A Sony ATRAC player recently arrived in the house, and as some people around here already know, these devices are not even slightly linux-friendly. I've got it up and running by installing the included Windoze-only software on a VWare/Win2K virtual machine - I can now get music on and off the thing, and the user is happy.

On Sony Support, however, I see that there's a firmware upgrade available, which would seem to be worth getting. Obviously, the upgrade tool is also Windoze-only, so I'd be grateful if anyone could share any relevant experience, or even give an opinion about the chances of this working. Frying the device would not make me very popular, so if I'm going to try this, I'll need a reasonable degree of confidence.

TIA for any input.

If you're not having issues with the player then I wouldn't take the risk of upgrading the firmware. Upgrading the firmware is only necessary if the device is having problems.

However, if you have to upgrade it, I would recommend doing it with Windows just to be safe.

The new fw version has additional features not currently available. For me, that's a good reason to do it, IF it can be done safely.

Well, yeah. The reason I asked, though, is that I don't have an actual Windows install anywhere - just the VM.

Thanks anyway.

You have to use BartPE to create a Live Windows CD. If Linux is installed on that device, the firmware may screw up the installation so it will not work.

I suggest gauging the features that new firmware update provides and Linux being screwing up. Do you think you are going to use the features. If not, do not do the firmware update.

what are you trying to upgrade? I'm assuming an ATRAC mp3 player.

Thanks, Electro - I'd never have thought of BartPE. I'll have a look.

Re the new features, I would use them if they were there, but at the same time they're not essential.

angryfirelord - It's a NW-E003 ATRAC player. The only way to play mp3s on it is to convert them to ATRAC format using Sony's software, which is how this whole situation got started.