PRS-700 woes

warriorscot · 07-04-2009, 08:43 AM

I just got my PRS-700 and I love it but I've had so many problems with the software which I expected to be rubbish but I can't even get it to run.

Every time I connect my reader to the computer it crashes the software. And because the software doesn't work I can't read .lrf files only epub and pdf and not even all of those.

Anyone else had these problems and know of a work around, Sony tech support are fairly rubbish and I might get them to help me get it fixed but I might not.

Also is there any how to's or guides that can help a relative n00b to readers, I've had moderate success with calibre and converting some files but not everything works and calibre just won't touch some things and the info out there is diluted with useless stuff on reviews and advertising that are no help to me in learning to converter my .txt and .lit ebooks into something the reader will read 100% of the time.

Thanks in advance for anyone that can help.

Wetdogeared · 07-04-2009, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warriorscot

I just got my PRS-700 and I love it but I've had so many problems with the software which I expected to be rubbish but I can't even get it to run...

Does the eBook Library work OK without the PRS-700 attached? ie. Can you connect to the eBook Store by SONY?

Your computer should recognize the prs-700 as a mass storage device even if the SONY software isn't up and running. Have you tried just using windows explorer to transfer .lrf files to your reader?

Just trying to narrow down the problem.

WetDogEared.

warriorscot · 07-04-2009, 09:46 AM

Yeah it works just fine when the reader isnt attaced.

The .lrf files I have I put on both the main memory of the reader and my SD card but the reader doesn't even see them, I have the same books in epub which it will see and read just fine. My working theory on the .lrf is that they aren't showing up because the reader isn't authorised but they aren't DRM just vanilla .lrfs I made up using calibre and/or lib2go.

I have some success with direct transfers but its pretty limited, sometimes it works just fine and at other it is incredibly slow. When it works its fine but sometimes it just stops half way through a file transfer. I can live with this though as it works enough and I will probably be using primarily the SD card that I can load up with something else with just a small core of backup books on the main device. Really its the lack of .lrf support that is annoying me.

I've been reading through the 505 forum troubleshooting trying to get something in there to work. I've made progress but its still not quite right. And I could still do with some info on the general stuff of ebook readers but I'll no doubt be able to learn what I need when I have more time to google around and rake through this site a little.

Wetdogeared · 07-04-2009, 09:53 AM

You mentioned using Calibre. Are you able to load .lrf books to your PRS-700 using Calibre.

Quick question. Did you ever have Calibre and eBook Library up and running at the same time?

WDE.

warriorscot · 07-04-2009, 10:19 AM

No not at the same time. With some finagling and after a few attempts I was able to get my reader authorised and ebook library to run for a little it crashed but not before I was able to register my computer and reader so I can now read .lrf files which I am pretty happy about even if it did take a fair bit of wrangling.

Now that it is done I don't plan on using the elibrary software again unless I have to. Calibre all the way.

The performance of the reader for file transfers is still rubbish, and it has crashed explorer twice today though.

doreenjoy · 07-04-2009, 10:35 PM

I've heard there can be problems with using both Calibre and the Sony software. If you pick one app and stick with it, you should be fine IMO.

warriorscot · 07-05-2009, 07:47 AM

Now I have the reader authorised I don't think I will be using the sony software. Calibre isn't perfect but its way better in every sense than the sony stuff and it it could have authorised the reader I would never even have installed the sony software.

My only big problem now is somewhat unreliable file transfers which may just be a problem with conflicting processes on the system.

Getting the occasional problem with some of my converted books showing a page error on the reader especially the ones converted from .lit. The conversion look good on the PC but the reader just doesn't like them.

HarryT · 07-07-2009, 10:18 AM

You absolutely do not need the Sony software in order to read LRF files. Sounds as though you're putting them into the wrong folder on the PRS700.

warriorscot · 07-08-2009, 05:02 PM

Didn't matter where I put them it didn't work, now the reader is authorised they work anywhere I put them. Pretty conclusive evidence that the reader does in fact need to be authorised to use that file format.

My big problem at the moment is very slow transfer speeds, only a few KB/second which is useless as even 10Mb is taking 30mins to an hour to transfer.

Wetdogeared · 07-08-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warriorscot

...My big problem at the moment is very slow transfer speeds, only a few KB/second which is useless as even 10Mb is taking 30mins to an hour to transfer.

I just transfered the "Websters Dictionary 1913.epub" file which was 12.4 MB and it took less than 10 seconds.

What are you transferring that takes so long? Approximately how many books and what format?

Speed has never been a factor with my PRS-700.

Opening up the book on the PRS-700 only took a few seconds.

WetDogEared.

warriorscot · 07-08-2009, 05:26 PM

At the moment about 70 books at around 40Mb. Mix of lrf and epub mostly epub.

Its as if there is another heavy file transfer going on but there is only the one. It is capable of faster speeds access times are faster than such a slow transfer speed would suggest and it will on occasion transfer at reasonable speed. The only way I can describe it is tempremental because its mostly slow but the fact it can go faster suggests its not a hardware problem.

I've been getting round it by loading up my SD card with the big stuff and all I am doing is filling the internal memory with a few basics but I don't want to have to rely on the SD card as its a good 8GB card I got for my mp3 player so I would rather use it for that and just use the internal memory.

07-04-2009, 08:43 AM	#1
warriorscot Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: prs-700	PRS-700 woes I just got my PRS-700 and I love it but I've had so many problems with the software which I expected to be rubbish but I can't even get it to run. Every time I connect my reader to the computer it crashes the software. And because the software doesn't work I can't read .lrf files only epub and pdf and not even all of those. Anyone else had these problems and know of a work around, Sony tech support are fairly rubbish and I might get them to help me get it fixed but I might not. Also is there any how to's or guides that can help a relative n00b to readers, I've had moderate success with calibre and converting some files but not everything works and calibre just won't touch some things and the info out there is diluted with useless stuff on reviews and advertising that are no help to me in learning to converter my .txt and .lit ebooks into something the reader will read 100% of the time. Thanks in advance for anyone that can help.

07-05-2009, 07:47 AM	#7
warriorscot Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: prs-700	Now I have the reader authorised I don't think I will be using the sony software. Calibre isn't perfect but its way better in every sense than the sony stuff and it it could have authorised the reader I would never even have installed the sony software. My only big problem now is somewhat unreliable file transfers which may just be a problem with conflicting processes on the system. Getting the occasional problem with some of my converted books showing a page error on the reader especially the ones converted from .lit. The conversion look good on the PC but the reader just doesn't like them. Last edited by warriorscot; 07-05-2009 at 07:50 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
My thoughts, PRS-300, PRS-600, PRS-505, PRS-700, Kindle 2	zacheryjensen	Sony Reader	78	12-05-2010 07:33 PM
Port Search Function from PRS 700 to PRS 505 500	jessie102	Sony Reader Dev Corner	7	01-25-2010 11:11 AM
PRS-600 PSA: PRS-600 will hang when attempting to read database of PRS-700	Panther_Modern	Sony Reader	4	10-16-2009 01:08 PM
PRS-700 and PRS-505 Review and Comparison from a PRS-500 owner	geekmeetsworld	Sony Reader	5	03-01-2009 03:34 PM
Sony PRS-505 fast enough for skimming magazines? PRS-700 instead?	jj2me	Which one should I buy?	15	12-29-2008 03:31 AM

07-04-2009, 09:46 AM	#3
warriorscot Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: prs-700	Yeah it works just fine when the reader isnt attaced. The .lrf files I have I put on both the main memory of the reader and my SD card but the reader doesn't even see them, I have the same books in epub which it will see and read just fine. My working theory on the .lrf is that they aren't showing up because the reader isn't authorised but they aren't DRM just vanilla .lrfs I made up using calibre and/or lib2go. I have some success with direct transfers but its pretty limited, sometimes it works just fine and at other it is incredibly slow. When it works its fine but sometimes it just stops half way through a file transfer. I can live with this though as it works enough and I will probably be using primarily the SD card that I can load up with something else with just a small core of backup books on the main device. Really its the lack of .lrf support that is annoying me. I've been reading through the 505 forum troubleshooting trying to get something in there to work. I've made progress but its still not quite right. And I could still do with some info on the general stuff of ebook readers but I'll no doubt be able to learn what I need when I have more time to google around and rake through this site a little.

07-04-2009, 09:53 AM	#4
Wetdogeared Storm Surge'n Posts: 5,780 Karma: 8213195 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Polar Vortex Device: S0ny PRS-300/350/505/700/T1	You mentioned using Calibre. Are you able to load .lrf books to your PRS-700 using Calibre. Quick question. Did you ever have Calibre and eBook Library up and running at the same time? WDE.

07-04-2009, 10:19 AM	#5
warriorscot Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: prs-700	No not at the same time. With some finagling and after a few attempts I was able to get my reader authorised and ebook library to run for a little it crashed but not before I was able to register my computer and reader so I can now read .lrf files which I am pretty happy about even if it did take a fair bit of wrangling. Now that it is done I don't plan on using the elibrary software again unless I have to. Calibre all the way. The performance of the reader for file transfers is still rubbish, and it has crashed explorer twice today though.

07-04-2009, 10:35 PM	#6
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	I've heard there can be problems with using both Calibre and the Sony software. If you pick one app and stick with it, you should be fine IMO.

07-07-2009, 10:18 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You absolutely do not need the Sony software in order to read LRF files. Sounds as though you're putting them into the wrong folder on the PRS700.

07-08-2009, 05:02 PM	#9
warriorscot Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: prs-700	Didn't matter where I put them it didn't work, now the reader is authorised they work anywhere I put them. Pretty conclusive evidence that the reader does in fact need to be authorised to use that file format. My big problem at the moment is very slow transfer speeds, only a few KB/second which is useless as even 10Mb is taking 30mins to an hour to transfer.

07-08-2009, 05:26 PM	#11
warriorscot Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: prs-700	At the moment about 70 books at around 40Mb. Mix of lrf and epub mostly epub. Its as if there is another heavy file transfer going on but there is only the one. It is capable of faster speeds access times are faster than such a slow transfer speed would suggest and it will on occasion transfer at reasonable speed. The only way I can describe it is tempremental because its mostly slow but the fact it can go faster suggests its not a hardware problem. I've been getting round it by loading up my SD card with the big stuff and all I am doing is filling the internal memory with a few basics but I don't want to have to rely on the SD card as its a good 8GB card I got for my mp3 player so I would rather use it for that and just use the internal memory.

Advert

Advert