Broken PRS-505?

theimmortalbum · 11-30-2008, 11:49 PM

I got my PRS-505 shortly after they began to ship.. and about six months ago, I packed and moved, and after a conversation I had last night, decided to take it out of the drawer I've had it in for those six months, and start to use it again.

However, I've run into an issue. It was dead, obviously, so I put it on my PSP charger overnight. This morning when I went to turn it on, there was a thin black line on the right side of the screen, and what looks like a light grey rectangle covering the left third of the screen.

Is the screen dead? I've turned it on, I think, because the orange light turns on and the screen flickers or somesuch, but several seconds after sliding the switch, that orange indicator begins to blink and eventually goes dark again.

I honestly don't know what's going on. Any help? I'd hate to have to pay for repairs on this thing.. so expensive. Might as well get a new one for Christmas, though I'd rather keep this one.

ProDigit · 12-01-2008, 12:22 AM

I'd plug it in your usb port on the pc to make sure the internal memory works, and to see if the 'red' light appears,an indicator of an empty battery.
Make it charge via usb,and test the charger on the PSP.

I'd also try to press the reset button on the back (this can be done without fear of loss of books or data),and move and hold the power switch for a couple of seconds.This should make the reader reset.
If nothing happens on the screen move and hold the power switch for a second time.

hope that'd do the trick!

theimmortalbum · 12-01-2008, 12:26 AM

The internal memory works fine, I can access every file stored on the reader right now. The red light appears, then turns off.. so I try to turn the reader on again, and the line that appears on the right hand side gets darker and at one point faded away completely.

I never see the USB Charging indicator at all, either, and I know the PSP charger works fine - after all, it charges my PSP.

I've also done several soft resets, and that's typically when I get the most "results".

So.. yeah.

igorsk · 12-01-2008, 05:24 AM

If you can see the files, that means the Reader boots properly. So if you don't see anything on the screen, probably it is broken (or some connection to it).

ProDigit · 12-01-2008, 01:38 PM

+1,
the screen should show you a USB sign, telling you it's connected to the pc before you can access the internal memory!
If a reset in the back, and holding the powerknob does not do anything, then I agree that it could be a screen issue. Perhaps a broken screen?

deelambola · 04-21-2009, 10:27 AM

Has anyone found a solution to the problem described above?

It has happened to me also - screen is grey on one half and light on the other but can see nothing. When i do a soft reset and switch on, the orange light stays solid for a minute and then flickers for a few seconds before dissappearing.

Also when i connect it to the computer i can view all files. the red light also comes on for a period but then goes off but i still cannot view anything on the screen once i remove the USB cable and switch on.

I bought this as a Christmas present for my fiancee from waterstones and so is about 5 months old. Any help would be appreciated as it is cracking me up.

jaxx6166 · 04-21-2009, 09:00 PM

Problems like that have been reported several times on several different threads. The most common belief is that it is either a broken glass substrate (need new screen) from dropping it or otherwise playing rough.

The second is believed to be an issue with the batery and the charging systems inside. This was what I had happen to my 505. If the batery gets depleted to the point where it is deader-than-dead, you have to use the PSP/Wall charger to put the juice back into it. Sometimes this results in the gray lines of death.

My solution was to call Sony support and hope it is under the MFR warranty still. If you bought it within the past year, Sony may be able to help you out. Make sure you get a hold of the Laredo Texas Customer Service branch for final service. They handled my warranty claim without a hitch. It cost me roughly $31USD for overnight shipping to Tx and back to Fl.

If this is the problem, make sure you tell them it is from the battery issue I explained above.

Hopefully they will be able to help you out. If you want, I can try to track down the name of the CSR I spoke to in tech support.

deelambola · 04-22-2009, 03:24 AM

Thanks for the reply.

The battery had been drained to nothing and then left for a few weeks so it was completely flat.

I have only been using the USB to charge it so my first port of call is going to be getting a wall charger and see if I can resurrect it.

I will let you know if this makes any difference.

Cath · 04-26-2009, 04:42 PM

I think I'm having the same problems as described above: it won't switch on, I get the orangle light blinking, and if I plug it in to my PC the red light comes on as if it's charging, but then goes blank again after a few minutes. I can see the internal storage, but the screen is blank. I've tried a soft reset, and sliding the power switch, and it doesn't help.

I don't have a wall charger, nor do I have one for a PSP. I do have one for my HTC TyTN II, not sure if I can use that one?

Last time I used it it was working fine, and I haven't touched it since then (i.e. I haven't dropped it or anything). It's only 2 months old

I can probably return it and get my money back, but I most likely won't be able to get a replacement (due to the way I imported it; I'm not in the US), which would be very disappointing.

wild_Willie2 · 04-27-2009, 01:01 AM

Get youself a PSP charger, they cost almost nothing online.

You can even look at your local version of craigslist for a used charger.

I got my new unit for €6 plus shipping....

igorsk · 04-27-2009, 05:33 PM

You can recover from flat battery with only USB but it can take several hours just to get the red light. PSP charger is much faster and more convenient.

ProDigit · 04-28-2009, 10:33 AM

I plugged in the PSP adaptor AND the USB adaptor.
Reason being, that when plugging in only one of the two, you still can't boot that reader immediately.
I think if the battery is deader than dead, the reader notices the powerplug being inserted, and wants to boot the screen into the "battery charging" view.

If it seems like your battery does not seem to charge, and the screen won't go on, I'd advise you to plug in the two plugs at the same time.
This should give the reader enough juice to boot the device, AND charging the battery at the same time.

I suspect when charging via USB or AC, the reader is literally using almost all that juice to boot; while the battery also needs almost everything to charge, and this gives the error that recharging won't work.
So get a PSP adaptor, and plug the reader in a USB port and the AC at the same time.
Worked for me.

Cath · 04-29-2009, 03:10 AM

Would a PSP car charger work? I'm having trouble trying to find a reasonably priced PSP charger in SA.

Also, is this something that's likely to re-occur every time the battery runs down? Do I need to charge the reader every week or so to keep this from happening?

deelambola · 04-29-2009, 03:18 AM

I borrowed a PSP charger yesterday and left it on charge overnight. However the same thing happened where the red light only appearded for half an hour or so and went out and the reader still would not switch on.

I am trying the USB and PSP charger at the moment.

Other than that I have found my receipt and am getting ready to send it off to SONY as it is only 5 months old.

UPDATE: PSP Charger and USB together could still not get the reader working again. Doesn't seem to be a problem with the charging. Can not think of anything else to do. Will just have to get in contact with Sony (or Waterstones- were i bought it 5 months ago).

ProDigit · 05-01-2009, 11:12 AM

When you plug in both, press the reset button, and then poweron?

If you do that, make sure you have no SD card in the reader.
Sometimes an SD card can host a broken bootloader, or perhaps non compatible,or too many books, which will make your reader freeze.

A last thing to do, is to free up at least 5; or preferrably 10 MB from the internal flash.
Connect the reader to your laptop and do that first.
Sometimes the reader can't boot due to insufficient free disk space.

As far as a carcharger, yes.it's the same as the PSP AC adaptor. Same voltage, and more than enough Amps; so it should work.

11-30-2008, 11:49 PM	#1
theimmortalbum Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	Broken PRS-505? I got my PRS-505 shortly after they began to ship.. and about six months ago, I packed and moved, and after a conversation I had last night, decided to take it out of the drawer I've had it in for those six months, and start to use it again. However, I've run into an issue. It was dead, obviously, so I put it on my PSP charger overnight. This morning when I went to turn it on, there was a thin black line on the right side of the screen, and what looks like a light grey rectangle covering the left third of the screen. Is the screen dead? I've turned it on, I think, because the orange light turns on and the screen flickers or somesuch, but several seconds after sliding the switch, that orange indicator begins to blink and eventually goes dark again. I honestly don't know what's going on. Any help? I'd hate to have to pay for repairs on this thing.. so expensive. Might as well get a new one for Christmas, though I'd rather keep this one. Last edited by theimmortalbum; 11-30-2008 at 11:53 PM.

04-26-2009, 04:42 PM	#9
Cath Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle Basic 2014	I think I'm having the same problems as described above: it won't switch on, I get the orangle light blinking, and if I plug it in to my PC the red light comes on as if it's charging, but then goes blank again after a few minutes. I can see the internal storage, but the screen is blank. I've tried a soft reset, and sliding the power switch, and it doesn't help. I don't have a wall charger, nor do I have one for a PSP. I do have one for my HTC TyTN II, not sure if I can use that one? Last time I used it it was working fine, and I haven't touched it since then (i.e. I haven't dropped it or anything). It's only 2 months old I can probably return it and get my money back, but I most likely won't be able to get a replacement (due to the way I imported it; I'm not in the US), which would be very disappointing. Last edited by Cath; 04-26-2009 at 04:55 PM.

04-29-2009, 03:18 AM	#14
deelambola Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: prs 505	I borrowed a PSP charger yesterday and left it on charge overnight. However the same thing happened where the red light only appearded for half an hour or so and went out and the reader still would not switch on. I am trying the USB and PSP charger at the moment. Other than that I have found my receipt and am getting ready to send it off to SONY as it is only 5 months old. UPDATE: PSP Charger and USB together could still not get the reader working again. Doesn't seem to be a problem with the charging. Can not think of anything else to do. Will just have to get in contact with Sony (or Waterstones- were i bought it 5 months ago). Last edited by deelambola; 04-30-2009 at 03:03 AM. Reason: UPDATE

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12-01-2008, 12:22 AM	#2
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	I'd plug it in your usb port on the pc to make sure the internal memory works, and to see if the 'red' light appears,an indicator of an empty battery. Make it charge via usb,and test the charger on the PSP. I'd also try to press the reset button on the back (this can be done without fear of loss of books or data),and move and hold the power switch for a couple of seconds.This should make the reader reset. If nothing happens on the screen move and hold the power switch for a second time. hope that'd do the trick!

12-01-2008, 12:26 AM	#3
theimmortalbum Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	The internal memory works fine, I can access every file stored on the reader right now. The red light appears, then turns off.. so I try to turn the reader on again, and the line that appears on the right hand side gets darker and at one point faded away completely. I never see the USB Charging indicator at all, either, and I know the PSP charger works fine - after all, it charges my PSP. I've also done several soft resets, and that's typically when I get the most "results". So.. yeah.

12-01-2008, 05:24 AM	#4
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	If you can see the files, that means the Reader boots properly. So if you don't see anything on the screen, probably it is broken (or some connection to it).

12-01-2008, 01:38 PM	#5
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	+1, the screen should show you a USB sign, telling you it's connected to the pc before you can access the internal memory! If a reset in the back, and holding the powerknob does not do anything, then I agree that it could be a screen issue. Perhaps a broken screen?

04-21-2009, 10:27 AM	#6
deelambola Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: prs 505	Has anyone found a solution to the problem described above? It has happened to me also - screen is grey on one half and light on the other but can see nothing. When i do a soft reset and switch on, the orange light stays solid for a minute and then flickers for a few seconds before dissappearing. Also when i connect it to the computer i can view all files. the red light also comes on for a period but then goes off but i still cannot view anything on the screen once i remove the USB cable and switch on. I bought this as a Christmas present for my fiancee from waterstones and so is about 5 months old. Any help would be appreciated as it is cracking me up.

04-21-2009, 09:00 PM	#7
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	Problems like that have been reported several times on several different threads. The most common belief is that it is either a broken glass substrate (need new screen) from dropping it or otherwise playing rough. The second is believed to be an issue with the batery and the charging systems inside. This was what I had happen to my 505. If the batery gets depleted to the point where it is deader-than-dead, you have to use the PSP/Wall charger to put the juice back into it. Sometimes this results in the gray lines of death. My solution was to call Sony support and hope it is under the MFR warranty still. If you bought it within the past year, Sony may be able to help you out. Make sure you get a hold of the Laredo Texas Customer Service branch for final service. They handled my warranty claim without a hitch. It cost me roughly $31USD for overnight shipping to Tx and back to Fl. If this is the problem, make sure you tell them it is from the battery issue I explained above. Hopefully they will be able to help you out. If you want, I can try to track down the name of the CSR I spoke to in tech support.

04-22-2009, 03:24 AM	#8
deelambola Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: prs 505	Thanks for the reply. The battery had been drained to nothing and then left for a few weeks so it was completely flat. I have only been using the USB to charge it so my first port of call is going to be getting a wall charger and see if I can resurrect it. I will let you know if this makes any difference.

04-27-2009, 01:01 AM	#10
wild_Willie2 Zealot Posts: 125 Karma: 24 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: prs 505	Get youself a PSP charger, they cost almost nothing online. You can even look at your local version of craigslist for a used charger. I got my new unit for €6 plus shipping....

04-27-2009, 05:33 PM	#11
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	You can recover from flat battery with only USB but it can take several hours just to get the red light. PSP charger is much faster and more convenient.

04-28-2009, 10:33 AM	#12
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	I plugged in the PSP adaptor AND the USB adaptor. Reason being, that when plugging in only one of the two, you still can't boot that reader immediately. I think if the battery is deader than dead, the reader notices the powerplug being inserted, and wants to boot the screen into the "battery charging" view. If it seems like your battery does not seem to charge, and the screen won't go on, I'd advise you to plug in the two plugs at the same time. This should give the reader enough juice to boot the device, AND charging the battery at the same time. I suspect when charging via USB or AC, the reader is literally using almost all that juice to boot; while the battery also needs almost everything to charge, and this gives the error that recharging won't work. So get a PSP adaptor, and plug the reader in a USB port and the AC at the same time. Worked for me.

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04-29-2009, 03:10 AM	#13
Cath Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle Basic 2014	Would a PSP car charger work? I'm having trouble trying to find a reasonably priced PSP charger in SA. Also, is this something that's likely to re-occur every time the battery runs down? Do I need to charge the reader every week or so to keep this from happening?

05-01-2009, 11:12 AM	#15
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	When you plug in both, press the reset button, and then poweron? If you do that, make sure you have no SD card in the reader. Sometimes an SD card can host a broken bootloader, or perhaps non compatible,or too many books, which will make your reader freeze. A last thing to do, is to free up at least 5; or preferrably 10 MB from the internal flash. Connect the reader to your laptop and do that first. Sometimes the reader can't boot due to insufficient free disk space. As far as a carcharger, yes.it's the same as the PSP AC adaptor. Same voltage, and more than enough Amps; so it should work.