Glo Memory Upgrade Mod Guide (With Pictures)

[davidfor]

PM sent.

And, image requests are off topic of this thread. There is a thread for each device model.

[tothelighthouse]

This thread has been really helpful in upgrading my internal memory and restoring my bricked Kobo Glo in the process. Really thought my device is done for before mobileread.

Followed the instructions and requested the og disk image --- which worked like a charm! My internal memory is now at 7gb.

Can't thank you folks here enough! :')

[irascivel]

Hi,


I've follow the instructions on this thread but used a disk image that davidfor shared with me for a Kobo Glo (the original SD card was dead).

I think I did everything right, swap the sd card, turned on the Kobo and the restoring image with the hourglass show up. Then a new image with a Kobo connecting to a PC (there's no text at all asking to download Kobo-setup).

I connect the Kobo to a PC with Windows 10 but now it's not recognized by Windows. Nothing happens.

How can I solve this?

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by irascivel

Hi,


I've follow the instructions on this thread but used a disk image that davidfor shared with me for a Kobo Glo (the original SD card was dead).

I think I did everything right, swap the sd card, turned on the Kobo and the restoring image with the hourglass show up.

That isn't expected. If the image has been restored correctly, the device should boot to the setup screen. Or...

Then a new image with a Kobo connecting to a PC (there's no text at all asking to download Kobo-setup).

Or maybe this one. But, that screen actually sounds like a powered off screen. Turn it on and see what happens.

I connect the Kobo to a PC with Windows 10 but now it's not recognized by Windows. Nothing happens.

How can I solve this?

Try a manual factory reset. The instructions are on https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/artic...-your-Kobo-Glo. For the state your device is probably in, for the first step, turn the device off by holding the power switch in the off position for about 20 seconds. That will force the device to power off but it will not update the screen.

[irascivel]

Originally Posted by davidfor

That isn't expected. If the image has been restored correctly, the device should boot to the setup screen. Or...

Or maybe this one. But, that screen actually sounds like a powered off screen. Turn it on and see what happens.


Try a manual factory reset. The instructions are on https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/artic...-your-Kobo-Glo. For the state your device is probably in, for the first step, turn the device off by holding the power switch in the off position for about 20 seconds. That will force the device to power off but it will not update the screen.

Thank you again for your help David.

I just did a new cloning SD card with your disk image. This time I didn't even reallocated the unused disk space. I'm using an old 2 gb sd card i had hanging around.

Isn't this a common problem with windows 10?
I read some other topics on this, but I can't get windows to recognize the device.

When I put the sd card in the sd adapter and plug it in the computed, windows show 3 "drives".

[jimmypete]

This works great! Thank you! Highly recommended...speeded up my glo as well as added more space!

Originally Posted by Gergith

Hello! Welcome to my Kobo Glo Memory Upgrade Guide!

I'm going to show you how I upgraded the internal memory to my KoboGlo!
The pictures aren't from when I actually did it, but have been recreated for this guide but that doesn't change how awesome it is! They will all be in the second post in this thread.

I will include all links to where I got this information on the 3rd post in this thread. I found most of it here within this forum, which is why I'm posting this guide here.

Is it worth it?: If you're asking yourself this, it probably isn't worth it. It already has an external slot while giving you access to an internal slot. It's illogical at best given that no one has 64 gigs of ebooks, and if you did it would probably explode the Kobo when all the storage is full. Or at least just be VERY slow.

That being said, the people coming here already want to do this and don't need or even want someone else telling them why they should void their warranty!

Given that I was opening this up, I went all out and put a class 10 32 gig microsd card
into it! I figure the faster and the bigger the better! (well maybe not bigger in this case)

First things first, might as well collect the software needed for this.
I will amend this guide in future to include the known linux commands, as well as to test them from terminal in Mac (Lion).
This is all free 3rd party software I have NOTHING to do with. Worked for me, but use at your own risk.

Partition software:
http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-...n-manager.html
"Free Partition Software - MiniTool® Partition Wizard Home Edition 7.8"

These two tools are standalone and require no installation:
For ripping images from the SD Card:
https://www.vconsole.com/download
"Flash Drive Image Creator"

For writing images to the SD Card:
https://www.vconsole.com/download
"Flash Drive Image Writer"

Make sure your Kobo is FULLY off and not just in sleep mod. So long slide over and hold till it's powered down.

Step 1. Opening your Glo:
I used a bus pass, any thin card will do.

I pushed at the Kobo first where the back and outer casing meet, parallel to the device, with a card right between the LED and the light button. I did this because of that single clip you can see in the picture below.
Once I got under the lip of the back case, I then pried the outer case out while pushing the card to be perpendicular to the Kobo. This separates the back from the top. You'll have to repeat at the right side of the top.

Once you have done this there should be a visible separation at the top. Pick a side, left or right, and work the card in again right at the top corner on the long side this time. Again go from parallel to perpendicular with the card and push it down this time, so the card is against the inside side and front. Slide the card down like you're swiping an actual magnetic strip reader (like your bank card). Do so gently!

This should free one side, one corner completely.

Repeat this exact process on the other side of the case. I'm right handed so I did the right side first without thinking.

Now you can get to the bottom where you will take it off similar to the top, basically not sliding the card past the port.

Now you have done the hardest part which is removing the back!

You'll be amazed to see a simple microSD card slot. So crazy!
My card came with a white dot, I assume they all do from the factory. I think it possibly is a moisture detection or just to mark their own sd cards.

Step 2. Copying the SD Card:
Make sure your Kobo is FULLY off, AGAIN. So long slide over and hold till it's powered down. Just in the event you turned it on opening the case without noticing.

Now slide the SD card out very carefully.
Load it up in your PC.
Ignore/dismiss ALL prompts. DON'T format it.
Once you dismiss everything that pops up when you added the SD card, you use your "Flash Drive Image Creator" you downloaded to clone the SD card. To do this, run the program selecting the SD card as well as setting an output location. The desktop will do if it's temporary. C:\KoboSD\ will work great if it's to be kept as a backup. Make certain you select Entire Disk for what to backup.

Remove the old MicroSD card. You are completely done with it from this point forward. I'd suggest putting it into a plastic bag in the original Kobo box for safe keeping.

Place your new MicroSD card into your computer. Again dismiss any prompts that popup.

Next, open up "Flash Drive Image Writer". Here you will select the .img file you just created from the Creator program. Either from C:\KoboSD\ or the desktop. Also select your destination drive. Click Write Image. Read the prompt and click yes if you want to format the destination SD and continue.

You’ve now completely cloned the original SD Card.

Step 3. Setting up the new SD Card:
Next load up “MiniTool® Partition Wizard Home Edition 7.8”.
In the main area (top half), select your newly setup SD card. To verify you have the right drive, it should be set up as follows, or something close: (Unallocated) 10MB, rootfs(EXT4) 256 MB..., recoveryfs(EXT4) 256MB.., KOBOeReader (FAT32) 1.33 GB.., (Unallocated) [however big the rest of your sd card is. 5.9GB for the 8GB card in the pictures].
Select the KOBOeReader drive (either in the upper or lower half).
Right click it and select Extend.
From here move the slider all the way to the right. You should see a total of both the unallocated space and the KOBOeReader partition. In the case of my pictures, it’s 7.19GB for the 8GB sd card.
You’ll see at the bottom of this window that the new size of Unallocated will be 0.00KB, that’s how you know you’ve done it right. Click OK.
Verify that the unallocated space at the end of the SD card is no longer there and that the KOBOeReader partition is taking up the bulk of the SD card.
Click Apply in the upper left of the application and yes to the prompt AFTER reading it ;-)
It will go through it’s process. It hangs a bit at the end, that’s normal. Click OK once it’s done.

Step 4. Reinstall SD Card, Finishing up!
Just re-insert the MicroSD card into its slot in the Kobo Glo. From there, just pop the case back on making certain which way is up. The bottom only has 1 gap in the middle for the USB port and the top has a gap along most of the one side with the LED and two buttons. Once it’s fully snapped together, power on your new beast!

You’re complete!
Everything should be perfect now!


After everything was A-OK, I placed my original 2gig MicroSD card into a bag and put it back into the original box for safe keeping. That way I know if I need I always have a clean untouched SD card to replace my big one if anything goes wrong. So far it's not been needed! This also means that the backup on your computer is a duplicate backup.

[DNSB]

Just to bump this thread up the list to make it easier to find.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Just to bump this thread up the list to make it easier to find.

I think this thread should be stickied.

[vAmsterdam]

Hi everyone! I've been reading a few tips for Mac users in the comments, but as I'm a total newbie I was wondering if there is a clear step by step list for Mac users to fix this issue.

Thanks in advance!

[potcnl]

Hi everyone,

I took out the SD card out of my mom's Kobo Aura N236, checked the serial number (2), downloaded the correct V2 image, and followed the instructions in this thread's opening post.

I'm on a MacBook Air, so I used balenaEtcher to flash the image to the SD card using my trusty dongle. Unfortunately, the device stays stuck on the "connect to power/turn on" screen. The LED indicator light on the top right is on.

Does anyone have any idea what I'm doing wrong here? Many thanks in advance!

[rodrigo tavares]

Originally Posted by Gergith

Hello! Welcome to my Kobo Glo Memory Upgrade Guide!

I'm going to show you how I upgraded the internal memory to my KoboGlo!
The pictures aren't from when I actually did it, but have been recreated for this guide but that doesn't change how awesome it is! They will all be in the second post in this thread.

I will include all links to where I got this information on the 3rd post in this thread. I found most of it here within this forum, which is why I'm posting this guide here.

Is it worth it?: If you're asking yourself this, it probably isn't worth it. It already has an external slot while giving you access to an internal slot. It's illogical at best given that no one has 64 gigs of ebooks, and if you did it would probably explode the Kobo when all the storage is full. Or at least just be VERY slow.

That being said, the people coming here already want to do this and don't need or even want someone else telling them why they should void their warranty!

Given that I was opening this up, I went all out and put a class 10 32 gig microsd card
into it! I figure the faster and the bigger the better! (well maybe not bigger in this case)

First things first, might as well collect the software needed for this.
I will amend this guide in future to include the known linux commands, as well as to test them from terminal in Mac (Lion).
This is all free 3rd party software I have NOTHING to do with. Worked for me, but use at your own risk.

Partition software:
http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-...n-manager.html
"Free Partition Software - MiniTool® Partition Wizard Home Edition 7.8"

These two tools are standalone and require no installation:
For ripping images from the SD Card:
https://www.vconsole.com/download
"Flash Drive Image Creator"

For writing images to the SD Card:
https://www.vconsole.com/download
"Flash Drive Image Writer"

Make sure your Kobo is FULLY off and not just in sleep mod. So long slide over and hold till it's powered down.

Step 1. Opening your Glo:
I used a bus pass, any thin card will do.

I pushed at the Kobo first where the back and outer casing meet, parallel to the device, with a card right between the LED and the light button. I did this because of that single clip you can see in the picture below.
Once I got under the lip of the back case, I then pried the outer case out while pushing the card to be perpendicular to the Kobo. This separates the back from the top. You'll have to repeat at the right side of the top.

Once you have done this there should be a visible separation at the top. Pick a side, left or right, and work the card in again right at the top corner on the long side this time. Again go from parallel to perpendicular with the card and push it down this time, so the card is against the inside side and front. Slide the card down like you're swiping an actual magnetic strip reader (like your bank card). Do so gently!

This should free one side, one corner completely.

Repeat this exact process on the other side of the case. I'm right handed so I did the right side first without thinking.

Now you can get to the bottom where you will take it off similar to the top, basically not sliding the card past the port.

Now you have done the hardest part which is removing the back!

You'll be amazed to see a simple microSD card slot. So crazy!
My card came with a white dot, I assume they all do from the factory. I think it possibly is a moisture detection or just to mark their own sd cards.

Step 2. Copying the SD Card:
Make sure your Kobo is FULLY off, AGAIN. So long slide over and hold till it's powered down. Just in the event you turned it on opening the case without noticing.

Now slide the SD card out very carefully.
Load it up in your PC.
Ignore/dismiss ALL prompts. DON'T format it.
Once you dismiss everything that pops up when you added the SD card, you use your "Flash Drive Image Creator" you downloaded to clone the SD card. To do this, run the program selecting the SD card as well as setting an output location. The desktop will do if it's temporary. C:\KoboSD\ will work great if it's to be kept as a backup. Make certain you select Entire Disk for what to backup.

Remove the old MicroSD card. You are completely done with it from this point forward. I'd suggest putting it into a plastic bag in the original Kobo box for safe keeping.

Place your new MicroSD card into your computer. Again dismiss any prompts that popup.

Next, open up "Flash Drive Image Writer". Here you will select the .img file you just created from the Creator program. Either from C:\KoboSD\ or the desktop. Also select your destination drive. Click Write Image. Read the prompt and click yes if you want to format the destination SD and continue.

You’ve now completely cloned the original SD Card.

Step 3. Setting up the new SD Card:
Next load up “MiniTool® Partition Wizard Home Edition 7.8”.
In the main area (top half), select your newly setup SD card. To verify you have the right drive, it should be set up as follows, or something close: (Unallocated) 10MB, rootfs(EXT4) 256 MB..., recoveryfs(EXT4) 256MB.., KOBOeReader (FAT32) 1.33 GB.., (Unallocated) [however big the rest of your sd card is. 5.9GB for the 8GB card in the pictures].
Select the KOBOeReader drive (either in the upper or lower half).
Right click it and select Extend.
From here move the slider all the way to the right. You should see a total of both the unallocated space and the KOBOeReader partition. In the case of my pictures, it’s 7.19GB for the 8GB sd card.
You’ll see at the bottom of this window that the new size of Unallocated will be 0.00KB, that’s how you know you’ve done it right. Click OK.
Verify that the unallocated space at the end of the SD card is no longer there and that the KOBOeReader partition is taking up the bulk of the SD card.
Click Apply in the upper left of the application and yes to the prompt AFTER reading it ;-)
It will go through it’s process. It hangs a bit at the end, that’s normal. Click OK once it’s done.

Step 4. Reinstall SD Card, Finishing up!
Just re-insert the MicroSD card into its slot in the Kobo Glo. From there, just pop the case back on making certain which way is up. The bottom only has 1 gap in the middle for the USB port and the top has a gap along most of the one side with the LED and two buttons. Once it’s fully snapped together, power on your new beast!

You’re complete!
Everything should be perfect now!


After everything was A-OK, I placed my original 2gig MicroSD card into a bag and put it back into the original box for safe keeping. That way I know if I need I always have a clean untouched SD card to replace my big one if anything goes wrong. So far it's not been needed! This also means that the backup on your computer is a duplicate backup.

could you please send me the image for the KOBO GLO sd card? I still have the partitions but two of them were formatted by the system, I'll be very grateful

[guapito]

Hey, I followed the steps and successfully copied the image to the micro sd; however, my Glo crashes when I try to do a wireless setup on the starting screen, and it is not recognized Kobo Desktop nor does it show up in my file explorer. Could someone send some insight my way?

[GeeBox]

Originally Posted by guapito

Hey, I followed the steps and successfully copied the image to the micro sd; however, my Glo crashes when I try to do a wireless setup on the starting screen, and it is not recognized Kobo Desktop nor does it show up in my file explorer. Could someone send some insight my way?

I was having the exact some problem with my Kobo Glo. I realised that the micro usb cable I was using wasn't a cable that could transfer data--it was only good for charging. Make sure your cable can transfer files too!

[PapaBruno]

Well, I tried and followed the directions to a T, but my Kobo (N647B) still does not recognize books on the card and still displays an empty library. It has been ages, but I believe this was because I deleted all of the pre-loaded books or formatted the card - can't remember.

I wonder if it could be the SD card I'm using (Toshiba 2GB). If so, I'll likely have to purchase a new card from Amazon.
Any ideas?

[levoz85]

ciao avrei bisogno di un immagine per il mio kobo glo.
grazie mille