Preparing book for first read - Page 2

LordP · 11-07-2025, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Try deleting the contests of the cache directory and see how it goes from there.

I can do that, but would it prove anything if the CALIBRE_CACHE_DIRECTORY is still on a different drive?

I normally run "Disk Cleanup", but I can't remember when I did it last.

JSWolf · 11-07-2025, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordP

I can do that, but would it prove anything if the CALIBRE_CACHE_DIRECTORY is still on a different drive?

I normally run "Disk Cleanup", but I can't remember when I did it last.

empty the default case and go back to using the default cache location and see how it goes.

LordP · 11-07-2025, 05:05 PM

Well, the problem came back.

Searching through Google, it seems others have found that clearing the cache is the solution.

Evidently, I have a different problem altogether.

I downloaded FB Reader, and I'm thinking of using that from now on. It opens almost instantaneously.

JSWolf · 11-07-2025, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordP

Well, the problem came back.

Searching through Google, it seems others have found that clearing the cache is the solution.

Evidently, I have a different problem altogether.

I downloaded FB Reader, and I'm thinking of using that from now on. It opens almost instantaneously.

FB Reader is GARBAGE! Don't use it. It's terrible at respecting the CSS.

LordP · 11-07-2025, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

FB Reader is GARBAGE! Don't use it. It's terrible at respecting the CSS.

Ok. Since you feel so strongly about it.

Can you suggest something else?

LordP · 11-07-2025, 07:27 PM

I'll try moving the CALIBRE_CACHE_DIRECTORY again.

BetterRed · 11-07-2025, 08:47 PM

If moving calibre's cache, and clearing it doesn't resolve your issue use the CALIBRE_TEMP_DIR environment variable to give calibre a dedicated folder for its temporary data.

There are numerous third party apps (anti-virus, speed uppers/downers, backup utilities, etc) that put their oars into %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp… including misguided deletions.

Another thing to try is Windows Safe mode, if you don't get the inordinate delays there, then it's pretty certain that one of your start up programs is injecting itself into the calibre processes.

BR

kovidgoyal · 11-07-2025, 10:32 PM

The cache keeps entries for IIRC 30 days. Any cached entry that has not been used for more than that gets removed, once a day. Once an entry is removed, the next time you try to read the book you will get the preparing delay at startup again. Generally speaking convert all your books to EPUB and read that for least preparing delay as EPUB is the fastest to process.

JSWolf · 11-08-2025, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordP

Ok. Since you feel so strongly about it.

Can you suggest something else?

I can suggest Throium Reader. But before you use it, I suggest trying the suggestions recently posted.

LordP · 11-08-2025, 08:23 AM

I moved CALIBRE_CACHE_DIRECTORY to my D: drive and so far so good.

I think I need to explain that I am not complaining about the delay, I am complaining about excessive delay - close to a minute.

j.p.s · 11-08-2025, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordP

Ok. Since you feel so strongly about it.

Can you suggest something else?

His opinions are usually garbage. If it looks OK to you, there is no reason not to use it.

LordP · 11-10-2025, 09:00 AM

Moving the cache seems to have worked.

So far, I have not had the problem.

fvdham · Yesterday, 03:50 PM

I had the same problem. Opening a book "for the first read" took 5 minutes.
It happened only ones a day. The cache directory contained 591 dirs. Creating a new cache directory on a different location solved the problem.
But after 3 weeks the problem seems to start again. I have at the moment 242 dirs in the cache directory.
I have the feeling that the slow start happens when the system checks for dirs to delete before it opens the book as it only happens ones a day. (the system seems to check for files to delete only ones a day)

kovidgoyal · Yesterday, 11:12 PM

Once a day old entries are pruned from the cache, but this just involves deleting some files and folders there should be no reason for it to be slow unless there is some other software on your system that is accessing the files. On windows because of mandatory file locks that means calibre will fail to delete them and then it pauses for a second and retries. This means things can get very slow.

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11-07-2025, 05:05 PM	#18
LordP Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 1341124 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	Well, the problem came back. Searching through Google, it seems others have found that clearing the cache is the solution. Evidently, I have a different problem altogether. I downloaded FB Reader, and I'm thinking of using that from now on. It opens almost instantaneously.

11-07-2025, 07:27 PM	#21
LordP Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 1341124 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	I'll try moving the CALIBRE_CACHE_DIRECTORY again.

11-07-2025, 08:47 PM	#22
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,052 Karma: 30277960 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	If moving calibre's cache, and clearing it doesn't resolve your issue use the CALIBRE_TEMP_DIR environment variable to give calibre a dedicated folder for its temporary data. There are numerous third party apps (anti-virus, speed uppers/downers, backup utilities, etc) that put their oars into %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp… including misguided deletions. Another thing to try is Windows Safe mode, if you don't get the inordinate delays there, then it's pretty certain that one of your start up programs is injecting itself into the calibre processes. BR

11-07-2025, 10:32 PM	#23
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,681 Karma: 28549304 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	The cache keeps entries for IIRC 30 days. Any cached entry that has not been used for more than that gets removed, once a day. Once an entry is removed, the next time you try to read the book you will get the preparing delay at startup again. Generally speaking convert all your books to EPUB and read that for least preparing delay as EPUB is the fastest to process.

11-08-2025, 08:23 AM	#25
LordP Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 1341124 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	I moved CALIBRE_CACHE_DIRECTORY to my D: drive and so far so good. I think I need to explain that I am not complaining about the delay, I am complaining about excessive delay - close to a minute.

11-10-2025, 09:00 AM	#27
LordP Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 1341124 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	Moving the cache seems to have worked. So far, I have not had the problem.

Yesterday, 03:50 PM	#28
fvdham Connoisseur Posts: 53 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Zaandam, The Netherlands Device: sony PRS-T1 / Kobo Glo HD	I had the same problem. Opening a book "for the first read" took 5 minutes. It happened only ones a day. The cache directory contained 591 dirs. Creating a new cache directory on a different location solved the problem. But after 3 weeks the problem seems to start again. I have at the moment 242 dirs in the cache directory. I have the feeling that the slow start happens when the system checks for dirs to delete before it opens the book as it only happens ones a day. (the system seems to check for files to delete only ones a day)

Yesterday, 11:12 PM	#29
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,681 Karma: 28549304 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Once a day old entries are pruned from the cache, but this just involves deleting some files and folders there should be no reason for it to be slow unless there is some other software on your system that is accessing the files. On windows because of mandatory file locks that means calibre will fail to delete them and then it pauses for a second and retries. This means things can get very slow.