My horrible nook experience so far and it is not ended yet...

[seanxsu]

This has become somehow ridiculous:

The nook stops working for no reason. But some online research indicates it could be caused by the software upgrade. I was asked to re-register and the error message is "java.lang.IllegalArgumentException". Good job, the developers!

Then I did the manual software upgrade following the instruction. That was uneventful. Thanks God.

Still the Nook refused to work and asked me to re-register. So I did. The error message is certainly better: "Can't register. Please contact the support number." I was put on hold for 40 minutes before someone spoke to me (again). The gentlemen simply asked to shut down and restart the nook 4 times and said that will fix it. Yes, I am not kidding. Has to be 4 times. What is support from the most advanced eReader.

Of course that does not work. He said I should go to the local bookstore where the people there will do a hard reset which will fix this problem. At the store, almost all the employees I spoke to felt surprise that I am even there. They have no clue what to do to fix this. The manager called the support number which put her on hold for another 40 minutes before I left the store. She was still holding because she demands an answer.

Guess what she told me? She can't exchange it because it is more than 14 days since I purchased it (because I was loyal enough to order two nooks on the first day it was available).

She said she is not allowed to take it back (return) because the nook does not work any more. She can only take it back if it works. What a beautiful answer from the bookstore. Of course bookstore can only take books in good shape. I guess she has not realized BnN is a hardware company now! 

[Trial_and_fire]

OK - Dumb question: Are you trying to register it with the email account you have used to register an account on barnes and noble with?  Do you have a default credit card attached to that account?   Do you have wifi/or 3G connectivity?

[Jenniisme]

Sounds like something is off with the whole story. The store cannot take the returns, unless you bought it in the store, at least that is my understanding. Secondly, customer service will try to help you as much as they can. I cannot imagine them sending you into a store where no one has any experience with the product.

BTW, easiest thing to do would be to take the battery out, plug the nook into a wall outlet(without battery) let it charge, replace the battery.

That would be your best bet.

I am sorry you are having such issues with your nook.

[Tboner]

What in the world are you talking about??

Take out the battery, plug it in and let it charge.... Charge what??? There's no battery.... Whatever you're trying to say I don't think that's it.

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Jenniisme wrote:

Sounds like something is off with the whole story. The store cannot take the returns, unless you bought it in the store, at least that is my understanding. Secondly, customer service will try to help you as much as they can. I cannot imagine them sending you into a store where no one has any experience with the product.

BTW, easiest thing to do would be to take the battery out, plug the nook into a wall outlet(without battery) let it charge, replace the battery.

That would be your best bet.

I am sorry you are having such issues with your nook.

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[seanxsu]

I used the same email account i have with BnN and the same email account i used to register my Nook on the first day I received it. It worked fine since Dec 8th, unless last week.

[seanxsu]

Yeah, thanks for the help. The customer supported sent me to the store. I wish the customer support team will never ask me to check the battery and the charger.

[harkinat0r]

The best bet with registration is to do as little on the Nook as possible, doing all possible steps on the computer that you can first.  I had to wait a few weeks after ordering before I got mine.  In that meantime, I set up my bn.com account and began messing with the BN eBook experience via the iPhone app (linked to the same account).  When Nook came, I typed in the name and password and I was off to the races.  I highly recommend this to people getting new Nooks.  Registration can be wonky, but if you are in the system and working within the system a bit before you actually get the hardware, it seems to work out better in the end.

[Trial_and_fire]

Sorry, somehow I missed that it was working previously.  I'm guessing your problem fixed with the hard reset? 

If not - another silly question -- did you UNregister the nook first? 

[seanxsu]

No, it is still not working. My first registration on Dec 8th (when I received it) was smooth. Suddenly all the  record is gone last week and it seems the Nook is just arrived and it asked me to register again. Some online search shows that has been experienced by other users and it may have caused by the automatic software upgrade. But no luck ever since.

[illmunkeys]

I'm not sure what you're willing to do, but if this was happening to me, I would try to reinstall v1.0.  The file can be found on NookDevs.  Skip to the Pre-Requisites paragraph.  The link to the file is the 4th bullet point down.  I don't know where else to find the file as I don't think B&Ns hosts it.

These steps will reformat the Nook's internal drive back to factory - all settings and books will be removed.

1.  You need sufficient batter (at least 20%)

2.  Back up an files you haven't yet.

3.  Rename the downloaded file to: signed_bravo_update.dat

4.  Connect your nook to your computer via USB.

5.  Copy the "signed_bravo_update.dat" file to your nook.

6.  Eject/unmount the nook.

7.  The update should happen automatically. 

8.  Don't turn off the power when doing this.  The nook will reboot itself when the update is complete.

9.  Download the v1.2 update from B&Ns.  Follow their instructions to update.

10.  Re-register the nook.

[cmehner]

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seanxsu wrote: the error message is "java.lang.IllegalArgumentException". Good job, the developers!

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That's the problem with java, if you don't catch the errors in a try{} catch{} block they just bubble out to the top of the application. the user should never be presented with an error like that, each error should be caught and handled appropriately.

[Yellowluva]

Well I know nothing about this nook so far other than the fact that I wanted to buy it. However, I am not so sure about it anymore. If I don't live no where near a Barnes and  Noble how will I get help with this nook if something goes wrong.

I am quite reassured about this now and I will continue to just buy the book in the first place. Also I will try to keep an open mind but I can't handle  a situation like yours.

Thanks for the reassurance!

[PrincessNaima]

I am having the same exact problem. I've tried to take the batteries out for an hour and once I turn it on, it still asking me for my email and password. I've tried changing my email and password and nothing has improved. I've been having mine since the begining of Jan and it was working perfectly fine till today. This is awful and now I don't even want to waste my time with customer svc if they're going to put me on hold for 40 min. I think i should've just bought the kindle that is better known.

SUCKS!

[jynclr]

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cmehner wrote:

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seanxsu wrote: the error message is "java.lang.IllegalArgumentException". Good job, the developers!

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That's the problem with java, if you don't catch the errors in a try{} catch{} block they just bubble out to the top of the application. the user should never be presented with an error like that, each error should be caught and handled appropriately.

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Respectfully, it is not the problem with Java. I'm not a java developer (I, personally, don't like it) but I am a software developer.

It is a problem with the developer not putting the try...catch exception handler, not the language.

[irishais]

Just to let everyone in this thread know, when you purchased nook, you DO have a one year hardware/software maintenance warranty already, and if you got the extended, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to get one sent to you or pick up a replacement device at your local store.

If you have a defective nook, bring it into your local store, and they should definitely be able to exchange it for you. You won't be able to get a return if you don't have a receipt/packing slip, but you should be able to get an exchange for a new model with 1.2.0 already loaded on there, especially if you have a defective device. 

[Alley415]

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irishais wrote:

Just to let everyone in this thread know, when you purchased nook, you DO have a one year hardware/software maintenance warranty already, and if you got the extended, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to get one sent to you or pick up a replacement device at your local store.

If you have a defective nook, bring it into your local store, and they should definitely be able to exchange it for you. You won't be able to get a return if you don't have a receipt/packing slip, but you should be able to get an exchange for a new model with 1.2.0 already loaded on there, especially if you have a defective device. 

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I believe the mods have confirmed that this is not possible.  All exchanges for warranty must go through CS and the replacement is mailed out.  You can request to drop off the defective nook at a store but honestly, it won't get to B&N any quicker than if you mail it out to them yourself.  In addition, they are mailed in because they are inspected for customer related damage before either A: the replacement is mailed out or B: if you gave them a CC #, it is determine whether or not to charge you.

[Ed_Mart]

The problem may be that since the nook is registered by serial number, your B&N account sees that your nook is already registered and issues an error message.  If you have not already de-registered your nook at your website account (which you have not indicated you've done), do that and then try to register the nook.

[crazitas]

I now have this problem as well.  Worked fine for one week then froze up so I shut down the nook and lost everything.   I even went from version 1.2 to 1.1.1.  Asked me to re-register like it wiped the hard drive so I tried and gave me the same illogical error.  Tried restarting and upgrading back to 1.2 and now have the a more comprehensible error message telling me to call customer support for error c7850.   I really don't want to sit on hold for 40 minutes so will likely try to return for kindle when they get on phone.   However do let me know if you get your problem fixed and how.

[cmehner]

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jynclr wrote:

Respectfully, it is not the problem with Java. I'm not a java developer (I, personally, don't like it) but I am a software developer.

It is a problem with the developer not putting the try...catch exception handler, not the language.

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Exactly my point! (I just didn't state it well.) I meant that java allows lazy developers to be lazy. The problem is absolutely in the development process, not the language. (I do like Java just fine btw) If the testing process included 100% code coverage with unit tests, the possibility of spurious errors being cast to the user was quaffled, and meaningful errors were presented when unmitigatable, then, the world would be a nicer place.

[LarryOnLI]

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seanxsu wrote:

No, it is still not working. My first registration on Dec 8th (when I received it) was smooth. Suddenly all the  record is gone last week and it seems the Nook is just arrived and it asked me to register again. Some online search shows that has been experienced by other users and it may have caused by the automatic software upgrade. But no luck ever since.

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This sounds like it might be related to the problem other users are experiencing with the 1.2.0 update in regards to side loaded content (specifically PDF files).

My suggestion would be to remove any sideloaded content to see if that rectifies the problem and if it does then wait for a fix from B&N before re-installing it.