Kobo Wireless Won't Show Books

AdamEternal · 11-22-2016, 11:35 PM

My mom found a Kobo Wireless for me. The problem is that when I try to add ePub books to it, the Kobo doesn't recognize their existence. When I try using using Calibre to transfer the books, Calibre says that it cannot open the Kobo's database.

davidfor · 11-24-2016, 12:15 AM

What is the actual error from calibre? It probably means that it is a corrupt database and needs to replaced. This can be done on the newer devices by signing out of the Kobo accounts. I'm not sure how to do that on the WiFi.

Otherwise, it sounds like https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=221072. And the solution is to restore an image to the internal SD card.

AdamEternal · 11-24-2016, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

What is the actual error from calibre? It probably means that it is a corrupt database and needs to replaced. This can be done on the newer devices by signing out of the Kobo accounts. I'm not sure how to do that on the WiFi.

Otherwise, it sounds like https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=221072. And the solution is to restore an image to the internal SD card.

Here is the error message Calibre gives me.

Code:

calibre, version 2.72.0
ERROR: Error: Error communicating with device

CantOpenError: unable to open database file

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "site-packages/calibre/gui2/device.py", line 88, in run
  File "site-packages/calibre/gui2/device.py", line 506, in _books
  File "site-packages/calibre/devices/kobo/driver.py", line 318, in books
  File "site-packages/calibre/devices/kobo/driver.py", line 161, in device_database_connection
CantOpenError: CantOpenError: unable to open database file

I can still throw books into the device's storage, but it seems as if there's some secret "database" that isn't being accessed. Perhaps it's Ubuntu's fault.

Side note, I had a quick glance at the thread you linked. This Davidfor guy is a PM sending hero.

DNSB · 11-25-2016, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamEternal

I can still throw books into the device's storage, but it seems as if there's some secret "database" that isn't being accessed. Perhaps it's Ubuntu's fault.

Side note, I had a quick glance at the thread you linked. This Davidfor guy is a PM sending hero.

Couple of quick questions. When you look at the root of the storage on your Kobo Wifi, do you see a .kobo directory? You may need to hit ctrl-H (I think that is how to show hidden directories/files under Ubuntu) to display hidden directories. If you see the directory, open it. Do you see a KoboReader.sqlite file? If all this looks okay, what is your firmware version? There was an issue with a firmware update that may be the issue. (menu button, Settings, Overview). In any case, you might want click over to Advanced and then select Reset Device Now to force a factory reset which will replace the existing database with a new blank one after which you will need to re-setup your Kobo WiFi.

And yes, DavidFor has been a lifesaver for many who visit these threads.

davidfor · 11-25-2016, 04:57 AM

@AdamEternal: That error is usually a sign the database is corrupt or missing. The newer devices make a recovery from this easy, but for the WiFi, it's done differently and I don't remember how. Alternatively, it's a sign of the firmware update problem that the other David mentioned and the only way to recover is with the image.

Looking back at the first post, this seems to be a new-to-you device. If so, I suggest doing a factory reset. This will clear everything and take you through the setup. If after that, the problem happens again, then you need to restore the image. But, hopefully it will just work. The newer devices have the factory reset option on the "Device information" page of the settings. I think the WiFi does as well, but I don't have one to check.

AdamEternal · 11-25-2016, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Couple of quick questions. When you look at the root of the storage on your Kobo Wifi, do you see a .kobo directory? You may need to hit ctrl-H (I think that is how to show hidden directories/files under Ubuntu) to display hidden directories. If you see the directory, open it. Do you see a KoboReader.sqlite file? If all this looks okay, what is your firmware version? There was an issue with a firmware update that may be the issue. (menu button, Settings, Overview). In any case, you might want click over to Advanced and then select Reset Device Now to force a factory reset which will replace the existing database with a new blank one after which you will need to re-setup your Kobo WiFi.

And yes, DavidFor has been a lifesaver for many who visit these threads.

KOBOeReader's root is empty af. When I first got it I factory reset it, but I may have accidentally deleted KoboReader.sqlite. I'll try that again and let you know how it goes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

@AdamEternal: That error is usually a sign the database is corrupt or missing. The newer devices make a recovery from this easy, but for the WiFi, it's done differently and I don't remember how. Alternatively, it's a sign of the firmware update problem that the other David mentioned and the only way to recover is with the image.

Looking back at the first post, this seems to be a new-to-you device. If so, I suggest doing a factory reset. This will clear everything and take you through the setup. If after that, the problem happens again, then you need to restore the image. But, hopefully it will just work. The newer devices have the factory reset option on the "Device information" page of the settings. I think the WiFi does as well, but I don't have one to check.

"

EDIT

Nope, factory reset, still nothing in there.

davidfor · 11-25-2016, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamEternal

KOBOeReader's root is empty af. When I first got it I factory reset it, but I may have accidentally deleted KoboReader.sqlite. I'll try that again and let you know how it goes.

"

EDIT

Nope, factory reset, still nothing in there.

OK, that sounds like the firmware upgrade problem we mentioned. I can send you a link to the image, but I need the WiFi model number. There are three, N647, N647B, or 289. You need the right image for it to work.

AdamEternal · 11-26-2016, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

OK, that sounds like the firmware upgrade problem we mentioned. I can send you a link to the image, but I need the WiFi model number. There are three, N647, N647B, or 289. You need the right image for it to work.

It's N647. Thanks. I'll try fixing things when I get to a computer that has an SD card port and I get my hands on a mirco SD card adapter.

davidfor · 11-26-2016, 06:33 PM

PM sent.

11-22-2016, 11:35 PM	#1
AdamEternal I just want it to work. Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2016 Device: Kobo Wi-Fi	Kobo Wireless Won't Show Books My mom found a Kobo Wireless for me. The problem is that when I try to add ePub books to it, the Kobo doesn't recognize their existence. When I try using using Calibre to transfer the books, Calibre says that it cannot open the Kobo's database.

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11-24-2016, 12:15 AM	#2
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	What is the actual error from calibre? It probably means that it is a corrupt database and needs to replaced. This can be done on the newer devices by signing out of the Kobo accounts. I'm not sure how to do that on the WiFi. Otherwise, it sounds like https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=221072. And the solution is to restore an image to the internal SD card.

11-25-2016, 04:57 AM	#5
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	@AdamEternal: That error is usually a sign the database is corrupt or missing. The newer devices make a recovery from this easy, but for the WiFi, it's done differently and I don't remember how. Alternatively, it's a sign of the firmware update problem that the other David mentioned and the only way to recover is with the image. Looking back at the first post, this seems to be a new-to-you device. If so, I suggest doing a factory reset. This will clear everything and take you through the setup. If after that, the problem happens again, then you need to restore the image. But, hopefully it will just work. The newer devices have the factory reset option on the "Device information" page of the settings. I think the WiFi does as well, but I don't have one to check.

11-26-2016, 06:33 PM	#9
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	PM sent.

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