KOBO and Windows 8

cmamo3908 · 03-27-2013, 08:20 PM

I can't get my computer (windows 8) to recognize my Kobo when I plug it into the USB port. I don't get any messages or information at all that there is something plugged in....I have tried all the ports!! The KOBO will charge through the USB (so the cord works) when I do a factory reset on the KOBO but won't do anything other than that....The USB port works when I use it for my printer!! I have talked to KOBO and they weren't too helpful. Please help!!

davidfor · 03-27-2013, 08:32 PM

The two things to try are:

- Another cable. Even though it is charging, there might be an issue with another part of the connection.

- Another computer. If another computer can't see it, then it is the device. If the other computer can see it, then it is a problem on the Windows 8 computer.

PeterT · 03-27-2013, 08:41 PM

Do you get a prompt on the Kobo asking you to select whether to keep reading or to connect to a computer?

cmamo3908 · 03-27-2013, 08:43 PM

No message on Kobo about connecting to a computer. The cord works as I had the kobo plugged into the wall and charging earlier in the day using the same cord. My Kobo worked on my last computer. The windows 8 was bought because my other computer broke!!

PeterT · 03-27-2013, 09:09 PM

Try powering the Kobo off and then attaching it to the PC via USB.

Danger · 03-28-2013, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmamo3908

No message on Kobo about connecting to a computer. The cord works as I had the kobo plugged into the wall and charging earlier in the day using the same cord...

You missed the point. Yes the cord works regarding charging your Kobo but does the cord work in regards to transferring data to/from your Kobo or even lets another computer recognize your Kobo.

jclim00 · 03-28-2013, 02:16 AM

No problems on the Win 8 machine on my end. Kobo recognized on a fresh install.

cmamo3908 · 03-28-2013, 10:05 AM

I see what you mean with the cord.....however....when I first plugged in my kobo in the computer it did manage to take off all the books that I had on my kobo and put it on the desktop KOBO (in the library area) That left my KOBO with no books on it at all except some set up and introduction page. Does that mean anything??

cmamo3908 · 03-28-2013, 10:07 AM

ALSO.....after using the factory reset (as advised by KOBO) it will than start charging via the computer. But the computer will still not recognize it even though it is charging!!

PeterT · 03-28-2013, 10:16 AM

It is possible that you have either a faulty USB cable or the USB port on the Kobo is damaged.

Humour us and just try a different cable.

jackastor · 03-28-2013, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmamo3908

ALSO.....after using the factory reset (as advised by KOBO) it will than start charging via the computer. But the computer will still not recognize it even though it is charging!!

Sometimes there are faulty wiring in the usb cable. The wires may get broke and break the connection. Some of the wires are for power and some are just for data transfer. IF the data transfer wires are broken then the power will still flow but the computer will not see the reader. Use a different cable and see if the computer recognizes the device. If the result is the same then perhaps windows 8 has not recognized the device and has defaulted to unknown device which would result in the device being just a fancy book end to the computer, (prob not the case as you indicated you do not see the cancel/connect message).. you will need to install the desktop software to install the drivers. If you have the desktop software installed you may need to manually install the drivers. So your next option is to try the reader with the same said cable on a friends computer or a work computer and see if you get a result there. The final option is the new computer maybe have a faulty board and may need to be replaced, if this is the case then other devices connected to the same usb ports will not be recognized either. You could do the extreme and do a factory reinstall on the new computer wiping out any issues and seeing if that resolves the problem. If the new computer was upgraded to windows 8 from your old HDD in the old computer your problem maybe the direct result of that upgrade resulting in a need to do a clean install on the computer. At that point you will need to back up any data you have and during the windows install format the HDD install the windows 8 clean. This will give you a clean install.

Good luck

nogle · 03-28-2013, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackastor

Sometimes there are faulty wiring in the usb cable. The wires may get broke and break the connection. Some of the wires are for power and some are just for data transfer. IF the data transfer wires are broken then the power will still flow but the computer will not see the reader. Use a different cable and see if the computer recognizes the device.

To add a bit. If the wires inside are damaged, the connection will be noisy. A noisy connection for power won't disrupt chargng. A noisy connection for data will result in corrupt data. If the "handshake" on connection is corrupt, the device will not be recognized.

TonyToews · 03-29-2013, 09:06 PM

To add even more points to this discussion which are similar to the previous two postings. The wires inside the USB cable for charging are a different set of wires than for data exchange. So the charging wires could work quite nicely while the data exchange wires don't.

Try a different cable on the same port with your Kobo. Or try a different device on that same cable and same port to ensure it's not the cable. Then try the Kobo on a different port as it's possible that that particular port is wonky.

Anak · 03-30-2013, 11:17 AM

My Kobo works fine with Windows 8. Try another USB cable and if that doesn't help then try replacing the mass usb storage driver. Use Google on how to do this.

cmamo3908 · 04-08-2013, 09:41 PM

OK....so all is good!!

I returned the cable that didn't work and I got another one and it does......thanks for everyones input!!

Your help was better than KOBO's!!!

I am back to reading again!!!!!

03-27-2013, 08:20 PM	#1
cmamo3908 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 5410 Join Date: Mar 2013 Device: Kobo Touch	KOBO and Windows 8 I can't get my computer (windows 8) to recognize my Kobo when I plug it into the USB port. I don't get any messages or information at all that there is something plugged in....I have tried all the ports!! The KOBO will charge through the USB (so the cord works) when I do a factory reset on the KOBO but won't do anything other than that....The USB port works when I use it for my printer!! I have talked to KOBO and they weren't too helpful. Please help!!

03-28-2013, 10:07 AM	#9
cmamo3908 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 5410 Join Date: Mar 2013 Device: Kobo Touch	ALSO.....after using the factory reset (as advised by KOBO) it will than start charging via the computer. But the computer will still not recognize it even though it is charging!! Last edited by cmamo3908; 03-28-2013 at 10:14 AM.

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03-27-2013, 08:32 PM	#2
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	The two things to try are: - Another cable. Even though it is charging, there might be an issue with another part of the connection. - Another computer. If another computer can't see it, then it is the device. If the other computer can see it, then it is a problem on the Windows 8 computer.

03-27-2013, 08:41 PM	#3
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,521 Karma: 78910202 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Do you get a prompt on the Kobo asking you to select whether to keep reading or to connect to a computer?

03-27-2013, 08:43 PM	#4
cmamo3908 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 5410 Join Date: Mar 2013 Device: Kobo Touch	No message on Kobo about connecting to a computer. The cord works as I had the kobo plugged into the wall and charging earlier in the day using the same cord. My Kobo worked on my last computer. The windows 8 was bought because my other computer broke!!

03-27-2013, 09:09 PM	#5
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,521 Karma: 78910202 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Try powering the Kobo off and then attaching it to the PC via USB.

03-28-2013, 02:16 AM	#7
jclim00 Nameless Being	No problems on the Win 8 machine on my end. Kobo recognized on a fresh install.

03-28-2013, 10:05 AM	#8
cmamo3908 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 5410 Join Date: Mar 2013 Device: Kobo Touch	I see what you mean with the cord.....however....when I first plugged in my kobo in the computer it did manage to take off all the books that I had on my kobo and put it on the desktop KOBO (in the library area) That left my KOBO with no books on it at all except some set up and introduction page. Does that mean anything??

03-28-2013, 10:16 AM	#10
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,521 Karma: 78910202 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	It is possible that you have either a faulty USB cable or the USB port on the Kobo is damaged. Humour us and just try a different cable.

03-29-2013, 09:06 PM	#13
TonyToews Evangelist Posts: 490 Karma: 351398 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kobo Vox and Glo	To add even more points to this discussion which are similar to the previous two postings. The wires inside the USB cable for charging are a different set of wires than for data exchange. So the charging wires could work quite nicely while the data exchange wires don't. Try a different cable on the same port with your Kobo. Or try a different device on that same cable and same port to ensure it's not the cable. Then try the Kobo on a different port as it's possible that that particular port is wonky.

03-30-2013, 11:17 AM	#14
Anak Guru Posts: 603 Karma: 641742 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: DE Device: Kobo Glo	My Kobo works fine with Windows 8. Try another USB cable and if that doesn't help then try replacing the mass usb storage driver. Use Google on how to do this.

04-08-2013, 09:41 PM	#15
cmamo3908 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 5410 Join Date: Mar 2013 Device: Kobo Touch	OK....so all is good!! I returned the cable that didn't work and I got another one and it does......thanks for everyones input!! Your help was better than KOBO's!!! I am back to reading again!!!!!