at hand. This is indeed a unique situation to them. They have never heard of such a problem before. We have decided the simplest would be for WalterS to contact his Shezhen buddy to see if he could take care of me with a device exchange or point me to some place for repairs.

But the most exciting news, and one I won't post here without express permission, is just way too exciting. This confirms my decision to go with the PP. My email to WalterS says that if it becomes public knowledge it would shoot up sales by 10 fold. Conservatively!

To all Astak ereader owners, and prospective owners: My experience with Support, at least in my 32 minutes phone call, just mirrors the style and demeanor of Robertb's postings here!

Thank you Robertb and all the best to the guys at Support. Hope you never grow too big to stop providing this level of service.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by rxsz

Wow Robertb, I have just had a 32 minutes conversation, first with Elliot and then with WalterS. Wow wow wow, is all I can say!

First, to the matter at hand. This is indeed a unique situation to them. They have never heard of such a problem before. We have decided the simplest would be for WalterS to contact his Shezhen buddy to see if he could take care of me with a device exchange or point me to some place for repairs.

But the most exciting news, and one I won't post here without express permission, is just way too exciting. This confirms my decision to go with the PP. My email to WalterS says that if it becomes public knowledge it would shoot up sales by 10 fold. Conservatively!

To all Astak ereader owners, and prospective owners: My experience with Support, at least in my 32 minutes phone call, just mirrors the style and demeanor of Robertb's postings here!

Thank you Robertb and all the best to the guys at Support. Hope you never grow too big to stop providing this level of service.

Dear rxsz:

I am happy to humbly help a bit. Walter is a hell of a great problem solver and he takes so much pride in what he does.

I aim for us to grow... but we will always be the little guys who try to do things better and more responsibly. God knows, we sure are not perfect... but we do try.

I am overjoyed that you are happy and I thank you for posting it!! Posts like this keep me going!!