Problems with Sony's e-book library v2.5

[HistoryWes]

I just had a strange one. I loaded eBook Library and got a message that said "cannot read volume. This volume has been renamed, deleted, or moved." The volume in question is my C: drive and it has not been renamed, deleted, or moved. Not only does eBook Library see my external drive just fine, it still sees the volumes that are on the C: drive. It doesn't seem to effect my current set up, but I won't be able to add any more directories to autosynch unless I put them on my external. This just happened today. It was working fine last night. I rebooted the computer. No change.

[theodoron]

Okay, so I have having the same problems. It freezes and hangs up when I connect the reader to my laptop. It worked fine prior to my using python scripts. I wonder if that has anything to do with the ebook library? Does anyone have any ideas? I am using calibre, but it doesn't synch the notes. How crazy is this?

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by HistoryWes

I just had a strange one. I loaded eBook Library and got a message that said "cannot read volume. This volume has been renamed, deleted, or moved." The volume in question is my C: drive and it has not been renamed, deleted, or moved. Not only does eBook Library see my external drive just fine, it still sees the volumes that are on the C: drive. It doesn't seem to effect my current set up, but I won't be able to add any more directories to autosynch unless I put them on my external. This just happened today. It was working fine last night. I rebooted the computer. No change.

Got same error, continue down thru this thread to see my progress.

[Zevs]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I would try calling.

Thanks Liliac I should try that! Have you got a phone number for them ? I will try early next weeks since I assume they don't work weekends or am I wrong in assuming that ....? Seems they only answer emails workdays, not that they did answer me either workdays or holidays of course ...

Zevs

[Zevs]

Originally Posted by RSaunders

You might be better off starting over, so you know you have a good database. ;-(

Thanks for the reply RSaunders! I will try this if I don't get any reply early next week. Will also try to call them first if no mail reply. Anyhow, I hope I'm fairly OK since what I'm trying to do jjust now is to use my laptop while away from home, which has worked well until I stupidly accepted to update the software to version 2.5. At home I have the old software on my stationary computer and that has worked well, so hopefully when I get back I can use that to reach my already bought books and also have a functional database. If so I can also completely delete the software on this laptop and reinstall it all new again.

If one wants to backup one's books, what is the best option. Is it transferring then all to an external cards and keep them safe or ..?

Zevs

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by HistoryWes

I just had a strange one. I loaded eBook Library and got a message that said "cannot read volume. This volume has been renamed, deleted, or moved." The volume in question is my C: drive and it has not been renamed, deleted, or moved. Not only does eBook Library see my external drive just fine, it still sees the volumes that are on the C: drive. It doesn't seem to effect my current set up, but I won't be able to add any more directories to autosynch unless I put them on my external. This just happened today. It was working fine last night. I rebooted the computer. No change.

I've had my 700 for over 2 months, and this mornining I got this same error. "unable to locate the following volume", my C drive. Clicking on the C drive used to bring up all the folders on the C drive, similar to using windows explorer. What's going on. Did my ebook library update itself and now this is happening? I can still get at my books by clicking on the library but I used to able to navigate thru all the folders on the C drive.
No huge deal, because I can still access my books..am looking into what may have caused this since I haven't even downloaded a book for 2 weeks.

*update* ran ccleaner and Norton Cleanup recently, one or both of which may have deleted the following file which the eBook Library can't find (the file or folder that can't be found is located at the bottom of the screen with the error on it):

C:/Users/Username/Appdata/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary Internet Files/low/Content.IE5/G4SR18M1

I'm going to try find out what this file is needed for and will get back.

*update* went onto internet, looked around at a few sites, this recreated the temporary internet folder(s)file(s) that the eBook library was lookin for

I can now access drive C thru eBook Library same as Windows Explorer.
I clean up my temp internet files on a regular basis, I have no Idea why this just started to happen today.

*update*

Ccleaner deletes the following file
Marked for deletion: C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\ Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat
But this isn't the file that eBook Library is looking for. I ran cClenaner again and had full access to C drive thru eBook Library.

Culprit may be Norston cleanup, checking that now..will return

*update* ran Norston cleanup, still have full access to C drive thru eBook Library.

I don't know who to blame next, still working on it????

Have put question to SOny via eMail..waiting..waiting for response.

In the meantime, just browsing the interwebs recreated the missing folder/file and I have full access to C drive thru eBook Library with no error.

*update*

SoNy email received in less than 2 hours, advisiving technical problem should be handled over the phone. I called and it was picked up immediately (I was expecting to be put on a waiting list).
I explained about the eBook Library error and the file it was looking for. The *tech expert* didn't understand and suggested I redownload the software. I told him the software was working *OK now* about 3 times. He made an incident number and said to call back if the error occurs again. I asked if he needed any information on the file that caused the problem so that others reporting this error might have a clue what to do, but he again suggested that I call back if the error occurs again.

Still no clue as to what caused this error, but eBook Library working fine.

[RSaunders]

Originally Posted by Zevs

If one wants to backup one's books, what is the best option. Is it transferring then all to an external cards and keep them safe or ..?

Zevs

I guess it depends on how you handle backups in general. I backup all the files on my laptop, out of fear I might drop it. The Reader files are just on the tape with everything else.

To back up the books separately, you need to get the actual .LRF files AND (I recommend) the source files you made them from. I always keep the text or MOBI files that I buy, before I feed them into Calibre, in case some super-cool new converter feature motivates me to re-convert something. I'd also keep copies of the XML files, because they're many mouse clicks to reproduce.

To recap the reader file hiding places (All these references presume you have WinXP and have used the Tools tab > Folder Options > View tab to turn on "Show hidden files and folders"):

The default place for books (I think it's the default):
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\My Documents\My Books\eBooks

There is the program itself, with all it's unique identifier certificates, in:
C:\Program Files\Sony\Reader

Then there is the database in:
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Application Data\Sony Corporation\eBook Library\Database
Some LRFs live in this directory as well.

Then there is the registration/setup stuff in:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Marlin and
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\kinoma

[Zevs]

Thanks RSanders for all the tips on this!

What I meant with saving things on SD cards was to make sure that if for some reason the Sony software stopped functioning (e.g. Sony decided to scrap the Reader, something I do worry about sometimes) one of course still wants to have the books that one bought from them available for reading. So having them stored on several SD cards would work then I guess, justg popping in the card in the Reader and the book would be there readable. No need for going through the software..... that was my thought anyhow

Zevs

[heatherc]

Anybody had problems with the library software and Vista? I can't seem to search for anything, or categorize.

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by heatherc

Anybody had problems with the library software and Vista? I can't seem to search for anything, or categorize.

No probs here. I'm running Vista Ultimate 32 bit. I bring up eBook Library, Click on Books, search works fine. I can even leave search criteria on Title and put an author in the search field and it will select all the books by that author.

*note

Athough a few days ago, I brought up eBook Library and was missing the whole left side of the screen (Library/Status/eBook Store/Devices...etc column) and wondered what have I done. I thought the view options might have been somehow changed but there was no option there as to what columns were to be displayed. I was about to reinstall the software when I saw a small white oblong tab on the left of the screen, which I could click on and drag to the right to reveal the column and info I was missing. Whew! Simple but almost had me doing a reinstall.

[heatherc]

I'm able to download my books, but the sort function doesn't seem to work at all (I'm running Vista Home Basic on my laptop). When I try to sort by alpha order, it rearranges the list of books - but not in any alpha order for any alphabet *I* recognize.

I also can't use the search box - it always brings up no results, even though I know the books are there.

I've already tried installing and uninstalling and reinstalling the software. Now I'm trying to get in contact with Sony for help. Argh!

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by heatherc

I'm able to download my books, but the sort function doesn't seem to work at all (I'm running Vista Home Basic on my laptop). When I try to sort by alpha order, it rearranges the list of books - but not in any alpha order for any alphabet *I* recognize.

I also can't use the search box - it always brings up no results, even though I know the books are there.

I've already tried installing and uninstalling and reinstalling the software. Now I'm trying to get in contact with Sony for help. Argh!

If you haven't already, try these steps to see if they solve your problem.

1. You can sort in either asssending or descending order. There is a toggle beside the search function. Make sure the arrow is pointing up, so that you are sorting in assending order, meaning A-Z.

2. Select the search order, by Title. (A toggle arrow should also now be in the column heading of the Title column and pointing up.

3. Scroll up to make sure you are at the top of the page, it often repositions you away from the first entry.

4. The titles should be in order, but the following exceptions can/will occur.

- Blanks come before numbers or letters
- Numbers come before letters
- Words like "The", "A" or any other unnecessary first word in the title may be ignored.(I believe this may be the reason you think they are out of order)

I hope this is of help. If not please respond with an example of titles that are out of order so that we can continue to find a solution from there. And could you let us know if these are all books downloaded from the Sony eBook Store or imported from other sources.

As for the search function, I'm not sure what the problem is, but that can be looked into after we find out the problem with the sort.

Good sorting, WDE

*edit* I've noticed you've had your PRS505 for a while so I'm assuming here, that you are upgrading from a previous version of eBook Library that was working properly and have upgraded the firmware on your PRS505 as is suggested by Sony.

[Zevs]

Originally Posted by Zevs

Hi!

Upgraded to the Sony 2.5 e-book library version and can no longer reach the page on my account where my previous books are available for download. Needed to re-download a few of those to my computer, but as soon as I try to go the page where my books are, the e-books library software freezes up, and I have to Ctrl-Alt-Delete out of it. Have tried it several times and with different readers connected and always get the same result. Anyone else seen this problem and have any idea about what to do with this ?

Zevs

I have now talked on the phone to different level of Sony support for at least an hour and they connected up to my computer but couldn't resolve the issue I was having in reaching my page with the books I had already bought. Since then I have also tested on a second computer, that one running Vista (the previous one I tested ran XP) with the same negative result. The computers use different firewall protection (one Zonealarm, and the other AVG). My conclusion is that the problem isn't anything on my computers, rather as I thought from the beginning that it is the software itself. Has any one else running the 2.5 ebook library software had the same problem ? If so did it get resolved and how ? It is d***ed irritating to not beeing able to get to the books I have already bought from Sony, and they not being able to correct this.

I also have an earlier version of the software on a third computer, but when I tried to start that it just wants to update to 2.5. Is there no way one can keep on using the previous version, do we have to upgrade to 2.6 ?


I noticed also on the second computer that when I started that now (haven't used that for some weeks) it immediately first de-validated the PC and then re-validated it again automatically. Anyone know what that was for ?

Zevs

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Zevs

I noticed also on the second computer that when I started that now (haven't used that for some weeks) it immediately first de-validated the PC and then re-validated it again automatically. Anyone know what that was for ?

I still run 2.2 on my XP machine. Just press "Cancel" when it asks you if you want to Upgrade. It doesn't force it.

BOb

[Zevs]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I still run 2.2 on my XP machine. Just press "Cancel" when it asks you if you want to Upgrade. It doesn't force it.

BOb

Hi Bob! There seems to be no cancel at all, when I try to go to the ebook store I only get this upgrade message and I seem not to be able to bypass that. None of the the other options on the page like categories, my account etc does anything. On that machine it seems to be 2.0 I'm running.

Zevs