Trying to revive a dead Kobo Glo

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

Not everyone is comfortable in Linux, especially if you want to use the recovered data in the Windows environment. Those who are used to Windows Explorer, to manage their files, need not deal with how Linux works.

True, but some might actually find that less scary than rearranging the partition table of the SD card. For all the time I've been playing with different OSes, applications, recovering data from dead disks, it's not something I've ever considered doing. Plus there is a risk. Mess it up and you lose the data.

[Ken Maltby]

It's not that hard, and you can make copies of the partition table.

"Mounting" the Kobo internal uSD card in Windows 7 x64


First, does your model of Kobo have an internal uSD card? If so you should consider this.

If you can remove the internal uSD card (see above) you can mount it in windows, using "Bootice". Windows will not recognize the uSD card, as it is used in your device, because the partition table has a Linux type partition as the first partition. BootICE can be used to change the partition table so the FAT32 (KOBOeReader) partition is first in the partition table, and Windows will then see it and give it a drive letter. If you save the partition table both before and after changing the partition table, (Bootice lets you save and restore the partition table) you can "restore" the partition table to how you need it for your Kobo or to how you need it so Windows can use it.

First you will need BOOTICE, (there are different versions for 32 and 64 bit OS)

Then you can remove your Kobo devices internal uSD card, from your device and plug it into the reader on your PC.

Open Bootice and check that the "Destination Disk" is your uSD card.

Select the "Parts Manage" button and "Backup Partition Table", to save the existing partition arrangement so it can be restored easily after you are done. [I save mine in the same folder I keep my backup image files.] Give it a name like "Original_ Kobo.dpt"

Then select the "KOBOeReader" partition and click on the "Set Accessible" button. It should move to the top of the list. Now backup the partition table again and give it a name like; "AuraHD_FAT1st.dpt"

Close and exit Bootice. Open Windows Explorer and you should now have the FAT32 partition mounted and you can modify its contents.

When you are done, you open Bootice and restore the original partition table, that you saved earlier. Your uSD card should now work in your Kobo device again, with the changes you made in effect.

Now all you need to do to "Mount" the uSD card with the FAT32 accessible (for updates, ect.), is to "Restore" the FAT1st version of the partition table. Then make your changes and then restore using the backup of the original partition table.

Luck;
Ken

Of course the OP only needs to set it accessible, to get his data.