Nia Critical Error You didn't synchronize your reader

[sasaki]

Hi,

I've been successfully using my Kobo Nia reader for some months without any issue. I decided to bypass the registration process at first boot and everything went fine. I followed the tips found here and on other websites about how to modify the database and it worked well.
I'm using Ubuntu, my kobo nia firmware version seems to be 4.1.15 (the .kobo/kobo/version file indicates 4.1.15,4.23.15525,4.1.15,4.1.15).

I accidentally disconnected the user session and went back to the default loading screen (asking to activate wifi or download the kobo desktop app). After some struggles to remind how to modify my own user table which contains 26 rows, I was able to reach the main menu.

There I had the following error message

Critical Error
You didn't synchronize your reader. Underlined text, notes and your reading progression won't be saved. Disconnect

If I choose disconnect I loop back to the default loading screen and the same process goes on over and over. If I close the error message, no icon on the reader will work : I neither can access the parameters nor any other tab. I can't open a book or do anything else.

What I tried so far that didn't change anything (I'm quite desperate) :

- Deleting all my books
- In the database's user table, changing the IsLibraryMigrated value to true.
- Default everything (except userID, UserKey, UseDisplayName and UserEmail ) to NULL or FALSE
- Doing a Hard reset and editing the new database's user table to bypass registration again. The error message is still there
- Trying to active Sideloaded mode modifying in the configuration file (SideloadedMode=true), but it doesn't work. Looks like my firmware doesn't support it.

Maybe I should suppress the .kobo folder, but I don't want to break the device. If possible I would like not to update the firmware, just go back to basic factory defaults and suppress this error message.

Could someone help me please I'm quite desperate.

[Quoth]

Kobo don't use the email for registration unless you buy on their website. Also it doesn't even need to be a real email address. I created a real unique to Kobo email address about 6 years ago for registration and only ever received my own test email on it, so they don't give the email address to anyone.

Reset and put in either a real or fake email address. Then you can make SideloadedMode=true and never use WiFi.

Use either 4.32.x or 4.34.x fw
Older FW via button at bottom
https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html

I've set up a Nia I bought for someone.

[sasaki]

Thank you for your answer. I am aware I can just register the normal way, but I would like to avoid it if possible. I am not afraid of spamming but I definitely don't want kobo to access my readings stats, and It looks like registering the normal way would make me sign their EULA. Bypassing the registration process looks like the minimal protection against it.

I'm quite sure there is an easy way to reset it to default, either by deleting the .kobo folder (but I fear it may brick my device) or by modifying the correct entry in the database.

For instance, could someone synchronizing the data tell me about the content of their fields "LibrarySyncType" and "LibrarySyncTime" in their user table inside the database ?
Maybe Synchronization info is located elsewhere ?

I will probably update the firmware in the end as this sideloaded mode seems very interesting, but I probably should first get rid of this critical error.

[JSWolf]

You really should register. If you fake register, there's a very good chance that one of the firmware updates will cause you to lose everything. It's happened 2 or 3 times in the past.

You have no reason to be so paranoid. And yes, not registering like this is a case of paranoia.

[sasaki]

Thank you for your advice about this way to reset to defaults.

This is not paranoia but a lack of precise technical knowledge about how exactly is processed the extraction of personal data and how the database works in general. I am currently trying to acquire this knowledge. Once done I will update the wiki with up to date information about registration bypassing with newer databases to prevent other users from struggling as I did with sqlite3 syntax. This topic is a part of the preparation process as I want to post accurate and useful information. This may also help me to recover my notes and bookmarks data.

Thinking twice before upgrading the firmware is also a good practice from a technical point of view if I want to keep complete control over my devices functions. For instance I also think twice before installing linux over window$ for hardware support reasons. Updating the firmware on my Kobo may or may not prevent me to do some specific hacks I may want to do in the future. I simply lack precise knowledge here too.

I am seriously considering to register if no other solution can be found and I am not terrified that my readed books associated with my IP goes somewhere in the big data as you may think. This is just a posture I assume to be coherent with my ethical choices. Not wanting to sign the EULA, which is a legal document is part of this conscious ethical posture. Freedom means being able to choose consciously to register or not to register. It requires technical knowledge. I also like to hack things.

Can ExcludeSyncFolders option be useful here ? https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=341052. If I understand well this may prevent the device from scanning .kobo and .kobo-images folders into the database. If I understand well the data telling I'm not synced is already inside the database, meaning this option is useless to me but also meaning the database is the good place to investigate about data syncing.

[Quoth]

What you worry about applies to Kindle, Apple and Google. Not Kobo.
Did you miss where I wrote you only need wifi once and there is zero evidence a real email address is misused, and a fake made up email address works.
I'm expert at databases and reasonably expert about security. I'd not attempt to edit the database to pretend it's registered and there is no need.

Can ExcludeSyncFolders option be useful here?

No, because once you have "registered" on WiFi once you never need WiFi again. It's not registration like with Apple, Microsoft, Amazon Kindle or Google /Android.

Also unlike others, especially Amazon Kindle, you can load FW manually and go back to earlier FW via USB. It's trival, so it absolutely doesn't matter that with WiFi registration (which doesn't even need a real email address and a real one in 6 years never misused) updates the FW. Simple to afterwards disable WiFi and load older FW via USB
Go https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html
Click button at bottom of page

Versions
All previous versions by hardware revision.

You are making a mare's nest when there is no need.

[sasaki]

I simply wonder why a hard reset didn't wipe out all the data from the device. If possible I would like to identify where my data is stored, so I may recover my bookmarks for instance. If I can't recover my data then finding a way to really reset it to factory defaults would be great. More generally I would simply like to understand how my device works, and help other people around me or in this forum to do the same.

You are making a mare's nest when there is no need.

Well maybe I simply needed someone to explain me that Kobo acts differently than the others. As you mentioned, my worries apply to Apple, Google and Kindle. I'm simply a newcomer used to those companies methods.

I'd not attempt to edit the database to pretend it's registered and there is no need.

Do you mean entering an email adress at registration only populates the user table with this particular information ? Is so then the total registration bypass process indicated in various topics here would just be a illusion making people think they are "great hackers" ? Then the device just needs wifi to download the latest firmware ?
I assume there may be other modifications to the table. I notice there is a conf file for google analytics and I also imagine the registration process creates a profile on kobo servers, uploading as many informations as it can. I may be wrong though, but I confess I would be surprised if not.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by sasaki

Thank you for your advice about this way to reset to defaults.

This is not paranoia but a lack of precise technical knowledge about how exactly is processed the extraction of personal data and how the database works in general. I am currently trying to acquire this knowledge. Once done I will update the wiki with up to date information about registration bypassing with newer databases to prevent other users from struggling as I did with sqlite3 syntax. This topic is a part of the preparation process as I want to post accurate and useful information. This may also help me to recover my notes and bookmarks data.

Please do not post in the Wiki how to eventually screw up someone's database. Even if you figure it all out, it won't matter. IT HAS HAPPENED in the past and could happen in the future.

Yes, this is paranoia otherwise, you'd just do a normal registration that won't cause any problem. What else would you call it?

Sure you can examine the database all you want. But There is a way to recover if something goes wrong. That's to use Kobo Utilities to backup the database. I don't need to know how it works. I just need to know that it does work and will work after a firmware update. What you'll do to others is make them think it works and then when it doesn't, it won't work in a big way.

And just to clarify one thing that @Quoth said, a real email address will not be misused. I've had a Kobo account for about 8-9 years and a PROPERLY REGISTERED Kobo for 7 years. My email address has never been misused in any way.

[rashkae]

I would suggest installing the latest firmware release, then you can enable sideload mode. All of this can be done without internet or registering the Kobo. If you really want to bypass registration on the older firmware, I can help with that, but can't think of any benefit to doing so.

Can you be more precise what do you mean by doing a Hard Reset? In my mind, you are only rebooting the device, and not restoring factory defaults.

You can delete all user accessible files on the device, including the .kobo folder. It will not break the device, (but of course, books will have to be re-added and bookmarks will be lost.) You will lose the dictionary, but it can be downloaded from a web browser easy enough.

The simplest SQL command to enter a blank user in the user database is:

INSERT INTO user(UserID,UserKey) VALUES('1','');

Note that since only UserID, and UserKey fields acutally require a value, this will work without having to know the exact number of empty columns.

I 100% that this knowledge should be publicized for those interested (even though, now pretty irrelevant.)

[JSWolf]

@sasaki Do you know you cannot use Overdrive or buy any eBooks from Kobo when you do not register? You need to be registered at Kobo correctly to buy eBooks.

[rashkae]

@JSWolf, If you aren't going to offer any help to answer the questions, your endless spamming of this thread is exceedingly rude and irritating.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by sasaki

I simply wonder why the hard reset didn't totally reset to factory defaults. If my bookmarks data is still stored somewhere then I may be able to recover it and/or getting rid of this error message. If not well putting the device back to factory defaults would allow me to use it as I always did, which would be great. Maybe I also made an error in the registration bypass process that I didn't do at first try.

If you enter devmodeon in the search field, this will enable developer mode and allow you to access the factory reset from that menu which is a real hard reset to factory. The other choice is the manual factory reset. See Manual reset your Kobo Clara HD, Kobo Nia, Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Clara 2E for that procedure.

Originally Posted by sasaki

I am aware they need wifi to collect information and that leaving it off would prevent that. I would also like to use my device wifi to use some third party apps that need it or simply browsing the web from time to time.

I would guess that you have never tried to browse the web on an eInk device? It is not something that I would do if I could avoid it.

Basically, I would agree with @Quoth. The email address I set up for my Kobo registration has only received emails from Kobo so I would agree that they are not selling the information. I do obtain quite a few books from Kobo so I get emails from them about specials and recommendations.

[sasaki]

Thank you everybody for your answers and sorry about the double post. I thought it didn't work in the first place and can't suppress it now. If a moderator can suppress this one it is welcome.

Can you be more precise what do you mean by doing a Hard Reset? In my mind, you are only rebooting the device, and not restoring factory defaults.

I did a manual factory reset as explained here. I am really surprised it didn't work as expected. It actually generated a new database in which I only changed the UserID and UserKey and ended up with the exact same error. The database may be broken elsewhere.

I would suggest installing the latest firmware release, then you can enable sideload mode. All of this can be done without internet or registering the Kobo. If you really want to bypass registration on the older firmware, I can help with that, but can't think of any benefit to doing so.

Then I will probably choose this solution because the new functionalities will certainly please me. This sideloaded mode in itself is enough to attract me to this solution, especially if I can do that without an internet connection. The benefit to stick to the older firmware would be not taking the risk to brick the device while flashing it. Can you please indicate me how I can flash the firmware from usb ? A quick search on this forum and the web didn't show proper results and I it may be a delicate task.

Note that since only UserID, and UserKey fields acutally require a value, this will work without having to know the exact number of empty columns.

As far as I can remember this didn't work when I unboxed the product and I struggled for hours to be able to bypass registration. This is why I wanted to document my results. Yes @JSWolf, without screwing up everyone's database, which is why I do some efforts to understand my issue well.

I would guess that you have never tried to browse the web on an eInk device? It is not something that I would do if I could avoid it.

I did try and I'm really interested in exploring how to make it as convenient as possible to perform basic tasks online with an eInk display. I think this kind of experiences are a great step towards gaining more freedom about screens addiction. I know I can install linux on my Kobo, this is why I need a working internet connection. I may buy another one and use this one only for reading though, leaving the wifi off and using the latest firmware in sideloaded mode.

The email address I set up for my Kobo registration has only received emails from Kobo so I would agree that they are not selling the information.

Having my data simply collected is enough to bother me. By the more their privacy policy clearly states they do share personal data with third parties for marketing and analysis purposes. I'm still interested about what kobo may offer, but I clearly don't agree with their privacy practices. I'll consider checking their commercial offers later, when I'll have finished a few books.

@JSWolf As it is not really the subject I will just answer once here. I would really be happy to discuss with you about privacy -or my psychological health- in PM or in another topic.

Is the reason you don't want to register is because you plan on reading stolen eBooks and feel that if you do register that Kobo will find out and you may get in trouble?

No I simply want to protect my privacy. This is a conscious ethical posture. If everyone made like me, this numerical world would not be a complete mess. You must already know there are plenty of open-source or public domain books online, and an ereader can be used to read a bunch of other type of content than books.

Yes, this is paranoia otherwise, you'd just do a normal registration that won't cause any problem. What else would you call it?

Paranoia means, to sum up, irrational fears with untrue persecutory beliefs. I would simply call my behavior caution. It is a public information that most companies do things to spy and manipulate people, among other debatable practices. Having personal data about all the books you read, your bookmarks and notes being collected and shared with third parties is not trivial. I don't fear it, because, among other reasons, I'm quite confident it is hard to manipulate me, but I would prefer avoiding it if possible. There are other potential issues than manipulation, but I will stop talking about it here. Please let me know if you are interested in debating on this topic.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Basically, I would agree with @Quoth. The email address I set up for my Kobo registration has only received emails from Kobo so I would agree that they are not selling the information. I do obtain quite a few books from Kobo so I get emails from them about specials and recommendations.

And only got even those because you used the Kobo Website to buy stuff.

A second hand €45 6" android tablet is better than any eink for the Internet. Good luck on using iOS, Android or MS Windows tablets/phones without giving loads away. Some chance with careful configuration of MacOS, Windows (Local account) or Linux laptop/desktop but not using Chrome or Edge and switching off /changing defaults.

There is no privacy or security issue with a Kobo eink email registration.

[Quoth]

I gave the firmware link!
https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html
It even explains install, except I would extract to your own disk and then copy the files. It's the same thing.

Make sure you register with real or fake email via WiFi after the reset. DO NOT EDIT THE DATABASE!
Let it update. Disable WiFi
Connect to USB.
Make sure you can see the .kobo directory/folder (On Mac & Linux enable view hidden files)
Download desired FW version (either 4.32.x or current 4.34.x)
Unzip to a folder/directory on your computer.
Copy all inside that into inside of .kobo
When it's done, do the usual OS Eject.
After a little while the new firmware will install.

Then edit the confg for SideloadedMode=true.

Don't edit the database!