Calibre User Error - Need Help Please

[sophiemom]

I am happy to pay for help to fix a problem I created. Due to health issues I had not used Calibre for a long time. When I did, I made a serious mistake and cannot find a way to fix it. If I am in the right place and can find someone who can help, I will explain my problem in detail. Many thanks in advance for anyone willing to help.

[Karellen]

There are plenty of members here that are expert in Calibre, along with the developer of Calibre.

Explain your problem, and you'll probably get a flood of suggestions.

[sophiemom]

Thank you, Karellen! I will! Thanks again!

[sophiemom]

Thank you in advance, for possible help, to fix my stupid mistake. Bottom line: all of my books all over my computer, including Kindle books, are suddenly being opened by Calibre, and the Windows 10 default apps by file type for most book types has been changed to Calibre. All books (most of which were never managed by Calibre) now have a Calibre icon. While I love Calibre, I do not want this change, which I caused myself, from lack of using the tool for a long time. My Calibre skills are very rusty!

Just a guess at what I did????: I THINK it may have happened when I tried to convert one epub book in my Calibre collection (no DRM) to mobi, to read on my Kindle. (I perhaps should have converted to AZW3, but that is probably irrelevant.) I may have even converted mobi to mobi, which may have been wrong, too. I thought I selected conversion of an individual book, but maybe I selected bulk by accident?? (Since I thought I was working with one book that was backed up elsewhere, I was not overly concerned if I did this incorrectly. That would have been fixable by me.) However, much to my shock, my massive book collection in many locations, including backup copies, is now all opened by Calibre, and I do not know what other damage, if any, this may have caused. I am afraid to try any fixes on my own, lest I do more damage.

If I try to change my Windows 10 default program by file type for all book types, I am given no choice of program other than Calibre. I do not know what those default programs were before my blunder, but I know it was not Calibre.

I just recalled that one of my Kindles was connected to my computer (USB) when the disaster occurred, while I was trying to transfer that one book, in the proper format, to that Kindle. As I recall, the instructions told me to disconnect the reconnect the Kindle from my computer. Therein may have sealed my fate, which may be worse than I realize. I do not know if I have damaged my Kindle (Voyage) as well. Some of the books on that device NOW have the Calibre icon, like those on my computer. The damage/mess up from my blunder that I can "see" has been described. If there are other consequences to my blunder, I may not find them until I try to access multiple books.

The explanation of my problem is probably not much better than my actions that caused this problem lol, but I happy to supply additional information, as needed. (All of the books in my Calibre managed collection are DRM free, and in both epub and mobi format. They have existed as a group, in Calibre, for many years.) I want those books to remain separate, managed by Calibre, but not all of the rest of my books, all of which are Kindle books. (I do not have the option or want to re-download all of the Kindle books.)

The large library that is open in Calibre now/during the blunder is “calibrelibrary1" which is located in my Windows User File. All of my other books are located in various locations on my computer; every one now shows the Calibre icon. My Windows 10 is up to date. My Calibre program was a couple of versions back, when the error occurred. It is current now. Thank you so much. I am happy to compensate for a fix for my foolish mistake.

[theducks]

You let windows change the default Open setting
OR
The old app was removed and Calibre was next.
In Windows explorer, find one of those 'wrong' file types:
right click Properties: ,use the change button> to set the new app FOR THAT TYPE FILE

Repeat for other file TYPES as needed

[sophiemom]

Thank you very much. I learned that my Kindle for PC app had disappeared from my laptop. Reinstalled from Amazon. The default program setting for several file types then correctly changed to Kindle, but not for the most important ones, such as AZW3. I still have no option but Calibre for opening for AZW3 and 20 other file types.

All of this happened as a result of my actions on Calibre; I did not change default program settings (never need to). The icon for all books changed immediately after my activity in Calibre; they are on my desktop, so the change/problem was instantly visible. I know it is my fault, not Calibre’s. 21 file types continue to only open with Calibre, with no option to open with another program. They include but are not limited to azw1, azw3, book,...fb2, ....ibook, ibooks, opf, pdb, pml. Txt files were also defaulting to Calibre so I changed it to notepad, for lack of other useful options.

The (older) Kindle books correctly managed by Calibre are mobi files, but that has never caused any problems. I have never had problems in accessing those books. But I need for Calibre to not open my azw3 books, which happened just yesterday, from my actions in Calibre.

[BetterRed]

@sophiemom - there's a calibre-debug option to fix this issue, see ==>> calibre-debug

calibre-debug --default-programs=unregister

And there's an Environment variable to prevent its recurrence - just set it to something, e.g.

CALIBRE_NO_DEFAULT_PROGRAMS=1

BR

[Karellen]

Do you have a shortcut on your desktop to the Kindle for PC program?
Right click it
Select Properties
Look at the Address in the "Target" box.

Go to that address in Windows Explorer and you will see the Kindle.exe file. That is what you will need for the next steps.

Right click on an azw3 file
Select "Change" at the top of the General tab
Scroll down and select "More Apps"
Scroll down and select "Look for another app on this PC"
Now navigate to the Kindle.exe file and select it.


That should now associate azw3 files with Kindle for PC.

[Comfy.n]

Originally Posted by sophiemom

I still have no option but Calibre for opening for AZW3 and 20 other file types.

Hi,

Here's what I suggest, in addition to what BR said above:

Right-click any AZW3 in Windows File Explorer, then select Open With -> choose another app, scroll down the dialogue that opens up until you see "More Apps", then click that, then scroll again all the way until you see "Look for another app on this PC", then click that and navigate to the path of the program that you want to make default, as shown below (and select it):





edit: make sure to check "Always use this..."

[Comfy.n]

Originally Posted by Karellen

Do you have a shortcut on your desktop to the Kindle for PC program?
Right click it
Select Properties
Look at the Address in the "Target" box.

Go to that address in Windows Explorer and you will see the Kindle.exe file. That is what you will need for the next steps.

Right click on an azw3 file
Select "Change" at the top of the General tab
Scroll down and select "More Apps"
Scroll down and select "Look for another app on this PC"
Now navigate to the Kindle.exe file and select it.


That should now associate azw3 files with Kindle for PC.

you beat me to it

[Karellen]

Originally Posted by Comfy.n

you beat me to it

hehe, yep and BetterRed beat me, although his advice was quite different.

[sophiemom]

Oh my goodness Karellen! Your instructions did it!! I am so very, very relieved! Thank you! I would like to send you a token of my appreciation, if you are agreeable. (Via PM)

And now, thanks also to Comfy.n and Better Red!! Although I REALLY want to try Better Red’s recommendation, it may be above my pay grade. LOL But I will TRY! Thank you!!!

Minor questions:

1. In two (of several) folders the icon is a book; all the rest of the books in other folders use the icon with the reader under the tree. No problem, just curious, due to the inconsistency. Know I can change icons manually but low priority.

2. In My Kindle Content, there are file extensions that I do not recognize. Again, I do not think it matters, as I do not use My Kindle Content often. Those extensions are: APNX, AZW: KINDLE CONTENT file type, MBP, MBPV2, PHL

3. I have both kindle.exe and KindleForPC.exe. Is that OK?

3a. I do not recall that I had the usual “Always use this” check box but am not 100% certain.

Whew! What a relief! No wonder I could not fix it! THANKS TO ALL! XX

[sophiemom]

Thank you Better Red! I REALLY want to do what you suggested, it may be above my pay grade! LOL But I will TRY further, as soon as time permits. Thank you!!

[sophiemom]

Thank you Comfy.n! I truly appreciate your assistance. The mystery was solved with Karellen's post, but I have saved yours as well, for posterity. I do not think I had the usual "Always use this..." but I can do it again, if I have to. Thanks to ALL for tolerating my long problem description. I was flummoxed (obviously) and could NEVER have fixed this myself. Thank you!

[sophiemom]

Thank you, theducks. You pointed me in the right direction. However, with my limited skills, I still had a LONG way to go. Thanks and take care.