I’ve had a few days to experiment with my newly hacked Sony PRS-T1, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it needs a lot of work, so I decided to un-root it to take it back to its stock functionality.
The truth is the Nook Touch makes for a much better hacked E Ink tablet; I’d rather use it for Android apps for the time being unless the PRS-T1 package gets some major improvements.
Among a number of issues, the biggest negatives with rooting the PRS-T1, I found, is that the page-buttons no longer work for scrolling when using the web browser, there’s only enough memory to install 3-5 small apps and most apps won’t work, even the same ones that work fine on the Nook, and the constant black flashing for excessive page refreshing can induce seizures (okay, maybe not, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it did).
To un-root the Sony PRS-T1, you use the exact same process as rooting it; you just download a different file instead.
But be warned, you’ll have to go back to square one. Your Reader account will be erased, you’ll have to re-enter your Adobe ID and Wi-Fi password, and all the bookmarks in the web browser will be erased. Oddly, the Reader still remembers notes, collections, and last-page read for all your sideloaded ebooks, which still remain, so it’s not like a full reset.
Un-root Sony PRS-T1 Directions
1. Download the Rescue Set for the PRS-T1 from the original rooting thread at The eBook.
2. Extract the recovery set on your computer.
3. Plug the Sony PRS-T1 into your computer with the USB cable and select to enter data transfer mode (mine just kept saying “connecting” but it still worked).
4. Open the restore set folder and double click “flash_reader.bat”. When the command prompt opens, hit Y then enter to proceed. A few minutes will pass as it works, then hit “any key” when asked. The Reader will reset and then it’s back to original stock functionality.
Once you restore the PRS-T1 all the rooting stuff is gone and all the original features work again like normal.
Nathan, there is another custom ROM version from a different developer “REALexMSG” (he and the developer of other one you used [“boroda”] are the two original developers that had their own alternative versions for PRS-x50, PRS-x00 devices – so they have a lot of experience with this).
http://www.the-ebook.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21506&start=all&postdays=0&postorder=asc
This guy has a different approach. First of all, he is using a different launcher “Zeam Launcher” – will it solve the excessive flashing problem? He also includes CoolReader and eBookDroid in the standard package. And people are reporting that multitouch works in eBookDroid when you do pinch to zoom.
Overall, it is mainly geared to enabling Russian language support on PRS-T1 but it looks like it has a lot of other advantages from the rooting/custom ROM standpoint.
Also, it is easy to roll back to the original Sony firmware.
Do you want to give it a try?
If you need some help with translation (should Google translate fail 🙂 ), feel free to contact me.
Thanks for pointing that out, Lev. I think I’ll hold off for a couple of weeks to see what else develops and then revisit the topic. It’s good to see other options popping up already.
yeah the above root spotted by Lev seems to be better..please make a tutorial for it..!thanks in advance..
I don’t use the Reader software to connect to my Sony at all. I use only Calibre. I know Calibre does not store notes and such. I am wondering if there is another way to save my notes, highlights, etc. from my Sony without having to use the Sony Reader software. Thanks in advance for any advice you can send my way.
That’s a very good question. The Sony desktop software is terrible, even the new version, so Calibre is a must. But I don’t know of any way to export the notes without the Reader Software. I’ll have to do some investigating. Calibre does work with notes from other ereaders so I wonder if there is a way some how.
Hi, really appreciate your work on guidance about rooting the Sony PRS-T1. I live in New Zealand and the only highend ereaders available locally are Kindles and Sonys – Nook Touchs are not available outside the USA. Yes, I’ll add my vote to please revisit rooting the PRS-T1 in a couple of weeks.
Thanks, Paul
Hi Nathan,can u do a video of the new sony prs t1 android hack?(the one using zeam launcher.)
Can I use the rescue set as the method of upgrading? Because I don’t like to install Sony desktop software.
You can sideload the update without using the Sony software. The link is on the update post.
Hi,
How would I go about unrooting on a Mac? Any help would be appreciated.
Francesco I know it’s been a while, but since I just had to did it, here how to do unroot on Mac (or any other system) using restore-set-1.0.05.11130-us.
Get a microsd.
Open the zip file, and copy the folder “OS Firmware” to the SD card.
Power off the reader.
Put the SD card into the reader.
Start the updating sequence (Power on while pressing home+menu, keep pressing for a few seconds (~10) when you see opening book).
The book will load and you’ll get an update screen.
When it finishes it tells you to reset manually: press the reset button for 15-20 seconds (until the led blinks) and then power on the device: there you go.
You can remove the “OS Firmware.o” (renamed after update) folder from the SD card.
If you have problems with your Sony PRS-T1 ebook you have to do a factory Reset: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cf_QLnuUoU