Sony Reader Library

[flash3843]

Hi,

I'm new to the forum, but have owned a Sony PRS-505 for a couple of years. Am hoping I can't get some help on a problem I'm currently having.

Plugged the reader into my computer yesterday, and noticed that there were no entries in the Books folder in the Library. I then copied all the books in my Reader Books folder into the Library folder. That worked, except that a message popped up that I had run out of space. I then deleted a few entries from the Library/Books folder.

I next tried to Sync, and got the out of space message again. Upon looking at my Reader/Books folder, I noticed that I now had multiple copies of some of the books!

Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't seem to find anything in Help that will help me rectify this situation!

Any help from the members would be greatly appreciated.

Meanwhile I've switched to Cailbre to manage the reader, but I'd rather use the Sony Reader Library.

Thanks.


flash3843

[encapuchado]

That's the reason why I never use Sony's software. It stinks.

[doreenjoy]

How much free space is on your hard drive? How much free space is on your Reader?

[petercreasey]

Originally Posted by flash3843

I next tried to Sync

F, Contrary to what some people say, the Sony Reader Library is handy; however, the Sync function can cause problems, especially when using your eReader on more than one PC.

You might want to just clear your eReader and then use Sony Reader Library to move the ebooks to your eReader. You can highlight one or multiple books to move so there is no efficiency lost not using the Sync function.

[flash3843]

Both the reader and computer have lots of GB.

Prior to turning on the reader a few days ago, all of my previously acquired books showed up just fine. But when I turned it on that day, the only things that showed up on the reader library were two books that I had purchased several months ago.

As I said earlier, I can use Calibre, but it's easier to use the Sony software if I want to purchase books from Sony.

Thanks.

Cheers

[doreenjoy]

I'd connect the Reader via USB, close the Sony Library software if it auto launches, and then look at the Reader in Explorer. Find the cache directory and delete the media.xml file. Then disconnect the REader and let it reboot. It'll recreate the media.xml file.

Hope that helps.

[flash3843]

I apologize for stringing out my replies over several days, but the holidays
are hectic around here!

I followed the suggestion, and plugged in my PRS-505, shut down the Reader s/w when it came up, found the media.xml file, and deleted it. I then rebooted the PRS-505.

The results follow:

1. All the books that were previously on my PRS-505 are still there, but my collections no longer exist. All the books are now in a single collection.

2. In the Sony Reader s/w no books are found in the library , and the device does not show up when plugged in.

3. In Calibre, all the books, with tags, show up in the library, but none show up in the device, nor can any of the books be moved to the device.

So, while I can read my existing books on the device I can no longer add, delete or "collectivize" books on my device.

I seem to be slipping further into limbo.

Any additional suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[doreenjoy]

When you plug in the device, does it show up in Windows Explorer?


The collections should reappear when the Sony Library re-syncs. But of course if the Reader isn't recognized, the Library won't re-sync.

[flash3843]

Yes, Explorer recognizes the device. That's how I was able to find the media.xml file to delete. Note that the deleted file was replaced by a
media.nnnnnnnnnnxml file after the reboot. I tried renaming the file to media.xml, thinking that would be the necessary newly created file, but that appears to have no effect.

The reader doesn't sync, because it says the media.xml file is corrupted.

WRT to the Calibre file, its library shows the books with all the tags (collections), but shows no books on the device, nor will it let me move any books to the device.

I have two very large books on a SD card, and those show up on the card when using the Sony Reader s/w, but not on the library. When using Calibre, the books on the SD card also show up on the library.

I'm clearly missing something, but it's not immediately clear what it is.

Thanks.

[doreenjoy]

Hmm. I've never had problems like this. I'd go through these steps:

1. connect reader via usb
2. in explorer, delete media.xml
3. disconnect reader (use the Windows disconnect feature)
4. let reader reboot. It may take a while to recreate the media.xml file
5. lauch the Sony Library software
6. connect the reader via usb

As a last resort, you could do a format of the reader (from the Reader's Settings menu, not a Windows format).

I hope that helps.

[flash3843]

Hmm. I've never had problems like this. I'd go through these steps:

1. connect reader via usb
2. in explorer, delete media.xml
3. disconnect reader (use the Windows disconnect feature)
4. let reader reboot. It may take a while to recreate the media.xml file
5. lauch the Sony Library software
6. connect the reader via usb

I did that, and the media.xml file was not recreated.

As a last resort, you could do a format of the reader (from the Reader's Settings menu, not a Windows format).

If I format the reader will that erase all of the books residing on the reader?

That might not be fatal, since the library in Calibre still has all of the books in it. I'm not sure what database Calibre uses, but is it possible that this database could also be destroyed in the formatting process? That sounds like a dumb question even to me, but I have to ask, because if that were to happen I would lose 160 books with no way to recover most of them.

I'll await your answer before I try to format the reader.

Thanks.

Cheers,

[doreenjoy]

Originally Posted by flash3843

Hmm. I've never had problems like this. I'd go through these steps:

1. connect reader via usb
2. in explorer, delete media.xml
3. disconnect reader (use the Windows disconnect feature)
4. let reader reboot. It may take a while to recreate the media.xml file
5. lauch the Sony Library software
6. connect the reader via usb

I did that, and the media.xml file was not recreated.

As a last resort, you could do a format of the reader (from the Reader's Settings menu, not a Windows format).

If I format the reader will that erase all of the books residing on the reader?
That might not be fatal, since the library in Calibre still has all of the books in it. I'm not sure what database Calibre uses, but is it possible that this database could also be destroyed in the formatting process? That sounds like a dumb question even to me, but I have to ask, because if that were to happen I would lose 160 books with no way to recover most of them.

I'll await your answer before I try to format the reader.

Thanks.

Cheers,

Yeah, it'll wipe the Reader clean, but the books will still be on your hard drive and in the Calibre library.

Bummer that you're having all these problems. I hope a format resolves them for you.

BTW if you're transferring books with Calibre, it's best not to use the Sony Library at the same time (you can use both apps, but don't have them open at the same time if you're reader's connected)

[flash3843]

I formatted the reader as suggested. I then ran Calibre, and told it to transfer all the books, complete with tags, to the device. All were successfully transfered and placed into collections. I didn't try the Sony Reader s/w, and probably won't. As long as Calibre works I think I'll be fine.

Thanks for your help.

The only thing that bothers me is I still don't know what caused the library to be deleted. Oh well ...

Cheers,
flash3843

[hnoto]

Flash, there is no real telling WHY your XML file got corrupted. It has happened to me several times, and usually it happened if my 505 was left plugged into my computer and the computer got shut off. Or the Sony program crashed while my reader was plugged in.

[flash3843]

Heather,

How did you correct your courrupted media.XML file?

Flash3843