Mini help please - Kobo not syncing - Page 2

tshering · 03-12-2013, 05:37 AM

I basically agree with PeterT. In many cases epubs would do as well as kepub.epubs or even better. But there are some points that kepub.epubs are better at, to mention those that come immediately to my mind:

zoom of images
better support of vertical writing
adjustable line spacing in Japanese language books (In Japanese language books line spacing set in the css file is not honored in epubs. This is extremly tiresome with horizontal writing in combination with furigana, since the lines overlap slightly. Note: one can not change the line-spacing, margins, justification via the menu irrespective whether it is an epub or a kepub.epub)
pop up preview of footnotes
automatic font substitution for those characters that are not supported by the selected font (does not always look nice, but it is still better than question marks, boxes, crossed boxes or nothing)
support of TOC in epub 3 without epub 2 fallback toc.ntx

paola · 03-12-2013, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tshering

pop up preview of footnotes

this is the single most important thing for me - and the book in question is a non fiction book of more than 800 pages, a good third of which is endnotes - the cumbersome support of footnotes/endnotes in EPUB (at least the one KOBO offers - with a previous ereader I had no problems jumpign quickly around the book) makes accessing notes a real pain, if not completely impossible.

Having said that, it is not even clear that the problem lies in the book - this time copying back the backed up database did not restore the previous condition, a sync does not download the books, the reader logged me off and won't let me log back in: I get a network error (while the wifi shows full bars), and the device has been connected for about 15 minutes now to my laptop (for the setup using the Kobo application) and still nothing seems to be happening. Not looking good, but is it possible for a single book to cause such havoc? I should add that I had several koboified epubs working marvelously!

paola · 03-13-2013, 10:15 AM

as an update, and in case this may be useful for others: I did copy the whole of the Mini on my laptop before connecting to Calibre again, and I can confirm that, when things go wrong, if you then erase everything from the device (my laptop is set to show hidden files too) and copy back the backup, you restore the device to the pre-mess condition. At least, it did work for me on the Mini running firmware 2.4.0
However, still cannot get the bleeding book on my Mini!

davidfor · 03-13-2013, 07:09 PM

That's good that the backup worked. I haven't done a full backup and restore like that, but I have replaced the database with a backup a few times.

As you have a good restore mechanism, there is something that would be good to try: logout of the Kobo account on the device. This will remove the current database and replace it with a new empty database and then restart. You will be prompted to login and do the setup again. But it won't go back to the factory installed database. After that, see what happens when you add the book.

The reason for this is in case there is a problem with the your backup of the database that we can't see. I have looked at the two copies you sent me. While I can't see anything in the good version that would explain the problem. But, I also don't get the problem on my device when I load the book you are using onto my either my Touch or Glo.

paola · 03-13-2013, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

That's good that the backup worked. I haven't done a full backup and restore like that, but I have replaced the database with a backup a few times.

I am glad I had the backup, because trying restoring just the database this time did not work - and at some point the device logged me out without me doing anything! In addition, it would not let me setup via WIFI. Setting up via the Kobo desktop resulted in 356 books (no joke) showing with the arrow for downloading on my device, whereas I have bought from Kobo less than 20 (i presume these were previews), at which point I felt so stuck that erased the device and copied the backup, and it worked.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

As you have a good restore mechanism, there is something that would be good to try: logout of the Kobo account on the device. This will remove the current database and replace it with a new empty database and then restart. You will be prompted to login and do the setup again. But it won't go back to the factory installed database. After that, see what happens when you add the book.

The reason for this is in case there is a problem with the your backup of the database that we can't see. I have looked at the two copies you sent me. While I can't see anything in the good version that would explain the problem. But, I also don't get the problem on my device when I load the book you are using onto my either my Touch or Glo.

Ok, that is the least I could do. I am reporting below all the steps in case they help.
So first off, I connected the device to perform a new backup, i.e. I only copied all the files from the device to my hard drive - Calibre was off, and I disconnected the device "safely" using widows - after the recover the carousel was no longer showing the book I was reading before connecting to the laptop. However the book was there, and opened at the correct page.
I performed a sync (for some unknown reason I was asked for the password again, though I have used this network many times), then logged out.

The mini asked me for some five seconds whether I wanted to login, then the smiley emoticon appeared, then seemed to hang - and I could not power it off. I gave it a couple of minutes and could finally power on, but again it hanged. To cut a long story short, the device kept hanging, even when plugged in to wake it up. After six or seven attempts, I went for a pinhole reset, but the Mini hangs with that, too. In fact, I've tried the pinhole reset various times, it always hangs. The battery was full, by the way.
At this point I am truly stuck, so grateful for any suggestions!

paola · 03-14-2013, 12:57 AM

UPDATE - nothing seems to wake my baby up, that is, it does wake up, but then hangs after a few seconds.

I just finished chatting online with Kobo support, they say the device is probably defective and needs replacing - I will leave it connected overnight just in case, and try a reset tomorrow.

PeterT · 03-14-2013, 12:58 AM

Good luck; we'll all light candles for your Mini

Mrs_Often · 03-14-2013, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paola

UPDATE - nothing seems to wake my baby up, that is, it does wake up, but then hangs after a few seconds.

I just finished chatting online with Kobo support, they say the device is probably defective and needs replacing - I will leave it connected overnight just in case, and try a reset tomorrow.

Nooooo

Is it tomorrow yet? Is your baby awake?

I'm assuming you tried the pinhole with slider reset as well...

paola · 03-14-2013, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs_Often

Nooooo

Is it tomorrow yet? Is your baby awake?

I'm assuming you tried the pinhole with slider reset as well...

yes, tried absolutely everything, the thing looks very dead...

euro traveler · 03-14-2013, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paola

I just finished chatting online with Kobo support, they say the device is probably defective and needs replacing...

Sorry to hear your Mini died, paola

It took 22 days from when I first contacted Kobo until my replacement Mini arrived.
Please let us know how long it takes for you to get your new one.
I'm just curious

paola · 03-14-2013, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by euro traveler

Sorry to hear your Mini died, paola

It took 22 days from when I first contacted Kobo until my replacement Mini arrived.
Please let us know how long it takes for you to get your new one.
I'm just curious

well, so far I have received an email requesting contact details and details about the Kobo. Then I haven't heard back, save for a message copying me in our previous correspondence (excluding the details I had filled in) so I am not sure whether there has been some miscommunication. Let's see, I'll keep you posted.
My home is in Scotland, but I am in Mexico right now, which does not help!

EDIT: nevertheless, is it not extremely bizarre that just signing out messes the device up so badly?

davidfor · 03-14-2013, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paola

My home is in Scotland, but I am in Mexico right now, which does not help!

That's going to make it fun.

Quote:

EDIT: nevertheless, is it not extremely bizarre that just signing out messes the device up so badly?

Yes. But, there was probably something else wrong and the logout was the last straw. With what has been happening, I would wonder if the internal SD card has died. That could explain the constant corruption of the database file and the inability to restore the factory image.

paola · 03-14-2013, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

Yes. But, there was probably something else wrong and the logout was the last straw. With what has been happening, I would wonder if the internal SD card has died. That could explain the constant corruption of the database file and the inability to restore the factory image.

ah, yes of course, that makes sense!

Mrs_Often · 03-15-2013, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paola

My home is in Scotland, but I am in Mexico right now, which does not help!

I think I'm jealous!

samhy · 03-15-2013, 09:26 AM

Good luck to you Paola!
I hope you'll have a new working device soon

03-12-2013, 05:37 AM	#16
tshering Wizard Posts: 3,489 Karma: 2914715 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: kobo touch	I basically agree with PeterT. In many cases epubs would do as well as kepub.epubs or even better. But there are some points that kepub.epubs are better at, to mention those that come immediately to my mind: zoom of images better support of vertical writing adjustable line spacing in Japanese language books (In Japanese language books line spacing set in the css file is not honored in epubs. This is extremly tiresome with horizontal writing in combination with furigana, since the lines overlap slightly. Note: one can not change the line-spacing, margins, justification via the menu irrespective whether it is an epub or a kepub.epub) pop up preview of footnotes automatic font substitution for those characters that are not supported by the selected font (does not always look nice, but it is still better than question marks, boxes, crossed boxes or nothing) support of TOC in epub 3 without epub 2 fallback toc.ntx Last edited by tshering; 03-12-2013 at 05:42 AM.

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03-13-2013, 10:15 AM	#18
paola Wizard Posts: 2,840 Karma: 5843878 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK Device: Pocketbook Pro 903, (beloved Pocketbook 360 RIP), Kobo Mini, Kobo Aura	as an update, and in case this may be useful for others: I did copy the whole of the Mini on my laptop before connecting to Calibre again, and I can confirm that, when things go wrong, if you then erase everything from the device (my laptop is set to show hidden files too) and copy back the backup, you restore the device to the pre-mess condition. At least, it did work for me on the Mini running firmware 2.4.0 However, still cannot get the bleeding book on my Mini!

03-13-2013, 07:09 PM	#19
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	That's good that the backup worked. I haven't done a full backup and restore like that, but I have replaced the database with a backup a few times. As you have a good restore mechanism, there is something that would be good to try: logout of the Kobo account on the device. This will remove the current database and replace it with a new empty database and then restart. You will be prompted to login and do the setup again. But it won't go back to the factory installed database. After that, see what happens when you add the book. The reason for this is in case there is a problem with the your backup of the database that we can't see. I have looked at the two copies you sent me. While I can't see anything in the good version that would explain the problem. But, I also don't get the problem on my device when I load the book you are using onto my either my Touch or Glo.

03-14-2013, 12:57 AM	#21
paola Wizard Posts: 2,840 Karma: 5843878 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK Device: Pocketbook Pro 903, (beloved Pocketbook 360 RIP), Kobo Mini, Kobo Aura	UPDATE - nothing seems to wake my baby up, that is, it does wake up, but then hangs after a few seconds. I just finished chatting online with Kobo support, they say the device is probably defective and needs replacing - I will leave it connected overnight just in case, and try a reset tomorrow.

03-14-2013, 12:58 AM	#22
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,309 Karma: 78876004 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Good luck; we'll all light candles for your Mini

03-15-2013, 09:26 AM	#30
samhy Wizard Posts: 1,821 Karma: 9503859 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: France Device: (Sony (J) PRS 650), Kobo Mini, Kobo Glo HD (broken), Kobo Clara BW	Good luck to you Paola! I hope you'll have a new working device soon