Help needed - Interface suddenly on default

jecilop · 08-23-2022, 12:49 AM

SOLVED: found a backup of global settings and replaced those files. All is back to normal now.

************************************************** ****

I could use some help figuring out what has happened and how to fix.
My computer often restarts on it's own (Wdw's 11 ignores when you tell it not to do that on this laptop). It seems to have issues when a lot of memory is in use by Calibre and will restart, typically without problems.

It recently blue screened while Calibre was open (again, likely memory issue with Calibre and other intensive programs running.) NOW, when I open Calibre, my interface settings are all gone (virtual library tabs even though the Virt Libs exist, row spacing, menu bar settings including plug-ins not visible yet they are installed), but my specialized things like columns and icons and colors in preferences as well as book details view are still there.
Also missing are easy switches to my other libraries. They no longer list.
I notice that everything is larger also.
I did manage to use a quick shortcut to some of the other libraries through custom calibre links. Those restore the quick ability to easily switch vs. adding back an existing.

I also noticed that the "splash" screen now shows where it has been set to off for years now. I did not update Calibre before this. I tried an update to see if something would change, but it just updated the version and is still on these wrong settings.

My "Calibre Config directory-Custom" is in the same location and must be being referenced since it's pulling the column icons from it. When I got to Prefs/Misc/ and click the Open Calibre config folder, it goes to the correct so I think the environmental variable for it must be correct still.

Any input on a simple fix to get my settings back? It's A LOT of customization I've had in place over the years. I haven't had to change it in so long I fear I don't remember how!

Comfy.n · 08-23-2022, 01:43 AM

I wish I could provide you a quick fix, but it seems to me you might have a hardware problem (or an OS issue, which could also be hardware triggered, right?)

Do you happen to have a backup somewhere of the Calibre Config Folder? From time to time I just create a compressed file of that directory, just in case something gets messed up...

To begin troubleshooting, I would look into: SSD/HDD and RAM.

I don't know W11, but in W10 the System Restore has helped me sometimes to get things working...

In Win7, though, System Restore was more reliable (as everything else in it compared to W10, sigh..)

Comfy.n · 08-23-2022, 01:51 AM

Today I used the .bat file from this post, in order to generate a log, starting Calibre in debug mode. Should be useful to try that and see what it prints

BetterRed · 08-23-2022, 01:52 AM

It would seem you've lost some (maybe all) of the files that hold global settings, they're the ones at Prefs->Misc->Open calibre config directory. Calibre will automatically create any config files it can't find… with the default values.

Do you have a backup of that directory?

BR

jecilop · 08-23-2022, 12:26 PM

Thank you, Better Red !

Despite everything seeming to have the needed dates in what I have, I went back to a backup about 20 days to be safe. It seems a few files update at any use such as the gui.json . I'm guessing this is where the settings I needed were located. All entry databases are the same so I shouldn't lose any changes for the last 30 days to those. I didn't do anything else otherwise.

It's all back as it should be!

jecilop · 08-23-2022, 12:30 PM

Thanks for your input Comfy..... I had to find some old file version backups and apply them. All is well now.

Comfy.n · 08-23-2022, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jecilop

Thanks for your input Comfy..... I had to find some old file version backups and apply them. All is well now.

08-23-2022, 12:49 AM	#1
jecilop Addict Posts: 260 Karma: 139980 Join Date: Mar 2014 Device: Android	Help needed - Interface suddenly on default SOLVED: found a backup of global settings and replaced those files. All is back to normal now. ************************************************ I could use some help figuring out what has happened and how to fix. My computer often restarts on it's own (Wdw's 11 ignores when you tell it not to do that on this laptop). It seems to have issues when a lot of memory is in use by Calibre and will restart, typically without problems. It recently blue screened while Calibre was open (again, likely memory issue with Calibre and other intensive programs running.) NOW, when I open Calibre, my interface settings are all gone (virtual library tabs even though the Virt Libs exist, row spacing, menu bar settings including plug-ins not visible yet they are installed), but my specialized things like columns and icons and colors in preferences as well as book details view are still there. Also missing are easy switches to my other libraries. They no longer list. I notice that everything is larger also. I did manage to use a quick shortcut to some of the other libraries through custom calibre links. Those restore the quick ability to easily switch vs. adding back an existing. I also noticed that the "splash" screen now shows where it has been set to off for years now. I did not update Calibre before this. I tried an update to see if something would change, but it just updated the version and is still on these wrong settings. My "Calibre Config directory-Custom" is in the same location and must be being referenced since it's pulling the column icons from it. When I got to Prefs/Misc/ and click the Open Calibre config folder, it goes to the correct so I think the environmental variable for it must be correct still. Any input on a simple fix to get my settings back? It's A LOT of customization I've had in place over the years. I haven't had to change it in so long I fear I don't remember how!** Last edited by jecilop; 08-23-2022 at 12:28 PM. Reason: solved

08-23-2022, 01:43 AM	#2
Comfy.n want to learn what I want Posts: 1,611 Karma: 7891011 Join Date: Sep 2020 Device: none	I wish I could provide you a quick fix, but it seems to me you might have a hardware problem (or an OS issue, which could also be hardware triggered, right?) Do you happen to have a backup somewhere of the Calibre Config Folder? From time to time I just create a compressed file of that directory, just in case something gets messed up... To begin troubleshooting, I would look into: SSD/HDD and RAM. I don't know W11, but in W10 the System Restore has helped me sometimes to get things working... In Win7, though, System Restore was more reliable (as everything else in it compared to W10, sigh..) Last edited by Comfy.n; 08-23-2022 at 01:47 AM.

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08-23-2022, 01:51 AM	#3
Comfy.n want to learn what I want Posts: 1,611 Karma: 7891011 Join Date: Sep 2020 Device: none	Today I used the .bat file from this post, in order to generate a log, starting Calibre in debug mode. Should be useful to try that and see what it prints

08-23-2022, 01:52 AM	#4
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,725 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	It would seem you've lost some (maybe all) of the files that hold global settings, they're the ones at Prefs->Misc->Open calibre config directory. Calibre will automatically create any config files it can't find… with the default values. Do you have a backup of that directory? BR

08-23-2022, 12:26 PM	#5
jecilop Addict Posts: 260 Karma: 139980 Join Date: Mar 2014 Device: Android	Thank you, Better Red ! Despite everything seeming to have the needed dates in what I have, I went back to a backup about 20 days to be safe. It seems a few files update at any use such as the gui.json . I'm guessing this is where the settings I needed were located. All entry databases are the same so I shouldn't lose any changes for the last 30 days to those. I didn't do anything else otherwise. It's all back as it should be!

08-23-2022, 12:30 PM	#6
jecilop Addict Posts: 260 Karma: 139980 Join Date: Mar 2014 Device: Android	Thanks for your input Comfy..... I had to find some old file version backups and apply them. All is well now.

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