Sony S550 stuck during upgrade

[easylistening]

My Sony S550 was no longer able to play the latest (2010) blurays (earlier ones were still fine), so I had to do a upgrade.

I don't have an internet connection in the room where the player is, so downloaded the upgrade from Sony and burned it to a CD as instructed.

As per instructions, I put it in the player and it told me it had discovered an upgrade. I then had to click "OK" to activate it.

I did.

As per the instructions, the player showed "V UP" on its display and then V 0/9, then V UP again. I could hear it reading (or trying to read) the CD.

According to Sony's info, it should show various messages and let you know what is happening (V 1/9, etc.).

It should proceed with the upgrade then give a "FINISH" message and proceed to eject the disk.

I came back after 10 minutes and it was still on V UP and V 0/9.

"Be patient", I thought and left it again.

After 30 mins, when it was still on V 0/9 I feared the worst.

After 2 hours, still on V 0/9 :(

I followed the instructions for what to do if the CD does not automatically eject after the upgrade (as Sony do not offer any suggestions for an upgrade that does not progress). I pressed the power button on the player and held it until the machine showed no display then, as Sony instruct, I removed the power cord. Then, again as Sony instruct, I held down the eject button while re-connecting the power.

But, instead of ejecting the CD, it resumes trying to read it – endlessly rotating the messages V UP and V 0/9

I've had it two years. What should I do now???

[martintyler]

Call Sony

I always get concerned when upgrading things.. i don't think they spend much time making these upgrades bulletproof, so if they go wrong you are stuck

[easylistening]

Yes, thanks – I know full well that the standard procedure is that I have to contact Sony (they give that info on the site where I got the download) if no-one else can give me any advice – sorry if I didn't make that clear.

I just thought that – seeing as how this is an AV forum and I'm in the Blu-ray player section – that perhaps someone else had already encountered this particular problem, had contacted Sony and got some special instructions – some combination of buttons to push or whatever.

But obviously, no-one has – it's "lucky" me who it has to happen to...

[ricdiggle]

Is there an (tiny) eject hole next to the drive bay? I've never looked closely enough at a Bluray player but most DVD Drives have one. You should be able to push an uncoiled paper clip in there and physically eject the disc when the machine is powered off.
Otherwise, try pressing the eject button repeatedly whilst inserting the power cord in the hope you could get it to eject before the machine boots and starts the reading process.

[easylistening]

Is there an (tiny) eject hole next to the drive bay? I've never looked closely enough at a Bluray player but most DVD Drives have one. You should be able to push an uncoiled paper clip in there and physically eject the disc when the machine is powered off.
I like your line of thought :)

I used to keep a straightened out paperclip next to my old Macs for such events, so I did check for a manual release option when it wouldn't obey when I pressed the eject button. Sadly, there isn't one :(

Otherwise, try pressing the eject button repeatedly whilst inserting the power cord in the hope you could get it to eject before the machine boots and starts the reading process.
Don't worry, I tried that many times before posting the question. Nothing so simple works. That's why I thought there may be some special trick that someone might know...

[easylistening]

Update.

Absolutely no thanks to Sony, but:

I burned another CD with the latest software.

I dismantled the player to access the release to the drive (tucked away partly below the circuit board and only reachable with a long 1.5mm drill bit held in angled long-nosed pliers.

Removed the failed update CD.

Reassembled the player.

Tried umpteen times to get the player to re-start. It was still "dead" and displaying it's upgrade message 0/9.

I tried holding buttons while reconnecting power. I tried holding combinations of buttons while doing the same. I lost track of all the variations, but suddenly – just as I was about to consign it to the scrapheap – it showed that it was now updating and reached 2/9. Slowly but surely it progressed and is now as good as new.

But after the total lack of commitment from Sony, my next purchase will be a bluray recorder from Panasonic.

[ricdiggle]

Jeez, with all that hassle, you may as well use an HTPC!

Glad you got it working in the end.