PRS-T1 Noob needs help with PRS-T1 and Calibre

[Plumadona]

Hi! Have used Calibre (Mac version) with no problems with original Nook. Just got a PRS-T1 and have no end of problems. I'm pretty hopeless with the fine points of computer issues, so please be gentle with me ::

Okay, got the Sony up and running, authorized with Adobe, downloaded a book, no problem. Made sure that the Sony software was shut down after checking the preferences not to automatically open when the reader is plugged in. Disconnected Sony.

Downloaded most recent version of Calibre, loaded 323 books in bunches to Sony on a SD (8gb /4 - brand new, unused SanDisk). Books had tags (17) and there were a few series as well. Disconnected after all were loaded, and covers were missing, ghost books were there claiming to be deleting but not going anywhere. Books did go into collections, though.

I read through the forums and saw some posts on how to get the covers to show, made the changes in Calibre. I also saw that others reported this and seemed to get it going on the second try, so I formatted the sd and tried to load again (in bunches as it seemed very slow). Same problem - ghost books.

Formatted the SD again, changed Calibre so that it would not make collections, and loaded about 10 books. This time, the books are confused - touch title a and get book b - and still have ghost books.

Have I destroyed this beyond repair? Can anyone help a hopeless old lady? ::

[pdurrant]

I can't help with the sony stuff, but I have fixed your smilies in your post. Click on the smiley to insert into your post, don't drag from the palette.

[jackie_w]

@Plumadona,

You're not hopeless there is a bug when using the combination of PRST1 & SD card & Calibre. There is a workaround which is discussed in the main Calibre/PRST1 thread posts #302/303. The explanation of why the problem occurs is in post #317 of the same thread.

Once you have performed the workaround and got it all smoothed out, I believe it works fine for subsequent sends. I can't confirm because I don't use an SD card. By the way, these problems don't occur if you use Calibre to send to internal memory rather than the SD card.

[Plumadona]

Jackie, thanks! I ended up deleting the sony db files then putting the books back without the tags, just to get them on to the machine quickly for my husband. I'm going to follow your good info when I get a sony of my own in a few days. I didn't know about the SD issue - that's really good info!

[khalleron]

If you only have 323 books, I'm wondering why you're using an SD card. The T1 has 1.4gigs of internal memory available. Enough for several times the books you have.

[Plumadona]

I've been picking up so many freebies over the past few months that it seemed like a good idea. I also wanted to keep space available for music. However, doing without it is an option now that I know that the SD is a problem.

[speakingtohe]

I think you can use your SD card for music and audio books. As long as you don't send books to the SD card then calibre should work fine. But I could be wrong there.

Worst case, you could remove card when connecting to calibre.
Helen

[cybmole]

use your PC as the ebook.music repostory.

use your e-reader hardware for the "stuff to take on holiday" / "stuff you are currently reading" or "intend to read very soon"

find another use for the SD card.

job done.

PS I don't understand folks who need to store x thousand books etc ON the reader.

i keep a max of 9 books on my Sony -a self imposed limit because that's how many you can see on 1 screen. & I don't have the brain to be part way through >9 books at any one time.
libraries are stored & backed up on reliable PC hard drives

[petercreasey]

I purposely keep only ~40 books on my 950. I also don't understand the notion of storing all the books on the ereader.

[khalleron]

Originally Posted by petercreasey

I purposely keep only ~40 books on my 950. I also don't understand the notion of storing all the books on the ereader.

So when I'm done with the book I'm reading, I can pick from the entire library.

I never know what I'm going to be in the mood for ahead of time.

But then I have <500 ebooks at the moment.

[Plumadona]

Why keep all the books on the machine? Because I can? Because I like choices? All of the above?

I bought the Sony to take on vacation. I also read very fast, so that while it can take me days or even a week or two to read a "serious" book (like "This Time is Different" about economic history) or a really long one (A Dance with Dragons), I can also read a light novel in a few hours. My interests vary widely, and I like not having to choose what I think I'm going to want to read over a ten or fourteen day period if I know I'll have the luxury of being able to read several hours of day without interruption.

No offense to those who prefer to keep only a few on board and the rest on the hard drive - these are just my reasons and YMMV. Either way, the decision on how many books to keep on any given reader should be a matter of personal preference, not software issues.

Just my two cents and I hope this helps. I don't mind answering the curious, and I appreciate the info from the helpful. This is a great resource with great folks. Peace.