3 months later and my Kobo is broken.

[clintbradford]

>> ... Wow. So unimpressed. Up until yesterday I was the biggest advocate of the Kobo ... [using third-party software] ... I am fed up ... I am sort of thinking I don't even want a new Kobo now.. I'd prefer something more reliable ...

Sorry I offended you. But I re-re-re-read your original post. And I have the same feelings today that I wrote last week. It is just a different take on things, I guess.

If I had a new device and crammed it with 300+ books NOT using the Kobo software and it crashed - I just wouldn't FIRST post my woes here, THEN talk to the manufacturer or dealer.

Personally, I wouldn't embarrass myself to tell others that I screwed up my unit using un-Kobo-authorized third-party software trying to cram two+ year's worth of reading onto it all at one - then complain about how it failed on me.

INSTEAD - I would have put all my energies into working on a warranty replacement, if I felt I was due one. THEN, I might relate to others what transpired - offering ALL the info (like EXACTLY what software I was using under what computer platform using what format of books using what cable, et al. Because only TOTAL information is really of use to any one else here - total info tells us your entire setup, and helps others NOT make the same mistakes you made.

Just my opinion, of course.

[zoran]

I put all my books on the device at once and have it processing
for one hour. I believe it should not be interrupted at any time.

[Arthursbedtime]

I placed 150 books on my Kobo using Calibre. I do not think this would make it stop working to the point that it could not be reset with a paper clip.
I have a question. Are there other programs out there for loading ebooks on the Kobo? ( from the computer, not the Kobo site)

[zoran]

Originally Posted by Arthursbedtime

Are there other programs out there for loading ebooks on the Kobo? ( from the computer, not the Kobo site)

Like connecting usb cable and mounting the reader? Then simply
copying files?

[Arthursbedtime]

I prepare half my ebooks starting with txt files. I convert them to html files then let Calibre convert them to epubs.
This gives me excelent results. I can even include jpgs.
The epubs at Project Gutenberg used to be difficult but now they work fine. I run them again through Calibre adding cover photos. (epub to epub)

[yleibu]

Originally Posted by cjmat

I had the exact same problem last night when I was trying to load books on. It was also only showing 6 books when I knew there were more than that.

I finally scrapped the Kobo desktop software and did everything through ADE and Calibre. No problems since then.

Hi,

I'd like to do the same. How do you download books purchased from Kobo store to ADE? Until now I downloaded to the KOBO desktop app for MacOS X.
I presume that you go to the Kobo account through the browser and download to your PC and from there you load ADE. Is this correct?

Thanks.

[pholy]

yleibu - Essentially, you have it right. Just to cover all the bases (I hope)(Skip any steps you've already done..): First you download and install ADE, then set up your ADE account. Close ADE, then connect your Kobo, and restart ADE - this seems to be important; apparently ADE only looks for devices when it starts up. Authorize you Kobo (or other device) -one time only (usually). Now you can close ADE or leave it open. In your browser, go to the KoboBooks site and sign in. You should see all the books you've bought, or you can buy new ones. You will see a 'Download EPUB' link - when you click on it you should be offered the chance to open the .ascm file in ADE. Accept that, and ADE will start (if not already open) and read the .acsm file and then download your book into the ADE library folder. You can use ADE to copy it to your Kobo, or drag&drop it from the folder into your Kobo home folder. Once it is in your ADE folder you can backup up however you like, which is why I like to buy epubs instead of using the Kobo sqlite format.

I hope that tells you everything you need to know.

[yleibu]

Originally Posted by pholy

yleibu - Essentially, you have it right. Just to cover all the bases (I hope)(Skip any steps you've already done..): First you download and install ADE, then set up your ADE account. Close ADE, then connect your Kobo, and restart ADE - this seems to be important; apparently ADE only looks for devices when it starts up. Authorize you Kobo (or other device) -one time only (usually). Now you can close ADE or leave it open. In your browser, go to the KoboBooks site and sign in. You should see all the books you've bought, or you can buy new ones. You will see a 'Download EPUB' link - when you click on it you should be offered the chance to open the .ascm file in ADE. Accept that, and ADE will start (if not already open) and read the .acsm file and then download your book into the ADE library folder. You can use ADE to copy it to your Kobo, or drag&drop it from the folder into your Kobo home folder. Once it is in your ADE folder you can backup up however you like, which is why I like to buy epubs instead of using the Kobo sqlite format.

I hope that tells you everything you need to know.

It does indeed. Thank you very much.
I have opened another thread, in the Kobo Reader forum, about problems with ADE and two Kobo store accounts. Perhaps you'd be willing to take a look and let me know what you think.
Thanks again.

[SageTracey]

Charged my Kobo yesterday as the battery was getting low and I had read a couple of hundred pages since last turning it off, so didn't want to lose my page with a flat battery. Came home from work tonight ready to enjoy a drink and a good read, turned on Kobo and no books! Almost 250 epub and PDF books gone, including the 100 free books that came it came with! Full battery charge, connected to PC, copied books back to Kobo via ADE - disconnected properly from PC and now can't do a thing with it. Won't turn on, reset, nothing!

And it's a two hour drive to my nearest A&R store!

Yes, Clint, I will be seeking a replacement but it is reasonable to expect something like a Kobo to last more than three months.

[techie42]

I just had my black kobo do a screen fail. The lower left corner has gone grey and unresponsive. This is the second black kobo to fail (this was a replacment.) I can not find my receipt either. Any suggestions? Are Chapter's stores still forgiving?

[SameerH]

Originally Posted by techie42

I just had my black kobo do a screen fail. The lower left corner has gone grey and unresponsive. This is the second black kobo to fail (this was a replacment.) I can not find my receipt either. Any suggestions? Are Chapter's stores still forgiving?

Man that really sucks. In-store exchange is worth a try, it's up to the branch manager to take it past the return date. That failing, you should be covered for this under the 1 year warranty.

Call or email customer care and ask for a replacement, email me your ticket # so I can follow up as well.

Let me know how you make out.

[SameerH]

Originally Posted by SageTracey

Charged my Kobo yesterday as the battery was getting low and I had read a couple of hundred pages since last turning it off, so didn't want to lose my page with a flat battery. Came home from work tonight ready to enjoy a drink and a good read, turned on Kobo and no books! Almost 250 epub and PDF books gone, including the 100 free books that came it came with! Full battery charge, connected to PC, copied books back to Kobo via ADE - disconnected properly from PC and now can't do a thing with it. Won't turn on, reset, nothing!

And it's a two hour drive to my nearest A&R store!

Yes, Clint, I will be seeking a replacement but it is reasonable to expect something like a Kobo to last more than three months.

That sounds really bad and has probably driven you nuts, I know it would for me. Let's see if I can help...

When you plug the device into the computer, do you see it pop up as a KOBOeReader drive? Are you able to 'open' it and look around in the drive? Is there anything in the KOBOeReader drive at all?

Were the PDF's / ePubs all loaded through ADE or were they loaded just by dragging / dropping onto your drive? If some were dragged/dropped onto the drive, are they still there on the drive or are they gone from there as well?

Have you ever had any dialogue popup on your computer that asked you to format the Kobo eReader drive, or otherwise 'repair' it?

[SageTracey]

Originally Posted by SameerH

That sounds really bad and has probably driven you nuts, I know it would for me. Let's see if I can help...

When you plug the device into the computer, do you see it pop up as a KOBOeReader drive? Are you able to 'open' it and look around in the drive? Is there anything in the KOBOeReader drive at all?

Were the PDF's / ePubs all loaded through ADE or were they loaded just by dragging / dropping onto your drive? If some were dragged/dropped onto the drive, are they still there on the drive or are they gone from there as well?

Have you ever had any dialogue popup on your computer that asked you to format the Kobo eReader drive, or otherwise 'repair' it?

Hi Sameer,

First up - thank you! It is encouraging that Kobo employees participate in these forums. I am not a disgruntled Kobo user - just a frustrated one at the moment. I actually work for an IT company (but not on the operations side) and understand that things sometimes go wrong even after extensive pre-release testing.

To answer your questions:
- sometimes - that is, the Kobo sometimes pops up as the Kobo eReader drive but not always since this issue arose. It has popped up now and has a number of folders called .adobe-digital-editions, .kobo, Desktop Installers, Digital Editions, Radway (author's name), sueyell (ditto), Treacey, Mia (ditto) and unknown. It also has a metadata.calibre file.

All my books were loaded via ADE or Calibre.

I have never had a pop up re repairing or formatting.

I have been in touch with Angus and Robertson re getting a replacement and while they have agreed, it is taking time (I am travelling from the end of next week and desperately want to have a working Kobo to take away with me.)

Cheers

Tracey