Anxious Moments

Cthulhu · 06-11-2008, 07:14 PM

Have been a neglectful squid.

The last time that I read from my E-book (SONY PRS-500)was on a flight from back home to Charleston, SC. That was close to a month ago. Nearly took it took the beach last week, till I thought better of it.

Today, after getting back into the swing of the forum, pulled the trusty ol' thing out of bag, and nearly entered cardiac arrest.

When I finally got past the "Starting up" screen, everything was all chopped and slanty, with the battery box absolutely empty.

I tried to reset the device (by poking the power LED). Then I released it from its creepy faux leather case, & hit the real reset button.

Still all crazy screen issues at the main menu page. The display was normal at the "Starting Up," so the screen was intact. Must be a battery issue.

Connected it to my laptop to charge the accursed thing. After, say, oh, six hours, I discovered to my absolute horror the the CHARGE light had never illuminated! Had evil spirits interrupted the USB power field? Had I crushed the LED in my ignorant haste? Had no idea, though a feeling of dread, as something from man's ancient, fearsome past, swept over me; what if my device no longer functioned? What if it had somehow passed beyond, and returned a twisted, wretched thing?

I removed the slender black box from its plastic, now useless tether, and awaiting the results of that now mocking, maudlin "Starting Up" Screen.

Like the face of an unimaginable demon, the menu screen yet showed jagged, jumbled, and of no use to any but those mournful souls to be found half-alive in Arkham Asylum.

Turned to my learned electronic messenger, and searched its pages for "Hard Reset."

As I desperately read the instructions left by learned elders & shaman, hoping to glean an end, if not a cause of my consternation, tried in fain to resurrect my erstwhile friend and companion.

The power slide sprung to, lifeless and ineffectual. Again and again, with an exquisite paroxysm of hatred, fear, and acrimony before unknown by man or beast, stabbed into its metal posterior with a slender blade.

Nothing could be read upon my dear one's face save a madman's kaleidoscope.

Then I realised it, beyond all certainty.

"Remember the power back" whispered through my tormented soul as I scavenged my mind for recourse to this sordid, heart-wrenching adventure.

From the depths of papers and detritus of months past, I whisked the SONY AC adapter, and plunged its yellow-tinged shaft home.

Nevermind.

Someone once posted that a PRS-500 will not charge via USB past a certain level. Thank you Mobile Read.

(with apologies to the dear, departed Mr. Lovecraft)

zelda_pinwheel · 06-11-2008, 07:20 PM

ouf !! my heart is still beating fast. thank heavens you averted catastrophe. i wouldn't want to witness the wrath of cthulhu, the day the sony caused it to rain down upon the unprepared, unsuspecting world.

but now that i've recovered from my emotions... no reading, no mr, what on earth have you been doing with your time lately ???

Cthulhu · 06-11-2008, 08:40 PM

'Twas not that I was not reading, but rather that I was reading the flattened husks of dead trees, like a sap. (Ooo, there's a bad pun). Finally opened a Larry Niven book a carpenter lent me, & could not put it down.

Beyond that, have been cleraning paint brushes, ordering parts, & overseeing gargantuan electrical systems refits, all while you've been busy amassing an army of devoted sycophants.

They're nice to have around, aren't they?

Greg Anos · 06-11-2008, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

'Twas not that I was not reading, but rather that I was reading the flattened husks of dead trees, like a sap. (Ooo, there's a bad pun). Finally opened a Larry Niven book a carpenter lent me, & could not put it down.

Beyond that, have been cleraning paint brushes, ordering parts, & overseeing gargantuan electrical systems refits, all while you've been busy amassing an army of devoted sycophants.

They're nice to have around, aren't they?

Especially for snacks...........

Patricia · 06-11-2008, 08:51 PM

Good thinking, Cthulu.
The PRS500 uses a small amount of power to maintain its settings. It takes about 3 weeks for the battery to drain entirely, even when a person is not using it.

Here's some advice about recharging and resetting, for others in the same situation.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21337

zelda_pinwheel · 06-11-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

'Twas not that I was not reading, but rather that I was reading the flattened husks of dead trees, like a sap. (Ooo, there's a bad pun). Finally opened a Larry Niven book a carpenter lent me, & could not put it down.

ah, dead tree books. yes i still read a disheartening number of those as well.

Quote:

Beyond that, have been cleraning paint brushes, ordering parts, & overseeing gargantuan electrical systems refits, all while you've been busy amassing an army of devoted sycophants.

They're nice to have around, aren't they?

listen, i swear i don't know what the story is with them, it appears to be closely linked to this avatar but even that is not my doing (planet head made it for me, as if that weren't obvious), and last week i was dressed as pirandello who is significantly less toothsome (according to some... i find he has a certain charm and charisma...) but they were not deterred. the whole phenomenon defies comprehension. really it's beyond me.

however, some of them give me pie, so i won't try to discourage them.

tirsales · 06-11-2008, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Especially for snacks...........

Arent they terribly stringy?

Has your heart survived this affair without greater damage?

@Cthulhu: Its one of the more annoying "features" of the Sony Reader ... I once had the Reader with me on a business travel, lasting 7 days. As I had my notebook with me, I didnt think of packing the AC adaptor - after all I could load via USB.
And guess what: The battery was totally empty. Dont know how that happened, but - it happened.

HarryT · 06-12-2008, 02:58 AM

If you do get stuck without a charger, though, any PSP charger will work just fine with the Sony, and they're very easy to buy in any "games" store.

bbusybookworm · 06-12-2008, 07:27 AM

And I think one of those PSP Y cables with a usb as well as 5v connector works as well.

I've never had to personally, test that theory as I usually used to recharge when down to 2 bats, but it may work. And a retractable version of that is really handy to toss in your bag (Also works for Archos players).

HarryT · 06-12-2008, 08:01 AM

They do work, yes.

Taylor514ce · 06-12-2008, 08:54 AM

Of such stories is life made.

GeoffC · 06-12-2008, 01:20 PM

Of life, are such stories written...

Cthulhu · 06-12-2008, 03:01 PM

Well, yeah. That's why I wrote it.

Lawrence of Arabia & I, just writing stuff down, doing things.

06-11-2008, 07:14 PM	#1
Cthulhu Technologist Posts: 488 Karma: 585237 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I'm between Cities Device: SONY Reader PRS-500	Anxious Moments Have been a neglectful squid. The last time that I read from my E-book (SONY PRS-500)was on a flight from back home to Charleston, SC. That was close to a month ago. Nearly took it took the beach last week, till I thought better of it. Today, after getting back into the swing of the forum, pulled the trusty ol' thing out of bag, and nearly entered cardiac arrest. When I finally got past the "Starting up" screen, everything was all chopped and slanty, with the battery box absolutely empty. I tried to reset the device (by poking the power LED). Then I released it from its creepy faux leather case, & hit the real reset button. Still all crazy screen issues at the main menu page. The display was normal at the "Starting Up," so the screen was intact. Must be a battery issue. Connected it to my laptop to charge the accursed thing. After, say, oh, six hours, I discovered to my absolute horror the the CHARGE light had never illuminated! Had evil spirits interrupted the USB power field? Had I crushed the LED in my ignorant haste? Had no idea, though a feeling of dread, as something from man's ancient, fearsome past, swept over me; what if my device no longer functioned? What if it had somehow passed beyond, and returned a twisted, wretched thing? I removed the slender black box from its plastic, now useless tether, and awaiting the results of that now mocking, maudlin "Starting Up" Screen. Like the face of an unimaginable demon, the menu screen yet showed jagged, jumbled, and of no use to any but those mournful souls to be found half-alive in Arkham Asylum. Turned to my learned electronic messenger, and searched its pages for "Hard Reset." As I desperately read the instructions left by learned elders & shaman, hoping to glean an end, if not a cause of my consternation, tried in fain to resurrect my erstwhile friend and companion. The power slide sprung to, lifeless and ineffectual. Again and again, with an exquisite paroxysm of hatred, fear, and acrimony before unknown by man or beast, stabbed into its metal posterior with a slender blade. Nothing could be read upon my dear one's face save a madman's kaleidoscope. Then I realised it, beyond all certainty. "Remember the power back" whispered through my tormented soul as I scavenged my mind for recourse to this sordid, heart-wrenching adventure. From the depths of papers and detritus of months past, I whisked the SONY AC adapter, and plunged its yellow-tinged shaft home. Nevermind. Someone once posted that a PRS-500 will not charge via USB past a certain level. Thank you Mobile Read. (with apologies to the dear, departed Mr. Lovecraft)

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06-11-2008, 07:20 PM	#2
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	ouf !! my heart is still beating fast. thank heavens you averted catastrophe. i wouldn't want to witness the wrath of cthulhu, the day the sony caused it to rain down upon the unprepared, unsuspecting world. but now that i've recovered from my emotions... no reading, no mr, what on earth have you been doing with your time lately ???

06-11-2008, 08:40 PM	#3
Cthulhu Technologist Posts: 488 Karma: 585237 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I'm between Cities Device: SONY Reader PRS-500	'Twas not that I was not reading, but rather that I was reading the flattened husks of dead trees, like a sap. (Ooo, there's a bad pun). Finally opened a Larry Niven book a carpenter lent me, & could not put it down. Beyond that, have been cleraning paint brushes, ordering parts, & overseeing gargantuan electrical systems refits, all while you've been busy amassing an army of devoted sycophants. They're nice to have around, aren't they?

06-11-2008, 08:51 PM	#5
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	Good thinking, Cthulu. The PRS500 uses a small amount of power to maintain its settings. It takes about 3 weeks for the battery to drain entirely, even when a person is not using it. Here's some advice about recharging and resetting, for others in the same situation. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21337

06-12-2008, 02:58 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,557 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	If you do get stuck without a charger, though, any PSP charger will work just fine with the Sony, and they're very easy to buy in any "games" store.

06-12-2008, 07:27 AM	#9
bbusybookworm Tech Junkie Posts: 1,027 Karma: 10080 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Earth Device: iPad, MotoXStyle, OnePlusOne	And I think one of those PSP Y cables with a usb as well as 5v connector works as well. I've never had to personally, test that theory as I usually used to recharge when down to 2 bats, but it may work. And a retractable version of that is really handy to toss in your bag (Also works for Archos players).

06-12-2008, 08:01 AM	#10
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,557 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	They do work, yes.

06-12-2008, 08:54 AM	#11
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	Of such stories is life made.

06-12-2008, 01:20 PM	#12
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Of life, are such stories written...

06-12-2008, 03:01 PM	#13
Cthulhu Technologist Posts: 488 Karma: 585237 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I'm between Cities Device: SONY Reader PRS-500	Well, yeah. That's why I wrote it. Lawrence of Arabia & I, just writing stuff down, doing things.