Bricked Sony NEX-3

[sper]

Well some of you may have read my "week with sony nex-3" thread.

I wanted to do an final update here. I am running Mac OS 10.6.5 and I downloaded the Sony firmware updating software. During the 'Run' stage of the update it completely froze my mac. The screen went a dark grey and it told me I needed to restart in three or four different languages. Now the camera is completely unresponsive. I've charged the battery, I've left it unpowered for long periods of time, and I've even tried re-running the update (which continues to crash my computer).

I went through 3 tiers of sony tech support reps on the phone (1. A person who seemed to know that sony makes electronics, 2. A person who seemed to know that sony makes digital cameras, and 3. A person who actually knew what the NEX-3 is is and that this thing is totally screwed up). Basically they informed me that the camera needs to be sent to Sony. Nothing they can do from here. I suspect that it's currently softwareless. It probably needs to be fully restored and have the cameras system reinstalled on it. Unfortunately I can't do that from home.

I'm not gonna give up on the NEX system, this was probably a fluke. But I just want to put out my experience. I still think I'm going to end up with one of these cameras early next year, but this process has been disappointing, especially since it is on loan from the camera shop where I work.

I had fun while the thing worked!

*Shrug*

S**t happens, dude.

 

[sper]

Yeah, Sony's software only allows for a USB connected update. The Kernel Panic happens every time I run the sony software. I don't know if has something to do with the recent OS update or what...

 

[sper]

...and now I have to explain to my boss (not a big computer user, nor even camera user ironically) that the camera I borrowed from my department needs to send to Sony for repair, and it's not my fault. Ohhhh crap.

 

[Welsh_Italian]

Not good news at all. I use a Mac (I'm a freelance UX designer and to turn up with a Windows machine causes problems) and I was thinking of getting a NEX. All this is of interest to me because I cannot afford to have my computer go down the river. If their software is responsible, they'll be looking at a bill and bad publicity.

Yeah, kernel panics are hard to achieve these days. It makes me wonder if Sony have put a rootkit on the software like they did with a CD a few years ago. If so, then they are *not* getting any money out of me whatsoever - a NEX just is not that important when there's competition in the market. I'll wait for something else by someone else - anyone else - rather than have my computer cracked into. If anyone from Sony is reading this, please remember that your customers do have memories.

And if not, it's piss-poor programming. There's no reason for crashing the machine just to update a device through USB. Well, there might be but there shouldn't be.

Best of luck Sper, hope it all gets sorted out soon. Please keep us informed. Is your Mac working okay now?

 

[sper]

The iMac works fine after restart. Just running their software causes the crash.

I'm no mac genius but I know my way around the OS. I usually can trouble shoot myself out of these things but not this time.

In Sony's defense I've heard of many people upgrading their NEX cameras and nobody's had the same problem as me. I can only assume it has something to do with the recent update. Or everyone with Sony camera's runs windows....unlikely, since we 'Think Different.'

🙂

 

[sper]

I can only assume it has something to do with the recent update.

Yep, that's what I mean.

 

[tapesonthefloor]

I bricked a Barnack once.

 

[ampguy]

it's a good idea to update firmware from a non-mac, imho.

 

[sper]

it's a good idea to update firmware from a non-mac, imho.

Why shouldn't I be able to update firmware from the photo industry standard OS? This is a silly answer to my problem.

 

[sper]

I bricked a Barnack once.

I think you are confused with the Brick, pictured here:


Argus Matchmatic & C3 by the other Martin Taylor, on Flickr

 

[Brad Buszard]

Success here

Success here

For what it's worth, I updated firmware to my NEX-3 earlier this week from a Macbook running 10.6.4 and it went off without a hitch. Sorry you had such rotten luck.

I should add, though, that I didn't install any of Sony's software on the computer. The Mac read the Sony raw format fine on its own, so I didn't bother.

 

[sper]

For what it's worth, I updated firmware to my NEX-3 earlier this week from a Macbook running 10.6.4 and it went off without a hitch. Sorry you had such rotten luck.

I should add, though, that I didn't install any of Sony's software on the computer. The Mac read the Sony raw format fine on its own, so I didn't bother.

Yeah like I said I'm counting this as a fluke, I like the Nex system and Sony products in general they do a good job. But I think it's a OS issue since I'm running 10.6.5. Something must have changed... Or there was some component issue.

 

[j.scooter]

Hey Mark have you had any resolution to this? I am running OSX 10.6.5 as well and my NEX 3 that was delivered this afternoon is a brick:bang::bang::bang:

 

[FalseDigital]

Why not just bring it over to a friends house that has a Windows Computer and run the Update from there? I bet you it would solve your problem. OR if you have windows on your mac boot to that and try the update from that instead.

 

[sper]

The solution was we had to send it to Sony. I don't know what's going to happen now.

Did it do the same thing? This could be a huge problem for Sony. I think we should put out a general warning to mac users not to upgrade yet!

 

[FalseDigital]

I still don't understand why you didn't try to update it on another computer running windows...I think you could have avoided having to send it in by doing that.

 

[sper]

I don't own, nor do I have access to a Windows machine.

Even if I did, the camera is completely unresponsive. It doesn't register when connected to a computer. I see no reason why a Windows machine can fix this.

Also, I plain old shouldn't need to update on a PC.

 

[j.scooter]

I still don't understand why you didn't try to update it on another computer running windows...I think you could have avoided having to send it in by doing that.

I don't own, nor do I have access to a Windows machine.

Even if I did, the camera is completely unresponsive. It doesn't register when connected to a computer. I see no reason why a Windows machine can fix this.

Also, I plain old shouldn't need to update on a PC.

I just tried on my friends window machine, the camera was not recognized. So it has to go into Sony. :bang::bang:

 

[hitmanh]

I still don't understand why you didn't try to update it on another computer running windows...I think you could have avoided having to send it in by doing that.

Nope, if a firmware update fails, then generally the device (in this case the camera) can't even boot. It's the equivelent of trashing the BIOS on a PC. At this point it won't matter what type of PC you plug it into, generally the only fix is to remove the firmware chip, re-flash it externally then re-fit it.

 

[arturo]

I am sorry about your bad experience.

On my side, I updated the firmware of my NEX 5 in my macbook with OS X 10.6.5. and it worked flawless.

Arturo