Hey, If my JB Lite failed...

If my jbLite ceased functioning as a result of a failed firmware update off a 2GB SD card do I get my unit replaced for free or what can I expect to pay? And thats out of the box firmware to .16e. Frankly, that 2GB card works in every other way but not on that reader.

Oh, and does an Amazon invoice copy with ship date, seller info and total cost and various other verifiable numbers count as a receipt?

I love the Ectaco concept concerning ereaders (TFT, AA and AAA battery replacement), so much so that I considered having two jblites, else this one and trying a Mini. Of course, my feelings may change considering I got two months of use from my only Ectaco product and I'm getting reemed on the repair.

So, how much is that?

Sincerely,

Joe

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 01/18/2011 02:03:55

It is very hard to cause an unrecoverable problem with a failed firmware update of an ARM 9 based device,
running Linux. You can always restore conditions to a state that will accept the new firmware.

Almost any 2GB SD card made should work well in the JBL, you may have to reformat it though.

You should try redownloading and extracting the folders for the update to an empty folder on your
hard drive. Then:

The thing is, you can fairly easily reset the JBL to factory settings and install the current
firmware on the device.

Make sure you have a fresh set of batteries in your JBL then:

You should remove any SD card from your JBL and connect the USB cable to backup your
JBL's internal memory, to a folder on your PC's hard drive. There should be a new drive
letter for your JBL's internal memory on your PC now. (If you had an SD card in the JBL,
there would also be a new drive letter for that.)

It is much better to have a USB 2.0 SD/Media Card reader/writer connected to your PC
and work with your SD cards using that, but if all you have is the JBL it is possible
to use it to make your update/repair SD card.

Reformatting the JBL's internal memory to FAT32 is a good idea and running ChkDsk on it
while you have the JBL connected to your PC with the USB cable is a good idea as well.
After the internal memory is cleaned up you would copy the contents you saved earlier
back onto your device.

If you can get to the logo screen then you should be able to do this:

First if you only have one SD card then you will want to back it up to a folder on your
PC's hard drive.

Format an SD card for use during the update of the firmware. (I still use FAT16 for this
although I understand that FAT32 works as well.) The formatting will insure a clean card
and root directory into which the three update folders go.

Be sure to use a firmware update with all three folders to make the SD card. Insert the
SD card into the JBL.

Make sure the USB cable is not connected at this point.

Then you go to the Diagnostics Menu built into the JBL, it is here that you can do the
#13 - Reflash NOR and the #7 - restore factory defaults

To enter the diagnostics screen:
Reset the device.
Then hold down three buttons. They are: "on/off" "zoom" and "menu".
When you see the jetBook screen let go of "on.off". Keep holding the "zoom" and "menu"
keys until you see a 16 item screen. It's tricky, so it may take a couple of tries.

Then you can reflash the NOR Memory and restore the JBL to factory defaults.

After that is done reset the JBL.

Now you can update the firmware as you normally would.
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70171

Follow all directions and don't play with any settings you don't understand.

This procedure should fix any firmware related problem. If you have a valid download
of valid firmware and this doesn't fix the problem then it is a hardware issue.

Luck;
Ken

Yeah, right on. Fortunately or otherwise there is little I don't understand and I'm going to give your advice a shot. Thanks for the effort. I'll thank you harder later if it works.

Joe

Well, first of all Ken gets a hand here. There don't seem to be any clapping emoticons so, clap, clap, clap. So Ken, thank you for your knowledge and for taking the time.

You know, I don't want to go off on some rant here, but really, why does some guy know about the diagnostic menue and Ectaco tech support apparently dosen't? I mean to the support guy's credit, he did respond within a day, unheard of for most support but with two messages he sent me upgrade instructions, which I didn't need, and how to get an RMA instructions, which I figured I did need then.

Maybe its in the manual? I get why computer companies give limited cmos options, it cuts down on their support costs for when people change settings they really shouldn't. I guess that is what Ectaco is doing here (hide the secret menue). But really, once there is all ready an issue why not go ahead and mention that. Mention the one thing that had a good chance of actually working especially considering I was pretty clear about what had happened to tech support.

I mean, I've been without for a week, I bought a replacement for until I could get this resolved, almost spent and shipped and waited etc, and uh, all it took was some guy, he knew what to do.

What's up with that?

Joe

Glad you have it working properly now.

In addition to this forum, the MobileRead Forums has an active community of jetBook users that you might
find worth reviewing. I have some postings there with some things you can do to improve your experience
with the JBL, and there are others who have posted some good ideas.

The tools, like the "Diagnostic Screen" in the JBL, provided by the makers of the hardware are not intended
for the end user. They often are only a part of the set of tools needed for technical support of a range of
devices. For most of the functions provided in this kind of tool set you need a greater understanding of
the technical nature of the device and its firmware environment, than is available outside a development
shop. The results for many functions will mean little or nothing without information that is not available
to the end user.

As it happens, in this case, there are a couple of functions that an informed user can use to good effect
even without access to additional resources. Given that some users are in remote locations and that
advice available on the internet can reach even the most isolated user, having a way for those users
who really need it, to access these tools is a great service that Ectaco provides. For, many companies
go to extreme measures to prevent user access to such tools, even to requiring a password to get to
them.

Luck;
Ken

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 01/19/2011 12:19:15

Hey Joe,

Sorry about your experience with tech support, if you ever run into a problem like this please make sure you take the representatives name and send it to me in a private message (PM).

We do like for our customers to participate in the forums rather then it being overrun by our representatives. Our community is what makes us strong and have a very nice following for the jetBook models.

Ken, As always thanks for providing your incite!

I think a jetBook tech support FAQ might be in order to help navigate the diagnostics screen and work out some of the problems users might be facing.

Ken Maltby wrote:It is very hard to cause an unrecoverable problem with a failed firmware update of an ARM 9 based device,
running Linux. You can always restore conditions to a state that will accept the new firmware.

Almost any 2GB SD card made should work well in the JBL, you may have to reformat it though.

You should try redownloading and extracting the folders for the update to an empty folder on your
hard drive. Then:

The thing is, you can fairly easily reset the JBL to factory settings and install the current
firmware on the device.

Make sure you have a fresh set of batteries in your JBL then:

You should remove any SD card from your JBL and connect the USB cable to backup your
JBL's internal memory, to a folder on your PC's hard drive. There should be a new drive
letter for your JBL's internal memory on your PC now. (If you had an SD card in the JBL,
there would also be a new drive letter for that.)

It is much better to have a USB 2.0 SD/Media Card reader/writer connected to your PC
and work with your SD cards using that, but if all you have is the JBL it is possible
to use it to make your update/repair SD card.

Reformatting the JBL's internal memory to FAT32 is a good idea and running ChkDsk on it
while you have the JBL connected to your PC with the USB cable is a good idea as well.
After the internal memory is cleaned up you would copy the contents you saved earlier
back onto your device.

If you can get to the logo screen then you should be able to do this:

First if you only have one SD card then you will want to back it up to a folder on your
PC's hard drive.

Format an SD card for use during the update of the firmware. (I still use FAT16 for this
although I understand that FAT32 works as well.) The formatting will insure a clean card
and root directory into which the three update folders go.

Be sure to use a firmware update with all three folders to make the SD card. Insert the
SD card into the JBL.

Make sure the USB cable is not connected at this point.

Then you go to the Diagnostics Menu built into the JBL, it is here that you can do the
#13 - Reflash NOR and the #7 - restore factory defaults

To enter the diagnostics screen:
Reset the device.
Then hold down three buttons. They are: "on/off" "zoom" and "menu".
When you see the jetBook screen let go of "on.off". Keep holding the "zoom" and "menu"
keys until you see a 16 item screen. It's tricky, so it may take a couple of tries.

Then you can reflash the NOR Memory and restore the JBL to factory defaults.

After that is done reset the JBL.

Now you can update the firmware as you normally would.
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70171

Follow all directions and don't play with any settings you don't understand.

This procedure should fix any firmware related problem. If you have a valid download
of valid firmware and this doesn't fix the problem then it is a hardware issue.

Luck;
Ken

This is the best summary I have ever seen and I never want to lose it so I am printing and framing it over my desk so I will have it should ever I need it.

Ken, you the man!