Kobo Touch, WinXP, Calibre, Delayed Write Failed

[happyfrog]

HELP!

my KT and Calibre are now angry with each other and have been for a while.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10776173@N04/6131265154/" title="error message calibre by onehappyfroggy, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6190/6131265154_b619abd681.jpg" width="389" height="236" alt="error message calibre"></a>

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10776173@N04/6131265154/



hopefully that's the pic of what i get on my screen.

help greatly appreciated!

[Manichean]

Needs more details. What did you do to make that happen? Can you reproduce it? Did everything work before? What did you change to break it?
The full text of the error message (see that copy to clipboard- button?) would also be helpful.

[itimpi]

A delayed write error is an OS level issue - not a Calibre one.

Commonest causes I have seen are:
- USB connection on the PC/Mac that is not working well. Worth trying a different one if possible.
- File System corruption on the reader device? Running a file system check can often fix this.
- hardware/firmware fault on the reader device.

[theducks]

I agree with Itimpi. This is a Hardware (communications) interface issue, not a Calibre issue.

Bad Cable
failing storage media (SD cards have limited cycls (lots, but limited)
bad USB port

IMHO detachable devices should not be set any way but "Allow quick removal" (turns off write cache)

[happyfrog]

Originally Posted by itimpi

A delayed write error is an OS level issue - not a Calibre one.

Commonest causes I have seen are:
- USB connection on the PC/Mac that is not working well. Worth trying a different one if possible.
- File System corruption on the reader device? Running a file system check can often fix this.
- hardware/firmware fault on the reader device.

quoting you so i don't forget to reply to something.

i don't think the usb is bad - i can use kobo desktop just fine, i can use adobe digital editions just fine, and i use that usb port on my netbook for just about everything - printer, scanner, pda, camera.

how do i determine if it's a 'file system corruption'? what is a file system check and how do i do this? (i'm not a geek, i'm just a homemaker who likes to read. )

how do i determine if it's a hardware/firmware fault on reader? i have latest updates. (at least, i think i do. - i sync it regularly to the wifi as well as kobo desktop - and weekly i put new library books on it.)

i do have HIGH turnover on books - i average 7-20 weekly from library idownload websites (where i live, i have access to 2 library loan programs - each allows me 10 books per site.) not including all the 'free' materials i have gleaned from those free epub sites.

i have had errors with the ADE program - we learned (we being library service and me) that one cannot return all 10 books at one time - it causes some crazy errors on ADE program.

could that be the origin of all my calibre issues? they seem totally separate to me - and i think the calibre issues were occurring before the ADE problem - now i know i can only return 2-3 books at a time.

the calibre errors show up after i dock the ereader, click 'connect'. then i open up the calibre program that's when the errors transpire - it doesn't even do the 'jobs' properly - it has errors and won't complete.

thanks for the replies - i know this is solve-able.

[happyfrog]

Originally Posted by theducks

I agree with Itimpi. This is a Hardware (communications) interface issue, not a Calibre issue.

Bad Cable
failing storage media (SD cards have limited cycls (lots, but limited)
bad USB port

IMHO detachable devices should not be set any way but "Allow quick removal" (turns off write cache)

quoting you so i can reply fully.

- bad cable? i just don't understand how that's possible when i have no problem with using ADE program and kobo desktop program.

bad usb port? - i use that port for EVERYTHING and have no problems with any other device.

how do i make 'detachable devices' set to 'allow quick removal' ??

i'm sorry if these are dumb questions, but i'm not a computer geek smart person - i'm just a homemaker and homeschool mom. who reads. A LOT! and i would like my calibre program to work so i can get my free newspapers again.

[happyfrog]

Originally Posted by Manichean

Needs more details. What did you do to make that happen? Can you reproduce it? Did everything work before? What did you change to break it?
The full text of the error message (see that copy to clipboard- button?) would also be helpful.

quoting for full reply.

i don't think i 'did' anything to break the connection. but i really am not a technical computer person. i just plug the usb in to my netbook port, then connect it to ereader. click 'connect' on screen of ereader. click 'cancel' when the pop up menu thing appears on my netbook asking me to open with a program or file folder whatever dohickey.

then i click on my shortcut on my quick launch menu (on startup menu taskbar) for calibre. as i do it today, it shows an update available in calibre. so i'm updating/downloading that now.

while i'm downloading file for update, i see that calibre is doing 'jobs'. i click there and see:

get device information - and that has green check mark.

get list of books on device - unavailable and has status 'error' and the error screen pops up on calibre that says: error communicating with device

calibre, version 0.8.17
ERROR: Error: Error communicating with device

unable to open database file

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\device.py", line 81, in run
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\device.py", line 332, in _books
File "site-packages\calibre\devices\kobo\driver.py", line 285, in books
File "site-packages\calibre\devices\kobo\driver.py", line 747, in sync_booklists
File "site-packages\calibre\devices\kobo\driver.py", line 708, in update_device_database_collections
File "site-packages\calibre\devices\kobo\driver.py", line 613, in set_readstatus
OperationalError: unable to open database file


then soon after, the following error message pops up on the task bar where the ereader is attached via removable device thingy icon.
windows delayed write failed.


kobo touch: software version 1.9.10 (r32113 8/30/11)


let me know if i omitted any information that you need.

[happyfrog]

and here's latest message from calibre after i did update and got the error message again.

calibre, version 0.8.19
ERROR: Error: Error communicating with device

[Errno 22] Invalid argument

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\device.py", line 81, in run
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\device.py", line 332, in _books
File "site-packages\calibre\devices\kobo\driver.py", line 285, in books
File "site-packages\calibre\devices\kobo\driver.py", line 759, in sync_booklists
File "site-packages\calibre\devices\usbms\driver.py", line 383, in sync_booklists
File "site-packages\calibre\devices\usbms\driver.py", line 382, in write_prefix
File "site-packages\calibre\ebooks\metadata\book\json_codec.p y", line 112, in encode_to_file
IOError: [Errno 22] Invalid argument

[theducks]

Originally Posted by happyfrog

quoting you so i can reply fully.

- bad cable? i just don't understand how that's possible when i have no problem with using ADE program and kobo desktop program.

bad usb port? - i use that port for EVERYTHING and have no problems with any other device.

how do i make 'detachable devices' set to 'allow quick removal' ??

i'm sorry if these are dumb questions, but i'm not a computer geek smart person - i'm just a homemaker and homeschool mom. who reads. A LOT! and i would like my calibre program to work so i can get my free newspapers again.

PC, Software <-> Devices all must play together very well or something may fail.

My PEz is an example.
All the Intel USB 2.0 ports work with disks, memory sticks,and other devices, but almost instantly corrupt the file system on the PEz unless I disable Enhanced USB 2.0 in the XP driver or use a USB 1.1 (only) port.
It does this on 3 different systems, all use the same series USB chips.

You may have a (slight chance) case of tolerance build-up that pushed the HW/SW combination over the working - not working edge.
Run the PC disk error checks on your device when it is attached.

[happyfrog]

Originally Posted by theducks

Run the PC disk error checks on your device when it is attached.

thank you for your reply!

how do i run PC disk error checks?

where do i find it on my netbook?

i have winXP.

sorry i have so many questions.

[Corpsegoddess]

Okay, I'm having a similar problem. I recently turned on my Kobo Touch and got a message telling me I had a storage problem and needed to do a factory reset. Fine. I did so, plugged it into my desktop--it found my Touch, went through the setup, found and synched to both my purchased books and the free ones you get. No sweat. I ejected it so it could apply the software updates and the books that the Kobo Desktop application found and synched. When it restarted, they were there.

However, when I plugged it back in to load my other books (library and Gutenberg Project ones), this is where I encountered your problem. I get the "connect to computer?" query on the touch and choose "connect". Kobo Desktop finds my Touch, syncs with it to determine there's no new books (of course), and then suddenly it drops out. The device tab on the Desktop application greys out, and I get the Windows bubble error message telling me about the "Delayed Write Failure".

Nothing different happened between the initial sync and the second plug-in. I tried a second factory reset and the same thing happened again. I tried 3 different USB ports; same result.

*edit* Okay, I did a third factory reset, and the same thing happens. I can load books onto the device immediately after the reset, but when I try to connect any time after the first disconnect after the reset, I get the "failed" message, I lose connectivity and I can't do anything. Ideas?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Corpsegoddess

Okay, I'm having a similar problem. I recently turned on my Kobo Touch and got a message telling me I had a storage problem and needed to do a factory reset. Fine. I did so, plugged it into my desktop--it found my Touch, went through the setup, found and synched to both my purchased books and the free ones you get. No sweat. I ejected it so it could apply the software updates and the books that the Kobo Desktop application found and synched. When it restarted, they were there.

However, when I plugged it back in to load my other books (library and Gutenberg Project ones), this is where I encountered your problem. I get the "connect to computer?" query on the touch and choose "connect". Kobo Desktop finds my Touch, syncs with it to determine there's no new books (of course), and then suddenly it drops out. The device tab on the Desktop application greys out, and I get the Windows bubble error message telling me about the "Delayed Write Failure".

Nothing different happened between the initial sync and the second plug-in. I tried a second factory reset and the same thing happened again. I tried 3 different USB ports; same result.

*edit* Okay, I did a third factory reset, and the same thing happens. I can load books onto the device immediately after the reset, but when I try to connect any time after the first disconnect after the reset, I get the "failed" message, I lose connectivity and I can't do anything. Ideas?

Windows may have decided to cache this drive (device) which is a bad idea for detachable drives.
Just because have control back, does not mean it is done with all the writing (the delayed write). Premature disconnection can really mess the file structure or database.

With the Kobo attached, Find the drive in My Computer: Right-click, Properties
Then select the "hardware tab"and find a USB device (not the PATA or SATA HD/DVD) select it and click Properties (in the Left picture)
The Right picture is what you want to see for detachable's.
(repeat for the other, similar device if there is a SD card installed)

[PeterT]

Any chance of a bad USB cable, or an intermittent connection to the USB port on the Kobo?

[Corpsegoddess]

Okay, Ducks...I went to where your image suggested, and that option was already chosen. I had my husband review this with me (he's an engineer and good with computers) and he doesn't seem to understand why this isn't working either.

All my drivers are updated, everything seems to be in order---it's just not working. It keeps dropping out every time I plug it in.

And Peter, I don't think it's a cable issue--the transaction works fine after the factory reset, it's subsequent connections that are the issue. Something happens after the software update is applied. I've never had this happen before--this is completely new after this latest software patch.

I'm wondering if I need to take it back to the store, maybe?

*edit* Two more things to consider. I'm wondering if my problem began with the random "there is a problem with your storage, please do a factory reset" message I got a few days ago. This was precipitated by nothing; one day I simply turned on my Kobo (hadn't connected to the computer, hadn't loaded anything onto it recently, just charged it) and got this message. Could something have borked internally?

Secondly, when I did the properties to get to the section you suggested, Ducks, it showed that my Kobo had zero used space and zero free space. I could see it on "My Computer", it made the noise when I disconnected, but for all intents and purposes, it's dead to it.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Corpsegoddess

Secondly, when I did the properties to get to the section you suggested, Ducks, it showed that my Kobo had zero used space and zero free space. I could see it on "My Computer", it made the noise when I disconnected, but for all intents and purposes, it's dead to it.

The Zero - Zero status indicates to me file system corruption.


(Been there- My PEz does not behave at all well when connected to a Intel USB2 enhanced (enabled) port. Got Intel 82801 chipset? )