Calibre library doesn't show all books after PC formatting and Calibre reinstallation

[theducks]

Hard drive usually give a hint by acting up.
OTOH Flash drives just quit

[lovedj1]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

It's even better to back up to more than one external device, as external drives are known to die (are you sure that your external drive was not the cause of your corrupted back-up?)

Personally I keep the copies of my library and configuration folders on three external drives and in Dropbox. I've used my backups several times without issues.

Thank you both for your suggestions. I don't know if it was my drive that F'd things up, but since it was a full system restore on my PC, I backed up everything else too, like my massive iTunes library. And I haven't had any issues with any of the other documents.

But I will, from now on, use at least 2 separate copies of backup to be save(er).

Again, many thanks to all of you for the support.

PS: Come to think of it, I also have everything automatically backed up to iDrive (cloud backup), so there's that additional copy in case the hard drive breaks or fails. Would that be enough you think?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by lovedj1

PS: Come to think of it, I also have everything automatically backed up to iDrive (cloud backup), so there's that additional copy in case the hard drive breaks or fails. Would that be enough you think?

Is that automatic backup running all the time, even when calibre is open? That might corrupt the library too. You should stop the sync while calibre is open.

[lovedj1]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Is that automatic backup running all the time, even when calibre is open? That might corrupt the library too. You should stop the sync while calibre is open.

Yes, but it only copies files, as far as I know it doesn't write into the Calibre folder, it just uploads the files to the cloud. And it's not like Dropbox or those types of systems i that it is not a cloud storage service, it is a cloud backup service. And it runs at scheduled times, but right now it isn't even installed yet. I have that pending since the formatting of the PC.

Do you still think I should either make sure it doesn't run while Calibre is open or altogether stop backing the Calibre library with it and use alternative methods?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by lovedj1

Do you still think I should either make sure it doesn't run while Calibre is open or altogether stop backing the Calibre library with it and use alternative methods?

I think you can use it, but don't run it when calibre is open, and use other methods as well.

[theducks]

Backups OF ALMOST ALL files is best done with the least amount of user apps running.
In use files can get 'locks' (to control multiple access),

Also, find some way to check your backups are Really Being Completed as set up. ("I have the backups" , I look at the log and the last one completed was 2 months ago )

You don't (normally) need to backup apps that you can STILL download (eg Calibre), Jest the User data (Library And Settings folders).
The Backup issue that rears UGLY is when the source site goes dark or needs a fresh License Key to (re)activate. Hopefully, the creators of these programs has a continuity plan set up, just in case they get hit by a bus.

[lovedj1]

OK, thanks, Will do