How do I setup a kobo touch without upgrading the firmware

[odin500]

How do I setup my kobo Touch (mark 3) without it updating the firmware?
The newest firmware does not work on my device and downgrading breaks the kobo.

I reset the device and upgraded to the 2.51 firmware and would like to stick with that version.
Only thing left to do is to setup the device using the desktop software which forces the neweset firmware onto the device.

I tried to look for the kobo update files in the .kobo directory, but I could not find them.

Anyone got any ideas? Any help would be much appreciated.

[PeterT]

When you say

The newest firmware does not work on my device and downgrading breaks the kobo.

do you mean firmware that you sideloaded OR firmware installed by Kobo during the setup process?

[odin500]

Originally Posted by PeterT

When you say

do you mean firmware that you sideloaded OR firmware installed by Kobo during the setup process?

Both, it does not matter which way I update. The firmware breaks micro SD card support.
Anyways the issue is that it forces the newest firmware in order to complete setup.

[PeterT]

If you do the setup through dekstop, before disconnecting the device look for three items in the .kobo directory; KoboRoot.tgz, the upgrade folder and manifest.md5sum. Drop all of them; the two files AND the upgrade folder and all of it's contents.

[Ken Maltby]

there are several explanations at this forum. I cannot find them myself right now. Anyway,
in order to initialize the reader without registering you can add a new line to the "user" table of the database. Fill in any fitting values. Depending on your reset firmware version, the number of values varies.
Example for FW 1.9.12:

Code:
INSERT INTO user VALUES ("0", "0", "0", "0", "0");Example for FW 2.5.0:

Code:
INSERT INTO user VALUES ("0", "0", "0", "0", "0", "0","false")

I think you use the SQLite Database Browser. Right? Open the database file "KoboReader.sqlite". Select "Browse Data" and choose the table "user". Look at line 1 and try to establish whether the values of one of the two examples might fit or whether you have to make some modifications. I guess the second example might be correct for the Mini. Choose Execute SQL, enter the command "INSERT INTO user VALUES ..." and press "Execute query".
I can only confirm that the values work for FW 1.9.12. I did not try it with more recent firmwares. If the reader does not accept your values, you can try replacing them by others (maybe the email address must look like an email address, e.g. name@xmail.com, or something like that).

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tshering

The factory reset should get you back to the firmware that the device shipped with. But none of the firmware should "break micro SD card support".

Luck;
Ken

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

The factory reset should get you back to the firmware that the device shipped with. But none of the firmware should "break micro SD card support".

Luck;
Ken

The keyword there being should. I've had issues on and off with the same uSD cards working with some firmware versions and giving me errors with others. Some of the errors kept the card from working while other format the card messages were followed by the card mounting properly.

Regards,
David

[odin500]

I remembered i had a backup database so I tried to use that; Alas it didn't work so, now it won't connect via usb anymore.

Guess it's time to reset again.
Kobo touch has to be one of the most buggy and temperamental things I've ever owned.