Recovering Calibre preferences from a dead computer?

fernandie · 12-18-2020, 07:51 PM

My laptop died, so I was unable to backup my Calibre library via the export option before switching to a new computer. I have access to my whole library, because it was stored on an external drive, so the books themselves aren't an issue.

I do have access to my laptop's hard drive so I was hoping I could copy the preferences over from the applicable folder, but I haven't figured out how yet. I searched older threads but the methods suggested don't seem to be working for me.

Any recommendations?

Sirtel · 12-18-2020, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernandie

My laptop died, so I was unable to backup my Calibre library via the export option before switching to a new computer. I have access to my whole library, because it was stored on an external drive, so the books themselves aren't an issue.

I do have access to my laptop's hard drive so I was hoping I could copy the preferences over from the applicable folder, but I haven't figured out how yet. I searched older threads but the methods suggested don't seem to be working for me.

Any recommendations?

Preferences are stored in the configuration folder. On Windows it's usually located in User/AppData/Roaming. Just copy the entire folder named calibre and paste to the same location on your new computer.

ownedbycats · 12-18-2020, 08:02 PM

On Windows, it should be under Z:\Users\<user>\Roaming\AppData\calibre\, adjusting for drive letter. (The shorter version is %AppData%\calibre\, but that'll open your system's folder, not the old one.)

Note that the AppData folder is hidden by default. I unhide it, but Windows Updates love to re-hide it....

Empty out any files that happen to be in the same location in your new system and copy them over from your old drive. Then open Calibre and see if it takes.

fernandie · 12-20-2020, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Preferences are stored in the configuration folder. On Windows it's usually located in User/AppData/Roaming. Just copy the entire folder named calibre and paste to the same location on your new computer.

I just did that, but it doesn't appear to have worked. I had saved searches, virtual libraries, custom icons, various preferences, an applied theme... none of it shows up. Do I need to do anything besides just copying & pasting?

fernandie · 12-20-2020, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

On Windows, it should be under Z:\Users\<user>\Roaming\AppData\calibre\, adjusting for drive letter. (The shorter version is %AppData%\calibre\, but that'll open your system's folder, not the old one.)

Note that the AppData folder is hidden by default. I unhide it, but Windows Updates love to re-hide it....

Empty out any files that happen to be in the same location in your new system and copy them over from your old drive. Then open Calibre and see if it takes.

It does not seem to take. I've tried writing over the new calibre folder with the old calibre folder; deleting the new calibre folder and then putting the old one in its place; replacing the folder after and before installing Calibre... I can't get anything from the old installation to show up.

Any ideas as to why that might be?

fernandie · 12-20-2020, 11:09 PM

Correction! The virtual libraries and saved searches and custom columns do appear to have copied over. The visual preferences (theme, custom icons, etc.) do not appear to have copied over, which is why I was thinking nothing had... it still looked like a new install, instead of my old version.

ownedbycats · 12-20-2020, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernandie

Correction! The virtual libraries and saved searches and custom columns do appear to have copied over. The visual preferences (theme, custom icons, etc.) do not appear to have copied over, which is why I was thinking nothing had... it still looked like a new install, instead of my old version.

The former are all library-specific (stored in metadata.db). The latter are global (stored in Calibre's application data folder).

Sirtel · 12-21-2020, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernandie

I just did that, but it doesn't appear to have worked. I had saved searches, virtual libraries, custom icons, various preferences, an applied theme... none of it shows up. Do I need to do anything besides just copying & pasting?

That's strange. It's how I've always done it over the years and several different computers, and it's always worked. Sorry, no more ideas at the moment.

BetterRed · 12-21-2020, 04:09 PM

On Windows:

Don't replace %AppData%\calibre\ when calibre, or the server, the viewer, the book editor, any command line tools etc are running.

Same goes for editing, adding, or deleting any files or folders in %AppData%\calibre\, with the added precaution of taking a copy of it before making any changes.

I do not know if the same precautions are needed on MacOX or Linux.

BR

ownedbycats · 12-21-2020, 04:24 PM

Also, if Calibre is set to minimize to tray, make sure you actually exit it. If you put it in the overflow section it's easy to forget.

JSWolf · 12-21-2020, 04:30 PM

You should always keep a copy of your Calibre configuration on a different hard drive then your working hard drive. I have a copy RARed that I keep on Dropbox as well as another hard drive not in my laptop.

ownedbycats · 12-21-2020, 05:10 PM

I actually symlinked Calibre's config folder so I could redirect it to D:\AppData\Calibre.

BetterRed · 12-21-2020, 06:04 PM

Because I don't want calibre in multiple accounts I moved %APPDATA%\calibre\ to a location I created - D:\Calibre\Config\Normal - and set the CALIBRE_CONFIG_DIRECTORY environment to it.

BR

12-18-2020, 07:51 PM	#1
fernandie Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2018 Device: Lenovo Yoga Tab 3	Recovering Calibre preferences from a dead computer? My laptop died, so I was unable to backup my Calibre library via the export option before switching to a new computer. I have access to my whole library, because it was stored on an external drive, so the books themselves aren't an issue. I do have access to my laptop's hard drive so I was hoping I could copy the preferences over from the applicable folder, but I haven't figured out how yet. I searched older threads but the methods suggested don't seem to be working for me. Any recommendations?

12-18-2020, 08:02 PM	#3
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,821 Karma: 74203799 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	On Windows, it should be under Z:\Users\<user>\Roaming\AppData\calibre\, adjusting for drive letter. (The shorter version is %AppData%\calibre\, but that'll open your system's folder, not the old one.) Note that the AppData folder is hidden by default. I unhide it, but Windows Updates love to re-hide it.... Empty out any files that happen to be in the same location in your new system and copy them over from your old drive. Then open Calibre and see if it takes. Last edited by ownedbycats; 12-18-2020 at 08:14 PM.

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12-20-2020, 11:09 PM	#6
fernandie Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2018 Device: Lenovo Yoga Tab 3	Correction! The virtual libraries and saved searches and custom columns do appear to have copied over. The visual preferences (theme, custom icons, etc.) do not appear to have copied over, which is why I was thinking nothing had... it still looked like a new install, instead of my old version.

12-21-2020, 04:09 PM	#9
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,667 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	On Windows: Don't replace %AppData%\calibre\ when calibre, or the server, the viewer, the book editor, any command line tools etc are running. Same goes for editing, adding, or deleting any files or folders in %AppData%\calibre\, with the added precaution of taking a copy of it before making any changes. I do not know if the same precautions are needed on MacOX or Linux. BR

12-21-2020, 04:24 PM	#10
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,821 Karma: 74203799 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Also, if Calibre is set to minimize to tray, make sure you actually exit it. If you put it in the overflow section it's easy to forget.

12-21-2020, 04:30 PM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,459 Karma: 145863170 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	You should always keep a copy of your Calibre configuration on a different hard drive then your working hard drive. I have a copy RARed that I keep on Dropbox as well as another hard drive not in my laptop.

12-21-2020, 05:10 PM	#12
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,821 Karma: 74203799 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	I actually symlinked Calibre's config folder so I could redirect it to D:\AppData\Calibre.

12-21-2020, 06:04 PM	#13
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,667 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Because I don't want calibre in multiple accounts I moved %APPDATA%\calibre\ to a location I created - D:\Calibre\Config\Normal - and set the CALIBRE_CONFIG_DIRECTORY environment to it. BR

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