help recovering my library

babyz · 06-01-2010, 12:09 PM

Hello I recently had a virus on my computer but was able to go through safe mode and find an antivirus program that would delete the virus. Once I got my computer working I got onto calibre and found that all of my books are gone. Does anyone know how I could find my books and get them back? I have about 400 books on there. I am not a computer savy person so please help in lamen terms. thnx and love the site.

Worldwalker · 06-01-2010, 12:25 PM

Now that's a new one. I've never heard of an ebook-eating virus. *is scared* Excuse me while I update my virus definitions.

Anyway, the first thing you should do is look with your file manager (I'd guess that would be Windows Explorer since you've had virus problems) and see if your ebook files are where you thought you left them. Checking the recycle bin would also be good. If you know the filenames of some of your ebooks, do a file search for them. If the files are physically there, you can just re-import them, though you'll probably have lost your metadata.

Well, actually thevery first thing you should do is have this moved over to the calibre support forum (it's down the board a ways). That's where the calibre gurus hang out. I'll ask the mods to move it, so it's in front of the experts as quickly as possible. I'm not a calibre guru, just a user, so someone may have an answer to this along the lines of "frob the thingamagummy and the whatchamacallit" that will recover the metadata too (and they're good at translating from techie to layman).

If your problem can be fixed, someone here will probably know how to fix it.

Rich_D · 06-01-2010, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babyz

Hello I recently had a virus on my computer but was able to go through safe mode and find an antivirus program that would delete the virus. Once I got my computer working I got onto calibre and found that all of my books are gone. Does anyone know how I could find my books and get them back? I have about 400 books on there. I am not a computer savy person so please help in lamen terms. thnx and love the site.

I can't help much with recovery, but if you do get them back, I suggest backing up your hard drive. Use one of the online services or buy an external drive. Heck, just get a small flash drive and back up your books to that!

Good luck!

babyz · 06-01-2010, 12:38 PM

thanks and I will do exactly that.

abookreader · 06-01-2010, 12:39 PM

My first question is whether or not the book files have actually been deleted - or has Calibre somehow been corrupted to where it just can't find the book files.

We're talking a PC, right? Open up your Windows Explorer and look to see if the books are actually there. Mine are stored under My Media then a folder for each author then a file for each book, but I can't remember if that was the default.

Sydney's Mom · 06-01-2010, 02:43 PM

My library is on Dropbox, so I don't have to worry about any or all of my computers going blue screen on me.

FlorenceArt · 06-01-2010, 02:49 PM

Look for a folder called "Calibre library", that's where your ebooks should be. At least that's how it is on my Mac, but I think it should be the same on Windows.

Hope this helps
Florence

John F · 06-02-2010, 07:57 AM

In XP, you could also try

1) Start->Documents
2) right click on an ebook and click on properties

This will give you the path to the book.

edbro · 06-02-2010, 08:12 AM

I'm curious as to why you would start an identical thread 2 days in a row. I already answered you in your post yesterday.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85430

speakingtohe · 06-02-2010, 04:55 PM

While there is probably no virus that eats ebooks only, there are some that modify all files by appending something to them. .jpg and .pdf are susceptable and many others.

DoctorOhh · 06-03-2010, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edbro

I'm curious as to why you would start an identical thread 2 days in a row. I already answered you in your post yesterday.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85430

She created this thread 28 minutes before the thread you answered. Must have had either a computer or brain hiccup.

Rich_D · 06-03-2010, 01:24 PM

Wait, are all the books still on your reader? Couldn't you just copy them back to your pc?

Debby · 06-03-2010, 01:26 PM

If you are on windows you can also try to restore using previous version.

Goto to the directory where the books were stored and right click, select properties and goto previous versions. I was able to restore my library when I lost everything.

Good Luck!

06-01-2010, 12:09 PM	#1
babyz Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: u.s. Device: sony ereader	help recovering my library Hello I recently had a virus on my computer but was able to go through safe mode and find an antivirus program that would delete the virus. Once I got my computer working I got onto calibre and found that all of my books are gone. Does anyone know how I could find my books and get them back? I have about 400 books on there. I am not a computer savy person so please help in lamen terms. thnx and love the site.

06-03-2010, 01:26 PM	#13
Debby Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 600 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Depends Upon the Season..... Device: Cybook, Sony & ipad	try restore If you are on windows you can also try to restore using previous version. Goto to the directory where the books were stored and right click, select properties and goto previous versions. I was able to restore my library when I lost everything. Good Luck!

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06-01-2010, 12:25 PM	#2
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	Now that's a new one. I've never heard of an ebook-eating virus. is scared Excuse me while I update my virus definitions. Anyway, the first thing you should do is look with your file manager (I'd guess that would be Windows Explorer since you've had virus problems) and see if your ebook files are where you thought you left them. Checking the recycle bin would also be good. If you know the filenames of some of your ebooks, do a file search for them. If the files are physically there, you can just re-import them, though you'll probably have lost your metadata. Well, actually thevery first thing you should do is have this moved over to the calibre support forum (it's down the board a ways). That's where the calibre gurus hang out. I'll ask the mods to move it, so it's in front of the experts as quickly as possible. I'm not a calibre guru, just a user, so someone may have an answer to this along the lines of "frob the thingamagummy and the whatchamacallit" that will recover the metadata too (and they're good at translating from techie to layman). If your problem can be fixed, someone here will probably know how to fix it.

06-01-2010, 12:38 PM	#4
babyz Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: u.s. Device: sony ereader	thanks and I will do exactly that.

06-01-2010, 12:39 PM	#5
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	My first question is whether or not the book files have actually been deleted - or has Calibre somehow been corrupted to where it just can't find the book files. We're talking a PC, right? Open up your Windows Explorer and look to see if the books are actually there. Mine are stored under My Media then a folder for each author then a file for each book, but I can't remember if that was the default.

06-01-2010, 02:43 PM	#6
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,896 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	My library is on Dropbox, so I don't have to worry about any or all of my computers going blue screen on me.

06-01-2010, 02:49 PM	#7
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	Look for a folder called "Calibre library", that's where your ebooks should be. At least that's how it is on my Mac, but I think it should be the same on Windows. Hope this helps Florence

06-02-2010, 07:57 AM	#8
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,847 Karma: 70000001 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Clara 2E	In XP, you could also try 1) Start->Documents 2) right click on an ebook and click on properties This will give you the path to the book.

06-02-2010, 08:12 AM	#9
edbro Banned Posts: 640 Karma: 4911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Grapevine, TX Device: iPad4	I'm curious as to why you would start an identical thread 2 days in a row. I already answered you in your post yesterday. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85430

06-02-2010, 04:55 PM	#10
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	While there is probably no virus that eats ebooks only, there are some that modify all files by appending something to them. .jpg and .pdf are susceptable and many others.

06-03-2010, 01:24 PM	#12
Rich_D Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1314896 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA Device: Android phone, Kobo Glo HD, nook ST with Glo (backup)	Wait, are all the books still on your reader? Couldn't you just copy them back to your pc?

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