Calibre won't let me add books!

[selzilla]

My Calibre isn't working properly. I downloaded it first nearly a month ago and it worked fine. However, after my Kindle broke, I stopped using for for about 3 months.

When I finally replaced my Kindle, I found out that my old Calibre wasn't working. I thought it might be because it's old, so I updated - but still nothing. I uninstalled and reinstalled to no avail. (In fact, reinstalling just sets me back to my old settings.)

It won't add or convert any new books I downloaded. Every time I try to add a book I get this message: "calibre, version 1.44.0
ERROR: Adding failed: The add books process seems to have hung. Try restarting calibre and adding the books in smaller increments, until you find the problem book." I tried with several different books, of different sizes and formats.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by selzilla

My Calibre isn't working properly. I downloaded it first nearly a month ago and it worked fine. However, after my Kindle broke, I stopped using for for about 3 months.

When I finally replaced my Kindle, I found out that my old Calibre wasn't working. I thought it might be because it's old, so I updated - but still nothing. I uninstalled and reinstalled to no avail. (In fact, reinstalling just sets me back to my old settings.)

It won't add or convert any new books I downloaded. Every time I try to add a book I get this message: "calibre, version 1.44.0
ERROR: Adding failed: The add books process seems to have hung. Try restarting calibre and adding the books in smaller increments, until you find the problem book." I tried with several different books, of different sizes and formats.

That is a new one for me.

What OS?
What else (software and updates) were done to the system since it last worked?
Have you tried running Library Maintenance (on the Library icon menu)?

[kovidgoyal]

The most obvious suspect is an antivirus program. Try disabling your antivirus temporarily and see if it fixes it.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by selzilla

I uninstalled and reinstalled to no avail. (In fact, reinstalling just sets me back to my old settings.)

When you uninstall calibre it does not remove the settings or libraries. This is a design decision, it allows one to install calibre on another computer and simply copy the settings and library(ies) to the other computer.

If you're using windows you might also try running in safe mode, could be that some other program is interfering.

BR

[steve2112]

Hi

I'm having similar problem - suddenly Calibre isn't allowing me to add new books to the library. I switched off my anti-virus but no change. I've rebooted - still the same. I've updated to latest Calibre version and still the same.

I get the following error message:

calibre, version 2.35.0
ERROR: Cannot add books: Failed to add any books, click "Show details" for more information.

Failed to start worker process
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\pool.py", line 197, in start_worker
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\pool.py", line 185, in create_worker
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\pool.py", line 71, in start_worker
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\simple_worker.py", line 160, in start_pipe_worker
File "subprocess.py", line 710, in __init__
File "subprocess.py", line 958, in _execute_child
WindowsError: [Error 5] Access is denied

UPDATE:
Now realise that I can't actually access any of the existing books in the library - new error code:

calibre, version 2.35.0
ERROR: Unhandled exception: <b>CriticalError</b>:Failed to launch worker process:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\server.py", line 196, in do_launch
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\launch.py", line 224, in __call__
File "subprocess.py", line 710, in __init__
File "subprocess.py", line 958, in _execute_child
WindowsError: [Error 5] Access is denied


calibre 2.35 isfrozen: True is64bit: False
Windows-7-6.1.7601-SP1 Windows ('32bit', 'WindowsPE')
32bit process running on 64bit windows
('Windows', '7', '6.1.7601')
Python 2.7.9
Windows: ('7', '6.1.7601', 'SP1', 'Multiprocessor Free')
Successfully initialized third party plugins: MobiUnpack - The Plugin
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\actions\view.py", line 234, in view_triggered
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\actions\view.py", line 310, in _view_books
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\actions\view.py", line 269, in _view_calibre_books
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\actions\view.py", line 103, in view_format_by_id
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\actions\view.py", line 152, in _view_file
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\actions\view.py", line 122, in _launch_viewer
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\jobs.py", line 261, in launch_gui_app
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\server.py", line 214, in run_job
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\server.py", line 187, in launch_worker
CriticalError: Failed to launch worker process:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\server.py", line 196, in do_launch
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\launch.py", line 224, in __call__
File "subprocess.py", line 710, in __init__
File "subprocess.py", line 958, in _execute_child
WindowsError: [Error 5] Access is denied


Any help appreciated.

Many thanks

Steve

[theducks]

Follow the tips in the FAQ at the same place you got Calibre

Your A/V is probably now blocking use of your TEMP folder

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by steve2112

I'm having similar problem

[. . .]

WindowsError: [Error 5] Access is denied

Access denied could be a permissions problem - might be on your library folder

Can you open an epub with ebook-viewer directly - drag-drop one from a library book folder onto C:\Program Files\Calibre2\ebook-viewer.exe.

BR

[PeterT]

See I am getting a “Permission Denied” error?

[kovidgoyal]

Something on your computer is preventing calibre from launching worker processes, most liekly a security/antivirus program.

[steve2112]

Thanks everyone for your prompt replies.

I've tried switching off my AV (360) and that doesn't change it. Following BR's advice I find I CAN open an epub file directly with the viewer - does that help identify the problem? (I'm still looking into the TEMP folder permission thing theducks mentioned.)

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by steve2112

Thanks everyone for your prompt replies.

I've tried switching off my AV (360) and that doesn't change it. Following BR's advice I find I CAN open an epub file directly with the viewer - does that help identify the problem? (I'm still looking into the TEMP folder permission thing theducks mentioned.)

@steve2112 - suggests to me that its not permissions on library directories, or program files or for that matter TEMP - because the viewer creates folders in TEMP. Suggests to me the gremlins are associated with the library manager GUI - other than that I know nothing.

Only Kovid can make an informed comment

One thing you could do, so as to put the TEMP/AV issue to bed, is to give Calibre a dedicated temporary location via the CALIBRE_TEMP_DIR environment variable, see ==>> Environment variables. And exclude that location from your AV, and Indexing and any other such boondoggles.

Another thing worth trying is to see what happens when you run calibre in Windows Safe Mode (if you've not already done that), and if its ON try turning UAC OFF.

And try installing portable calbre

BR

[kovidgoyal]

It has nothing to do with temp files, the error is something is blocking calibre from launching *worker* processes. When you run the viewer from within calibre it runs in a worker process. When you run the viewer by itself there is no worker process.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

It has nothing to do with temp files, the error is something is blocking calibre from launching *worker* processes. When you run the viewer from within calibre it runs in a worker process. When you run the viewer by itself there is no worker process.

- didn't know (to look for) that .

Calibre always seems to start a *worker process* as child and it in turn starts a *console window host*, as in



So what could possibly stop calibre from starting another worker branch to do a conversion, open a file for viewing etc. Something to do with Windows Process Security maybe.

@steve2112 - did running in safe mode provide any insight? If it works then that would point to one of your start up tasks interfering.

In Sysinternals Process Explorer you can look at the Process Properties (right click menu) where there's a Security tab that shows Process Permissions, you might want to take a look in there for 'something' askew - sorry I've no idea what.

Task Manager's Properties/Security tab shows the File Permissions - this suggests MS doesn't know the difference between a file and a process, or a permission and a persimmon

BR

[steve2112]

Thanks again for replies (sorry for late response - been away couple of weeks).

I installed the 64-bit version of Calibre and started afresh with the library and that works.

Thanks again

Steve

[Mic1]

I am trying to find a fix. Will post when solved. Mic1