IO error started to happen

dae · 10-26-2019, 01:08 AM

I get this error message when starting up. Cannot add new books, other parts of program just shut down instantly. I have tried reinstalling calibre 3 times, both 32 and 64 bit.

calibre, version 4.2.0
ERROR: Startup error: There was an error during calibre startup. Parts of calibre may not function. Click Show details to learn more.

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\main.py", line 292, in initialize_db_stage2
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\main.py", line 236, in start_gui
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\ui.py", line 434, in initialize
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\init.py", line 781, in save_layout_state
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\library\views.py", line 636, in save_state
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\library\views.py", line 630, in write_state
File "site-packages\calibre\db\cache.py", line 62, in call_func_with_lock
File "site-packages\calibre\db\cache.py", line 616, in set_pref
File "site-packages\calibre\db\backend.py", line 134, in set
File "site-packages\calibre\db\backend.py", line 131, in __setitem__
IOError: IOError: disk I/O error

I've run chkdsk, and there is no error. I think this may be a Windows update issue. I have not been able to rollback latest windows updates (they immediately reinstall themselves).

What to do?

kovidgoyal · 10-26-2019, 02:02 AM

IO errors can also be caused by antivirus programs tr excluding the calibre library folder from your antivirus

dae · 10-26-2019, 11:41 AM

I use Windows Defender and don't see any place to exclude a folder. I have had the program for a long time, and never had this problem before.

Is there a way to *completely* remove all traces of Calibre from the registry and any files (local app directories, etc), so I can try I clean re-install?

dae · 10-26-2019, 12:23 PM

The problem seems to be related to connecting to the USB D drive where the libraries are located

theducks · 10-26-2019, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dae

The problem seems to be related to connecting to the USB D drive where the libraries are located

Run the disk check on D:
I bet it has problems.

But open Windows Security: see picture to what to use to exclude

JSWolf · 10-26-2019, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Run the disk check on D:
I bet it has problems.

But open Windows Security: see picture to what to use to exclude

Windows Security doesn't need to exclude Calibre 4. I'm running Windows Security and I have not excluded Calibre.

BetterRed · 10-26-2019, 05:24 PM

since 2009

What happens if you power down the drive and start calibre, I think it will create an empty library at 'C:\Users\<username>\Calibre Library' - if you can add books to that then the USB drive is flaky.

Do you have a backup of your library?

BR

dae · 10-26-2019, 06:05 PM

Chkdsk reports no errors on my USB D: drive. No other program seems to have problems accessing it. I was able to 'hide' the library directories on it, so Calibre set up a new library on C:\. I don't seem to have lost any data on D:\. I have to figure out how to transfer the directories to C: so that Calibre sees the books. I don't want to transfer them one by one.

BetterRed · 10-26-2019, 06:24 PM

My experience is that chkdsk will find most errors but not all errors (especially timing errors), especially on external drives - just because it found no errors doesn't mean there are none

Did you try attaching drive to another usb port, and with a different cable, If the drive draws power from the USB connection you should use a double usb cable.

Copy the library folder - in its entirety - to another drive, browse to it in Library Create/Switch, select the Use the previously existing library at the new location option.

BR

theducks · 10-26-2019, 08:58 PM

I really recommend that the drive have its own power source. Intensive disk access may expose weak port power

when you least want it.
That said, the 2 port USB cable.

And DON'T try any USB powered HD on a UNPOWERED hub. (The powered hub should have at least a 5V 2+ Amp supply. Each port can supply 1/2 amp, so multiply ports by .5 and the toss in an extra .5 for the Hub and losses)

stumped · 10-27-2019, 04:44 AM

i have had issues with USB drives in unpowered Dell PC front hubs: frequent IO fails which go away as soon as I use a powered drive. some ports must be right at the minimum limit of what USB spec dictates and simply cannot power a drive properly for data flow. but those same ports are ok for low power stuff like a keyboard or game controller

theducks · 10-27-2019, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumped

i have had issues with USB drives in unpowered Dell PC front hubs: frequent IO fails which go away as soon as I use a powered drive. some ports must be right at the minimum limit of what USB spec dictates and simply cannot power a drive properly for data flow. but those same ports are ok for low power stuff like a keyboard or game controller

Technically speaking: ALL USB ports ARE powered.

(Pins 1 and 4)

Depending on the USB version #, the power available differed.
USB 1.0 was for low powered devices (mice,keyboard,joy stick)
USB 2.x is supposed to be 500 mA.

Crummy designs or poor craftsmanship probably accounts for why Front Ports fail to meet 'spec'. (When the founder was there, Dells were solid. Then... they got cheap

, not even a spare Molex plug at the drive bay. )

stumped · 10-27-2019, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Technically speaking: ALL USB ports ARE powered.

(Pins 1 and 4)

Depending on the USB version #, the power available differed.
USB 1.0 was for low powered devices (mice,keyboard,joy stick)
USB 2.x is supposed to be 500 mA.

Crummy designs or poor craftsmanship probably accounts for why Front Ports fail to meet 'spec'. (When the founder was there, Dells were solid. Then... they got cheap

, not even a spare Molex plug at the drive bay. )

i suspect dell did something sneaky to save a few cents - like putting 500ma total onto the hub, and leave the ports to squabble over who gets what. this was on the inspiron 3847 which i reckon was designed with all the cost savings they could get away with. even the reaktek audio chip sounded crap, compared with what was in older dells.

back on topic, some portable drives by design need all of that 500 ma to work, so if a specific PC only manages 499 and a specific drive tries to pull 501 then splat...
problem goes away with usb 3 ports , as they can deliver 2 amps, but then you can get other lack of backwards compatibility issues. Some ancient USB 2 stuff , that was built before USB3 arrived, does not seem to play nice in USB3 ports even though it " should"

chaley · 10-27-2019, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumped

problem goes away with usb 3 ports , as they can deliver 2 amps, but then you can get other lack of backwards compatibility issues. Some ancient USB 2 stuff , that was built before USB3 arrived, does not seem to play nice in USB3 ports even though it " should"

You mean like almost anything that uses the 2.4GHz band? Like wireless keyboards or WiFi adapters? The devices don't need to be ancient. For example, I have had to move my WiFi mesh tower and my keyboard/mouse transmitters away from my USB 3 hub, otherwise they don't work at all. Similar problem with a webcam.

USB 3.0* Radio Frequency Interference on 2.4 GHz Devices

EDIT: My response sounds snarky. I didn't mean that. Sorry.

dae · 10-28-2019, 07:43 PM

This is a Window 10 problem. Does anyone have a solution? Here is what is happening:

My D drive (many terrabytes) is connected by USB 3 to the PC. I can move/rename/delete files fine.

If I create a text file (*.txt) I can open it/modify it/save changes, no problems. I used EditPad lite, and Notepad++, both worked. I created and saved an *.rtf file which I opened with WordPad, made changes, and saved. Again no issues.

BUT

I cannot change anything on D using Calibre.
I also run Foxit Reader for PDFs. If a PDF is on the D Drive, I can't save edits (such as adding bookmarks.) I can make a copy of the same PDF, move it to the C drive and save edits.
I ran Libre Office Writer, and cannot save to the D Drive.

In all cases I get this General Input/Output Error msg.

Some crapola related to Win10 is not allowing certain programs (including Calibre) to write to the D Drive.

It is not the drive. Chkdsk reports no errors. What can be causing this issue?

10-26-2019, 01:08 AM	#1
dae Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2019 Device: none	IO error started to happen I get this error message when starting up. Cannot add new books, other parts of program just shut down instantly. I have tried reinstalling calibre 3 times, both 32 and 64 bit. calibre, version 4.2.0 ERROR: Startup error: There was an error during calibre startup. Parts of calibre may not function. Click Show details to learn more. Traceback (most recent call last): File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\main.py", line 292, in initialize_db_stage2 File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\main.py", line 236, in start_gui File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\ui.py", line 434, in initialize File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\init.py", line 781, in save_layout_state File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\library\views.py", line 636, in save_state File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\library\views.py", line 630, in write_state File "site-packages\calibre\db\cache.py", line 62, in call_func_with_lock File "site-packages\calibre\db\cache.py", line 616, in set_pref File "site-packages\calibre\db\backend.py", line 134, in set File "site-packages\calibre\db\backend.py", line 131, in __setitem__ IOError: IOError: disk I/O error I've run chkdsk, and there is no error. I think this may be a Windows update issue. I have not been able to rollback latest windows updates (they immediately reinstall themselves). What to do?

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10-26-2019, 02:02 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,604 Karma: 28548974 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	IO errors can also be caused by antivirus programs tr excluding the calibre library folder from your antivirus

10-26-2019, 11:41 AM	#3
dae Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2019 Device: none	I use Windows Defender and don't see any place to exclude a folder. I have had the program for a long time, and never had this problem before. Is there a way to completely remove all traces of Calibre from the registry and any files (local app directories, etc), so I can try I clean re-install?

10-26-2019, 12:23 PM	#4
dae Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2019 Device: none	The problem seems to be related to connecting to the USB D drive where the libraries are located

10-26-2019, 05:24 PM	#7
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,010 Karma: 30277294 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	since 2009 What happens if you power down the drive and start calibre, I think it will create an empty library at 'C:\Users\<username>\Calibre Library' - if you can add books to that then the USB drive is flaky. Do you have a backup of your library? BR

10-26-2019, 06:05 PM	#8
dae Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2019 Device: none	Chkdsk reports no errors on my USB D: drive. No other program seems to have problems accessing it. I was able to 'hide' the library directories on it, so Calibre set up a new library on C:\. I don't seem to have lost any data on D:\. I have to figure out how to transfer the directories to C: so that Calibre sees the books. I don't want to transfer them one by one.

10-26-2019, 06:24 PM	#9
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 22,010 Karma: 30277294 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	My experience is that chkdsk will find most errors but not all errors (especially timing errors), especially on external drives - just because it found no errors doesn't mean there are none Did you try attaching drive to another usb port, and with a different cable, If the drive draws power from the USB connection you should use a double usb cable. Copy the library folder - in its entirety - to another drive, browse to it in Library Create/Switch, select the Use the previously existing library at the new location option. BR

10-26-2019, 08:58 PM	#10
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,249 Karma: 61360164 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I really recommend that the drive have its own power source. Intensive disk access may expose weak port power when you least want it. That said, the 2 port USB cable. And DON'T try any USB powered HD on a UNPOWERED hub. (The powered hub should have at least a 5V 2+ Amp supply. Each port can supply 1/2 amp, so multiply ports by .5 and the toss in an extra .5 for the Hub and losses)

10-27-2019, 04:44 AM	#11
stumped Wizard Posts: 3,305 Karma: 10259306 Join Date: May 2016 Device: kobo forma, Kobo Libra, Huawei media Tab, fire HD10, PW3 HDX8.9,	i have had issues with USB drives in unpowered Dell PC front hubs: frequent IO fails which go away as soon as I use a powered drive. some ports must be right at the minimum limit of what USB spec dictates and simply cannot power a drive properly for data flow. but those same ports are ok for low power stuff like a keyboard or game controller

10-28-2019, 07:43 PM	#15
dae Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2019 Device: none	This is a Window 10 problem. Does anyone have a solution? Here is what is happening: My D drive (many terrabytes) is connected by USB 3 to the PC. I can move/rename/delete files fine. If I create a text file (.txt) I can open it/modify it/save changes, no problems. I used EditPad lite, and Notepad++, both worked. I created and saved an .rtf file which I opened with WordPad, made changes, and saved. Again no issues. BUT I cannot change anything on D using Calibre. I also run Foxit Reader for PDFs. If a PDF is on the D Drive, I can't save edits (such as adding bookmarks.) I can make a copy of the same PDF, move it to the C drive and save edits. I ran Libre Office Writer, and cannot save to the D Drive. In all cases I get this General Input/Output Error msg. Some crapola related to Win10 is not allowing certain programs (including Calibre) to write to the D Drive. It is not the drive. Chkdsk reports no errors. What can be causing this issue?