Not quite a brick

[piperclassique]

I have a Kobo mini that works but won't connect to Wi-Fi, so I can't use library books. Is there any way I can update it to whatever the latest software was? By some miracle, the battery is still fairly good, and it might be handy for travel. Not a geek, and not up for opening cases. Cheers, thanks in advance

[DNSB]

You can try using Patrick Gaskin's Kobo Firmware Downloads page to download the 4.38.21908 firmware for a Kobo Glo (the Mini and the Glo are Kobo4 hardware revision). Unpack the firmware .zip file and copy the contents (the upgrade directory and the KoboRoot.tgz and manifest.md5sum files) to the .kobo directory on your Mini. When you safely eject, the firmware should install. I have not tested any later firmware revisions on a Mini so you could try 4.38.23038 or 4.38.23171 and let me know how it went.

If you are not already on 3.19.5761-s or later, I would suggest installing that version first and then going to a 4.38.xxxxx firmware revision.

Kobo4 4.38.21908 link: https://ereaderfiles.kobo.com/firmwares/kobo4/Aug2023/kobo-update-4.38.21908.zip

Kobo4 3.19.5761-s link: https://ereaderfiles.kobo.com/firmwares/kobo4/january2016/kobo-update-3.19.5761-s.zip

[piperclassique]

Thank you, I will try that. Probably in the morning, with time in front of me.....

[bluepeter]

Originally Posted by piperclassique

I have a Kobo mini that works but won't connect to Wi-Fi, so I can't use library books. Is there any way I can update it to whatever the latest software was? By some miracle, the battery is still fairly good, and it might be handy for travel. Not a geek, and not up for opening cases. Cheers, thanks in advance

I found myself in exactly the same position a few months ago - see this thread.

FWIW, I have Glo firmware 4.38.23038 running on my Mini. (I also have 32GB of storage - I was, eventually, willing to open the case. I found that upgrading the memory is actually very easy.)

[bluepeter]

A few minutes later...

I've just upgraded my Mini firmware to Glo 4.38.23171. No problems: it's all working as it should.

[John F]

Originally Posted by piperclassique

I have a Kobo mini that works but won't connect to Wi-Fi, so I can't use library books. Is there any way I can update it to whatever the latest software was? By some miracle, the battery is still fairly good, and it might be handy for travel. Not a geek, and not up for opening cases. Cheers, thanks in advance

There may be other workarounds to not having wifi. Maybe use ADE to transfer the library books. Or strip the DRM from the library books and sideload.

[piperclassique]

Well, it actually looked pretty straightforward so I went ahead and followed instructions. I'm pleased to say it worked perfectly. I did the upgrade in two steps as indicated.

Other suggestions, thank you. I might have tried other work rounds, and indeed my library will let me download via ADE but Kobo Plus won't. Apart from having to remember to delete the book, I don't always have access to a computer (travel) so it's very convenient to sync with WiFi.

Sent from my 2306EPN60G using Tapatalk

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by piperclassique

Other suggestions, thank you. I might have tried other work rounds, and indeed my library will let me download via ADE but Kobo Plus won't. Apart from having to remember to delete the book, I don't always have access to a computer (travel) so it's very convenient to sync with WiFi.

One question is if WiFi is now working since there are certificate and other updates in the newer firmware? Or is it still not able to connect to WiFi where you select the SSID, put in the password and refuses to connect? Or not even shows any available WiFi networks?

[bluepeter]

Originally Posted by DNSB

One question is if WiFi is now working since there are certificate and other updates in the newer firmware? Or is it still not able to connect to WiFi where you select the SSID, put in the password and refuses to connect? Or not even shows any available WiFi networks?

Wi-Fi works just fine on my Mini. It'll download books from Kobo's servers. AFAIK, the only thing it won't do is firmware updating - that can only be done manually.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by bluepeter

Wi-Fi works just fine on my Mini. It'll download books from Kobo's servers. AFAIK, the only thing it won't do is firmware updating - that can only be done manually.

I was wondering about piperclassique's issue with their Mini and WiFi. The 3.19.5761-s update was more about updating the WiFi driver and SSL setup to allow connecting when TLS 2 became the minimum version required to connect to most secure websites.

If I factory reset my Mini, it is unable to connect for firmware updates OTA so you need to manually update or use the Kobo Desktop app. Since the last official firmware update for the Mini was 3.19.5761-s, once you're updated to that version, there are no more automatic updates. Last time I tested, 3.19.5761-s was still able to connect to the Kobo store to sync purchases. Blame this on the updating of the PCI DSS standard.

[bluepeter]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I was wondering about piperclassique's issue with their Mini and WiFi.

Ah. Apologies - I lost the plot there.

[piperclassique]

Originally Posted by DNSB

One question is if WiFi is now working since there are certificate and other updates in the newer firmware? Or is it still not able to connect to WiFi where you select the SSID, put in the password and refuses to connect? Or not even shows any available WiFi networks?

I don't know why it's working but it is. It logged on to my home WiFi all by itself and downloaded all the covers of my new books and Kobo plus books. It even remembered the password.

Sent from my 2306EPN60G using Tapatalk

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by piperclassique

I don't know why it's working but it is. It logged on to my home WiFi all by itself and downloaded all the covers of my new books and Kobo plus books. It even remembered the password.

Great to hear that your Mini is back to using WiFi. As I mentioned, the updates do fix some WiFi bits around the security protocols.

When I had my Mini set back to factory, I had to add IgnoreCaptivePortal=true under the [FeatureSettings] header before it would connect (that line says don't check to see www.kobo.com/buildinfo.xml is accessible before enabling WiFi as connected). Even then it couldn't download firmware or books since the security protocol bits needed to be updated.

[piperclassique]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Great to hear that your Mini is back to using WiFi. As I mentioned, the updates do fix some WiFi bits around the security protocols.



When I had my Mini set back to factory, I had to add IgnoreCaptivePortal=true under the [FeatureSettings] header before it would connect (that line says don't check to see www.kobo.com/buildinfo.xml is accessible before enabling WiFi as connected). Even then it couldn't download firmware or books since the security protocol bits needed to be updated.

One of the things I really like about mobileread is how helpful people are, not to mention polite and friendly. Thank you for helping me, and setting such a high standard in providing all the links I needed, with clear instructions.

Sent from my 2306EPN60G using Tapatalk