Kobo Start Menu

[Ken Maltby]

Odd, I don't see any delay starting Koreader, in fact, with the "Start in last opened file" option I am reading in less than a second, from making the selection in Start Menu. I do think that the things I use respond snappier since using the Kobo Start Menu. I also have my library in a .hidden folder on the external uSD card.

I can't comment on the effects with USB enabled, but don't you see both uSD cards on your PC? While it could be an issue when trying to monitor the device's functioning, just for use of the storage functions you don't need the device's OS accessing the cards, while using the USB connection.

Luck;
Ken

[WS64]

Ken, I don't see any delay. But if I turn USB off/reboot and start koreader immediately it will start with "file not found". If I wait hmmm 5 seconds after reboot Koreader starts fine.
USB, even when connecting to a PC, the koreader internal partition is there very fast. But the SD card just after a few seconds.
I also remember that that was not the case on my Kobo Touch when i still had it, nor is it the case on my other reader (Cybook Bookeen Frontlight), both internal and external show up as drive at the same time in Windows.

[JimMcLaren]

I'm seeing a delay opening koreader with the 7/3 release but I'm certain it's koreader, not kbmenu. I'm seeing the delay in nickel too. Since I've been starting nickel instead of kbmenu, it isn't kbmenu at all.

[exachillus]

Has this been updated this month at all? I just want to make sure I am using the latest. Nickel is pretty flaky I get crashes, freezes with AuraHD 3.3

[tshering]

Originally Posted by exachillus

Has this been updated this month at all? I just want to make sure I am using the latest.

Cf. this for the current state.

Originally Posted by exachillus

Nickel is pretty flaky I get crashes, freezes with AuraHD 3.3

The start menu does not affect the performance of nickel. Do you have crash logs in .kobo? Possible causes for crashing and freezing might be a corrupt data base, specific books (maybe consisting of too large files), stress by heat, humidity, or being busy by having to many books to newly register into the data base and to produce thumbnails.

How about your USB connection? Did you give this suggestion a try?

[JimMcLaren]

Originally Posted by tshering

Cf. this for the current state.

I have been reinstalling everything over the last week or so since it all was uninstalled when I logged out of the Kobo. I initially followed the instructions you gave in the linked post and it didn't work. After following them with no luck I decide to start over. So after copying the kbmenupngs I copied KoboRoot.tgz from KBStarMenu_04 to .kobo and rebooted. Then did the same from KBStarMenu_04_update01a and rebooted. The rest of the instructions were fine.

Everything seems to work just fine now.

[Ken Maltby]

Now we have a new Kobo firmware, 3.5.0 to raise some new problems. I am still on 3.0.2 but I guess it might be time to return to guinea pig mode. (I have a couple uSD extension cables coming as well as a slave bluetooth serial board, so There will be some simple modding in the near future anyway.)

Luck;
Ken

[WS64]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

Now we have a new Kobo firmware, 3.5.0 to raise some new problems. I am still on 3.0.2 but I guess it might be time to return to guinea pig mode.

Ken, why is that?
Why return to nickel at all?
Just curious...

[tshering]

Originally Posted by JimMcLaren

I have been reinstalling everything over the last week or so since it all was uninstalled when I logged out of the Kobo. I initially followed the instructions you gave in the linked post and it didn't work. After following them with no luck I decide to start over. So after copying the kbmenupngs I copied KoboRoot.tgz from KBStarMenu_04 to .kobo and rebooted. Then did the same from KBStarMenu_04_update01a and rebooted. The rest of the instructions were fine.

Everything seems to work just fine now.

Thank you for telling. Maybe I should better remove the somehow confusing seven steps instruction and just recommend to install first KBStartMenu_04 and after that KBStarMenu_04_update01a.

Originally Posted by JimMcLaren

Everything seems to work just fine now.

I remember you reported problems launching coolreader directly from the start menu. Not sure whether you followed the discussion a little later in this thread. The gist was that it works as long as you do not change certain coolreader settings, and that calling the front light menu makes the coolreader unresponsive.

Do you run a recent version of the KoboLauncher (1.2.6.40 or 1.2.6.41)? It seems that Sergey reboots the device after exiting the Launcher in order to 'fix "Power" and "Light" buttons for FW 3.3.0+' (if I understand him correctly). This does not happen, if you start the Launcher from the Start Menu. Would it be useful to include the reboot after exiting Launcher as an option (to be set in usersettings.txt)?

[tshering]

(EDIT: All clear! Kobo Start Menu 04 (with and without updates) runs without problems on FW 3.5.0. Please ignore the following warning

Since there is a new FW 3.5.0 I would like to call to mind that there is always a chance that new firmwares might cause problems in connection with the Kobo Start Menu. If you don't want to take the risk, don't install the new FW, or install the new FW by selecting "handle update" > "install update" (rather than install partial update). This will disable the Kobo Start Menu after the update is installed. Alternatively, you can also set the runmenu=alternateMenu in runsettings.txt. But "install update" is the safest way.

I cannot test the new FW myself right now, since I don't have my KT with me.

[roger64]

Hi

I have kept the 2.8.1 on Kobo Glo and have been using your StartMenu for about three months (without any update). However, 3.5.0. looks - at long last - tempting and I am keen to update. I would not do it however before knowing if StartMenu survives this update.

I am also worried about your "seven steps" method (forgive me) which looks unusually complex.

So for the time being, I am waiting for advices (and just read your previous message).

[tshering]

Originally Posted by roger64

Hi

I have kept the 2.8.1 on Kobo Glo and have been using your StartMenu for about three months (without any update). However, 3.5.0. looks - at long last - tempting and I am keen to update. I would not do it however before knowing if StartMenu survives this update.

I am also worried about your "seven steps" method (forgive me) which looks unusually complex.

So for the time being, I am waiting for advices.

Right, this seven steps are a pain. I will remove them. I will install the new FW this evening and will report whether the Start Menu can live with it, if nobody beats me at it.

Edit: From what I get by looking at the content of the FW update package, I would say there are no problems for the Kobo Start Menu.

[roger64]

@tshering

Thanks for all you do.

[tshering]

@roger64
Nice words are always welcome!

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by WS64

Ken, why is that?
Why return to nickel at all?
Just curious...

Right, any "updating" of nickel or the readers, is of no real interest to me, but the FW updates can effect changes to low level routines that the other programs make some use of as well. There could be improvements as a result, although problems are a more likely result. Hopefully any problems will be resolvable, if not I can always return to FW 3.0.2.

Luck;
Ken