Sony Reader Library freaking out

[pink_squirrels]

One day this week I decided to buy a new ebook from the sony store, so I go to the reader library expecting to see it on the left hand side bar...it isn't there. I am in list view and can only see the size and date for each file. No file names. One would expect that it is a simple matter of dragging the bar back over. Oh no. That is not the case. So I uninstall, delete and reinstall the sony reader library. The problem continues. So I get on the technical support chat, and the person tells me to download and install the latest firmware update for my reader and come back online the next day. I am skeptical, considering the problem is with my library, not the reader, but I try it anyway. The next day, lo and behold....it didn't work. My reader already had the latest firmware and the problem with the sony reader library still persisted. So I get on to the chat again. This person tells me to uninstall and delete the library, restart the computer and reinstall it in safe mode. I try this too, and my effort is to no avail yet again. I log back on to the Sony Chat and tell them, and this person tells me to uninstall, delete, and reinstall...I do it again just for kicks. Nothing. So s/he asks to take remote control of my computer. I allow this. Sony Support then uninstalls, deletes and reinstalls the library. Still no luck. So they go and change settings so my computer does not check for viruses or popups on my computer for the Sony library. Still nothing. They furiously try to drag the bars around to fix the problem. No luck. they play around minimizing and maximizing the software, and making sure my computers stats are new enough to handle the sony software (which they are). Then all of a sudden the chat abruptly ends, and they are no longer controlling my computer. I tried to log on to the chat again, and it says they won't be available for a few hours. Not that it matters because they don't seem to know how to fix it.

Has anyone encountered this problem with the library? How did you fix it?
(I have attached a picture showing what is wrong because I'm sure I didn't describe it well enough).

Edit- I should add that I got windows 7 in October, got my PRS 600 and original reader software in November, updated to the newest version of the library when it came out in december, and had no problems at all until this week

[dreams]

Welcome to MR, pink_squirrels..

I don't know about Win 7 but I found this post on the problem with a fix for Win XP and Vista. Please let us know if one of these works or what changes you did for the Win 7 version. Hopefully, one of these will help.

EDIT: from this post https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=785102&postcount=5

Originally Posted by redpelicano

Hi Dream,
Thank you for your message. It WORKS!
I have W7 and there was no "Marlin" folder. There is important to delete the TWO Kinoma directories (I tried previously with only one). They can be easily reach by searching.
Thank you again!

Originally Posted by Edd

Here is a list of common problems that You might have with the reader:

1. Can not Authorize Reader
   This usually happens when You try to transfer a book after You purchase it and it tells You that You need to authorize the reader in order to trasnsfer the book. After you click yes to auhtorize it would come up with an error message telling that the page is unavailable. You might work around this by authorizing the reader from "My Authorized Devices" menu.
   
   -Connect the Reader to The Computer
   -Go to the eBookstore
   -Log In into Your Account
   -Click on 'Manage Devices' under the Account Overview
   -Click on the "Authorize This Device" button next to the detected Reader
   
   
2. Source View is not Available
   Sometimes the source view does not show up in the eBook Library Software, most of the time you should be able to get it by dragging the resize button that would come up after you restore the window to normal size in case it is maximized.
   
   But sometimes the Left Pane would simply disappear, in this case you might need to do the following:
   
   -Uninstall the eBook Library
   -Now You might need to delete every folder that remains from the previous installation:
   
   For Windows XP:
   -Change the Folder Options so it would show the Hidden Files and Folders
   
   -Open the Directory "C:\Documents and Settings\AllUsers\ApplicationData" here you need to delete two folders "Kinoma" and "Marlin"
   
   -Open the Directory "C:\Documents and Settings\"Your Windows User Name"\LocalSettings\ApplicationData" here you need to delete the "Kinoma" folder only.
   
   -Open the Directory "C:\Documents and Settings\"Your Windows User Name"\Local Settings" and delete the "Sony Corporation" Folder
   
   -Open the Directory "C:\Program Files\Sony" and delete the Reader Folder
   
   For Windows Vista:
   -Change the Folder Options so it would show the Hidden Files and Folders
   
   -Open the Directory "C:\Program Data" here you need to delete the folders "Kinoma" and "Marlin"
   
   -Open the Directory "C:\Users\"Your Windows User Name"\AppData\Local Settings\Application Data" here you need to delete the "Kinoma" folder and the Sony Corporation Folder.
   
   -Open the Directory "C:\Program Files\Sony\ and delete the "Reader" and "Sony Reader" Folders
   
   -Install the Latest Version of the eBook Library and the Source view should show up.
   

I will keep updating this post when I have more time available

[engineer]

Long story - sorry

I had a similar problem with my 300 reader last week, after buying my first book from the sony site and downloading it to the sony reader library. I could not then download the book to my reader. The sony library software would not recognize my reader - I kept getting a "invalid type" error message. I had no problems with Adobe digital edition and calibre in downloading books - just the sony reader library. Sony support tried to be helpful, but all their proposed solutions (probably the same as you received) did not help.

After mulling over the problem for a while, I remembered a comment on this forum that you could not have epub and pdf file on the reader at the same time. I have been able to mix epub and pdf documents on my reader and read all of them, but I thought it might somehow be a problem for the sony library??

So I deleted all documents and books on my reader (after making sure they were backed up in calibre, and adobe edition), and was able to get the reader recognized by the sony library, and was then able to download my book to the reader. I then reloaded the other books and documents from calibre and adobe edition.

Hope this helps - it might be worth a try, if you haven't already done so.

Good luck

Dave

[pink_squirrels]

Dreams, I tried what you said and still no luck. I'm going for round number 5 with the Sony people.
Engineer, thanks for the advice but my problem is really more with the library than the reader- though, who knows, once the library is running again I may not be able to transfer books!

Thank you both and I will let you know if I find a solution...which may end up being switching to calibre...though I would miss the option to use the library...

[dreams]

I'm sorry the problem hasn't been resolved.

Did you see my "EDIT" about Windows 7 and which folders to delete? Sometimes the folders are "hidden" and you have to go delete them after an uninstall.

I wish you luck. Please let us know what happens.

[pink_squirrels]

Thanks for your help everyone! After my second phone call to support (and multiple e-mails and chats) I got someone who knew what they were doing. I had my computer remotely controlled again, (only this person only showed me what to do rather than doing it herself), and the Sony people have access to a "reinstall" file that builds off of the library already installed and so she transferred me the file and thank goodness it finally worked!
My library is back on track and I can download google books to my heart's content.

Thanks again,

[dreams]

Yea!! I'm glad it is working again!

[pink_squirrels]

Is anyone else having this problem? My Library is freaking out again- it is the 4th time it happened since my original post!

[SkyDream]

I'm sorry but never had any problem with Sony Reader Library.
Maybe you should consider switching to calibre ?

[SeaBookGuy]

I have Windows 7 starter on my netbook, which I use for e-book stuff. Not only have I not had a problem with Sony Library, but I was having awful ADE Overdrive issues which completely disappeared after switching over to SRL to open and transfer library books.

[pink_squirrels]

Yeah...the only problem is I buy my books from the Sony Ebook store.