Libra 2 Caught in a loop after latest update

narrenturmx · 11-24-2024, 02:36 AM

After updating Libra 2 it has been caught in a loop. The screen is white, flashes black one and then remains white for a while until it flashes black again.

Things I've tried with no luck:
* Holding down the power button until the screen flashes black.
* Holding down the power button and a page turn button until the black screen with a power icon and three dots appear
* Connecting the device to a computer

I contacted Kobo support but they said that as the device is outside the 1 year warranty window they cannot assist me.

frostschutz · 11-24-2024, 06:58 AM

The factory reset should usually always work unless there is a problem with the card itself, or you installed an incompatible kernel/update manually, or the recovery partition was corrupted somehow...

If nothing else helps, you can access the microsd card directly. The back of the Libra 2 pops off (with care - the display cracks easily), the microsd card itself is "glued" in, my removal experience here and here, basically I glued a strip of paper onto the card itself and pulled it out with that - after alcohol alone didn't help.

Once you got the card, you can attempt to make an image of it (with ddrescue) and see if it works with a new card. If you have a Linux system available, you can also format the user partition there, and then see if a factory reset will work afterwards. (Depends on what is causing the boot loop).

If your card is dead, try the image request thread. Note there are different hardware revisions of the Libra 2.

narrenturmx · 11-24-2024, 07:25 AM

Thank you for your reply.

The update was installed automatically by the Kobo app on my Mac, so I didn't have any control over the process.

Do you have a link to any instructions for removing the back cover? I had a fiddle with it but couldn't see any possible way for it to come off.

JSWolf · 11-24-2024, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narrenturmx

Thank you for your reply.

The update was installed automatically by the Kobo app on my Mac, so I didn't have any control over the process.

Do you have a link to any instructions for removing the back cover? I had a fiddle with it but couldn't see any possible way for it to come off.

You are best to try a factory reset before trying to open the Libra 2. It's a very simple process to try.

https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/artic...Kobo-Libra-H2O

frostschutz · 11-24-2024, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narrenturmx

Do you have a link to any instructions for removing the back cover? I had a fiddle with it but couldn't see any possible way for it to come off.

A spudger tool, old credit card, guitar pick, or any thin piece of plastic, should do. Some people somehow manage with their fingernails... the Libra 2 case is reasonably flexible so you just slightly stretch around the gaps until it pops off.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...72#post4168572

You can also try with metal tools, just have to be a lot more careful.

Factory reset would be much better, obviously. But if nothing else helps...

Pajamaman · 11-25-2024, 09:51 PM

This happened on a libra 2 to me. No update. Just borked. Its put me off kobo. It's not right that a functioning device bricks for no reason.

JSWolf · 11-26-2024, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

This happened on a libra 2 to me. No update. Just borked. Its put me off kobo. It's not right that a functioning device bricks for no reason.

Then you won't want a Kindle either. I've read of firmware updates issues on some Kindles.

narrenturmx · 11-26-2024, 04:19 PM

I was able to get the cover off with little trouble, extracting the SD card is proving to be an altogether different ordeal.

narrenturmx · 03-21-2025, 04:37 AM

Update - I have extracted the SD card from the board!
The SD card doesn't appear to mount when plugged into my Macbook. Does that mean the card is fried?

PeterT · 03-21-2025, 06:56 AM

The SD card is formatted with multiple partitions, and with various file systems. A Windows PC can not mount it reporting the card as corrupted. I have no idea about how MacOS handles this type of SD card.

I'd suggest getting a new SD card first, then request an image in the Kobo µSD Card Image Requests thread and following the supplied instructions, write it to the card.

This will at least show whether or not your device is working.

11-24-2024, 02:36 AM	#1
narrenturmx Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2024 Device: Kobo Libra 2	Caught in a loop after latest update After updating Libra 2 it has been caught in a loop. The screen is white, flashes black one and then remains white for a while until it flashes black again. Things I've tried with no luck: * Holding down the power button until the screen flashes black. * Holding down the power button and a page turn button until the black screen with a power icon and three dots appear * Connecting the device to a computer I contacted Kobo support but they said that as the device is outside the 1 year warranty window they cannot assist me.

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11-24-2024, 06:58 AM	#2
frostschutz Linux User Posts: 2,282 Karma: 6123806 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Device: none	The factory reset should usually always work unless there is a problem with the card itself, or you installed an incompatible kernel/update manually, or the recovery partition was corrupted somehow... If nothing else helps, you can access the microsd card directly. The back of the Libra 2 pops off (with care - the display cracks easily), the microsd card itself is "glued" in, my removal experience here and here, basically I glued a strip of paper onto the card itself and pulled it out with that - after alcohol alone didn't help. Once you got the card, you can attempt to make an image of it (with ddrescue) and see if it works with a new card. If you have a Linux system available, you can also format the user partition there, and then see if a factory reset will work afterwards. (Depends on what is causing the boot loop). If your card is dead, try the image request thread. Note there are different hardware revisions of the Libra 2.

11-24-2024, 07:25 AM	#3
narrenturmx Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2024 Device: Kobo Libra 2	Thank you for your reply. The update was installed automatically by the Kobo app on my Mac, so I didn't have any control over the process. Do you have a link to any instructions for removing the back cover? I had a fiddle with it but couldn't see any possible way for it to come off.

11-25-2024, 09:51 PM	#6
Pajamaman Wizard Posts: 2,861 Karma: 10700629 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada Device: Onyx Nova	This happened on a libra 2 to me. No update. Just borked. Its put me off kobo. It's not right that a functioning device bricks for no reason.

11-26-2024, 04:19 PM	#8
narrenturmx Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2024 Device: Kobo Libra 2	I was able to get the cover off with little trouble, extracting the SD card is proving to be an altogether different ordeal.

03-21-2025, 04:37 AM	#9
narrenturmx Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2024 Device: Kobo Libra 2	Update - I have extracted the SD card from the board! The SD card doesn't appear to mount when plugged into my Macbook. Does that mean the card is fried?

03-21-2025, 06:56 AM	#10
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,482 Karma: 78910112 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	The SD card is formatted with multiple partitions, and with various file systems. A Windows PC can not mount it reporting the card as corrupted. I have no idea about how MacOS handles this type of SD card. I'd suggest getting a new SD card first, then request an image in the Kobo µSD Card Image Requests thread and following the supplied instructions, write it to the card. This will at least show whether or not your device is working.

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