the paper trick

[pigburger]

I know it was all over the database before Black Monday but I need some help. I plan on taking apart my my NR to tighten and seal and generally try to bring it back to like new. As long as I'm in there, I'd like to do the paper trick to alleviate the MS problem once and for all. The thing is I don't know how to do it and I can't find anything on the web that goes over it. Can someone point me in the right direction on where I can find some info? If only I had my wayback machine.....

[workerofwood]

I know it takes longer than the paper trick, but Sony DOES have a good fix for this if you send it in, and it only takes 2 weeks (an eternity I know). But the problem will be gone forever....

[pigburger]

I can't live without it, 2 weeks is too long. I'd rather just fix it myself and be done with it. I don't want them messing with my flash either, I spent countless hours getting the it right with the NX apps, I don't want to lose it because they like to reset everything before they send it back.

[Medcat99]

I also heard that the "press the C in Clie" trick works just as well and solves the problem without having to open up the machine. Try this first.

[pigburger]

too late, already did, I managed to find a site (in chinese) and was able to figure it out by the pictures. It was very simple and took about 10 minutes going deliberately as possible. I've done the "press C" fix before, it works but only temporarily. Since I decided I was going to keep my NR for an extended period (maybe even up to a whole year!!!) I wanted a relatively permanent fix so I wouldn't have to worry about it.

[kidterrific]

I'm sorry - I found this site after black monday....Could someone please tell me what the the paper trick is? What memory stick problem?

[pigburger]

The memory stick problem is after a while on the NR series you get read errors when accessing the MS. It's like the the MS isn't inserted, when it obviously is because you have to take it out and reinsert it several times. It only gets worse after it first appears, I haven't heard of it ever getting better without intervention. Basically the issue is that the MS loses connection with the contacts within the unit because of a design flaw.

the paper trick is when you disassemble (really only taking out 7 screws and pulling the back off) the unit an tape a small piece of folded paper behind the MS slot to apply enough pressure on it to maintain contact with the MS. Sony knows of the issue and will fix it promptly if you give the a call. It takes a week or two and I know of at least 2 occassions they returned my clie (my S300 and T415) back to original rom, deleting all the data and apps I moved to the flash for safe keeping. I thought 10 minutes of work (and voiding my warranty) was better than losing it for up to 2 weeks.

[Medcat99]

Good to here you fixed it. By the way, what was the site you used, just in case I have the same problem in the future.

[pigburger]

I hope your chinese is better than mine but there are plenty of pictures to help out.

http://kellylau.uhome.net/NR70MSFIX/

the key is don't lose the screws and I used a small piece of paper folded in quarters and taped that to the back of the case. Didn't even really change the feel of inserting the MS.

[pigburger]

Interesting development occured today with the paper fix. No issues at all still reading the memory stick but a program crashed causing my system to freeze necessitating a soft reset. Then I went to put the pin in the reset hold I discovered that the paper blocked the hole. I had made folded paper the size of the entire MS chamber not realizing I covered the reset hole. With my system still on but frozen I had to disassemble it, trim the paper and then reset it. All set now, just learn from my mistakes.

[aaronrkelly]

Oops, that sound like something that I would do. Has anyone that had Sony fix their NR ever take it apart to see what they do.

Maybe a fancy piece of paper with SONY stamped on it??? he he

[peterh]

what i done to fix this is ...

if you open your clie in keyboard mode. and try to bend it as hard as you can, putting pressure around the ms area.
I done this last year and its been perfect since. try not to bend it too much tough ;-)

My NR used to be really bad, the slightest touch would cause it to stop playing music for example.

Worth a go before opening her up!

[jetdriver]

While you have it open - you could fix the loose stylus too. I recently did that by bending that small pin at the tip end of the silo. The i broke off a small tip of a wooden toothpick, and wedged it in there to keep pressure on the pin. Buttoned it al lup and - viola! The stylus has a nice crisp "click" when it is seated, and no modifying the stylus.

p.s. - did that fix over a month ago and w/ daily use - still no problems.

[grifter]

If you send your NR to Sony to fix the Memory Stick problem, they replace the memory stick casing.

[LITTLESIX]

When I had an NR, I sent it back to Sony on a Monday, and by Friday it was back in my hand. I'm guessing I'm one of the lucky ones.

[pnp!]

Does SONY solves the problem [free of charge] if you're NOT under warranty?

Thanks!

[pigburger]

I don't see why they would fix it for free if it isn't under warranty. I assume that either you didn't register it or you did something else to make it out a warranty, because even if you bought one when it first came out (april of 2002 I believe) it should still fall under their one year warranty.

[pnp!]

Yeah... I asume it's still under warranty... but here.. in my country (argentina).... there's no support for that palm... so we all asume, when we're buying a clie... that there's no warranty...
:mad:

[pigburger]

If you don't have warranty coverage (not the biggest lost) and if you are having MS issue then by all means do the paper trick. It's fast, easy and is a permanent fix.

[n2ifp]

I fixed my own by bending the contacts to ensure better contact. It's such a delicate procedure that I don't recommend anyone doing it themselves. Unless they have the dexterity of a brain surgeon, don't do it. It's not meant to be a joke either, as it's a very delicate procedure and one could easily render their clie totally useless. The point is that it can fixed without sending back to Sony.

[pigburger]

for some reason taping a piece of paper inside the case just seems a whole lot less complicated. Bending contacts seems to be well beyond my ability, scotch tape is the most intense I can handle. :)

Did you actually rip apart the MS sleeve to do the bending? that just seems to be overkill.

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by pigburger
for some reason taping a piece of paper inside the case just seems a whole lot less complicated. Bending contacts seems to be well beyond my ability, scotch tape is the most intense I can handle. :)

Did you actually rip apart the MS sleeve to do the bending? that just seems to be overkill.

Yes, I did and it was very delicate, but I wanted to fix it right. I just happen to stumble upon this thread that someone else had posted. I had to take out the MS drive holder and the very carefully undo the tabs. Then there is this little metal lever that looks like a staple without legs for the mechanical push in/out lock. It took me a good hour or so to do it. Others have done it too in the past in nXt's Clie Club.

[pigburger]

Seems like a lot of work for the same results. To each his own...:)