HELP!!! Installed Calibre But nothing is there

[chantw0968]

Hi,
I wanted to move Calibre library to another computer. I backed up my library on an external hard drive. Than I installed Calibre on the new computer. I than went to import export and tried to import the library. I selected a location and when it finished I got an error. The folder is full of books but calibre isn't recognizing so I uninstalled it and deleted everything but even the welcome book is gone and now I have nothing. How do i get the books over. TIA

update: I changed the location of the folder and all the files got in Calibre but the covers were gone
Also, I am running windows 10 if that means anything. Thank you

This is the error that I get when I try to import the books:
calibre, version 2.51.0
ERROR: Failed: Failed to import data. Click "Show Details" for more information.

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\dialogs\exim.py", line 137, in run_action
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\exim.py", line 331, in import_data
File "site-packages\calibre\db\cache.py", line 2166, in import_library
File "site-packages\calibre\db\cache.py", line 1075, in update_path
File "site-packages\calibre\db\backend.py", line 1514, in update_path
File "os.py", line 150, in makedirs
File "os.py", line 157, in makedirs
WindowsError: [Error 267] The directory name is invalid: u'C:\\Users\\dbrid\\OneDrive\\Documents\\Calibre Library 1\\Con'

[theducks]

Originally Posted by chantw0968

Hi,
I wanted to move Calibre library to another computer. I backed up my library on an external hard drive. Than I installed Calibre on the new computer. I than went to import export and tried to import the library. I selected a location and when it finished I got an error. The folder is full of books but calibre isn't recognizing so I uninstalled it and deleted everything but even the welcome book is gone and now I have nothing. How do i get the books over. TIA

update: I changed the location of the folder and all the files got in Calibre but the covers were gone
Also, I am running windows 10 if that means anything. Thank you

This is the error that I get when I try to import the books:
calibre, version 2.51.0
ERROR: Failed: Failed to import data. Click "Show Details" for more information.

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\dialogs\exim.py", line 137, in run_action
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\exim.py", line 331, in import_data
File "site-packages\calibre\db\cache.py", line 2166, in import_library
File "site-packages\calibre\db\cache.py", line 1075, in update_path
File "site-packages\calibre\db\backend.py", line 1514, in update_path
File "os.py", line 150, in makedirs
File "os.py", line 157, in makedirs
WindowsError: [Error 267] The directory name is invalid: u'C:\\Users\\dbrid\\OneDrive\\Documents\\Calibre Library 1\\Con'

Forget (Calibre) IMPORT

This is one of the few cases where under the skirts operation can be carefully performed

All you had to do was COPY the entire OLD Library folder CONTENTS
and TOTALLY replace the NEW (empty Library) folder contents

DO NOT MIX two Libraries together, even if 1 is broken that folder must be empty. If it is not, Delete the contents (usually, 2 files), they will be replaced by the Library matching, good versions

[chantw0968]

Do I copy the calibre exported folder or the backed up folder. and paste in the new computer?

Thank you.
Update: Okay so i put the exported file in calibre in the new computer and it was like data folder. So I put the actual folders from my backed up library in calibre. Hopefully it will be recognized.

[JSWolf]

Do not use a cloud service to host any Calibre library. It leads to things going horribly wrong if it ever works in the first place.

[chantw0968]

okay so you were right about cloud. So I deleted the file and when it was at 99% and sent it to recycling thinking I would just start a folder on the pc drive. However, doing that to one drive caused it to make me reconfigure it and when I sent it to recycle its stuck at 99%. How do I make it leave. The folder no longer even exists because I deleted it. but it acts like it still there.
update: it finally went away. thank you . to be continued regarding the library

lol

update#2: I folder is moved. Thank you so much: "theducks" and "JSWolf". It worked YAY!!!

[chantw0968]

Hi, Sorry bothering everyone again. But something happened with the new computer had to take it back and get another one. So I was able to move the old backed up library over but I'm having a problem with the new library that's on a flash drive. I copied and pasted the library just like before but Calibre isn't recognizing that its there.

Thank you

Note: What if i put the new library with the saved library and moved it all at the same time would calibre recognize it then?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by chantw0968

Hi, Sorry bothering everyone again. But something happened with the new computer had to take it back and get another one. So I was able to move the old backed up library over but I'm having a problem with the new library that's on a flash drive. I copied and pasted the library just like before but Calibre isn't recognizing that its there.

Thank you

Note: What if i put the new library with the saved library and moved it all at the same time would calibre recognize it then?

NEVER Mix 2 (or more) Libraries using the OS file manager

You can have as many separate Libraries on your system as fits
The folder (containing metadata.db and the AUTHORS FOLDERS) name is the Library name. If your backup uses the same name, you can change ONLY that folder name
eg. Calibre Library => Old Library
Then when you start Calibre, you show Calibre where you put A Library by using the Library Icon Menu arrow: Switch/create: Use existing: <the path name>

[chantw0968]

okay so I already mixed them and just went in and added them again by double clicking. Good to know in the future about the two libraries. I think that I got confused because earlier I just cut and pasted. But every situation is different. Is there any way to get the library to delete the duplicates. Because the system only recognizes one of the epubs even though there are two copies in the folder. Or do I have to go into the library of ever folder and meticulously delete every duplicate or just leave it and NEVER do that again. -

[theducks]

Originally Posted by chantw0968

okay so I already mixed them and just went in and added them again by double clicking. Good to know in the future about the two libraries. I think that I got confused because earlier I just cut and pasted. But every situation is different. Is there any way to get the library to delete the duplicates. Because the system only recognizes one of the epubs even though there are two copies in the folder. Or do I have to go into the library of ever folder and meticulously delete every duplicate or just leave it and NEVER do that again. -

Find duplicates PI will help, Identify dups.

But you have a bigger problem. Dead Books (no matching library entry)

Step 1) Move Known Books to a Fresh Library (follow the directions below)
1) Create a New Empty Library. Library Icon:Create/Switch: Empty at New Location [NOT inside an existing Library]. Tick Use Existing structure if you made any customs to the old library

2)Switch back to Old. Select all books: Right-click:copy to Library: <the new one>: Delete after copy. Anything left in the GUI has unknown issues.
Anything Left INSIDE the old Library Folder is stuff Calibre lost track of (possibly dups).. You get to figure what to do with these (OS Delete is a probable choice. Drag truly lost into (a normal calibre add) the GUI of the New Library
3)use the Find Duplicates PI on the New Library and choose which version (line item) to delete. There is no single-click foolproof way