My PRS-505 doesn't turn off - Help!

[neilmarr]

I didn't 'forget', JS. First I get a 505 with a cable that doesn't charge the thing properly. OK, so I don't lose my temper and buy an AC charger that I'm told is designed for this Reader. Only now do I find (many thanks) that I need an adapter for the charger to fit the machine. It's bloody daft! If this thing's made for the 505, why is it produced in such a way that it can't be used on a 505 without other bits and pieces?

Even worse, when I followed your link to order the tip (thanks for that tip, too), I find that the twits at Gomadic.com will not accept my order because, although they allow me to live in France, they will not allow my town to be anywhere but in one of the US of A.

What a set of pratts they are! I must confess that -- unusually for me -- I'm losing patience.

But thanks for the sound advice, JS. I'm sure I can find the 'tip' at Amazon or somewhere.

Huge apologies for the wee rant, by the way. Very best. Neil

[neilmarr]

Nope, I can only get this wee gizmo from the company in the US and their automated order form won't process because the idiots seem to think that France is in America somewhere (I live in France, and that's OK, it seems, but the darned form won't process unless I provide a US state -- how stupid does it get!). The result is that I now have an unusable 505 from the UK and an unusable charger from the US. Hey, if anyone here is feeling like a Good Samaritan, maybe s/he could order the tip and mail it to me. I'll PayPal you immediately with product cost, all shipping and a wee top up for a beer or two. Hoots. Neil

[igorsk]

Go to the neares game/electronics shop and get a generic PSP charger (with round barrel connector). You don't need any special chargers for the 505.

[neilmarr]

Now you tell me! But many thanks, Igor. A wee hitch I have is that I'm housebound, so every darned thing I need has to be bought online (apart from my beer supply, which is admirably maintained by my wife and the pals next door). I could probably get my son in Munich, Germany to do the trick, though, and send something through the mail. Must confess, though, that I'm not convinced the charger will solve my original problem. Maybe I'll bin the 505 and wait for the 600 to be available in France. Very best and thanks again. Neil

[JSWolf]

Don't bin your 505. As long as it has a working screen, you could sell it for spare parts easily.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Now you tell me! But many thanks, Igor. A wee hitch I have is that I'm housebound, so every darned thing I need has to be bought online (apart from my beer supply, which is admirably maintained by my wife and the pals next door). I could probably get my son in Munich, Germany to do the trick, though, and send something through the mail. Must confess, though, that I'm not convinced the charger will solve my original problem. Maybe I'll bin the 505 and wait for the 600 to be available in France. Very best and thanks again. Neil

I suggest you get the PSP AC adapter. Even if it doesn't solve your problem, you can use it if you do get a 600.

I am sure there have to be some shops in France that sell a PSP AC adapter that would ship to you.

[neilmarr]

Gomadic.com who manufacture the 505 charger have admitted they forgot to include the 'transfer tip' in some recent orders (it's supposed to be part of the package) and have kindly popped one in the post for me, so I'll let you know if AC charging does the trick when it arrives. Thanks again, chaps. Neil

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Gomadic.com who manufacture the 505 charger have admitted they forgot to include the 'transfer tip' in some recent orders (it's supposed to be part of the package) and have kindly popped one in the post for me, so I'll let you know if AC charging does the trick when it arrives. Thanks again, chaps. Neil

Glad to know that Gomadic is making things right for you.

[neilmarr]

They did, indeed, Jon. I've had my 505 on charge overnight ... but the original problem persists. I can't turn it off and the bookmark function doesn't work properly. I'd like -- as a last ditch bid -- to try to format internal memory, but I don't know how to back up what's in my 505 to the PC. I'd be more than grateful for your generous advice. Very best. Neil

[dreams]

Originally Posted by neilmarr

They did, indeed, Jon. I've had my 505 on charge overnight ... but the original problem persists. I can't turn it off and the bookmark function doesn't work properly. I'd like -- as a last ditch bid -- to try to format internal memory, but I don't know how to back up what's in my 505 to the PC. I'd be more than grateful for your generous advice. Very best. Neil

I haven't had to format internal memory, flash, or reset my Reader, but from what I understand, any books that you had put on your Reader will be deleted from the Reader when you hard reset.

You should have all your stuff on the PC anyway, right? Then you just reload all books back to the Reader.

Personally, I would just delete the books from the Reader (so I am starting with an empty Reader) before I did anything.

To Format Internal Memory: From the main menu choose Settings. Then choose Advanced Settings. Finally, choose Format Internal Memory.

All your books will be gone so you will have to reload them to the Reader.

Have you ever tried to shut it down from the menu?

Settings--> Advanced Settings ---> Device Shutdown.

Also, just for more information.... do you have a lot of pdf or large pdf files on your Reader? Sometimes it takes forever to load (as in 30 minutes plus) and if you are enlarging the text the number of pages increases.

**A more experienced member add to this if necessary**

From the MR Wiki..

Reset Instructions
Soft Reset

(preserves contents)

* Paper clip the recessed reset button on the back (not the side, that's the charging indicator LED)
* Exercise the power switch
* Wait for boot to complete

Hard Reset

(erases all contents)

* If the device is on, slide the "Power" so that it turns off. Look for a small pinhole on the back panel (not the side, that's the charging indicator LED) and press the reset button on the back using a bent paper clip (do not use anything sharp like a pin).
* Slide the "Power" button to turn it on. While the screen displays "Starting up ...", you will see the light above the "Power" button flash in yellow. Wait for 35 to 40 seconds, then proceed to hold down the "MARK" and "VOL +" buttons.

(NOTE on the PRS505, do not wait those 35~40 seconds, push and hold the "Mark" and "VOL +" buttons immediately -- the boot window is shorter on 505s)

* CONTINUE TO keep these 2 buttons pressed for about 5 to 10 seconds, until the round "PAGE" button makes a quick blue flash.

* CONTINUE to keep these 2 buttons pressed for another 25 seconds, the screen will show a "Reset All" message, and ask to delete all content.

* Press button '5' to clean up content, this could take several minutes if you have many files on the Reader. When the deletion completes, the Reader will turn off.

* Press the "Power" button to turn it on; this could take several minutes if you have many files on the Reader.

* Connect your device to your PC and log-in to the store.

* Go to Account>Manage Devices – you will be asked if you’d like to authorize this device to your account. Please say yes.

* Your device should be ready to read eBooks purchased from your account.

[neilmarr]

Mille thanks for your time and thoughtful advice, Dreams. I've removed most books from the reader now so that there are only a couple of dozen left. The problem persists.

As a last ditch bid before I return the PRS to the shop in the UK (merely scrapping it would be much easier), I'd like to try to format the internal memory with a hard re-set as you and other pals here have suggested. But if you see how this process must start, you'll realise that there's still a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza.

**** If the device is on, slide the "Power" so that it turns off.***

That I cannot turn off is the very problem I'm trying to fix!

'Tis a three-pipe puzzle, Dr Watson.

Best. Neil

[neilmarr]

AHAAAA ... success!!! I managed to do a hard re-set without turning the machine off. It's now empty, of course, but I can now turn it on and off. Thousand thanks, everyone. You chaps and chappettes rock. Neil

[Goblingoddess]

I've run into a problem with my Sony 505 where it would just freeze and I can't do anything. However resetting seems to fix my problem. I just have to make sure I carry around a paperclip with me at all times since I never know when the 'freezing' will happen. ;-)

[neilmarr]

I've been using toothpicks, Goblin (blunt the end a wee bit). Seems to do the trick and they're easier to come by on your travels that paperclips these days. Hoots. Neil

[dreams]

Originally Posted by neilmarr

AHAAAA ... success!!! I managed to do a hard re-set without turning the machine off. It's now empty, of course, but I can now turn it on and off. Thousand thanks, everyone. You chaps and chappettes rock. Neil

Fantastic!!!

Now, just be careful about the amount of pdf's you load. IMO, they take forever and slow down on enlarging text. (It has even frozen my Reader--I eventually just deleted the book.)