Calibre portable error - failed to add any books

[lizzielou]

I am running Calibre portable 2.64. I have several different ones - books to read, books read etc. I have just encountered an error in one of them when trying to add a book. This is the error

calibre, version 2.64.0
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 162, in start_pipe_worker
File "subprocess.py", line 710, in __init__
File "subprocess.py", line 958, in _execute_child
WindowsError: [Error 2] The system cannot find the file specified

At present there are 489 books in this library and at first I thought that maybe i had pinged the limit, however, my other libraries have more than that. I am not sure how to fix this. I can create another Calibre but I don't know how to copy the library over in the portable version.

Is anyone able to help? (apart from asking me to upgrade!)

[kovidgoyal]

that indicates a corrupted install. re-install or better update.

[PeterT]

If you decide NOT to upgrade, here is the link to your version --> https://download.calibre-ebook.com/2.64.0/

[lizzielou]

Thank you both for your help. I had tried to reinstall install but I think my hdd is corrupt. I was unable to delete or overwrite the Calibre folder. Even altering the permissions I still got errors saying I couldn't access the folder. Today I am biting the bullet and reformatting my hdd.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by lizzielou

Thank you both for your help. I had tried to reinstall install but I think my hdd is corrupt. I was unable to delete or overwrite the Calibre folder. Even altering the permissions I still got errors saying I couldn't access the folder. Today I am biting the bullet and reformatting my hdd.

I would not reformat. I would buy a replacement and try to recover anything not backed up.

If the drive is corrupt, that could mean it's on the way out or it's had it. Do you really want to risk using it and losing even more data?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I would not reformat. I would buy a replacement and try to recover anything not backed up.

If the drive is corrupt, that could mean it's on the way out or it's had it. Do you really want to risk using it and losing even more data?

100% agree. Your way loses everything up front, with no recovery of files.
And what if it was a drive going south? or something else?
Get knowledgeable help (not just 'a person who knows computers' ) for a second opinion FIRST, (I suspect this is age relate as you are running 2.46 a about decade old. Your whole rig is getting iffy )

I don't know what drive prices are in the UK, but US$50 gets you (local,store. no searching for a deal) 1T internal . US$75 gets 4T (More storage than my work entire data center back in the 80's )