Sony eBook software

[iwsbarker]

The Sony eBook software will not run in WindowsXP in Virtualbox. I have tried VirtualBox 1.6.4, 1.6.6, and the current 2.0 release, as well as WindowsXP SP2 and SP3. The software installs fine, but when trying to run, it appears in the task list for a second or two and disappears, with no visible effects. The software runs fine on WindowsXP running natively on hardware, and runs fine in WindowsXP in VMWare Server 1.06. I can only assume it is trying to access some hardware component that VirtualBox is not emulating "correctly" (whatever Sony assumes to be "correct"). I'm attaching my VBox.log file, as well as the eBook software install package.

[iwsbarker]

The installer file is too large to attach to the ticket. It can be downloaded from ​http://ebookstore.sony.com/downloadclient.html

[Dan CaJacob]

I have the same problem. I will try to post a log file as well. I suspect that the issue may have something to do with networking. Perhaps one has to run bridged networking? This is the only application I have found that does not work!

Replying to iwsbarker:

The Sony eBook software will not run in WindowsXP in Virtualbox. I have tried VirtualBox 1.6.4, 1.6.6, and the current 2.0 release, as well as WindowsXP SP2 and SP3. The software installs fine, but when trying to run, it appears in the task list for a second or two and disappears, with no visible effects. The software runs fine on WindowsXP running natively on hardware, and runs fine in WindowsXP in VMWare Server 1.06. I can only assume it is trying to access some hardware component that VirtualBox is not emulating "correctly" (whatever Sony assumes to be "correct"). I'm attaching my VBox.log file, as well as the eBook software install package.

[Dan CaJacob]

I also tried installing an older version of the library software. Same results.

[iwsbarker]

I tried bridged, NAT, and host-only networking - none changed the result (ie. software fails to run).

[Dan CaJacob]

I verified that the software does work in a VMWare virtual machine running Windows XP. This error seems to be tied to VirtualBox somehow. Weird and disappointing...

[Nate Drake]

I also have this issue. Could it be USB related? The Sony Reader connects via USB. Perhaps the library software installs some kind of driver for the Reader that doesn't work in VirtualBox?

[Art Zemon]

I am having this problem, too. The guest is XP Pro running on VB 2.0.4 on an Ubuntu 8.04 host. The Sony PRS-505 is not connected (does not need to be to start the eBook Library software) so this is not a USB problem.

[iwsbarker]

Just tried this in VirtualBox 2.1, and unfortunately the bug has not been fixed in the new version.

[Frank Mehnert]

Could you check if running the VM with VT-x enabled changes anything for you?

[iwsbarker]

No change with VT-x enabled.

[Jimmie]

I was downloading the current version of VirtualBox, but after seeing this I guess I will wait.

[iwsbarker]

Regrettably, version 2.1.2 still does not fix this bug, with or without VT-x enabled.

[Dafydd]

There's a thread on the VB forum site about this issue ​here. I have the same issue, using VB 2.1.2.

[Stephen Birch]

Same problem here, since the Sony software doenst work under VB I cannot access the sony bookshop.

This sucks. The sony reader works well with Linux but DRM means it can only be used with free ebooks.

In other words, unless you have dual boot (I dont) you cannot purchase books for the reader, there is no way of loading them. I have a credit card in hand and a list of books I wish to buy. But I cant get them into the Sony Book Reader.

I guess that makes sense to some Sony exec somewhere.

Beats me though.

[user66]

Me too. Running VB 2.1.4. Sony Reader software (german version shipped this week) does not start. It's really annoying.

[Art Zemon]

Problem fixed, either by VirtualBox or Sony, I don't know which. I just tried again with the latest versions of VB and the eBook Library and all is well. I was able to download a free book from the bookstore and load it onto my PRS-505.

Host: Ubuntu 8.04
Guest: Windows XP Pro
VirtualBox: 2.1.4
Sony eBook Library: 2.5.00.09170

[Brian Maddox]

Could you post your VB settings? I'm running the latest VB and the sony digital library software and I still can't get it to run inside of VB :( Had to use my wife's Vista laptop to register my 505.

Replying to zemon:

Problem fixed, either by VirtualBox or Sony, I don't know which. I just tried again with the latest versions of VB and the eBook Library and all is well. I was able to download a free book from the bookstore and load it onto my PRS-505.

Host: Ubuntu 8.04
Guest: Windows XP Pro
VirtualBox: 2.1.4
Sony eBook Library: 2.5.00.09170

[job4031]

I am running VB 2.1.4 on OS X 10.5.6 and have eBook Library 2.5.00.09170 and it is not working. I just purchased a PRS-700 which is detected correctly by WinXP Pro SP3, but the eBook Library software won't run. Any new news on this?

Thanks JD

Replying to zemon:

Problem fixed, either by VirtualBox or Sony, I don't know which. I just tried again with the latest versions of VB and the eBook Library and all is well. I was able to download a free book from the bookstore and load it onto my PRS-505.

Host: Ubuntu 8.04
Guest: Windows XP Pro
VirtualBox: 2.1.4
Sony eBook Library: 2.5.00.09170

[angel_negron]

Uh, No workee. I too have VB 2.1.4 and eBook 2.5.00.09170 with no success. Please post VB setting. Thanks

Replying to zemon:

Problem fixed, either by VirtualBox or Sony, I don't know which. I just tried again with the latest versions of VB and the eBook Library and all is well. I was able to download a free book from the bookstore and load it onto my PRS-505.

Host: Ubuntu 8.04 Guest: Windows XP Pro VirtualBox: 2.1.4 Sony eBook Library: 2.5.00.09170

[iwsbarker]

Can we get an update from the VirtualBox developers as to whether or not this bug is being addressed? It is still a problem in VirtualBox 2.2.4.

[Brian Maddox]

Replying to iwsbarker:

Can we get an update from the VirtualBox developers as to whether or not this bug is being addressed? It is still a problem in VirtualBox 2.2.4.

Not for me. I still can't get it to run.

[iwsbarker]

Finally, with VirtualBox 3.0, the application starts! I will have to test to see if I can actually load a book when I get home from work.

[Dave Robishaw]

Replying to iwsbarker:

Finally, with VirtualBox 3.0, the application starts! I will have to test to see if I can actually load a book when I get home from work.

This is not working for me with VirtualBox 3.0.6 and eBook library 3.0. Which version of ebook library are you running?

[iwsbarker]

I have version 2.2.00.18100 installed, and it's working fine.

[Stephen Birch]

Using VB 3.0.6 I can run both Adobe Digital Editions and the eBook library. But neither of them see the PRS-505 Sony ebook device. Still cant buy books.

[iwsbarker]

VB 3.0.6 works fine for me. Just have to connect the USB device in the VB menus first.

[iwsbarker]

I also have this line in my fstab:

none /proc/bus/usb usbfs devgid=124,devmode=664 0 0

[computermacgyver]

I cannot find an earlier version of the Sony software than 3.0. I am running the latest VirtualBox (3.0.10) and cannot seem to get the Sony software to work at all. Is anyone aware of a location to get the older 2.2 version of the Sony software or of any progress on this issue?

Many thanks, Scott

[iwsbarker]

I've uploaded version 2.2.00.18100 to here:

​http://mostlylinux.ca/downloads/eBook%20Library%20Installer%202.2.00.18100.exe

That version works for me.

[iwsbarker]

The latest version of the Reader software (3.1.00.12040) starts fine under VirtualBox 3.1.2r56127. Note that I installed as administrator using "Run as...", and after doing so, "Reader Library Launcher.exe" was started as administrator, and I had to restart the VM before Reader Library would launch as my regular logon user (I probably could also have just Ended the process, but it's always nicer to give programs a clean shutdown). I was able to browse the Reader Store, and add a book to my cart (I did not proceed to checkout or download the book). I attached my Reader to the VM, and the software found it and all of the book on it.

[Sander van Leeuwen]

I guess we can close the defect then. Thanks for the feedback.

[soessle]

Opening up this case again. I tried the Reader Software (3.1.00.12040) under VirtualBox 3.1.2r56127. I'm not using VT-x and the problem remains.

My Host OS is Ubuntu 9.04 (64 bit)

On another Machine (Ubuntu 9.10 64 bit) with VT-x everything works fine. Can anybody confirm this? Is there another solution to this problem?

[Jim]

I am experiencing similar troubles with Sony Reader Library version 3.1.00.12040 in VirtualBox 3.1.2.r56127. Having read this thread I installed/run from the administrator account. The Reader Library appears as a running process (approx 9MB) but no GUI.

I am new to VirtualBox so as I am searching the Wiki and documentation I am learning as I go. The WinXP virtual machine is probably VirtualBox vanilla configuration. Only settings I recall controlling are the disk @ 20GB, and the 256 MB RAM.

Host Operating System: Ubuntu 9.10 Hardware: HP dv8000 CPU: Intel Centrino Core Duo RAM: 2GB RAM Video: GeForce 7400 (mobile)

[Dan Thomas]

Ditto. Same problem. This is one of the main reasons that I installed Virtualbox was to access the Sony Reader Library. The Reader Library appears to install just fine, but just stays in the systray. Running Ubuntu 9.10 with Windows XP SP3 as guest.

[Michael]

I FOUND A SOLUTION FOR MY MACHINE...

I had the same problem using VirtualBox 3.2.6 installed on Ubuntu 10.04 with Windows XP SP3 installed and all of the available updates installed as well (i.e. the latest and greatest of everything).

My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 with a Intel Q9400 CPU.

On the VirtualBox window I noticed that the hardware virtualization features were disabled (specifically VT-x/AMD-V). These features are identified by a small CPU icon with a "V" in the middle of it at the bottom of the VirtualBox window (just hover your mouse over the icon to see if virtualisation is enabled).

This was unusual, given that for the Intel Q9400 chip this should have been enabled.

Searching the internet I found that virtualisation is turned on by a setting in the BIOS. So, I rebooted my machine and entered the BIOS, but could not find the setting that enabled virtualisation.

I discovered that I had an old version of the BIOS installed. So I downloaded the latest BIOS update, that was suitable for my motherboard, on the Gigabyte website. I extracted the actual BIOS update file from the downloaded EXE file (the BIOS updates from Gigabyte are "supposed to be run" on MS Windows machines). I copied this file to a USB flash drive. Rebooted my computer and entered the BIOS settings. I selected to perform a Q-FLASH and navigated to the BIOS update file located on the USB flash drive. I rebooted my machine; entered the BIOS settings again and the virtualisation option was present - YESSS!!!

I enabled virtualisation and rebooted the machine. Opened up VirtualBox and started the XP SP3 virtual machine. The little icon for virtualisation was gloriously enabled and when I started Sony Reader Library it worked as normal.

However, when I attached the Sony Reader PRS-600 via a USB cable it was recognised within Ubuntu but not in the virtual machine. Further searching on the interenet told me to add my user account to the "vboxusers" group using the Ubuntu application located from the main menu [System]->[Administration]->[Users and Groups].

Now it all works perfectly! YAY!!!

I hope the above helps someone else out!

[b00kw0rm]

calvertmg's solution worked for me too.

The key steps were going into the BIOS and enabling the virtualization and then going into VirtualBox and enabling the virtual machine setting for VT-x/AMD-V.

The only additional step I needed to do, which may be due to different versions of software, was creating a USB filter for the Sony Reader before it was recognized in the virtual machine.

I am running Ubuntu 8.04 LTS as the host OS, Virtual Box 3.2.8 r64453, and the guest OS is Windows XP Pro with all updates and service packs installed. On the hardware side, I have an Intel DG35EC motherboard with an Intel E8400 CPU. My Sony Reader is the PRS-505.

Thank you calvertmg! I have been waiting for this day for nearly two years!

[gserpentino]

I have installed the last version of VirtualBox (4.0.2) on Ubuntu 10.10. Same problem, Sony Reader Library installed without problems but when I try to execute it, doesn't start.

[aeichner]

Please reopen if still relevant with a recent VirtualBox release.