Kobo needs restart almost every time I add books - Page 6

maddz · 09-14-2026, 07:30 AM

After some faffing around, it looks like it's the charge port that's failed. I've tried 2 of the 3 repair shops in town, one won't touch ereaders, the other doesn't do charge ports, and the third isn't open today. I'll see what the 3rd shop says tomorrow.

Otherwise, there's a place I can send it to, and they'll replace the port for £50 plus any postage required. I do have to say those mini SD chargers aren't particularly durable.

JSWolf · 09-14-2026, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

After some faffing around, it looks like it's the charge port that's failed. I've tried 2 of the 3 repair shops in town, one won't touch ereaders, the other doesn't do charge ports, and the third isn't open today. I'll see what the 3rd shop says tomorrow.

Otherwise, there's a place I can send it to, and they'll replace the port for £50 plus any postage required. I do have to say those mini SD chargers aren't particularly durable.

I've not has a microUSB port fail.

maddz · 09-14-2026, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've not has a microUSB port fail.

You're lucky. What I've noticed with the Formas is that the tongue in the port has a tendency to go out of alignment. Mind you, I'm a side-loader as only around 1000 of my ebooks come from Kobo; the rest come from elsewhere.

Is there a way to synchronise from calibre over wi-fi? That might help with port issues.

JSWolf · 09-14-2026, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

You're lucky. What I've noticed with the Formas is that the tongue in the port has a tendency to go out of alignment. Mind you, I'm a side-loader as only around 1000 of my ebooks come from Kobo; the rest come from elsewhere.

Is there a way to synchronise from calibre over wi-fi? That might help with port issues.

There is. You'll have to check the Kobo developer's forum to find the program. However, you won't have the advantages of the extra features of the Kobo driver.

maddz · 09-14-2026, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

There is. You'll have to check the Kobo developer's forum to find the program. However, you won't have the advantages of the extra features of the Kobo driver.

Ah, so I won't be able to use various repurposed fields for things like sub-series & index, and various bits and pieces of metadata (I wish Kobo would update the firmware to be more flexible). I'm not too bothered about reading stats and syncing across the cloud reader and other Kobos, just transferring new books wirelessly after they've been cleaned up in calibre.

JSWolf · 09-14-2026, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

Ah, so I won't be able to use various repurposed fields for things like sub-series & index, and various bits and pieces of metadata (I wish Kobo would update the firmware to be more flexible). I'm not too bothered about reading stats and syncing across the cloud reader and other Kobos, just transferring new books wirelessly after they've been cleaned up in calibre.

I found the thread. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=320149

maddz · 09-18-2026, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've not has a microUSB port fail.

Confirmed. It was the charging port that failed. I found a reasonably local repair shop (next town along the road) and took both my Formas in. The 'dead' one was barely pulling power compared to the working one. It's gone off to the central repair shop; with a bit of luck it's only a re-soldering job.

So it's a flat battery causing the white screen.

(Re wi-fi sync, I have to store on Google Drive or Dropbox, there's no way to use iCloud.)

JSWolf · 09-29-2026, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

Confirmed. It was the charging port that failed. I found a reasonably local repair shop (next town along the road) and took both my Formas in. The 'dead' one was barely pulling power compared to the working one. It's gone off to the central repair shop; with a bit of luck it's only a re-soldering job.

So it's a flat battery causing the white screen.

(Re wi-fi sync, I have to store on Google Drive or Dropbox, there's no way to use iCloud.)

Did get new batteries for the repair shop to replace? I would have done that as well. I do hope they can be fixed.

maddz · 09-29-2026, 07:23 AM

Still waiting. I chased them last week, but apparently the repair shop is rather snowed under at the moment with people away. Plus they may need to source a new port (slow boat from China?)

It's not a problem, I've been playing with the Elipsa, and cleaning up my library. Still got 600+ books to go where Epubveri library isn't reporting an error, but edit books is complaining about errors (mostly missing font-family fallbacks).

When I make a start on where Epubveri is reporting fatal errors, I may need to pick brains on how to fix them.

maddz · 10-09-2026, 09:03 AM

Finally got hold of the shop again: apparently it can't be fixed. I'll go in and collect it and try and find out exactly what the lab said - I suspect they can't get hold of a replacement port. I might try in London when I go into the office; there's some repair shops near the station.

Bummer.

maddz · 10-10-2026, 10:54 AM

The saga continues.

Picked up the Forma yesterday, dropped it at a different repair shop, one that's been about for longer. They've been able to replace the charge port, but still not booting, probably because the battery is <1%. They are leaving it to charge overnight and will see what happens. Fortunately I had the working Forma with me, so I was able to show them how to power it on (and how long it takes to boot).

If that doesn't work, the guy will take it to their lab on Monday and see what happens. They may end up replacing the battery as well.

maddz · 10-17-2026, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

If that doesn't work, the guy will take it to their lab on Monday and see what happens. They may end up replacing the battery as well.

It's dead, even after replacing the charge port a second time. So I guess the battery has failed or something. I know Forma batteries are available on AliExpress, but is it worth the hassle? There are places that offer battery replacements for Formas, but the place I emailed never got back to me, and it's a bit far to go for a walk-in. I might try around the office next week; I'm planning to go in for a day and I can collect it next time I'm in.

My original Forma is still going strong, but the one from Ebay is dead. The risk you take when buying second hand... Now I have the Elipsa, I'm not too bothered with the second Forma.

Apollyon202 · Yesterday, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

It's dead, even after replacing the charge port a second time. So I guess the battery has failed or something. I know Forma batteries are available on AliExpress, but is it worth the hassle? There are places that offer battery replacements for Formas, but the place I emailed never got back to me, and it's a bit far to go for a walk-in. I might try around the office next week; I'm planning to go in for a day and I can collect it next time I'm in.

My original Forma is still going strong, but the one from Ebay is dead. The risk you take when buying second hand... Now I have the Elipsa, I'm not too bothered with the second Forma.

The Forma is a curiosity in the ereader segment and, imho, the best ereader ever made. At the same time, there aren’t many posts about Forma battery replacements, which makes me think (and feel sad) that it was created as a disposable device.
If you still decide to try replacing the battery, it would be really helpful for others who have a similar repair encounter with their Forma.

maddz · Yesterday, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apollyon202

The Forma is a curiosity in the ereader segment and, imho, the best ereader ever made. At the same time, there aren’t many posts about Forma battery replacements, which makes me think (and feel sad) that it was created as a disposable device.
If you still decide to try replacing the battery, it would be really helpful for others who have a similar repair encounter with their Forma.

Well, apparently this is the battery: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005...yAdapt=deu2glo

But which one??? Plus I would be lucky if it turns up before Christmas...

Apollyon202 · Yesterday, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

Well, apparently this is the battery: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005...yAdapt=deu2glo

But which one??? Plus I would be lucky if it turns up before Christmas...

Voltage and current has to be the same.
Depends on the seller and your country, but stuff sent from China usually arrives in a couple of weeks, at least here to the EU.

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09-14-2026, 07:30 AM	#76
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,678 Karma: 30496938 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Elipsa 2e, Kobo Forma, iPad, Kobo Touch	After some faffing around, it looks like it's the charge port that's failed. I've tried 2 of the 3 repair shops in town, one won't touch ereaders, the other doesn't do charge ports, and the third isn't open today. I'll see what the 3rd shop says tomorrow. Otherwise, there's a place I can send it to, and they'll replace the port for £50 plus any postage required. I do have to say those mini SD chargers aren't particularly durable.

09-29-2026, 07:23 AM	#84
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,678 Karma: 30496938 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Elipsa 2e, Kobo Forma, iPad, Kobo Touch	Still waiting. I chased them last week, but apparently the repair shop is rather snowed under at the moment with people away. Plus they may need to source a new port (slow boat from China?) It's not a problem, I've been playing with the Elipsa, and cleaning up my library. Still got 600+ books to go where Epubveri library isn't reporting an error, but edit books is complaining about errors (mostly missing font-family fallbacks). When I make a start on where Epubveri is reporting fatal errors, I may need to pick brains on how to fix them.

10-09-2026, 09:03 AM	#85
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,678 Karma: 30496938 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Elipsa 2e, Kobo Forma, iPad, Kobo Touch	Finally got hold of the shop again: apparently it can't be fixed. I'll go in and collect it and try and find out exactly what the lab said - I suspect they can't get hold of a replacement port. I might try in London when I go into the office; there's some repair shops near the station. Bummer.

10-10-2026, 10:54 AM	#86
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,678 Karma: 30496938 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Elipsa 2e, Kobo Forma, iPad, Kobo Touch	The saga continues. Picked up the Forma yesterday, dropped it at a different repair shop, one that's been about for longer. They've been able to replace the charge port, but still not booting, probably because the battery is <1%. They are leaving it to charge overnight and will see what happens. Fortunately I had the working Forma with me, so I was able to show them how to power it on (and how long it takes to boot). If that doesn't work, the guy will take it to their lab on Monday and see what happens. They may end up replacing the battery as well.