Lost Library after download to new version of Calibre

[Deb-Ellen]

Hi BetterRed - The pointers I was referring to was the path to the internal HDD I use as storage on my PC, rather than the C drive.

[pjmpjm]

Originally Posted by Deb-Ellen

Hi pjmpjm - you are quite right the library was still there just a matter of finding it. The new update had created a new folder - hence the "missing library". Kovid sent me a link to the excact help section I needed to find the original library. Once I had the path for the original library I was able to link the path back into Calibre.

Thank you for your response.

So glad to hear this, Deb-Ellen. Calibre is a wonderful and amazing piece of software, but also very complex. Little by little, over the years, I've learned the basics, sometimes by experimentation and often by help here at MobilRead. Since Kovid resides here, we can find assistance right from 'the horse's mouth' so to speak! I have more than 44,000 books in my Calibre Library, and would be horrified to lose them. So I always maintain three separate back-ups, one in the cloud, to make sure this never happens. The 'FreeFileSync' software was recommended once here at MobilRead, and I've been using it ever since, to make sure my Calibre Library folder is regularly duplicated away from my main computer.

[Byrdie]

Hi!
I have more than one library. Will Calibre (possibly) forget where all of them are when I upgrade to 6.3.o or just need reminding about the main one? Currently running version 5.44 on Windows 11 Pro.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Byrdie

Hi!
I have more than one library. Will Calibre (possibly) forget where all of them are when I upgrade to 6.3.o or just need reminding about the main one? Currently running version 5.44 on Windows 11 Pro.

I updated from 5.44 to 6.00 on Windows 11 and all my libraries were still present.

I will admit that I did a full backup of my calibre libraries/preferences before doing the update. The best way not to need a backup is to have one.

[theducks]

When Calibre 'forgets', it is usually one of the configuration files became damaged (AFAIK not all updates touch those, only when a feature change requires that). during a major update.

OTOH just write down the path to each Library (main) FOLDER. It only takes a few moments to reestablish those links. Switch/Create: use EXISTING

Spin to next and repeat

[JSWolf]

I'ce updated from Calibre 5 to Calibre 6 and Calibre did not forget any of my library paths.

[targosh]

I am afraid that I came across the same problem with lost database. I cannot locate the database with the books anywhere on my drive. For some reason Calibre directs me to my Kobo device as the database source.

Can anyone suggest anything?

Thanks,
Szymon

[georgemk]

Originally Posted by targosh

Can anyone suggest anything?

Thanks,
Szymon

Try the advice here https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...libre-is-blank especially the bit that says

If you don’t know the new location search your computer for the file metadata.db.

[targosh]

Thanks but it appears that the library is definitely gone from my drive. I highly suggest to anyone who wants to upgrade Calibre to back up their library.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by targosh

Thanks but it appears that the library is definitely gone from my drive. I highly suggest to anyone who wants to upgrade Calibre to back up their library.

Sorry but calibre never removes a library from the device.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

[theducks]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Sorry but calibre never removes a library from the device.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

Agreed.

Even if you clicked Remove Library on the Library Icon.
(that only appears if you have more than one. AND you can't do that to the Active Library)
It only removes the quick switch entry. I would have instructed you at the end, to now use the OS on the folder if you really wanted it GONE.

OP
What was the name of the Library ? (I once used an app that created temporary files and cleaned up at the end. I used a reserved name for my DB and was shocked when it was gone the next time. took me 3 times to figure this out ) AFAIK only the tag 'News' has a special cleanup mode.

Have you had the OS check the drive for errors (and looked at SMART status)?

[PeterT]

If I'm not sure where my calibre library is I'd go old school and make use of the command line.

On Windows I'd do the following

* Click on the Start button and type CMD
* Click on Open to start a command prompt
* Type dir /s c:\metadata.db
* That will search your entire c drive for the calibre database
* Take a note of any / all locations where one was found.
* If you have multiple drives (for instance d / e / ...) repeat the above steps but change the command to dir /s d:\metadata.db

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by PeterT

If I'm not sure where my calibre library is I'd go old school and make use of the command line.

On Windows I'd do the following


Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

IU would go to the root of the drive. Take in the search box of Windows Explorer name: metadata.db and let it search.

[Deb-Ellen]

Hi Targosh - sorry to hear you had a similar experience. Do you have only one drive on your PC? If not search all your drives for the metadata.db file. As suggested by Georgemk use that link to find the explanation for searching for the metadata file. The advice from PeterT provides excellent guidance to do a command prompt search of all your drives if you have multiple drives. Do you have your Kobo device synched to your PC? if so you may find the metadata.db file on your kobo device.