I called the Phillips Customer Service line to follow up on the problem with my remote. They're the ones that directed me to this site for help.

It turns out that they will not help/cannot help if you used the software prontoedit. They claim that their is a license agreement that you agree to that voids your being able to send a unit in for replacement.

While I had the customer service agent online I checked for this said agreement. There is none. The customer support agen even downloaded the software fronm their own site and installed it, with no agreement. Unfortunately he could go no further with this issue.

The claim is that in the license agreement there is a piece that voids your warranty or soemthing to that affect.

My advice to anyone who is fortunate enough to come here first and read this.

1) DO NOT BELEIVE that you some how voided your warrantee by acknowledging a non-existent user agreemment or make sure you do not document that you have used any.

2) Tell them the problem. Not what led to the problem. Let them diagnose and document the solution. This way if they tell you to try something it won't impact your warranty. Even if you did or you you think you should do not mention using the software! I'd be wary that they will point you in the direction of trying firmware upgrades and the like and once you do, try to spring this' we can't help you, becasue you used the software...' crap.

3) Having said that I was very happy with the remote and Phillips until the unit ceased functioning. I'm dissapointed that an organization of such high caliber would go to such lengths to piss off an individual who would shell out $400 for a remote control.

David...

I am not sure from your post what caused the problem exactly, but try the following:

======
Pronto Upgrade Tools
(The Pronto Upgrade Tool is a small self-extracting program that allows you to update your Pronto software yourself.) Pronto Upgrade for TSU 2000 Download Pronto Firmware Upgrade Sys. V4.6, App. V5.1 (1200 KB)
Remark! With this upgrade you can repair your TSU 2000 in case you tried to download previous software on your device. This program runs independently from ProntoEdit. It is not intended for any other device!
======
Here's the hotlink to it. Just click:

pronto.philips.com] updater.exe">Download Pronto Firmware Upgrade Sys. V4.6, App. V5.1 (1200 KB)

I have not looked into this yet. intelligence" on it is right here.

I will add that my attitude on these kinds of things has always been, if it isn't broke, don't fix it. To that end I am still using a 7 year old bios in my web access computer even though there's been a few updates

In your case, however, it may make a difference.

Also, if you feel you still are left with a "paperweight", please email me privately if the above does not help this problem as a side benefit of the problem it was supposed to help.

-Bruce
alpha2data
on eBay

Sorry, David...

I definitely did something wrong with that

link:[Link: pronto.philips.com] updater.exe

Hopefully the above will work. If not, it's time to copy/paste into the address line on your browser.

-Bruce
alpha2data

Sorry Bruce, I could not get either one of the links to work but I did find it at [Link: prontoedit.com].

JO

Jo..

That's a great site, but please be sure to double check the applicability for your TSU2000 as I noted the site says: NOTE: These downloads are for TS-1000 Pronto owners ONLY!

"Users of Pronto Universal TSU-2000 should load software from the supplied CD ROM only"

I rechecked the site I posted and it works. I think something went wrong in my posted message here. (Perhaps you included the word "link:" at the beginning of the address line??? that was a typo.

If you copy and paste the following line into the "Address" line on your browser, it will definitely work. I just tried it.

[Link: pronto.philips.com] updater.exe

once the DL automatically starts, the address line changes to:

[Link: pronto.philips.com]

Additionally, the "tech note" states:

"Remark! With this upgrade you can repair your TSU 2000 in case you tried to download previous software on your device. This program runs independently from ProntoEdit. It is not intended for any other device!"

That's all I know on this at this time, but you can be sure you have piqued my curiosity enough for me to investigate further even though I promised myself not to get involved with the "software side " and keep to the hardware issues. This is kind of a "bridge" problem.

In any case, you guys are really terrific in here already with the software issues.

-Bruce
alpha2data

The license agreement is displayed the first time you run ProntoEdit, not during the installation. There is no way (that I've found) to see the license agreement other than installing the software again AND running it.

The relevent part that Philips is refering to is:
"The entire risk arising out of the use or performance of the SOFTWARE and Documentation remains with you. In no event shall Philips be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of the use of or inability to use the SOFTWARE or Documentation, even if Philips has been advised of the possibility of such damages."

Having done a bit of research on the state of electronic license agreements and consumer protection laws, I'd say the chance of this standing up in court are slim. Notably, you cannot enforce an agreement that strips the purchaser of warrenty protection when the purchaser is using the device for an advertised purpose. Phillips *clearly* markets the customization and flexibility of ProntoEdit software as a major selling point.

HOWEVER, Please Please Please, everyone with these kinds of problems needs to realize that you have ABSOLUTLY NO legal contract with Phillips. Your right as a consumer apply to You and the SELLER of the product, not the manufacturer.

So, if you have a problem with the Pronto, take it back to the store you bought it from. They are responsible for replacing it or fixing it. If Phillips won't take it back from the seller, that's the seller's problem.

The full text of the ProntoEdit license agreement is included below (notice it's claiming to be beta software...)

Philips Electronics (Philips) Beta License Agreement

LICENSE GRANT AND RESTRICTIONS. Philips grants you a nonexclusive, nontransferable license to use the pre-released copy of the Pronto edit software (SOFTWARE) and accompanying documentation (Documentation) for the limited purpose of testing and evaluating the SOFTWARE. You may make only as many copies of the SOFTWARE and Documentationas are reasonably necessary to test and evaluate the SOFTWARE. You must preserve any proprietary rights notices on the SOFTWARE and Documentation and must place all such notices on any copies made. Philips may, in its sole discretion, provide future versions or information on future versions, of the SOFTWARE and Documentation hereunder in which case such future versions shall also be SOFTWARE and Documentation. You must cease use of the SOFTWARE and Documentation upon the earlier of either Philips public release of the commercial version of the SOFTWARE and Documentation or upon request by Philips. You may not decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble or otherwise reduce the SOFTWARE to a human-perceivable form. You may network the SOFTWARE over your internal network provided that such network only serves your company. Unauthorized use or disclosure of the SOFTWARE or Documentation may cause irreparable harm to Philips. You agree to promptly report any unauthorized use or disclosure to Philips.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. This SOFTWARE is prerelease code and is not at the level of performance and compatibility of a final, generally available product offering. The SOFTWARE may not operate correctly and may be substantially modified prior to first commercial shipment, or withdrawn. The SOFTWARE and Documentation are provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind. The entire risk arising out of the use or performance of the SOFTWARE and Documentation remains with you. In no event shall Philips be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of the use of or inability to use the SOFTWARE or Documentation, even if Philips has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

TERMINATION. Philips may terminate this Agreement either verbally or in writing at any time, with or without cause. Upon termination, you shall immediately return, or certify destruction of, all full or partial copies of the SOFTWARE and Documentation and all other materials provided by Philips.

MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior contemporaneous oral or written agreements regarding the subject matter hereof. This Agreement will be governed by California law. Any addition or modification to the Agreement must be in writing signed by both parties.

I found that I was able to see the licence again by removing the registry settings for ProntoEdit. This is where it records whether you have been shown the agreement. The next time you start ProntoEdit you will see the agreement.

Even re-installing ProntoEdit or installing a new version does not clear these settings.