Touch Problems with KT firmware and downgrading *pulling my hair out*

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by Danger

Here's a thought but do you need your books on the SD card? I used to carry all my books on the SD card until I came to the realization that A) if my Kobo cocks up while I am out and about and I need to reset it then I will have to access my home computer anyway to do the set up and since I am at home I have access to my books that are on the computer, and B) see A because I am tired and forgot where I was going with this

If it's an issue with space, too many books to fit on the KT's internal memory there is a way to upgrade the KT's internal mem IF it's a micro SD card. I've done this with my Glo which now has 16G internal mem and combined with Calibre I never use the external Micro SD card slot anymore. With Calibre's easy Shelf (now Collections) creation all my past reasons for sticking my books all on the SD card are moot.

Just some additional and I make note that I might have missed something in previous posts but to get to v2.4:

KT = Kobo Touch

1) downgrade to 1.9.6 (factory reset the KT)

2) do the setup via the Kobo Desktop software

3) Once the Kobo Desktop software is finished doing all it needs to do...

• do NOT unplug/eject the KT
• Browse to the .kobo folder and delete the "KoboRoot.tgz" file
• unplug the KT and make sure it is set up and working, check the firmware version, you should still be on 1.9.6
• If you are indeed on 1.9.6, plug it back in and place the firmware for 2.4 in the .kobo folder
• eject & unplug the KT
• let it update

If all has gone well you should now be on 2.4

It might also be a good idea to make sure you have a fresh copy of the 2.4.0 firmware to try this with.

Or zero out "User" in the SQLite file for steps 2&3 above.

Luck;
Ken

[TechniSol]

Yelling. Nope. I wasn't even advising, just relating the path I took. Silly me, I learned a long time ago NEVER to advise a woman what to do, merely listen, commiserate, and at worst present a path I'd taken or someone I knew had taken. Anything more risks offense, and possibly worse, obligation.

All that said, I foolishly offer the following...

Danger's post got me thinking that there would be several advantages for you in replacing the internal SD, if you have one. A larger SDHC would meet your storage desires and also skip the issues that seem to pop up regarding the external SDHC. It would also allow you to set up the larger internal card and then simply make a complete copy of it in case the internal one got corrupted when away from home. You'd have to carry the duplicate card separately, and pop the case open to install it in an emergency, but that's not more complicated than powering off, running a thumbnail around the case, and swapping the card.

The other alternative might be to go Ken's route and install a third party reader program like KOreader, or two, hide your ebooks in a directory Kobo will blissfully ignore, and take a break from Kobo and their updates until they figure out enough to be worth being bothered again. AFAIK, you could still keep the Kobo software running if you buy books from them. The only downside is your Touch would sort of have the symptoms of Multiple Personality Disorder(or whatever "they've" decided it should be called of late, if "they" indeed support it's existence), but considering that they might be relatively benign personas that might not be so terrible.

Best of luck.

[VirgoGirl]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Any chance you could detail how you xfer material to the Kobo and it's SD card, and also a directory listing (including directories) of the SD card ?

Hi!

These are the folders on the Kobo:
This is what's on the kobo itself, the main folder:


This is what's in the .kobo folder:


And for the heck of it, this is what's in the .kobo-images folder:


I didn't take a screen shot of the sd card, but it has my epubs - NOT in sub folders - and the folder the Kobo sticks onto the sd card when it accesses it.
I did not reformat my SD card when I updated the firmware (I forgot) and by the time I remembered it there were already books on it. However, the last updated firmware I had did the same thing, despite my reformatting the card before using with the newest firmware.

This cover thing is not a HUGE problem, I can still read my books, which is what this stupid thing is for. It's just an annoyance. I don't want to have to go through everything Thane1 did just to get the covers to show up - I barely look at them when they are there. My husband is running 2.3.? and his covers don't show up at all half the time in sleep or powered off mode.

I'll be offline for a couple of days, we've been eating our capped internet like candy , so please don't take my non response as ignoring you, I'm just not here.

[VirgoGirl]

Well, I found something to make it work - how it does, I have NO idea.

I was sitting, thinking about how in this new firmware the page numbers keep cropping up on the side, despite my having that little box checked off under "Reading Settings", and having to check it, go back to the page, go back to reading settings and uncheck it EVERY TIME I wake from sleep.

So I went to "Settings>Sleep and Power", unchecked all the boxes under the show covers section. I put the reader to sleep, up popped the cover image with the info banner, despite having NONE of that checked. The cover is not full screen, so I went back in, checked "show cover> show cover full size". That caused it to revert back to blank cover image. Nothing I did could return that cover image with the info banner, I either got just the cover image and no info banner, the "sleep image" alone or just the blank cover with name, format and info banner.

I rebooted the Kobo (having to pull out the card and reinsert to make it wake up the card), went back to "Settings>Sleep and power" unchecked the cover options, then rechecked "show cover image". Put the reader to sleep, and up pops the cover - NOT full screen (but that's okay) AND the info banner (despite that not being checked). So I'm leaving it alone, I have no idea why it's working, but it does. For now. Toes crossed.

[VirgoGirl]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Danger View Post
Here's a thought but do you need your books on the SD card? I used to carry all my books on the SD card until I came to the realization that A) if my Kobo cocks up while I am out and about and I need to reset it then I will have to access my home computer anyway to do the set up and since I am at home I have access to my books that are on the computer, and B) see A because I am tired and forgot where I was going with this

If it's an issue with space, too many books to fit on the KT's internal memory there is a way to upgrade the KT's internal mem IF it's a micro SD card. I've done this with my Glo which now has 16G internal mem and combined with Calibre I never use the external Micro SD card slot anymore. With Calibre's easy Shelf (now Collections) creation all my past reasons for sticking my books all on the SD card are moot.

Just some additional and I make note that I might have missed something in previous posts but to get to v2.4:

KT = Kobo Touch

1) downgrade to 1.9.6 (factory reset the KT)

2) do the setup via the Kobo Desktop software

3) Once the Kobo Desktop software is finished doing all it needs to do...

do NOT unplug/eject the KT
Browse to the .kobo folder and delete the "KoboRoot.tgz" file
unplug the KT and make sure it is set up and working, check the firmware version, you should still be on 1.9.6
If you are indeed on 1.9.6, plug it back in and place the firmware for 2.4 in the .kobo folder
eject & unplug the KT
let it update


If all has gone well you should now be on 2.4

It might also be a good idea to make sure you have a fresh copy of the 2.4.0 firmware to try this with.

Or zero out "User" in the SQLite file for steps 2&3 above.

Luck;
Ken

Just so I'm clear, because I like to get things absolutely understood before I would attempt ANYTHING, I roll back to 1.9.6, attach to Kobo Desktop, let it download the update to whatever fresh Hell they have released, remove ONLY the "KoboRoot.tgz" from the Kobo - NOT ADDING ANYTHING (caps to add emphasis, not shouting), just deleting that file. I then eject the Kobo from the laptop, still without a "KoboRoot.tgz" file installed. The Kobo should process or turn on or whatever with 1.9.6 still as it's firmware. I then, reattach the Kobo to the laptop and bring over the "KoboRoot.tgz" file from the zipped 2.4.0 file as well as the "Updates folder" and that other file of which the name escapes me. Or are there more files to drag over?

I have the zip file from the downloads available here, so I'm going to assume that would be okay.

I still have my eye on the database editor.

Now I'm really gone for a few days.

[jackastor]

Originally Posted by VirgoGirl

Well, I found something to make it work - how it does, I have NO idea.

I was sitting, thinking about how in this new firmware the page numbers keep cropping up on the side, despite my having that little box checked off under "Reading Settings", and having to check it, go back to the page, go back to reading settings and uncheck it EVERY TIME I wake from sleep.

So I went to "Settings>Sleep and Power", unchecked all the boxes under the show covers section. I put the reader to sleep, up popped the cover image with the info banner, despite having NONE of that checked. The cover is not full screen, so I went back in, checked "show cover> show cover full size". That caused it to revert back to blank cover image. Nothing I did could return that cover image with the info banner, I either got just the cover image and no info banner, the "sleep image" alone or just the blank cover with name, format and info banner.

I rebooted the Kobo (having to pull out the card and reinsert to make it wake up the card), went back to "Settings>Sleep and power" unchecked the cover options, then rechecked "show cover image". Put the reader to sleep, and up pops the cover - NOT full screen (but that's okay) AND the info banner (despite that not being checked). So I'm leaving it alone, I have no idea why it's working, but it does. For now. Toes crossed.

That's almost like something in the settings are being reversed. Maybe an error in programing from Kobo? Or a corrupted download? I think editning the config file might be a good way to start and manually check things on and off, do you have a back up of your config file anywhere from a prior firmware?

regards

Jack

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by VirgoGirl

Just so I'm clear, because I like to get things absolutely understood before I would attempt ANYTHING, I roll back to 1.9.6, attach to Kobo Desktop, let it download the update to whatever fresh Hell they have released, remove ONLY the "KoboRoot.tgz" from the Kobo - NOT ADDING ANYTHING (caps to add emphasis, not shouting), just deleting that file. I then eject the Kobo from the laptop, still without a "KoboRoot.tgz" file installed. The Kobo should process or turn on or whatever with 1.9.6 still as it's firmware. I then, reattach the Kobo to the laptop and bring over the "KoboRoot.tgz" file from the zipped 2.4.0 file as well as the "Updates folder" and that other file of which the name escapes me. Or are there more files to drag over?

I have the zip file from the downloads available here, so I'm going to assume that would be okay.

I still have my eye on the database editor.

Now I'm really gone for a few days.

OR - Do the factory reset, then, with WiFi and Kobo Desktop off, connect to your PC by USB cable, make the small change to the SQLite database, then add the 2.4.0 update files to your .kobo directory, safely eject your device and watch the update on your Kobo. You will not then be asked to register the device.

Luck;
Ken

[VirgoGirl]

Originally Posted by jackastor

That's almost like something in the settings are being reversed. Maybe an error in programing from Kobo? Or a corrupted download? I think editning the config file might be a good way to start and manually check things on and off, do you have a back up of your config file anywhere from a prior firmware?

regards

Jack

At this point, I have stopped caring (well that's not QUITE true). I did NOTHING (caps for emphasis, not shouting) in any way to mess up the installation, the downloading of the files or anything that no regular person would not do while the stupid files were being downloaded and installed. (This statement made in frustration at Kobo, not in response to any accusation as I know you didn't make one)

I very much appreciate your comments and ideas (I really do, not just saying that to be polite), if I were more comfortable playing around with the file structure I would pick it apart like a turkey carcass after Thanksgiving, but I'm not. I can read the books - which my ever helpful yet compellingly dark haired spouse reminds me is the most important thing - it will display the covers during sleep (in it's own voodoo- like way), I have even figured out a way around the page numbers on the side of the text bug (when done reading, go to Home screen before putting to sleep, annoying, but if I don't forget it works).

I am NOT in love with this firmware so much that I will not try and roll back to 2.4.0 when given the opportunity. Yeah, once there were 1200 ebooks on the card, editing "Shelves" (why they needed to change that to collections is beyond me, except for the mirroring of Kindle layout) became a problem, and I got the whole font size change when I sometimes got to a new chapter, but it was essentially what I know and it was relatively stable.

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

OR - Do the factory reset, then, with WiFi and Kobo Desktop off, connect to your PC by USB cable, make the small change to the SQLite database, then add the 2.4.0 update files to your .kobo directory, safely eject your device and watch the update on your Kobo. You will not then be asked to register the device.

I am having my spouse look into the database editor, I don't download anything anymore without his checking up on it. The two times I did that I wound up with malware. I think this will be the way I go, so that when the firmware borks, and it will, I can simply redo the firmware in a few minutes. The dictionaries may be an issue, but I can try working around that.



(BTW, I realize that I type slightly odd things, but I type the way a speak and generally try some poor attempts at humour. )

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by VirgoGirl

I was sitting, thinking about how in this new firmware the page numbers keep cropping up on the side, despite my having that little box checked off under "Reading Settings", and having to check it, go back to the page, go back to reading settings and uncheck it EVERY TIME I wake from sleep.

That is a know bug with 3.0.0 and 3.0.1. If you are reading epubs that are on the SD card, when the device to sleep and is woken, the page numbers in the margin are displayed. Closing the book and reopening it will fix this as well. The problem has been fixed in 3.1.x, but that hasn't been rolled out to the Touch.

So I went to "Settings>Sleep and Power", unchecked all the boxes under the show covers section. I put the reader to sleep, up popped the cover image with the info banner, despite having NONE of that checked. The cover is not full screen, so I went back in, checked "show cover> show cover full size". That caused it to revert back to blank cover image. Nothing I did could return that cover image with the info banner, I either got just the cover image and no info banner, the "sleep image" alone or just the blank cover with name, format and info banner.

I rebooted the Kobo (having to pull out the card and reinsert to make it wake up the card), went back to "Settings>Sleep and power" unchecked the cover options, then rechecked "show cover image". Put the reader to sleep, and up pops the cover - NOT full screen (but that's okay) AND the info banner (despite that not being checked). So I'm leaving it alone, I have no idea why it's working, but it does. For now. Toes crossed.

That is weird and not a problem I have heard of. I would be interested in seeing the contents of the "Kobo eReader.conf" to see if there is anything obvious. This is the file the options are stored in.

[Danger]

Originally Posted by VirgoGirl

Just so I'm clear, because I like to get things absolutely understood before I would attempt ANYTHING, I roll back to 1.9.6, attach to Kobo Desktop, let it download the update to whatever fresh Hell they have released, remove ONLY the "KoboRoot.tgz" from the Kobo - NOT ADDING ANYTHING (caps to add emphasis, not shouting), just deleting that file. I then eject the Kobo from the laptop, still without a "KoboRoot.tgz" file installed. The Kobo should process or turn on or whatever with 1.9.6 still as it's firmware. I then, reattach the Kobo to the laptop and bring over the "KoboRoot.tgz" file from the zipped 2.4.0 file as well as the "Updates folder" and that other file of which the name escapes me. Or are there more files to drag over?)

Yes, you have it correct.

[LordP]

@VirgoGirl

Ain't it fun!

[filmo]

Do we really need to display covers while looking for books in Kobo reader library?
With my Sony T1 I can turn off cover display when looking for books in library. Great, If it did not have this setting it would freeze because it can not handle as many books that my kobo readers can while displaying covers. This would indicate Kobo readers are programed better to some people but, with good book title/author captions, covers display only waste processing power and slows responsiveness. I never felt need for cover display when using library card index file before ereaders and still don't.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by filmo

Do we really need to display covers while looking for books in Kobo reader library?
With my Sony T1 I can turn off cover display when looking for books in library.

Settings > Library Settings > Show thumbnail images in list view > uncheck.

[filmo]

Just updated firmware and now can uncheck Show thumbnail images in list view.

Wish I could uncheck Show last sync on home screen.

Wish home screen Book covers had Author and Title captions.

[VirgoGirl]

Originally Posted by davidfor

That is a know bug with 3.0.0 and 3.0.1. If you are reading epubs that are on the SD card, when the device to sleep and is woken, the page numbers in the margin are displayed. Closing the book and reopening it will fix this as well. The problem has been fixed in 3.1.x, but that hasn't been rolled out to the Touch.

That's good to know, in a "oh, it's not just me" kind of way.

Originally Posted by davidfor

That is weird and not a problem I have heard of. I would be interested in seeing the contents of the "Kobo eReader.conf" to see if there is anything obvious. This is the file the options are stored in.

You are not getting your hands on the contents of my "Kobo eReader.conf" file, I'm a married woman.