Attempted to update JBL to new .16

[steven522]

Decided to update my JBL to the new .16 release on the website.

Now I have a trashed unit. The JBL will not see internal memory or the SD card. The USB no longer works when connecting to a PC. Attempts to flash back to an earlier version (.15d) results in a hardware error.

I guess I'll call tech support tomorrow...

[jblitereader]

This is why I almost never use the latest update or hardware for anything. I always stay about a generation behind just to make sure I don't run into headaches like yours.

[Ken Maltby]

First you should try reflashing the 0.16. Once is sometimes not enough.

Then try downloading a fresh copy of the firmware (0.16). Most
downloads can have minor errors that have no impact on the file's
usefulness, firmware binaries are more sensitive to error than most
other files. Try that file.

Make sure you are following all the steps and conditions for the upgrade.

Be sure to reformat the SD card to FAT. ( The reformat is important to
insure that the root of the SD card has no data on it, prior to the update.)

Be sure that the files and folders are copied to the SD card, in their
proper order, to the Root of the SD card. (One way is to Ctrl-A the
folders and drag and drop them to the SD card.)

Insert the update SD card while the power is on, if possible, and let
the warning expire. (Don't worry if you can't, now)

Reset holding it for ~ 20 seconds.

Be sure to hold Reset till the screen fades out most of the way.

Now this can be a tricky part; You have to press and hold both the
Power Button and the Right Arrow Button till after the Jetbook
screen has appeared and an option/warning page appears.

Be sure no buttons get pressed while the update takes place.

There may be a long pause while it updates, don't assume it has crashed
or locked up, wait the whole 15minutes, if necessary.

Luck;
Ken

P.S. The way it is designed and the built-in functions of the ARM9 processor
make it actually hard to "trash" the device through a firmware update failure.
You might try the .15d-b firmware, but the 0.16 should do the trick.

[Kralik]

I second Ken -- try another flash. The fact that you can access the firmware upgrade option means that it isn't trashed or bricked.

[steven522]

Since I got my jetbook in December of '09, I have kept it up to date with "official" realeases from the jetbook website. The last successful firmware update was to the .15d-b release.

I have tried several re-downloads of .16 and found the old copy of the beta 16 someone else had posted. I have a machine with a successful load of .16 on it, but with no access to internal memory and no recognition of the SD card when inserted.

All attempts to go back to the .15d-b I last flashed results in a hardware error. I could have a bad copy stored on my machine so if anyone has a link to a good copy, let me know.

Ken,
I went through your steps again using the .16 off the jetbook site and still no luck.

The only thing I have run across from any firmware update problem posting is someone recommended using the FAT (16) instead of FAT32 for the format. After formatting a 2GB card this way, neither .15d-b nor .16 will successfully flash to the unit so I went back to the FAT32 format.

I guess I will carry the JBL, card reader and some SD cards with me to work and try my luck there.

[Ken Maltby]

Hmm... it should definitely work with SD cards formatted using FAT or FAT16, FAT32
has worked for some of my updates but if any formating were to prevent an update
it should be that one. That you are experiencing the opposite, might mean something
what it might mean eludes me, for now.

Under the System Settings Version Information it has version 0.16 patch 16?

And your SD card and Internal memory don't show up when you look at System
Settings "Memory Capacity" or "Card Capacity"?

How about under Settings and the "Internal File Manager" or "SD Card File Manager"?

Your SD cards for your ebooks should be formatted as FAT32.

I can't picture a logical reason for what you have described, it should be working if
it shows the firmware installed.

Luck;
Ken

[steven522]

It does show v 0.16 patch 16.
Once under the SD manager I could see the books listed, but the jetbook locks up completely upon return to the top level menu and requires a reset.
The next time, I got nothing.

[steven522]

OK.
At work on a completely different PC.
New SD card -> Format to FAT (complete not quick).
Download 0.16 firmware to local drive and uncompress to a Lite16 folder. (Also tested archive with unzip util and got no errors)
Navigate to Lite16 folder in command prompt and use "xcopy *.* /s/v g:\" command to copy to SD card (G: is my SD card).
Insert SD into JBL (no reading screen as unit does not recognize internal mem or SD mem).
use paperclip to press and hold reset until screen completely fades (about 20 secs).
Press and hold power and right arrow until firmware warning shows up.
Screen says press OK when ready -> Press OK button.
The folder to book copy graphics appear and run for about 10 minutes (+/-).
I get a checkmark screen that says the unit has been successfully updated and to power off/on.
I power JBL off.
I power JBL on
Jetbook Lite screen comes up.
Book graphic comes up.
Main menu comes up.
System settings show software: v0.16 / patch v16.
Memory capacity shows Total 0.0KB / Free 0.0KB.
Internal file manager shows no files found.
Backing out of settings to main menu locks down the JBL.
Used paperclip to reset JBL with SD card loaded with books still inserted.
Power up unit and wait while book graphic displays.
Going into Books shows no files found.
Backing out of Books to main menu locks up again.
Paperclip -> reset -> Power -> Wait.
Go into any menu and back out results in locked up unit.

[CyberSmoke53]

Stevens522

I had the EXACT same thing happen to my JetBook lite with the 15G upgrade. My poor little dead Jetbook lite returned to Ectaco and I received another one in the mail.

My unit was fine until I tried this update. I had successfully updated the unit since I received it 1st of Jan. The problem acts as if the internal memory chip fried and wouldn't retain the OS. The only successful thing the unit could seem to do with an SD card was successfully update itself!

Just contact customer service for an RMA#.

[steven522]

I just finished with the Etaco customer service. They did not ask me to try anything to get the unit back up and working, just "please send the unit back with a copy of the purchase invoice".

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by steven522

OK.
At work on a completely different PC.
New SD card -> Format to FAT (complete not quick).
Download 0.16 firmware to local drive and uncompress to a Lite16 folder. (Also tested archive with unzip util and got no errors)
Navigate to Lite16 folder in command prompt and use "xcopy *.* /s/v g:\" command to copy to SD card (G: is my SD card).
Insert SD into JBL (no reading screen as unit does not recognize internal mem or SD mem).
use paperclip to press and hold reset until screen completely fades (about 20 secs).
Press and hold power and right arrow until firmware warning shows up.
Screen says press OK when ready -> Press OK button.
The folder to book copy graphics appear and run for about 10 minutes (+/-).
I get a checkmark screen that says the unit has been successfully updated and to power off/on.
I power JBL off.
I power JBL on
Jetbook Lite screen comes up.
Book graphic comes up.
Main menu comes up.
System settings show software: v0.16 / patch v16.
Memory capacity shows Total 0.0KB / Free 0.0KB.
Internal file manager shows no files found.
Backing out of settings to main menu locks down the JBL.
Used paperclip to reset JBL with SD card loaded with books still inserted.
Power up unit and wait while book graphic displays.
Going into Books shows no files found.
Backing out of Books to main menu locks up again.
Paperclip -> reset -> Power -> Wait.
Go into any menu and back out results in locked up unit.

The one thing that strikes me from your description is where you varied
from the standard instructions. You are supposes to Reset after the
"check mark" screen, not just turn it off.

Also, using xcopy with switches is an unnecessary complication. You
can just use Ctrl-A to select the contents of your "Lite16" folder and
drag them to your "G:" drive.

It makes no sense that any change to the firmware could not be "undone"
by a later change to the firmware. As long as the update process functions,
you should be able to install a valid working firmware, that overwrites any
faulty firmware.

This loss of user data storage access, both internal and external, also makes
no sense.

I would try again using the 0.15d-b firmware again, on the idea
that you would be forcing some new code. If that fails, I would
RMA it and ask Ectaco for an explaination.

Sorry;
Ken

[Kralik]

Try this:

*Make a backup of your data/books. Keep the firmware related files on your SD.
*Go to the system test menu: Reset, hold POWER, MENU, ZOOM, release POWER once it turns on but hold MENU and ZOOM until you get to the menu.
*Choose 13. Reflash NOR and then 7. Restore Factory Default.

[steven522]

After re-flashing the firmware over and over and over and over and well, you get the idea...

I finally managed to get v.15d-b firmware restored on the JBL. However, it still would not let me access the internal memory or the SD card.

At this point, only after v15d-b was back on, did Kralik's suggestion to reset factory defaults actually work.

Now I have a working JBL that can see internal memory (empty right now) and the SD card again.

Now I am debating on whether or not to attempt the .16 update again.

[steven522]

No guts, no glory, right?

I went ahead and attempted the v0.16 update. I tried it over and over and, well you know the drill.

Anyway, I finally got the JBL updated and working properly with the 0.16 firmware. I had to do a couple more "factory resets" along the way when things locked down completely, but it finally took.

Now...

I never made a backup of the internal memory to have a copy of the pre-loaded books. I never read any of them and figured it wouldn't matter.

Anyone know if the complete set of default books is available for download from Ectaco? I see the JB_English set but it is at least missing the CIA worldbook set.

[Ken Maltby]

It is too bad that the Karma system here doesn't work for real life, but I'll send you
what I can. It looks like you could really use some.

There is no way it should have been that much trouble.

The procedure that Kralik described reminds me of the process I used for the firmware
on my ARM9 based PDA. (NOR NAND and uboot) I must be really old, I didn't even think
of looking for that approach.

Keeping my fingers crossed for your 0.16.

I know when I first got my JBL that Ectaco had that library available for download and
I seem to remember the CIA Worldbook being part of it.
The "Books" folder I extracted to my hard drive shows as 85.2 MB, and it includes the
Worldbook. If the download isn't around that size uncompressed/unzipped then it might
not all be there.

Luck;
Ken