PRS 505 - unusual freeze

Ekhtelion · 11-04-2009, 03:35 PM

Hello again,

My second thread here ane second hope to find any help... Luckily JeffElkins was able to help me first time. (THANKS again

)

So...

I am using my PRS 505 since July 2008. I imported it from US and my guarantee is now expired.

I was using it during this year without any problems. It was runing on 1.0 firmware and with some minor customization. Few weeks ago it suddenly freezed during the startup but luckily yellow led was blinking (STARTING UP screen). After some recharging I was able to unbrick it. Firstly I thought that it was caused by flat battery (it happened to me few times before) and recharging will do the trick. But freezes came up again and again...

Few days ago i finally unbricked PRS and formatted internal memory, erased card, downloaded and upgraded to 1.1 firmware and used PRScustomizer. I thought that changing soft will fix all my problems but I was wrong...

I fully charged my reader and started reading. After... maybe 15 pages it simply freezed. Switching the power button only makes that yellow LED lights on now (NO blinking).

I read many posts about soft/hard reset, unbricking reset (10 times), 2sec-10sec-3sec reset. When I connect to PC via USB nothing happens except charging. After hour red LED turns off and yellow lights on. After few hours it turns OFF and red lights on...

I even tried overnight charging via standalone charger with no result. Now I'm a bit confused and I don't know what to do...

Sorry for my english. I assume it might be quite awkard.

wild_Willie2 · 11-05-2009, 01:14 AM

Sounds as a battery problem to me....

Most likely your battery went bad and goed dry within a few minutes.

Did you use a PSP charcher to fully recharge the battery?

dreams · 11-05-2009, 01:31 AM

I have had a problem when a pdf file would freeze the reader after a few pages. Every time I tried, it would freeze. I don't keep books on the card and I don't try more than one pdf file at a time on my Sony. Maybe you have a lot of pdf files or just a corrupted file?

I hope you can find a solution.

Ekhtelion · 11-05-2009, 03:08 AM

@wild_Willie2: I thought that wab battery too on the beginning... But before my problems with reader I was able to read ~1000 pages without charging so I assume that battery was working quite good. And also I charged fully PRS overnight using standalone charger (not PSP but similar).

It looks like reader is in somekind of 'processing' mode. I read that yellow led points that processor is working. I had similar issue before but then yellow 'automagically' started to blink sooner o later and I was able to do the reset procedures.

@dreams

I stored all my files in internal memory of reader not on the card. And I mainly used .lrf (maybe I had 2-3 only).

When I'll be able to revive him I will pu t only one book to memory and check if any problems occure.

wild_Willie2 · 11-05-2009, 01:30 PM

Most likely its the battery.

I would try the PSP loader trick if I where you.

Get a psp charger, reload the battery, and if it doesn't work, return the charger

dreams · 11-05-2009, 01:38 PM

Are you loading files that you have converted (changed format)? Are you loading the files to your Reader with Calibre? Sony eLibrary?

Ekhtelion · 11-05-2009, 02:52 PM

@wild_Willie2: I disassembled my reader few minutes ago and checked battery with voltometer. It showed 4.09v so battery is OK (in service manual is 3.7v). But despite that I'm going to buy PSP charger tomorrow and try overnight charging.

@dreams: I was converting my books from .doc/.rtf to .lrf using BookDesigner software and copied it manualy to folder media on reader.

dreams · 11-06-2009, 12:57 AM

I know that, when I load books using Sony eLibrary, it prepagnates the pages and it will open and change pages faster.

If I just drop the book in, it takes longer the first time to load, change font, size, etc and sometimes will freeze.. especially if the book is very large.

Have you tried using the eLibrary to load your books?

Ekhtelion · 11-06-2009, 12:09 PM

As I said before, today I bought PSP charger. After 2.5 hour of charging red led turned off and nothing happened. Still yelow one is glowing after turning on and I'm unable to connect reader to PC via USB...

My reader is now only quite expensive piece of electronic junk. RIP

I dont know what I can do more...

Thanks for any help.

kenmark · 11-06-2009, 12:33 PM

You have probably tried all the suggested hard resets but if not, you can find instructions from Sony here.

dreams · 11-06-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenmark

You have probably tried all the suggested hard resets but if not, you can find instructions from Sony here.

And just to make it easy, here is what is posted there..

Quote:

How to perform a hard reset on the Sony® Reader.
Solution

WARNING: A hard reset will erase all content on the Reader.

1. Ensure the Reader is powered off by checking that the indicator next to the power button [FIG. 1] is not illuminated.
2. On the back of the Reader, using a pin or paper clip, press the RESET button.
3. Turn on the Reader.
4. While the screen displays Starting up... , simultaneously press and hold down the Mark button and the VOL + button until the Reset All screen is displayed.

NOTE: If Starting up... does not display on the screen, charge the Reader's battery for several hours before attempting the reset process again.
5. Press the 5 button to reset the Reader.

It is very frustrating to have something happen to your Reader and not be able to get it fixed right away.

I've read in other problem threads that, sometimes, going back and retrying steps again has solved the problem. You never know, it just might work.. Good Luck and don't give up.

Ekhtelion · 11-06-2009, 05:06 PM

Sure I'll be trying. What else I can do :/. The thing that pisses me of mostly is that I was only reading book and this freeze came out... No fall, no moistured... Nothing. Just using as usual.

But there is still a hope. I found some 3rd party service workshop which specializes in Sony products. But I'm afraid that they can only replace mainboard in reader and it would cost me approx. 3/4 of new PRS.

wild_Willie2 · 11-07-2009, 04:13 AM

Well, If you can get yourself a reader with a broken screen, you can easely replace the mainboard yourself.

Look at the reader for parts thread in this forum to see if he still has a reader with a damaged screen for you.

I payed 75 dollars for a reader with a defective screen that I used to fix my own reader witch had kicked the bucket after I dropped it....

DTalon · 11-14-2010, 09:18 PM

Thank you all for the advice...i think i figured out what happened with mine.

11-04-2009, 03:35 PM	#1
Ekhtelion Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS 505	PRS 505 - unusual freeze Hello again, My second thread here ane second hope to find any help... Luckily JeffElkins was able to help me first time. (THANKS again ) So... I am using my PRS 505 since July 2008. I imported it from US and my guarantee is now expired. I was using it during this year without any problems. It was runing on 1.0 firmware and with some minor customization. Few weeks ago it suddenly freezed during the startup but luckily yellow led was blinking (STARTING UP screen). After some recharging I was able to unbrick it. Firstly I thought that it was caused by flat battery (it happened to me few times before) and recharging will do the trick. But freezes came up again and again... Few days ago i finally unbricked PRS and formatted internal memory, erased card, downloaded and upgraded to 1.1 firmware and used PRScustomizer. I thought that changing soft will fix all my problems but I was wrong... I fully charged my reader and started reading. After... maybe 15 pages it simply freezed. Switching the power button only makes that yellow LED lights on now (NO blinking). I read many posts about soft/hard reset, unbricking reset (10 times), 2sec-10sec-3sec reset. When I connect to PC via USB nothing happens except charging. After hour red LED turns off and yellow lights on. After few hours it turns OFF and red lights on... I even tried overnight charging via standalone charger with no result. Now I'm a bit confused and I don't know what to do... Sorry for my english. I assume it might be quite awkard.

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11-05-2009, 01:14 AM	#2
wild_Willie2 Zealot Posts: 125 Karma: 24 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: prs 505	Sounds as a battery problem to me.... Most likely your battery went bad and goed dry within a few minutes. Did you use a PSP charcher to fully recharge the battery?

11-05-2009, 01:31 AM	#3
dreams It's about the umbrella Posts: 25,112 Karma: 56250158 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony 505\| K Fire \| KK 3G+Wi-Fi \| iPhone 3Gs \|Vista 32-bit Hm Prem w/FF	I have had a problem when a pdf file would freeze the reader after a few pages. Every time I tried, it would freeze. I don't keep books on the card and I don't try more than one pdf file at a time on my Sony. Maybe you have a lot of pdf files or just a corrupted file? I hope you can find a solution.

11-05-2009, 03:08 AM	#4
Ekhtelion Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS 505	@wild_Willie2: I thought that wab battery too on the beginning... But before my problems with reader I was able to read ~1000 pages without charging so I assume that battery was working quite good. And also I charged fully PRS overnight using standalone charger (not PSP but similar). It looks like reader is in somekind of 'processing' mode. I read that yellow led points that processor is working. I had similar issue before but then yellow 'automagically' started to blink sooner o later and I was able to do the reset procedures. @dreams I stored all my files in internal memory of reader not on the card. And I mainly used .lrf (maybe I had 2-3 only). When I'll be able to revive him I will pu t only one book to memory and check if any problems occure.

11-05-2009, 01:30 PM	#5
wild_Willie2 Zealot Posts: 125 Karma: 24 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: prs 505	Most likely its the battery. I would try the PSP loader trick if I where you. Get a psp charger, reload the battery, and if it doesn't work, return the charger

11-05-2009, 01:38 PM	#6
dreams It's about the umbrella Posts: 25,112 Karma: 56250158 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony 505\| K Fire \| KK 3G+Wi-Fi \| iPhone 3Gs \|Vista 32-bit Hm Prem w/FF	Are you loading files that you have converted (changed format)? Are you loading the files to your Reader with Calibre? Sony eLibrary?

11-05-2009, 02:52 PM	#7
Ekhtelion Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS 505	@wild_Willie2: I disassembled my reader few minutes ago and checked battery with voltometer. It showed 4.09v so battery is OK (in service manual is 3.7v). But despite that I'm going to buy PSP charger tomorrow and try overnight charging. @dreams: I was converting my books from .doc/.rtf to .lrf using BookDesigner software and copied it manualy to folder media on reader.

11-06-2009, 12:57 AM	#8
dreams It's about the umbrella Posts: 25,112 Karma: 56250158 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony 505\| K Fire \| KK 3G+Wi-Fi \| iPhone 3Gs \|Vista 32-bit Hm Prem w/FF	I know that, when I load books using Sony eLibrary, it prepagnates the pages and it will open and change pages faster. If I just drop the book in, it takes longer the first time to load, change font, size, etc and sometimes will freeze.. especially if the book is very large. Have you tried using the eLibrary to load your books?

11-06-2009, 12:09 PM	#9
Ekhtelion Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS 505	As I said before, today I bought PSP charger. After 2.5 hour of charging red led turned off and nothing happened. Still yelow one is glowing after turning on and I'm unable to connect reader to PC via USB... My reader is now only quite expensive piece of electronic junk. RIP I dont know what I can do more... Thanks for any help.

11-06-2009, 12:33 PM	#10
kenmark Addict Posts: 204 Karma: 250000 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Great White North Device: PRS-505	You have probably tried all the suggested hard resets but if not, you can find instructions from Sony here.

11-06-2009, 05:06 PM	#12
Ekhtelion Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS 505	Sure I'll be trying. What else I can do :/. The thing that pisses me of mostly is that I was only reading book and this freeze came out... No fall, no moistured... Nothing. Just using as usual. But there is still a hope. I found some 3rd party service workshop which specializes in Sony products. But I'm afraid that they can only replace mainboard in reader and it would cost me approx. 3/4 of new PRS.

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11-07-2009, 04:13 AM	#13
wild_Willie2 Zealot Posts: 125 Karma: 24 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: prs 505	Well, If you can get yourself a reader with a broken screen, you can easely replace the mainboard yourself. Look at the reader for parts thread in this forum to see if he still has a reader with a damaged screen for you. I payed 75 dollars for a reader with a defective screen that I used to fix my own reader witch had kicked the bucket after I dropped it....

11-14-2010, 09:18 PM	#14
DTalon Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Yorktown, Virginia Device: PRS-505	Thank you all for the advice...i think i figured out what happened with mine.