How to delete entries for deleted sideloaded books?

jlemonde · 08-19-2019, 11:16 AM

I just removed a bunch of sideloaded books from my Kobo by deleting the files from the Kobo via my computer, and it turns out that the books are still displayed in my library on the Kobo, as if they were still there.
However I can't open them: when I try I get an error that says that something is wrong with the DRMs, which is bullshit as the books I removed didn't have any DRMs... I guess it is because the file wasn't found.

How do I get rid of the entries inside the Kobo? I have an up-to-date Kobo Clara HD, and rebooting doesn't help.

davidfor · 08-19-2019, 08:01 PM

Deleting the file from the device should work. The device will normally check for missing, added or changed books when you disconnect the device. If the books file is missing, it should remove most traces of the book from the internal database. And that should remove it from the lists. I do this frequently enough that I'm confident that it works this way.

The error message is misleading, but, sort of understandable. Kobo uses the Adobe RMSDK for reading epubs and PDFs. If it fails opening a book because it is missing, the error returned might be being misinterpreted, or the RMSDK might be returning the wrong error.

The only reason I can think of for this to happen is a corrupt database on the device. You can check this with a SQLite database manager. Or, if you use calibre, my Kobo Utilities plugin has a database check function. And, calibre can report errors when it connect to the device depending on exactly where the problems are in the database. If the database is corrupt, the device can sometimes recover, but unless you have a recent backup, you will need to sign out of your Kobo account on the device, and sign back in. Unfortunately, this will lose the reading status of all sideloaded books, but it will rebuild the database from scratch with the books currently on the device.

08-19-2019, 11:16 AM	#1
jlemonde Enthusiast Posts: 45 Karma: 19864 Join Date: Sep 2018 Device: Kobo Clara HD	How to delete entries for deleted sideloaded books? I just removed a bunch of sideloaded books from my Kobo by deleting the files from the Kobo via my computer, and it turns out that the books are still displayed in my library on the Kobo, as if they were still there. However I can't open them: when I try I get an error that says that something is wrong with the DRMs, which is bullshit as the books I removed didn't have any DRMs... I guess it is because the file wasn't found. How do I get rid of the entries inside the Kobo? I have an up-to-date Kobo Clara HD, and rebooting doesn't help.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Wishlist entries deleted.	JQW	Kobo Reader	1	11-05-2013 06:37 PM
Delete defective entries	OBoyle	Calibre	8	03-04-2013 02:12 PM
Duplicate entries for sideloaded mp3's	Jeff L	Kindle Fire	1	01-16-2013 05:12 PM
PRS-T1 How to delete database-entries ?	Schussel	Sony Reader	3	09-08-2012 11:39 AM
Touch Deleted sideloaded - ghosts remain	Psyke	Kobo Reader	3	12-27-2011 01:29 PM

08-19-2019, 08:01 PM	#2
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,907 Karma: 47303748 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	Deleting the file from the device should work. The device will normally check for missing, added or changed books when you disconnect the device. If the books file is missing, it should remove most traces of the book from the internal database. And that should remove it from the lists. I do this frequently enough that I'm confident that it works this way. The error message is misleading, but, sort of understandable. Kobo uses the Adobe RMSDK for reading epubs and PDFs. If it fails opening a book because it is missing, the error returned might be being misinterpreted, or the RMSDK might be returning the wrong error. The only reason I can think of for this to happen is a corrupt database on the device. You can check this with a SQLite database manager. Or, if you use calibre, my Kobo Utilities plugin has a database check function. And, calibre can report errors when it connect to the device depending on exactly where the problems are in the database. If the database is corrupt, the device can sometimes recover, but unless you have a recent backup, you will need to sign out of your Kobo account on the device, and sign back in. Unfortunately, this will lose the reading status of all sideloaded books, but it will rebuild the database from scratch with the books currently on the device.