Help! Kobo malformed?

noomies · 07-13-2011, 03:39 PM

I have a Kobo, that was given to us as a gift, for my daughter. She's going on a trip tonight, and was going to take it along. We had already put books on it using Calibre (I use it with my sony)

I went to add a couple more books today, and it is telling me that Calibre cannot communicate with it, it says its malformed and that the line "add books" is missing.

Any way I can restore this thing right quick?

Keep in mind that I am not at all tech minded and while I have done searches here, I am not understanding any of it at all. Can someone tell me in laymen's terms what to do?

siraks · 07-13-2011, 03:52 PM

factory reset and re-add the books through calibre.

sounds like you most likely took the usb out of the kobo without properly ejecting it from your pc.
kobo's databases are sensitive and you have to take care with them or you'll get the error above.

so ya, go into the kobo, factory reset, re-add your books, go to my computer on your pc and find the kobo reader, right click and eject it, then you'll be fine for future adding / deletion with calibre so long as you properly eject.

rashkae · 07-13-2011, 03:56 PM

Since it's otherwise undocumented, I'll add:

You perform a factory reset by pressing the Home button, tag the "gears" icon, tap "Device Information." There you will see the button to perform the factory reset. Note that a reset will undo all of the Updates, so you will have to use the Kobo desktop software again to re-configure and update the Kobo.

noomies · 07-13-2011, 04:04 PM

It is an older Kobo.

When I hit Home, it just goes to a book list, not to any options. I have tried resetting through Menu-settings-advanced-reset and also by using the paperclip in the back.

Neither trick fixes the issue.

Joe563 · 07-13-2011, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noomies

It is an older Kobo.

When I hit Home, it just goes to a book list, not to any options. I have tried resetting through Menu-settings-advanced-reset and also by using the paperclip in the back.

Neither trick fixes the issue.

What 'Software Version' are you using. Check for it under Settings Overview. If it is not at least 1.8.2 you may have to update it.

noomies · 07-13-2011, 04:16 PM

Its a 1.8.2

noomies · 07-13-2011, 04:25 PM

This is what it says right when i plug it in and Calibre finds the device:

database disk image is malformed

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages/calibre/gui2/device.py", line 63, in run
File "site-packages/calibre/gui2/device.py", line 312, in _books
File "site-packages/calibre/devices/kobo/driver.py", line 177, in books
DatabaseError: database disk image is malformed

Joe563 · 07-13-2011, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noomies

Its a 1.8.2

Well, if a factory reset did not fix the problem then it may be a Calibre issue. Do you have a recent version?

You could try to work around Calibre by using Windows Explorer to drag and drop the EPUBs into the root directory of the reader or into a directory you have created.

You can also use Adobe Digital Editions to transfer EPUBs to your reader.

noomies · 07-13-2011, 04:32 PM

I did try to drag and drop files, and when I plug it in and look with the finder, I see them, but they don't show on the kobo. I may not have the latest version of Calibre though... I'll try that.

PeterT · 07-13-2011, 04:35 PM

1.8.2 means original Kobo. Maybe after the factory reset you might also want to try the database restore process.. see https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...82#post1274682

PeterT · 07-13-2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noomies

I did try to drag and drop files, and when I plug it in and look with the finder, I see them, but they don't show on the kobo. I may not have the latest version of Calibre though... I'll try that.

Also after the reset you might need to reauthorize the device with ADE and also with Kobo Desktop. DO ensure the time and date is set as well!

noomies · 07-13-2011, 04:38 PM

I've updated calibre... and am getting the same response. Still says its malformed.

noomies · 07-13-2011, 04:40 PM

To do the database restore how do I get the computer to open as a mass storage device?

Also, It never put the Kobo Desktop on my computer. So its never been registered. How do I do that?

Joe563 · 07-13-2011, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noomies

I've updated calibre... and am getting the same response. Still says its malformed.

Bad news. I believe Peter is correct. Here is a message from the Calibre developer about the error message you are getting. The link in his message leads to the same link as the one mentioned by Peter.

Joe563 · 07-13-2011, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noomies

To do the database restore how do I get the computer to open as a mass storage device?

Also, It never put the Kobo Desktop on my computer. So its never been registered. How do I do that?

The Desktop application should be on the reader. Search for it using Windows Explorer and install it from there.

07-13-2011, 03:39 PM	#1
noomies Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: kobo, Sony ps-600	Help! Kobo malformed? I have a Kobo, that was given to us as a gift, for my daughter. She's going on a trip tonight, and was going to take it along. We had already put books on it using Calibre (I use it with my sony) I went to add a couple more books today, and it is telling me that Calibre cannot communicate with it, it says its malformed and that the line "add books" is missing. Any way I can restore this thing right quick? Keep in mind that I am not at all tech minded and while I have done searches here, I am not understanding any of it at all. Can someone tell me in laymen's terms what to do?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Error communicating with device(Kobo Wireless)/database disk image is malformed	cotej1977	Devices	2	04-26-2011 09:34 PM
Error communicating with device(Kobo Wireless)/database disk image is malformed	cotej1977	Kobo Reader	1	04-24-2011 08:14 AM
help: 'malformed database' with kobo	prairiegal	Devices	2	03-10-2011 09:50 PM
Malformed Database Request	timlegge	Kobo Reader	0	02-18-2011 10:44 PM
database disk image is malformed	sirbruce	Calibre	12	06-26-2009 09:06 PM

07-13-2011, 03:52 PM	#2
siraks use the force Posts: 575 Karma: 564666 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ontario Device: Kobo Touch, Lenovo K1	factory reset and re-add the books through calibre. sounds like you most likely took the usb out of the kobo without properly ejecting it from your pc. kobo's databases are sensitive and you have to take care with them or you'll get the error above. so ya, go into the kobo, factory reset, re-add your books, go to my computer on your pc and find the kobo reader, right click and eject it, then you'll be fine for future adding / deletion with calibre so long as you properly eject.

07-13-2011, 03:56 PM	#3
rashkae Wizard Posts: 1,141 Karma: 5061953 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Aura HD	Since it's otherwise undocumented, I'll add: You perform a factory reset by pressing the Home button, tag the "gears" icon, tap "Device Information." There you will see the button to perform the factory reset. Note that a reset will undo all of the Updates, so you will have to use the Kobo desktop software again to re-configure and update the Kobo.

07-13-2011, 04:04 PM	#4
noomies Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: kobo, Sony ps-600	It is an older Kobo. When I hit Home, it just goes to a book list, not to any options. I have tried resetting through Menu-settings-advanced-reset and also by using the paperclip in the back. Neither trick fixes the issue.

07-13-2011, 04:16 PM	#6
noomies Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: kobo, Sony ps-600	Its a 1.8.2

07-13-2011, 04:25 PM	#7
noomies Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: kobo, Sony ps-600	This is what it says right when i plug it in and Calibre finds the device: database disk image is malformed Traceback (most recent call last): File "site-packages/calibre/gui2/device.py", line 63, in run File "site-packages/calibre/gui2/device.py", line 312, in _books File "site-packages/calibre/devices/kobo/driver.py", line 177, in books DatabaseError: database disk image is malformed

07-13-2011, 04:32 PM	#9
noomies Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: kobo, Sony ps-600	I did try to drag and drop files, and when I plug it in and look with the finder, I see them, but they don't show on the kobo. I may not have the latest version of Calibre though... I'll try that.

07-13-2011, 04:35 PM	#10
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,161 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	1.8.2 means original Kobo. Maybe after the factory reset you might also want to try the database restore process.. see https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...82#post1274682

07-13-2011, 04:38 PM	#12
noomies Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: kobo, Sony ps-600	I've updated calibre... and am getting the same response. Still says its malformed.

07-13-2011, 04:40 PM	#13
noomies Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: kobo, Sony ps-600	To do the database restore how do I get the computer to open as a mass storage device? Also, It never put the Kobo Desktop on my computer. So its never been registered. How do I do that?