Sony Reader Start-Up and Reset Guide

This page covers some common issues that users of the various Sony Readers encounter.

Installing the Sony Reader software

Connect your Reader to the computer via the usb port and the computer should prompt you to install the Reader Library software.

If you are not prompted, the software can be downloaded from SonyStyle.com

Windows

Mac

Authorizing the Reader to the Sony software

How to authorize a Reader to an eBook Store account. Solution

To transfer books from a computer to the Reader, you must authorize the Reader to your account. Authorization links your Reader to your eBook Store account, allowing books purchased from the eBook Store to be transferred to the authorized Reader. You can authorize up to six devices to a single account.

1. Launch the Reader (eBook) Library software.

2. Log in to your eBook Store account.

3. Turn on the Reader.

NOTE: For best results, we recommend that the Reader be fully charged before starting the authorization process.

4. Connect the Reader to the computer.

5. In the eBook Store pane, click My account .

6. On the Account Management page, under My Authorized Devices , click Manage Devices .

7. On the Manage Device page, under We have detected the following attached Devices: , click the Authorize this device button.

Stop Sony Reader Library from opening on connecting to the PC

If you want to stop the Sony Reader Library program from automatically opening each time you connect the device then you can turn this off with the following steps, Windows PC's only:

Click the Start button and type "msconfig", (no quotes), in the little box...

Click on the Startup tab...

Uncheck the box next to "Reader Library"...

Click OK...

You can still open the Reader Library program from the Start menu after making this change.

Installing Adobe Digital Editions

If you do not wish to use the Sony Reader Library software but still wish to purchase DRM protected ePub and PDF ebooks. You will need to download Adobe Digital Editions (ADE). This software will work for checking out library ebooks as well.

Adobe Digital Editions

Authorizing the Reader to ADE

After downloading and installing Adobe Digital Editions (ADE), connect your Reader to your computer via usb. You should be prompted to authorize your Reader to your Adobe account.

Follow the instructions after connecting your Reader.

Why doesn't Adobe Digital Editions detect my reader?

For ADE to connect with the Sony Reader (any of them) you must have installed the Sony EBL software, even if you don't use it. The reason is that ADE uses a Sony driver that is installed during the EBL installation. If the driver is not present, ADE will not see any Sony Readers.

Borrowing library books

To borrow library books you need to have Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) installed, to have authorized your reader, and to be a member of a library that supports ebook lending. You may be able to find a library providing this service near you from search.overdrive.com or just click on eBook Lending Libraries. Note: You also need to have the Sony software installed, even if you don't use it, because without it ADE will not be able to see your reader!

You can browse your library's catalog and choose the books you want to borrow just like in an eBook store. If all the libraries copies of a book are already checked out then you can add yourself to a queue for that book and you will be notified by email when it is returned, you will then have a fixed number of days to checkout that eBook from the library. Rules about how many books you may borrow and for how long vary between different libraries.

Once you have selected the eBooks you want and checked them out you will then download a .acsm (Adobe Content Server Message) file from the libraries webpage. This file should be opened with ADE and the actual ebook will then be downloaded to your computer. The ebook will appear under "Borrowed" in the library view within ADE, with a sign on the cover stating how many days you have left remaining on that books checkout. You can load the books on your reader using ADE or EBL. On the reader you will see a little clock next to the title, reminding you again of the days you have left.

If you have finished with the eBook before the end of the set lending period, you can "return" the books early through ADE (click on the small arrow next to the book's cover, and select "return borrowed item"). Some users have reported a temporary block being placed on their library account which was possibly triggered by repeatedly returning books before the lending period expired.

You can borrow epub and pdf books from your library, but be careful to never have both epub and pdf library books on your reader at the same time, as there is a conflict and you will not be able to access them. A Protected Page! error occurs on the Reader when opening a borrowed book that is in the ePub or PDF format when borrowed Adobe DRM-protected ePub and PDF eBooks exist on the Reader at the same time (Protected Page error has been fixed for PRS-350/650/900/950 Readers). Follow this procedure to correct this issue: From Sony eSupport [1]

1. Delete all borrowed books from the Reader.

2. Verify that all borrowed books are in the same format (either ePub or PDF) before transferring them back to the Reader.

After the borrowing period is over, you will not have access to your borrowed books any more, and you can delete them from your computer.

USB device locked

if you get the message "Device Locked" while you connect your device using the USB connection, and no USB mass-storage is mounted into your file system (aka in My Computer, so you cannot access to your reader's content); just set the Device Lock option in More → Settings → Advanced Settings → Device Lock to 'Off'. Indeed, the mass-storage mounting capability is disabled when the device is "locked", EVEN WHEN YOU CONNECT THE DEVICE WHILE IT IS UNLOCKED AND/OR USED.

USB device not recognized

If you get the error "USB device not recognized" on your computer when attempting to connect your Sony Reader this should be fixed by performing a soft reset on the reader and then re connecting the device to the computer.

An other solution that worked for me was to turn off the device completely and then re-connecting the USB cable to the reader. To turn off the device you hold the power switch for more then 3 sec and then answer 'Yes' on the screen.

Another possible solution is to choose a USB port that is on the computer's back panel, rather than a front-mounted port. The back-panel USB ports are usually directly connected to the internal motherboard, while front-panel ports sometimes utilize a USB hub, and this connection type is not supported by Sony.

Where are my ebook files located?

Windows:

• If you downloaded them using ADE, the folder is <your username>/documents/My Digital Editions
• If you downloaded them using the sony software, the folder is <your username>/documents/My Books/Reader Library

Resetting the device

Soft Reset

IMPORTANT: A soft reset can be performed anytime and will resolve most issues.

1. Locate the reset button access hole. It is labeled RESET and, depending on your model, can be found on the back or bottom of your Reader device.

PRS 500 NOTE: On the PRS-500 model, you must remove the soft cover to locate the rest button access hole.

2. Using a thin object such as a paper clip or stylus (included with touch models), press the RESET button.

3. The screen will not change after pressing the RESET button. You must now slide the POWER switch to turn on the Reader device again.

Hard Reset (PRS-300)

WARNING: A HARD RESET WILL ERASE ALL CONTENT ON THE READER.

1. Power off the Reader.

2. On the bottom edge of the Reader, using a pin or paper clip, press the RESET button.

3. Turn on the Reader.

4. While the screen displays Opening book... , simultaneously press and hold down the down arrow of the directional button and the 0 button until the Reset All screen is displayed.

 NOTE: If Opening book... 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.

Hard Reset (PRS-350/650/950)

WARNING: A HARD RESET WILL ERASE ALL CONTENT ON THE READER.

1. Power off the Reader Digital Book.

NOTE: If the Reader Digital Book is active, you can slide and hold the power button until the Device Shutdown screen appears and then tap Yes to power it off.

2. On the bottom edge of the Reader Digital Book, using a thin object such as a paper clip, press the RESET button.

3. Turn on the Reader Digital Book.

4. While the screen displays Opening book... , simultaneously press and hold down the Previous Page Turn button and the Size button until the Reset All screen is displayed.

NOTE: If Opening book... does not display on the screen, charge the battery for several hours before attempting the reset process again.

5. In the Reset All screen, press the OPTIONS button to delete all content, restore all factory settings, and clear the DRM authorization state.

Hard Reset (PRS-500)

WARNING: A HARD RESET WILL ERASE ALL CONTENT ON THE READER.

1. Ensure the device is powered off by checking that the indicator above the power button is not illuminated.

2. Remove the cover and press the reset button on the back of the Reader using a pin or paper clip.

3. Turn on the device.

4. While the screen displays Starting up ... , hold down the MARK and VOL+ buttons.

NOTES:

• The MARK and VOL+ buttons must be held down continuously.
• If Starting up... does not display on the screen, charge the Reader's battery for several hours before attempting the reset process again.

5. Continue to hold the MARK and VOL+ buttons until the screen displays Reset All: Do you want to DELETE all content, restore all factory settings, and remove the CONNECT ID? Yes - Press 5. No - Press MENU.

6. Press the 5 button to hard reset the Reader.

NOTE: The hard reset could take several minutes if there are many files on the Reader. When the reset completes, the Reader will turn off.

Hard Reset (PRS-505)

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 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.

Hard Reset (PRS-600/900)

WARNING: A HARD RESET WILL ERASE ALL TRANSFERRED CONTENT ON THE READER. IT WILL NOT ERASE THE BUILT-IN DICTIONARY.

1. Power off the Reader.

2. On the bottom edge of the Reader, using the stylus, press the RESET button.

3. Turn on the Reader.

4. While the screen displays Opening book... , simultaneously press and hold down the Page Turn button (for my 600 this is the turn back button (<) and the VOL + button until the Reset All screen is displayed.

NOTE: If Opening book... does not display on the screen, charge the Reader's battery for several hours before attempting the reset process again.

5. Touch YES to reset the Reader.

Hard Reset (PRS-700)

WARNING: A HARD RESET WILL ERASE ALL CONTENT ON THE READER.

1. Ensure the Reader is powered off by sliding the power button to the right. Please note the power button will go back to it's original position.

2. On the back of the Reader, using the stylus, press the RESET button for three seconds.

3. After the three seconds, slide the power button on/off twice.

4. While the screen displays Starting up... , simultaneously press and hold down the back button (back button, NOT the left page turn) 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 four hours when charging with a computer or two hours when using an AC adaptor. Before attempting the reset process again. During the reset, the light indicator next to the power button [FIG. 1] will be on.

5. Touch Yes to reset the Reader

Alternative Hard Reset Timing

If you can't get the Reset All screen to appear whilst holding buttons on start-up, try the following.

1. Plug in USB cable.

2. Start Reader normally, without holding any buttons.

3. Reader will go into USB storage mode.

4. Hold the required buttons for Reset All, and whilst doing so pull out the USB cable.

Reader Library errors

Error: Unable to access Reader (eBook) Store. Check your network settings to ensure you have access to the Internet.

Follow this procedure (from Sony eSupport), using directions for your specific operating system, then reboot.

Error : Left pane missing

Uninstalling the Reader Library, manually deleting some directories and reinstalling the library should help:

http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&externalId=C1000822&fes=true&mdl=PRS900