Hacked Kobo Touch - Page 2

JSWolf · 11-18-2024, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianrh

So I have progressed but I have a new problem.

I wrote the image i downloaded to a 2GB SD card, it went ok and I replaced the SD card in the Touch. I did a manual reset, restarted and I had a Kobo OS on the Touch.

However it was when I went to set up via wireless where was I encounted the problem. I could change and set time, date, time zone but as soon as i had entered the wireless password and it had connected, it returned to requesting date, time, etc.

I looked on the internet where I found a post on Reddit where someone had the same problem and they were told it was due to too out of date firmware. It said that as from May 2023 a security update made it only possibe to be able to do do a firmware update by writing the new firmware into the .kobo folder of the reader. However when I connect the Touch to my Ubuntu Linux laptop, it doesn't see the ereader at all.

I'm going to try writing the firmware image to a 8GB SD and try that in case the original was corrupt.

Has anyone else encounted this? Any suggestions what I can try next?

Brian

Download Kobo Desktop and connect the Touch to the computer to register it. It's possible the firmware is too old to connect to WiFi and once you get sorted, download and install the latest firmware.

Brianrh · 11-19-2024, 02:50 PM

Thanks for your patience and perseverance Jon.

I have just tried, several times using Kobo desktop to register and update the Touch, but each time I get an internet problem error message. Googling the problem, I came across someone saying that this sometimes happens when the Kobo servers have a problem.

So I need to try again as it had seemed to progress so well, but life has caught with me a the moment but hopefully tomorrow I can get back to it again.

Thanks

Brian

PeterT · 11-19-2024, 03:22 PM

What version of firmware is currently on the Kobo?

Additionally there is no need to use Kobo desktop to update the f/w; just download the correct update from Kobo (use https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html to get the correct update) and unzip it to the .kobo directory on your device (this should be viewable when you have the devcie attached to your computer). After the unzio you should see three additional items in the .kobo directory; a new directory called upgrade and two files KoboRoot.tgz and manifest.md5sum.

Now when you eject the device it should start the upgrade process.

JSWolf · 11-19-2024, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

What version of firmware is currently on the Kobo?

Additionally there is no need to use Kobo desktop to update the f/w; just download the correct update from Kobo (use https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html to get the correct update) and unzip it to the .kobo directory on your device (this should be viewable when you have the devcie attached to your computer). After the unzio you should see three additional items in the .kobo directory; a new directory called upgrade and two files KoboRoot.tgz and manifest.md5sum.

Now when you eject the device it should start the upgrade process.

I was suggesting Kobo Desktop in order to register.

Brianrh · 11-24-2024, 11:48 AM

So I eventually managed to get my Touch working after a lot of faffing around due to my “little bit of knowledge” and not fully reading the instructions.

If I had followed the links and advice given by PeterT and DNSB and followed the instructions to the letter it would have been okay..

My first mistake was that the Touch, as bought from Ebay, had an 8GB microSD containing the Android operating system instead of the usual 2GB containing the Kobo OS. So I took a 2GB SD I had and wrote the kobo image to that and it would seem to run but wouldn’t update by wireless or PC. I tried copying the update files to the .kobo folder but this made no difference.

My second mistake was thinking that there was a problem with my 2GB SD as there had been an error message when writing the image about insufficient space. So I formatted a 8GB SD and followed the exact process as before and got exactly the same result. Of course I had to repeat it several times, as you do, in case I had slipped up, it had become corrupt, etc.

Eventually as usual if it doesn’t work, you go back and read the instructions fully. Going back to the instructions, Kobo Glo Memory Upgrade Guide ( it is a general guide and works with other models), I read this fully this time and saw about tweaking the partitions after writing the image. I did this, then copied the update files to the .kobo directory and after refitting inside the Touch and powered on it all worked.

So thanks again everyone, I’m off to read some books.

bluepeter · 11-24-2024, 11:52 AM

DNSB · 11-24-2024, 03:52 PM

Great to hear that you persevered and got your Touch going.

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11-19-2024, 02:50 PM	#17
Brianrh Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 571204 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Purton, Wiltshire, UK Device: Kobo Touch, Kobo Auro Edition 2	Thanks for your patience and perseverance Jon. I have just tried, several times using Kobo desktop to register and update the Touch, but each time I get an internet problem error message. Googling the problem, I came across someone saying that this sometimes happens when the Kobo servers have a problem. So I need to try again as it had seemed to progress so well, but life has caught with me a the moment but hopefully tomorrow I can get back to it again. Thanks Brian

11-19-2024, 03:22 PM	#18
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,536 Karma: 78910202 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	What version of firmware is currently on the Kobo? Additionally there is no need to use Kobo desktop to update the f/w; just download the correct update from Kobo (use https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html to get the correct update) and unzip it to the .kobo directory on your device (this should be viewable when you have the devcie attached to your computer). After the unzio you should see three additional items in the .kobo directory; a new directory called upgrade and two files KoboRoot.tgz and manifest.md5sum. Now when you eject the device it should start the upgrade process.

11-24-2024, 11:48 AM	#20
Brianrh Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 571204 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Purton, Wiltshire, UK Device: Kobo Touch, Kobo Auro Edition 2	So I eventually managed to get my Touch working after a lot of faffing around due to my “little bit of knowledge” and not fully reading the instructions. If I had followed the links and advice given by PeterT and DNSB and followed the instructions to the letter it would have been okay.. My first mistake was that the Touch, as bought from Ebay, had an 8GB microSD containing the Android operating system instead of the usual 2GB containing the Kobo OS. So I took a 2GB SD I had and wrote the kobo image to that and it would seem to run but wouldn’t update by wireless or PC. I tried copying the update files to the .kobo folder but this made no difference. My second mistake was thinking that there was a problem with my 2GB SD as there had been an error message when writing the image about insufficient space. So I formatted a 8GB SD and followed the exact process as before and got exactly the same result. Of course I had to repeat it several times, as you do, in case I had slipped up, it had become corrupt, etc. Eventually as usual if it doesn’t work, you go back and read the instructions fully. Going back to the instructions, Kobo Glo Memory Upgrade Guide ( it is a general guide and works with other models), I read this fully this time and saw about tweaking the partitions after writing the image. I did this, then copied the update files to the .kobo directory and after refitting inside the Touch and powered on it all worked. So thanks again everyone, I’m off to read some books.

11-24-2024, 11:52 AM	#21
bluepeter Addict Posts: 243 Karma: 1028440 Join Date: May 2024 Location: Salisbury, UK Device: Clara BW, Mini, Libra H2O, Kindle (11G), Paperwhite (10G), Boox Poke 5

11-24-2024, 03:52 PM	#22
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 46,355 Karma: 169098492 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	Great to hear that you persevered and got your Touch going.

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