Firmware update bricked Sony TV

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dafman

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#302616 6-Dec-2022 16:41

My six year old Sony Bravia (KD55X8500D) prompted me today for a software update.

I actioned update, which downloaded, but TV bricked immediately after download completed, screen just went blank.

When powered up, Sony logo appears but then blank screen. No response from remote or physical buttons on rear.

Tried hard reset - on rear of TV: power button, volume down simultaneously, then power on - same result, logo then blank screen.

Although TV is six years old, I am wondering if I have any recourse to Sony as TV was working fine and it was their firmware update which bricked it, I was simply following their prompts.

Thoughts?

cheers

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#3006447 6-Dec-2022 16:51

Ouch, that sucks. Think we have a similar TV at home, pretty sure it auto updates.

That age is getting dicey with CGA...I would try calling Sony & just ask about it. 0800 766 969.

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RunningMan

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#3006450 6-Dec-2022 16:57

I disagree about the age being dicey with the CGA. The service was only provided today, and apparently caused an issue so significant that the device is useless.

insane

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#3006503 6-Dec-2022 17:09

Sony will have to cover that. Might be reasonable for the retailer to not have a bar of it, but Sony causing a perfectly functioning TV to stop is obviously not on.

Imagine if every piece of OTA updatable kit bricks after 6 years and you're just expected to buy a new one. Might have a few worried Tesla owners..

jamesrt

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#3006583 6-Dec-2022 21:06

Have you tried unplugging the TV from the wall; then turning it on with the remote [it won't, clearly, it's unplugged; but there's a reason...]; waiting 30 seconds, then plugging it in and turning it on?

The reason for all that is to ensure there is no power at all to 'cold boot' it.

Just turning off/on the TV via it's power button may be insufficient...

[My old boss used to call this draining the flea power!]

stick

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#3006586 6-Dec-2022 21:09

jamesrt: Have you tried unplugging the TV from the wall; then turning it on with the remote [it won't, clearly, it's unplugged; but there's a reason...]; waiting 30 seconds, then plugging it in and turning it on?

The reason for all that is to ensure there is no power at all to 'cold boot' it.

Just turning off/on the TV via it's power button may be insufficient...

[My old boss used to call this draining the flea power!]

And also removing anything plugged in (usbs etc)

dafman

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#3006594 6-Dec-2022 21:56

jamesrt: Have you tried unplugging the TV from the wall; then turning it on with the remote [it won't, clearly, it's unplugged; but there's a reason...]; waiting 30 seconds, then plugging it in and turning it on?

The reason for all that is to ensure there is no power at all to 'cold boot' it.

Just turning off/on the TV via it's power button may be insufficient...

[My old boss used to call this draining the flea power!]

Yes, unplugged TV from wall - left for an hour. When I plug it back in, it auto powers on, displays SONY logo, then goes to unresponsive black screen.

Tried the remote suggestion, no luck.

There’s just no way to stop it from going to blank screen when I plug it back in, it doesn’t go into standby, it just auto powers up into blank screen.

Hard reset by holding the power button and volume down on power up makes no difference.

dafman

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#3006595 6-Dec-2022 21:56

St1ick:

jamesrt: Have you tried unplugging the TV from the wall; then turning it on with the remote [it won't, clearly, it's unplugged; but there's a reason...]; waiting 30 seconds, then plugging it in and turning it on?

The reason for all that is to ensure there is no power at all to 'cold boot' it.

Just turning off/on the TV via it's power button may be insufficient...

[My old boss used to call this draining the flea power!]

And also removing anything plugged in (usbs etc)

Yep, tried that too, no luck, but thanks for suggestion.

neb

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#3006597 6-Dec-2022 22:17

There's also a ton of unbricking advice online, e.g. this one for a 55X8500C which is presumably more or less the same as the OP's 55X8500D.

I'd beat Sony up about it first though since you don't want them claiming whatever you did bricked it.

Goosey

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#3006621 7-Dec-2022 06:29

Oh dear, I have the same tv I believe…I’m now nervous.

- there hasn’t been an android update in nearly two years….I thought maybe they have stopped supporting (I check manually often).

factory reset

unplug power (do this at the tv)

hold down power and volume down buttons on rear of tv

Keep these buttons held down while plugging in the power again

wait about 30 seconds for the “erase screen” to appear and if this appears release those buttons (if it doesn’t appear start above steps again)

the tv will cycle thru a power reset etc (might take a few minutes etc), if it doesn’t bring you a set up screen and appears “off” then use remote to turn it on.

proceed to complete set up

Shindig

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#3006632 7-Dec-2022 07:24

I've turned my wifi off on the KD55X9300D! Thanks for the heads up. Any support or KB articles on the Sony pages?

The latest firmware is the same as for the 9300D, released in 2020

https://www.sony.co.nz/electronics/support/lcd-tvs-android-xd85xx_x85xxd-series/kd-55x8500d/downloads/00016713

The little things make the biggest difference.

tripp

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#3006637 7-Dec-2022 07:32

Can you download the firmware onto USB? I remember doing this to my sony, downloaded the firmware, plugged into tv and start. It should then read the USB and load the firmware.

Handsomedan

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#3006652 7-Dec-2022 08:48

All I can say is, thank the Lord of Technology that our Sony's modem failed after 5 years and we didn't bother do get anything done about it, as we use a thousand dongles so don't need "smarts".

Sadly, our TV is still going (I really want to go 4K but can't justify an upgrade until this one dies - which is likely to be well after I pop my clogs, the way it's going).

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dafman

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#3006713 7-Dec-2022 10:27

Goosey:

Oh dear, I have the same tv I believe…I’m now nervous.

- there hasn’t been an android update in nearly two years….I thought maybe they have stopped supporting (I check manually often).

I did a factory reset on my TV about a week ago, so possible the TV was picking up a historical firmware when i got the prompt yesterday.

Handsomedan

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#3007212 8-Dec-2022 10:11

dafman:

Goosey:

Oh dear, I have the same tv I believe…I’m now nervous.

- there hasn’t been an android update in nearly two years….I thought maybe they have stopped supporting (I check manually often).

I did a factory reset on my TV about a week ago, so possible the TV was picking up a historical firmware when i got the prompt yesterday.

Assume the TV is still bricked?

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale

*Gladly accepting donations...

l43a2

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#3007313 8-Dec-2022 12:22

my sony TV has begun advising of a firmware upgrade, thankfully i haven't proceeded yet...

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