Firmware Upgrade Issue

maria23 · 10-01-2009, 06:22 PM

I've just received my EZReader today. After 4 hours of charging, the battery icon on the display has been changed to something else which looked a battery icon with 2 pins. I was a lil but surprised as it has been mentioned that the charging time should be 'at least' 12 hours. After that, the reader was working just fine. The problem started when I've decided to upgrade to the latest firmware. As soon as the latest firmware has been installed, I was asked to press any key to reboot the reader. After pressing a key, the reader got stuck on rebooting and the light turned red and blank screen. It has stayed like this for 10 mins after which I've noticed that something was wrong with it. I've thus taken off the battery and plugged it to my laptop which didn't solve anything as the light turned back to red as soon as it was connected to my laptop. I've tried putting back the battery and still getting same result (red light + nothing on the display). Even charging it didn't work. Can anybody help me out please or did anybody encounter the same problem as me?

wallcraft · 10-01-2009, 06:36 PM

I would try two things (first make sure the battery is connected):

a) remove the SD card and hit the reset button on the back with a paper clip, then turn it on.

or

b) plug the charger in, and try re-installing the firmware from the SD card with the battery installed and the charger on (this is always the safest approach to flashing the device).

I'm not really hopeful that (a) will work, but the flashing process is usually very robust - so (b) has a good chance of working.

maria23 · 10-02-2009, 03:16 PM

Thanks for replying.

Much appreciated.

a) Didn't work.
B) After having re-installed the firmware, the reader freezes while trying to reboot. "Press any key to reboot" - after pressing the key, it stops responding and the light turns red.

Morlac · 10-02-2009, 03:25 PM

don't be insulted, but are you sure you have the firmware for the right device? There is an EZ Reader (6") and an EZ Reader Pocket Pro (5") and the firmware for the two is different.

I ask because the official site doesn't always differentiate as clearly as it could -- folks sometimes get the right file but end up trying to follow the update instructions for the wrong machine and wondering why the button they're told to press is not there...

wallcraft · 10-02-2009, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maria23

After having re-installed the firmware, the reader freezes while trying to reboot. "Press any key to reboot" - after pressing the key, it stops responding and the light turns red.

I suggest calling Astak to see if they can help.

AJ Starr · 10-02-2009, 05:11 PM

You did unzip the "rar" file and only used the "bin" file on an empty sd card, right?

spear · 10-02-2009, 05:56 PM

I'm confused: The firmware upgrade goes on the SD card NOT on the OS of the PEZ itself? I know it's in the directions but it didn't seem logical to me. Since my first attempt was a failure, I will put the bin onto the SD card. BUT the SD card has to be an empty one???

Obviously I'm puzzled how this works. I'm not an IT genius, but I do OK, well sometimes...then again I don't really get python scripts and such either. I don't know tons of computer jargon either (mostly self taught)....

I'm feeling kind of stupid right now.....

Denise

Toeknee · 10-02-2009, 06:13 PM

Point your web browser at http://www.theezreader.com

Select the SUPPORT tab and then select FIRMWARE DOWNLOAD.

The instructions are listed there as well as the most current firmware files.

The firmware is about 90 MB in size and is a compressed .rar file. After downloading it, you will need something like 7zip (windows) to decompress the .rar. file into a 130 MB file called setup.bin

Copy setup.bin to the root of the SD card and follow the instructions. I had other stuff on my SD card and it worked fine, so the card does not have to be empty as long as you have room for the setup.bin file.

Note that when it is running, the upgrade will list each thing it is upgrading and it will draw a progress bar across the screen.

Good luck

DaleDe · 10-02-2009, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spear

I'm confused: The firmware upgrade goes on the SD card NOT on the OS of the PEZ itself? I know it's in the directions but it didn't seem logical to me. Since my first attempt was a failure, I will put the bin onto the SD card. BUT the SD card has to be an empty one???

Obviously I'm puzzled how this works. I'm not an IT genius, but I do OK, well sometimes...then again I don't really get python scripts and such either. I don't know tons of computer jargon either (mostly self taught)....

I'm feeling kind of stupid right now.....

Denise

Well, plenty of people tend to add requirements. The firmware upgrade does go on the SD card but there is no requirement that it be empty. However, I would not suggest having several copies of the firmware upgrade on the card at the same time under different names.

I always place mine on the root of the card but I have successfully used cards with ebooks on them and even one out of my camera with all kinds of pictures on it. There just needs to be room for the file.

Dale

Robertb · 10-02-2009, 07:45 PM

IF all the suggestions do not work ( and Dale DePriest REALLY knows his stuff)
please call Astak Tech Support toll-free at: 1-866-368-8788!!

We do want you happy so do not feel alone!!

maria23 · 10-03-2009, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morlac

don't be insulted, but are you sure you have the firmware for the right device? There is an EZ Reader (6") and an EZ Reader Pocket Pro (5") and the firmware for the two is different.

I ask because the official site doesn't always differentiate as clearly as it could -- folks sometimes get the right file but end up trying to follow the update instructions for the wrong machine and wondering why the button they're told to press is not there...

Yeah, I did choose the correct firmware. Thanks for helping.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJ Starr

You did unzip the "rar" file and only used the "bin" file on an empty sd card, right?

Yes, I'd unzipped it before transferring it to my SD Card. Thanks for the reply.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toeknee

The firmware is about 90 MB in size and is a compressed .rar file. After downloading it, you will need something like 7zip (windows) to decompress the .rar. file into a 130 MB file called setup.bin.

I didn't get setup.bin while unzipping, but instead, I got something like: v5blablabla.bin. Does the file name matter?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robertb

IF all the suggestions do not work ( and Dale DePriest REALLY knows his stuff)
please call Astak Tech Support toll-free at: 1-866-368-8788!!

We do want you happy so do not feel alone!!

Thank you Robert. I'm in contact with the support (via email) since 2 days and maybe I'll be sending it back to Astak for it to get repaired.

I want to add something: The customer support is very good. I get replies within 1 hour after sending a reply.

Javed · 10-03-2009, 12:45 AM

The unzipped file is called "v5setup.bin"

maria23 · 10-03-2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javed

The unzipped file is called "v5setup.bin"

Yeah, that's the file name.

Solicitous · 10-03-2009, 07:35 AM

I can't speak too much about firmware upgrade issues on the PP (only got mine 3 days ago), but I've had some past experiences with firmware upgrades on routers etc.

Something that might be worth a try is to format your SD card and re-copy over the .bin file and attempt the firmware upgrade again (an earlier post said you tried it but not whether the PP attempted to install the firmware or not). I also assume you are running Windows? In that case if you didn't, I recommend extracting the .zip file to your hard drive (ie: right-click .zip, select Extract Here) then copy the extracted .bin to the SD card. Under Windows you can just open up the .zip and copy the compressed .bin file to your SD card which Windows will unzip on-the-fly, which I have, albeit only once, an issue copying extracted files that way.

maria23 · 10-03-2009, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solicitous

I can't speak too much about firmware upgrade issues on the PP (only got mine 3 days ago), but I've had some past experiences with firmware upgrades on routers etc.

Something that might be worth a try is to format your SD card and re-copy over the .bin file and attempt the firmware upgrade again (an earlier post said you tried it but not whether the PP attempted to install the firmware or not). I also assume you are running Windows? In that case if you didn't, I recommend extracting the .zip file to your hard drive (ie: right-click .zip, select Extract Here) then copy the extracted .bin to the SD card. Under Windows you can just open up the .zip and copy the compressed .bin file to your SD card which Windows will unzip on-the-fly, which I have, albeit only once, an issue copying extracted files that way.

Thanks for replying.

I've already already gone through all the suggestions you made but unfortunately, still can't get it to work.

10-01-2009, 06:22 PM	#1
maria23 Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: EZReader Pocket Pro	Firmware Upgrade Issue I've just received my EZReader today. After 4 hours of charging, the battery icon on the display has been changed to something else which looked a battery icon with 2 pins. I was a lil but surprised as it has been mentioned that the charging time should be 'at least' 12 hours. After that, the reader was working just fine. The problem started when I've decided to upgrade to the latest firmware. As soon as the latest firmware has been installed, I was asked to press any key to reboot the reader. After pressing a key, the reader got stuck on rebooting and the light turned red and blank screen. It has stayed like this for 10 mins after which I've noticed that something was wrong with it. I've thus taken off the battery and plugged it to my laptop which didn't solve anything as the light turned back to red as soon as it was connected to my laptop. I've tried putting back the battery and still getting same result (red light + nothing on the display). Even charging it didn't work. Can anybody help me out please or did anybody encounter the same problem as me?

10-02-2009, 05:56 PM	#7
spear Connoisseur Posts: 89 Karma: 175420 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mostly In My Head Device: Kindle Paperwhite	My stupid question I'm confused: The firmware upgrade goes on the SD card NOT on the OS of the PEZ itself? I know it's in the directions but it didn't seem logical to me. Since my first attempt was a failure, I will put the bin onto the SD card. BUT the SD card has to be an empty one??? Obviously I'm puzzled how this works. I'm not an IT genius, but I do OK, well sometimes...then again I don't really get python scripts and such either. I don't know tons of computer jargon either (mostly self taught)....I'm feeling kind of stupid right now..... Denise

10-02-2009, 07:45 PM	#10
Robertb Astak Director, Bus. Devl Posts: 2,560 Karma: 2500000 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Astak Pocket PRO	Astak standing by to help IF all the suggestions do not work ( and Dale DePriest REALLY knows his stuff) please call Astak Tech Support toll-free at: 1-866-368-8788!! We do want you happy so do not feel alone!!

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10-01-2009, 06:36 PM	#2
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	I would try two things (first make sure the battery is connected): a) remove the SD card and hit the reset button on the back with a paper clip, then turn it on. or b) plug the charger in, and try re-installing the firmware from the SD card with the battery installed and the charger on (this is always the safest approach to flashing the device). I'm not really hopeful that (a) will work, but the flashing process is usually very robust - so (b) has a good chance of working.

10-02-2009, 03:16 PM	#3
maria23 Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: EZReader Pocket Pro	Thanks for replying. Much appreciated. a) Didn't work. B) After having re-installed the firmware, the reader freezes while trying to reboot. "Press any key to reboot" - after pressing the key, it stops responding and the light turns red.

10-02-2009, 03:25 PM	#4
Morlac Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 181 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Jersey, USA Device: Pocket Pro	don't be insulted, but are you sure you have the firmware for the right device? There is an EZ Reader (6") and an EZ Reader Pocket Pro (5") and the firmware for the two is different. I ask because the official site doesn't always differentiate as clearly as it could -- folks sometimes get the right file but end up trying to follow the update instructions for the wrong machine and wondering why the button they're told to press is not there...

10-02-2009, 05:11 PM	#6
AJ Starr Guru Posts: 815 Karma: 1029784 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nebraska, USA Device: PEZ, Color Libre, 2@Sony T1, Onyx i62HD	You did unzip the "rar" file and only used the "bin" file on an empty sd card, right?

10-02-2009, 06:13 PM	#8
Toeknee Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 12 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Device: Astak EZReader Pro	Point your web browser at http://www.theezreader.com Select the SUPPORT tab and then select FIRMWARE DOWNLOAD. The instructions are listed there as well as the most current firmware files. The firmware is about 90 MB in size and is a compressed .rar file. After downloading it, you will need something like 7zip (windows) to decompress the .rar. file into a 130 MB file called setup.bin Copy setup.bin to the root of the SD card and follow the instructions. I had other stuff on my SD card and it worked fine, so the card does not have to be empty as long as you have room for the setup.bin file. Note that when it is running, the upgrade will list each thing it is upgrading and it will draw a progress bar across the screen. Good luck

10-03-2009, 12:45 AM	#12
Javed Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,270 Karma: 1126878541 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Astak Pocket PRO, iPod Touch, PRS-650	The unzipped file is called "v5setup.bin"

10-03-2009, 07:35 AM	#14
Solicitous Wizard Posts: 1,434 Karma: 1525776 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: TAS, Australia Device: Astak Pocket Pro (Black), 2 x Kindle WiFi (Graphite), iPod Touch 4G	I can't speak too much about firmware upgrade issues on the PP (only got mine 3 days ago), but I've had some past experiences with firmware upgrades on routers etc. Something that might be worth a try is to format your SD card and re-copy over the .bin file and attempt the firmware upgrade again (an earlier post said you tried it but not whether the PP attempted to install the firmware or not). I also assume you are running Windows? In that case if you didn't, I recommend extracting the .zip file to your hard drive (ie: right-click .zip, select Extract Here) then copy the extracted .bin to the SD card. Under Windows you can just open up the .zip and copy the compressed .bin file to your SD card which Windows will unzip on-the-fly, which I have, albeit only once, an issue copying extracted files that way.