MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Glo Could someone share a Kobo Glo disk image with me?

Rooballoo · 06-09-2025, 03:37 PM

In case one day someone has the same problem and stumbles upon this thread, I solved it and have my Kobo Glo working again. Here's what I did:

1. I flashed the micro SD card with the file (Kobo_N613_Glo) provided by DNSB (thanks again!). This recovered my device to the point where the setup screen was working, but setup could not be performed because Kobo's server no longer allows this device, on this old image, to be activated.

2. I bypassed the setup screen by using Sqlite3 to modify the database and inject fake user credentials into that database, which allowed the device to boot up and function normally. ChatGPT helped me to do that. I have saved the modified database file with the modifications needed to bypass the setup page in case anyone ever needs it. It's just a matter of dragging and dropping it to overwrite the existing one in the .kobo directory. If you have the same problem I have and you need the file, PM me.

3. While copying that modified database file onto the Kobo Glo, I also copied the following firmware to the same .kobo folder: Firmware 3.5.0. That's one of only two firmware files that worked, out of the several that I tried. All of the others that I tried crashed the device during the update, giving dashed vertical lines and corrupting the micro SD card)

4. I safely unplugged the device from my PC and allowed it to update its firmware.

I now have a fully functional Kobo Glo.

I could not have done this without DNSB, who sent me the image, ChatGPT, which taught me how to use SQLite and modify the database, and PGASkin.net, which provided a large number of firmware versions for me to try until I found one that worked with my device.

PeterT - While I appreciate you taking time to share your opinion, I'm glad I did not take your advice and assertion that a hardware failure was the problem and that it was a matter of fact. It apparently wasn't, and the Glo lives on. This device has sentimental value to me and I'm really glad to have it working again. Thank you all.

06-09-2025, 03:37 PM	#5
Rooballoo Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2025 Device: Kobo Glo	In case one day someone has the same problem and stumbles upon this thread, I solved it and have my Kobo Glo working again. Here's what I did: 1. I flashed the micro SD card with the file (Kobo_N613_Glo) provided by DNSB (thanks again!). This recovered my device to the point where the setup screen was working, but setup could not be performed because Kobo's server no longer allows this device, on this old image, to be activated. 2. I bypassed the setup screen by using Sqlite3 to modify the database and inject fake user credentials into that database, which allowed the device to boot up and function normally. ChatGPT helped me to do that. I have saved the modified database file with the modifications needed to bypass the setup page in case anyone ever needs it. It's just a matter of dragging and dropping it to overwrite the existing one in the .kobo directory. If you have the same problem I have and you need the file, PM me. 3. While copying that modified database file onto the Kobo Glo, I also copied the following firmware to the same .kobo folder: Firmware 3.5.0. That's one of only two firmware files that worked, out of the several that I tried. All of the others that I tried crashed the device during the update, giving dashed vertical lines and corrupting the micro SD card) 4. I safely unplugged the device from my PC and allowed it to update its firmware. I now have a fully functional Kobo Glo. I could not have done this without DNSB, who sent me the image, ChatGPT, which taught me how to use SQLite and modify the database, and PGASkin.net, which provided a large number of firmware versions for me to try until I found one that worked with my device. PeterT - While I appreciate you taking time to share your opinion, I'm glad I did not take your advice and assertion that a hardware failure was the problem and that it was a matter of fact. It apparently wasn't, and the Glo lives on. This device has sentimental value to me and I'm really glad to have it working again. Thank you all.