Could not change the on disk location

degroove · 06-19-2023, 09:00 AM

Hello,

I have got a new computer and reinstalled Calibre, linked to my Google drive. And now anytime I try to change something I have an error such as the one below :

HELP??

###
calibre, version 6.20.0
ERROR: Permission denied: Could not change the on disk location of this book. Is it open in another program?

Locked file: G:\My Drive\Calibre\Library\Winnicott\Jeu et realite (1766)\cover.jpg

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "calibre\gui2\library\models.py", line 1257, in setData
File "calibre\gui2\library\models.py", line 1331, in _set_data
File "calibre\db\legacy.py", line 558, in set
File "calibre\db\cache.py", line 85, in call_func_with_lock
File "calibre\db\cache.py", line 1508, in set_field
File "calibre\db\cache.py", line 1522, in update_path
File "calibre\db\backend.py", line 1875, in update_path
File "calibre\utils\copy_files.py", line 226, in copy_tree
File "calibre\utils\copy_files.py", line 143, in copy_all
File "shutil.py", line 372, in copystat
PermissionError: [WinError 5] Access is denied: 'G:\\My Drive\\Calibre\\Library\\Winnicott\\Jeu et realite (1766)\\cover.jpg'

Sirtel · 06-19-2023, 09:58 AM

Calibre and Google Drive are incompatible. Keeping your library on Google Drive will result in a corrupted library.

theducks · 06-19-2023, 11:16 AM

Be advised that besides GD (100% guaranteed to be bad), Putting the active Library on ANY networked drive is only a case of WHEN.
(lots of folk say they do it, but then they may be prepared to deal with the fallout. Advice: Don't)

degroove · 06-19-2023, 01:33 PM

Interesting…! Unfortunately that is my entire use case. Having synchronized access to my entire library. I never realized it wasn’t meant for this. Thanks!

Sirtel · 06-19-2023, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by degroove

Interesting…! Unfortunately that is my entire use case. Having synchronized access to my entire library. I never realized it wasn’t meant for this. Thanks!

You can keep a copy on a cloud drive, but not an active library. Google Drive is not compatible even for a copy, though.

Quoth · 06-19-2023, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

You can keep a copy on a cloud drive, but not an active library. Google Drive is not compatible even for a copy, though.

Yes. It seems Google renames files.

I do use a GUI to rsync and do one way copy to my local server from main pc and then update a laptop if going out.

This is in addition to backups and Calibre Export.

ownedbycats · 06-19-2023, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

Yes. It seems Google renames files.

Specifically, they strip the (1234) parts of the book folder names because it's used internally for revisioning.

Comfy.n · 06-20-2023, 01:32 AM

Recently I decided to switch from exporting yearly my whole library (375 GB minus full-text-search.db - 78 GB), through Calibre built-in feature, to use FreeFileSync with an external SSD enclosure, thanks to the sound advice given by honorable MR members.

Now I just mirror the local file changes and found it to be way faster than I thought it would! As for cloud backup, this would be awesome but...

MegAnne · 06-01-2025, 06:49 PM

I'm getting the same error. I'm not using Google Drive, my library is on MS Drive, has been that way for a decade. Any suggestion?

DNSB · 06-01-2025, 07:18 PM

See the many many messages about issues with libraries stored on cloud storage. As has been said many times before, if you store your library on a storage system using a network connection, it's not a question of if you will have library issues, it's a question of when.

I would suggest copying your library back from OneDrive to your computer. Then try repairing the library. If that fails, you can try creating a new library and then adding the books from your old library to your new library.

Good luck!

In the calibre FAQs, see: I am getting errors with my calibre library on a networked drive/NAS?.

From SQLite's web site, see: SQLite Over a Network, Caveats and Considerations.

Sirtel · 06-02-2025, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MegAnne

I'm getting the same error. I'm not using Google Drive, my library is on MS Drive, has been that way for a decade. Any suggestion?

Keep your active library on a local, unsynced drive and a copy on MS Drive. You can use FreeFileSync to mirror the changes to the copy. One-way (mirror) sync only, not two-way!

JSWolf · 06-03-2025, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Keep your active library on a local, unsynced drive and a copy on MS Drive. You can use FreeFileSync to mirror the changes to the copy. One-way (mirror) sync only, not two-way!

I'm using rclone to setup Onedrive to look like a drive on my computer. That way I can use FFS to backup the library to Onedrive. I won't need to make a local copy as I'm not using the Ondrive software,

Here is a good video on using rclone and also mounting it as a drive.

06-19-2023, 09:00 AM	#1
degroove Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: iPad	Could not change the on disk location Hello, I have got a new computer and reinstalled Calibre, linked to my Google drive. And now anytime I try to change something I have an error such as the one below : HELP?? ### calibre, version 6.20.0 ERROR: Permission denied: Could not change the on disk location of this book. Is it open in another program? Locked file: G:\My Drive\Calibre\Library\Winnicott\Jeu et realite (1766)\cover.jpg Traceback (most recent call last): File "calibre\gui2\library\models.py", line 1257, in setData File "calibre\gui2\library\models.py", line 1331, in _set_data File "calibre\db\legacy.py", line 558, in set File "calibre\db\cache.py", line 85, in call_func_with_lock File "calibre\db\cache.py", line 1508, in set_field File "calibre\db\cache.py", line 1522, in update_path File "calibre\db\backend.py", line 1875, in update_path File "calibre\utils\copy_files.py", line 226, in copy_tree File "calibre\utils\copy_files.py", line 143, in copy_all File "shutil.py", line 372, in copystat PermissionError: [WinError 5] Access is denied: 'G:\\My Drive\\Calibre\\Library\\Winnicott\\Jeu et realite (1766)\\cover.jpg' Attached Thumbnails

06-20-2023, 01:32 AM	#8
Comfy.n want to learn what I want Posts: 1,605 Karma: 7511185 Join Date: Sep 2020 Device: none	Recently I decided to switch from exporting yearly my whole library (375 GB minus full-text-search.db - 78 GB), through Calibre built-in feature, to use FreeFileSync with an external SSD enclosure, thanks to the sound advice given by honorable MR members. Now I just mirror the local file changes and found it to be way faster than I thought it would! As for cloud backup, this would be awesome but... Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Comfy.n; 06-20-2023 at 01:52 AM.

06-01-2025, 07:18 PM	#10
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 45,500 Karma: 168929301 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	See the many many messages about issues with libraries stored on cloud storage. As has been said many times before, if you store your library on a storage system using a network connection, it's not a question of if you will have library issues, it's a question of when. I would suggest copying your library back from OneDrive to your computer. Then try repairing the library. If that fails, you can try creating a new library and then adding the books from your old library to your new library. Good luck! In the calibre FAQs, see: I am getting errors with my calibre library on a networked drive/NAS?. From SQLite's web site, see: SQLite Over a Network, Caveats and Considerations. Last edited by DNSB; 06-01-2025 at 07:20 PM.

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06-19-2023, 09:58 AM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,362 Karma: 238915017 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Calibre and Google Drive are incompatible. Keeping your library on Google Drive will result in a corrupted library.

06-19-2023, 11:16 AM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,957 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Be advised that besides GD (100% guaranteed to be bad), Putting the active Library on ANY networked drive is only a case of WHEN. (lots of folk say they do it, but then they may be prepared to deal with the fallout. Advice: Don't)

06-19-2023, 01:33 PM	#4
degroove Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2023 Device: iPad	Interesting…! Unfortunately that is my entire use case. Having synchronized access to my entire library. I never realized it wasn’t meant for this. Thanks!

06-01-2025, 06:49 PM	#9
MegAnne Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Atlantic Beach, FL Device: Amazon Fire HD 10	I'm getting the same error. I'm not using Google Drive, my library is on MS Drive, has been that way for a decade. Any suggestion?