PRS-505 PRS-505 fails to boot up

DogWithAnEReader · 03-11-2026, 01:35 PM

Hello!

I've been trying my best to resolve my issue with the help of threads already posted on the forum, but now I'm stuck and I'd appreciate some input.

I have an old, european Sony PRS-505 that hasn't been used in a long time and won't boot up. It charges, and holds a charge well, especially given how old it is.

It starts to boot up, reaches the "starting up..." screen, and occasionally even shows me the menu with a spinny icon - then stops doing anything, with the light blinking yellow for a few seconds. The screen usually stays frozen at that point. Sometimes the screen would show the reverse colors from what it should (black lines would show white and so on), or show other graphical anomalies, especially after I had tried to turn it on a few times on a single charge.

I tried pressing the reset button once and turning it on, I tried pressing it 10 or 12 times and then turning it on, I tried pressing the reset button for 30 seconds at a time and turning it on - no difference in behavior.

Eventually I found a thread that said to try reflashing the reader with the Sony firmware, which was taken offline a couple years ago. I found someone on these forums though who shared a special updater, the exe of which is called "PRS-505 Updater 1.1.00.18040 Special.exe", which is supposed to work no matter which firmware is currently installed on the device - though unfortunately I can't find the thread anymore where I downloaded it from, so I can't answer any specific questions about it unfortunately.

I tried using this special updater, and after following the instructions here (https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/PRS...vering_a_brick) I managed to get the reader to be recognized by my computer and the program. The firmware "upgrade" worked without a hitch. In case it's relevant, it shows up to a Windows 10 laptop as a "USB Device" and doesn't seem to contain any data.

Now, the reader seems to more correctly recognize when it is or isn't connected to a computer - but it still won't boot. It will turn on, and the display shows everything cleanly every time, and it still stops on the "starting up..." screen, with the indicator light blinking yellow and the display frozen on the "starting up..." screen. It hasn't reached the menu since I reflashed it. The biggest difference is, now it won't even try to boot (no yellow light) anymore until I press the reset button first. I tried the firmware upgrade again, and the behaviour is the same.

I don't know what to do. I would love to get this reader up and running again, since I love button controls on ereaders and already have this one. Does anyone have any idea what else I could try to do? I also have access to Mac and Linux computers, in case that's in any way helpful, and I am willing to tinker with it. Thank you!

rkomar · 03-12-2026, 12:04 AM

I'd be surprised if the battery is still working correctly if you have never replaced it in almost twenty years. If you can get your hands on a Sony PSP charger, you can power your PRS-505 with that and see if it completes booting with full power.

acanthicus · 03-17-2026, 04:29 PM

Hi,
I made a note some decades

ago:
It needs to be fully charged, then push reset and the start slider at the same time for a few seconds.
Does the reader has a SD or Memory Stick Duo Card inside? Remove them and try again.
I always charge with the sony charger, not via USB. The charger has a yellow plug (they are color coded?). Outer minus, inner plus, 5V, 800mA, 7W.
If you connect it to the computer you should find at least a folder "database" and "Digital Editions". When it is empty, I think the firmware is missing.
When you google "prs+" which is an alternative software for PRS-Readers, you find a google Code Archive. On the fourth page of the "download"-section is an "uninstaller_505.exe" for uninstalling prs+ and reinstall the standard sony software. Maybe this can be helpfull to restore the original software. But the battery must be charged!
If you are able to restore it - it is a wonderful reader

. With PRS+ even better.
Good luck!
EDIT:
Nowadays it is complicated to get a working battery because of a missing thermistor (I know for sure about that for PRS350 and 650, not sure if the 505 has that problem too). But it is possible to change the battery on the 505. There are Youtube videos about that. I've done it one time but it is not easy and one have to be very very careful when removing the case because of a thin and delicate data cable.

03-11-2026, 01:35 PM	#1
DogWithAnEReader Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2026 Device: PRS-505	PRS-505 fails to boot up Hello! I've been trying my best to resolve my issue with the help of threads already posted on the forum, but now I'm stuck and I'd appreciate some input. I have an old, european Sony PRS-505 that hasn't been used in a long time and won't boot up. It charges, and holds a charge well, especially given how old it is. It starts to boot up, reaches the "starting up..." screen, and occasionally even shows me the menu with a spinny icon - then stops doing anything, with the light blinking yellow for a few seconds. The screen usually stays frozen at that point. Sometimes the screen would show the reverse colors from what it should (black lines would show white and so on), or show other graphical anomalies, especially after I had tried to turn it on a few times on a single charge. I tried pressing the reset button once and turning it on, I tried pressing it 10 or 12 times and then turning it on, I tried pressing the reset button for 30 seconds at a time and turning it on - no difference in behavior. Eventually I found a thread that said to try reflashing the reader with the Sony firmware, which was taken offline a couple years ago. I found someone on these forums though who shared a special updater, the exe of which is called "PRS-505 Updater 1.1.00.18040 Special.exe", which is supposed to work no matter which firmware is currently installed on the device - though unfortunately I can't find the thread anymore where I downloaded it from, so I can't answer any specific questions about it unfortunately. I tried using this special updater, and after following the instructions here (https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/PRS...vering_a_brick) I managed to get the reader to be recognized by my computer and the program. The firmware "upgrade" worked without a hitch. In case it's relevant, it shows up to a Windows 10 laptop as a "USB Device" and doesn't seem to contain any data. Now, the reader seems to more correctly recognize when it is or isn't connected to a computer - but it still won't boot. It will turn on, and the display shows everything cleanly every time, and it still stops on the "starting up..." screen, with the indicator light blinking yellow and the display frozen on the "starting up..." screen. It hasn't reached the menu since I reflashed it. The biggest difference is, now it won't even try to boot (no yellow light) anymore until I press the reset button first. I tried the firmware upgrade again, and the behaviour is the same. I don't know what to do. I would love to get this reader up and running again, since I love button controls on ereaders and already have this one. Does anyone have any idea what else I could try to do? I also have access to Mac and Linux computers, in case that's in any way helpful, and I am willing to tinker with it. Thank you!

03-17-2026, 04:29 PM	#3
acanthicus Connoisseur Posts: 87 Karma: 82790 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: PRS-505, PRS-650, PRS-350, PRS-T3	Hi, I made a note some decades ago: It needs to be fully charged, then push reset and the start slider at the same time for a few seconds. Does the reader has a SD or Memory Stick Duo Card inside? Remove them and try again. I always charge with the sony charger, not via USB. The charger has a yellow plug (they are color coded?). Outer minus, inner plus, 5V, 800mA, 7W. If you connect it to the computer you should find at least a folder "database" and "Digital Editions". When it is empty, I think the firmware is missing. When you google "prs+" which is an alternative software for PRS-Readers, you find a google Code Archive. On the fourth page of the "download"-section is an "uninstaller_505.exe" for uninstalling prs+ and reinstall the standard sony software. Maybe this can be helpfull to restore the original software. But the battery must be charged! If you are able to restore it - it is a wonderful reader . With PRS+ even better. Good luck! EDIT: Nowadays it is complicated to get a working battery because of a missing thermistor (I know for sure about that for PRS350 and 650, not sure if the 505 has that problem too). But it is possible to change the battery on the 505. There are Youtube videos about that. I've done it one time but it is not easy and one have to be very very careful when removing the case because of a thin and delicate data cable. Last edited by acanthicus; 03-17-2026 at 04:41 PM.

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03-12-2026, 12:04 AM	#2
rkomar Wizard Posts: 3,109 Karma: 18944169 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	I'd be surprised if the battery is still working correctly if you have never replaced it in almost twenty years. If you can get your hands on a Sony PSP charger, you can power your PRS-505 with that and see if it completes booting with full power.