Glo Reset impossible?

[Rojofo]

Hello to All, I have a Kobo Glo which is in excellent condition and has been used regularly up until recently. Suddenly it was no longer recognised by my Mac. When connected by USB cable, it no longer appeared as connected.
I tried a manual reset which could not be completed since I could no longer connect to the computer.
I contacted KOBO and was told that this model was no longer followed and I was advised to buy a new Kobo. It seems that there is no longer the correct firmware.
Can anyone suggest a solution of some kind? I am very disappointed that a reader in perfect physical condition, with an excellent screen and no battery problem or other defects can no longer be used!
Thanks for any advice to get it back up and running!

[bluepeter]

Originally Posted by Rojofo

I tried a manual reset which could not be completed since I could no longer connect to the computer.

Sorry, but I don't understand this comment. Manual reset instructions can be found here. I don't see anything requiring that the e-reader be connected to a computer in order to reset it.

[JSWolf]

Just because it's not connecting to to computer, you don't reset until you've exhausted all options like a different cable, different USB port, different computer with Windows, etc.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by bluepeter

Sorry, but I don't understand this comment. Manual reset instructions can be found here. I don't see anything requiring that the e-reader be connected to a computer in order to reset it.

I think the issue being expressed is that while the reset has been performed, the user is not able to complete the setup process

Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

[rashkae]

Just to Clarify for you, there is nothing about the Kobo Glo obsolescence that would cause USB interface to stop working. Ergo, the Kobo is probably not in as 'perfect' condition as you believe, (although, as already stated, worth ruling out other sources of the problem, such as Cable or pc it is connecting too.)

[Rojofo]

Obviously my question was not detailed and precise enough so I will now go into the detail of that question.
Firstly the problem arose when the Kobo Glo was connected to a Mac. Whereas formerly the Kobo showed a message on its screen indicating that a computer was detected and asking whether to connect or not, generally followed after connection, by the appearance on the screen of the Macintosh of the icon of the Kobo and then its appearance in Calibre of the Kobo menu. This second part no longer took place and the Kobo icon did not appear, consequently it was no longer possible to put books on the Kobo.
As a result, I tried three or four cables, including original Kobo cables delivered with this Kobo and other Kobos that I have. This produced no change in the problem. I then tried other USB ports on the Macintosh. The problem remained. I then tried another Macintosh, several cables and several ports on this second Macintosh. The problem remained and the Kobo Glo was not recognised.
So I decided to reset the Kobo by holding the light button and pressing the power button on the Glo. The Kobo seemed to reset and displayed a menu (in French as the Kobo is used in French) "bienvenu sur Kobo" (Welcome to Kobo). After choosing the French language I am offered a choice of setting it up by connecting to a computer or on Wifi. Neither of these solutions, which I tried resulted in success. Firstly I tried the Wifi connection. The Kobo recognized my Wifi network and connected to it with the password, displaying a message of successful connection. At this point the Kobo screen then goes back to the page requiring (once again) the definition of date and time and back to offering the choice between computer connection of wifi in a kind of loop. If I choose Wifi again I am required to put the password in again and then we go back to the loop. So at this point I tried the computer connection using the USB cable. I use a USB cable that works with other Kobos and a USB port that works with other Kobos on a Mac. After connection, the screen of the Kobo glo displays a computer with a screen showing "kobosetup.com" and below an invitation to connect to the Kobo desktopsite. At this point, the Mac does not display the Kobo in the list of connected disks (whereas normally it is displayed) nor does it appear connected in Calibre. When I try to connect to Kobo Desktop Edition, the Kobo does not seem connected. So at this point I contacted Kobo several times. Once they hung up on me after a fairly brief exchange which was useless. I have a copy of a long exchange online which resulted in being told that I should buy a new Kobo.
I'm hoping that these few elements of description will help to give me useful advice if possible. Of course I can see that there are many elements that I have not mentioned here and I am very willing to give more details to be able to connect the Kobo glo to the Mac again.

[Rojofo]

Originally Posted by PeterT

I think the issue being expressed is that while the reset has been performed, the user is not able to complete the setup process

Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

Thank you! That is exactly the problem.

[JSWolf]

It could be the USB port needs to be replaced.

[Rojofo]

Thank you, JS Wolf, for the suggestion that the USB port needs to be replaced. But surely if it were defective, the Kobo would not recognize the computer. But is does when it is connected by USB cable. As I explained, when I connect it by cable to the computer, the Kobo screen immediately changes and shows a computer. This change is brought about by the connection. Also, before the reset, the Kobo always recognized the computer and presented the menu to connect or not and announced that it was connected and charging after accepting the connection. The problem is that the computers do not recognize the Kobo....
But perhaps there is something here that I do not understand.... more advice is needed!

[Rojofo]

Since the kobo glo has an SD card port, I am wondering if it would be possible to complete the reset and configure the Kobo by inserting an SD card with appropriate content ?

[PeterT]

Something worth trying is if you have an old USB hub (ie usb 2 or 1) plug that into your computer and then plug the Kobo into that.

Kobos are known to be quite sensitive to the USB drivers.

Additionally you could try downloading the most current Touch f/w, place the SD card from the Kobo in your computer and see if your able to mount the Fat32 partition. Don't format the card or do any checks in it.

You just want to extract the zip file that is the firmware update to the .kobo folder

Then you should be able to reinsert that card in the touch and power on.

The device should do an upgrade at that point to the new f/w.

Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

[Rojofo]

Thank you very much for this practical advice, PeterT. I will try this later as it is now bedtime in Europe!

[Rojofo]

Additionally you could try downloading the most current Touch f/w, place the SD card from the Kobo in your computer and see if your able to mount the Fat32 partition. Don't format the card or do any checks in it.

You just want to extract the zip file that is the firmware update to the .kobo folder

Then you should be able to reinsert that card in the touch and power on.

The device should do an upgrade at that point to the new f/w.

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

Unfortunately I am not very tech-savvy so doing this is not easy for me.
I have downloaded what I believe to be the latest firmware for the Kobo Glo from a third-party website that I hope is reliable.

I have copied the firmware to an SD card (which has a FAT32 format) and connected it to the Kobo and then powered the Kobo up, hoping that it will recognise the new firmware and power up on that. But unfortunately that did not happen. Is there a step that I have missed?
There are other things on the SD card. Should I eliminate them?
What is frustrating is that the Kobo recognizes the computer and also the wifi network and will connect to the Wifi network but the Mac does not recognize the Kobo and when I try to complete the configuration the wifi connection cuts off.
This is all the more frustrating as other than this major problem, everything seems in good condition!!



The device should do an upgrade at that point to the new f/w.

Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]

[bluepeter]

Three things:

1. I don't know what "third-party website" you got your firmware from. I generally download any that I need from https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html .

2. The SD card to use isn't just any old card: you need the one from inside your e-reader, and it has to go back into the slot from which it came.

3. Where on your SD card did you put it? It has to go in the .kobo folder, not in (for example) the root directory.

[Rojofo]

Thank you, Bluepeter, for this advice.
I got the firmware from the same site that you mentioned.
I have never used an SD card in this Kobo Glo, so there is no "original SD"; I can only use any old SD card, unfortunately. This may be why the Kobo does not recognise the firmware.
Is there any way of making a kind of "fake" SD card copy to try to trick the Kobo to recognise it?