Sharper Image Literati Troubleshooting After Upgrade

With the release of the new Literati 2.0 firmware on January 19, 2011, there are a lot of great changes for the budget eBook reader; however, many are still experiencing problems. Having had a Literati for about 3 months now, and using it on a daily basis, I have found several troubleshooting tips that will help you get your reading experience back in gear, which are especially helpful right after upgrading.

After the Update

After every firmware update from Sharper Image for the Literati, you should remove all eBooks from your Literati's internal memory, remove the SD card, and perform a factory reset. This is done by pressing the "Menu" button and selecting "Settings." Now navigate to the "Advanced" tab and select "Reset Device Now." It will take about five to seven minutes to restart. Once it has booted up, copy all of your eBooks back onto the device and reinsert your SD card if you have one. This ensures that the device works as smoothly as possible and sees all of your content. Keep in mind that this process will remove all of your bookmarks, so if you are able, you may want to finish what you are reading before attempting this process.

Trouble Transferring Files

If you are experiencing issues transferring files to your Literati, it could be that you have a bad SD card. Try removing the SD card and attempt to transfer data to the internal memory of the Literati using the mini-USB cable. If you are still having issues transferring files from your computer, there is the chance that your mini-USB cable is faulty. I have encountered several Literati's that have had bad cables shipped with them.

Adobe Digital Editions

If you are having trouble reading Adobe Digital Editions materials, such as checked out library eBooks, you may need to sync your device again. This can be done by pressing the "Home" button, then selecting the green "Sync" button in the upper right of the screen. You will need to be connected to a wireless network to accomplish this, but it will often fix Adobe Digital Editions issues.

Downgrading

As a last resort, unlike most consumer electronics, the Literati can be downgraded to a previous firmware. I only recommend doing this if you were more pleased with the functionality of a previous firmware, as you will lose all of the newer features. You will first need to click HERE to download the previous 1.9 firmware. If the download's extension is changed by your web browser to .tar, rename it to .tgz. Now, ensure that hidden files and folders are shown in Windows explorer by navigating to "My Computer" and pressing the "alt" button on your keyboard, then click "Tools" at the top of the window, and click on "Folder Options." Select the "View" tab and ensure that "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" is selected.

Now, plug your Literati into your computer using the mini-USB cable and navigate to the device on your computer. Now go to the ".kobo" folder on the Literati and copy the KoboRoot.tgz file to the device. Now, eject or "safely remove" the Literati and turn the device off by holding down the power button for 10 - 15 seconds. Now turn the Literati back on and wait for the update process to complete. It can take up to around 10 minutes, so be patient.