Forma Database Malformed error

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by leaston

The Forma hasn't corrupted since I downgraded the firmware. Coincidence or fix? Who knows I hope it hangs on long enough for either Kobo to release something decent with their impending new models, or I cave and return to Kindle.

Haha, David my soldering skills with a normal iron are passable on a good day. I dread to think of the mess I'd make with surface mount kit!

It would be even better if there were other reasonably priced options in the UK. The competition is scarce here though and I don't fancy paying import duty and other fees for something from abroad.

Can I ask what version of the firmware you downgraded too please?

After reading through this thread I have downgraded to 4.35 and disconnected wifi.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I know its been a while since I had the malformed problem but its happened twice now since then. I'm beginning to think i'll lose my Forma because of this .Its only about three years old but I know the device has been around longer than that.

Do you go back to the home-screen before connecting? There's a known bug current firmware where having a kepub open doesn't always close the database properly before USB export. There's other circumstances it can happen under though.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Do you go back to the home-screen before connecting? There's a known bug current firmware where having a kepub open doesn't always close the database properly before USB export. There's other circumstances it can happen under though.

Yes I’m always on the Home Screen when I connect and I think I only use epubs. At least I convert to epubs and that’s what I send. I was on Firmware 4.38. I also wondered if this had anything to do with windows 11? My new pc which I got in November is W11, my problem started in December. I’m now using a W10 pc to resend all my books as I had to factory reset last night.

[patrik]

Since I started to turn off my Forma before connecting it, I've never had any corruption.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Yes I’m always on the Home Screen when I connect and I think I only use epubs. At least I convert to epubs and that’s what I send. I was on Firmware 4.38. I also wondered if this had anything to do with windows 11? My new pc which I got in November is W11, my problem started in December. I’m now using a W10 pc to resend all my books as I had to factory reset last night.

Are you using Kobo Utilities (calibre plugin) to keep a recent backup of the Kobo database?

It's not an issue with Windows 11. I read ePub and I go back to the home screen before connecting to my calibre library. I use my laptop (running Windows 11) to connect.

Some say the best thing to do is go to the home screen and then do a reboot. Use NickelMenu for that as it's easier then holding the power button until it reboots.

[ownedbycats]

Yes, rebooting before connect should help. If you use NickelMenu

menu_item : main : Reboot Device : power : reboot

As JSWolf says use KU to keep backups too.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Are you using Kobo Utilities (calibre plugin) to keep a recent backup of the Kobo database?

It's not an issue with Windows 11. I read ePub and I go back to the home screen before connecting to my calibre library. I use my laptop (running Windows 11) to connect.

Some say the best thing to do is go to the home screen and then do a reboot. Use NickelMenu for that as it's easier then holding the power button until it reboots.

I don’t know how to create a back up using Kobo Utilties and I also don’t use NikelMenu.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I don’t know how to create a back up using Kobo Utilties and I also don’t use NikelMenu.

KoboUtilities > Customize Plugin > Devices tab



If it then corrupts, just unzip your latest clean backup and copy the files back onto the .kobo subfolder on device.

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Yes I’m always on the Home Screen when I connect and I think I only use epubs. At least I convert to epubs and that’s what I send. I was on Firmware 4.38. I also wondered if this had anything to do with windows 11? My new pc which I got in November is W11, my problem started in December. I’m now using a W10 pc to resend all my books as I had to factory reset last night.

The issue is with the device firmware, not your computer's OS.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

KoboUtilities > Customize Plugin > Devices tab

Attachment 206398

If it then corrupts, just unzip your latest clean backup and copy the files back onto the .kobo subfolder on device.

The issue is with the device firmware, not your computer's OS.

Thank you both for the screenshot and the assurance that is not a pc problem

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

KoboUtilities > Customize Plugin > Devices tab

Attachment 206398

If it then corrupts, just unzip your latest clean backup and copy the files back onto the .kobo subfolder on device.

Also reboot after ejecting the Kobo once you've restored the database.

Another thing Kobo Utilities does is it allows you to keep tracks of your reading positions. So if you do have to ever restore the database, you can restore your reading positions from the last time you plugged in your Kobo to calibre.

NickelMenu makes some thing a lot easier to do such as a reboot and a second connection to the computer to update the metadata without having to unplug the USB cable and replug the cable.

menu_item : library : USB : nickel_misc : force_usb_connection

[icallaci]

Originally Posted by patrik

Since I started to turn off my Forma before connecting it, I've never had any corruption.

Same here. The other day, I accidentally opened a book instead of removing it. I immediately closed the book, went back to the home page, and removed/deleted it, but forgot to restart my Elipsa before connecting. I immediately got the database malformed error. I hadn't even turned a page!

[DNSB]

For what it's worth here's my current NickelMenu configuration (also attached on NM_config.txt.

#
# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #
# menu_item : main    : Dump Syslog        : cmd_spawn      : logread > /mnt/onboard/.adds/syslog.log
# menu_item : main    : Free Memory        : cmd_output     : 500  : free -m
# menu_item : main    : Kernel Version     : cmd_output     : 500  : uname -a
# menu_item : main    : Telnet             : cmd_spawn      : quiet: /bin/mount -t devpts | /bin/grep -q /dev/pts || { /bin/mkdir -p /dev/pts && /bin/mount -t devpts devpts /dev/pts; }
#      chain_success  : cmd_spawn          : quiet: /usr/bin/pkill -f "^/usr/bin/tcpsvd -E 0.0.0.0 1023" || true && exec /usr/bin/tcpsvd -E 0.0.0.0 1023 /usr/sbin/telnetd -i -l /bin/login
#      chain_success  : dbg_toast          : Started Telnet server on port 1023.
#
menu_item : main    : Dark Mode          : nickel_setting : toggle : dark_mode
#menu_item : main     : Invert & Reboot    : nickel_setting : toggle : invert
#    chain_success    : power              : reboot
#
# menu_item : main    : dropbox            : nickel_open : library : dropbox
#
menu_item : main    : Screenshots        : nickel_setting : toggle : screenshots
menu_item : main    : Import books       : nickel_misc    : rescan_books_full
menu_item : main    : Toggle Auto USB    : nickel_setting : toggle : auto_usb_gadget
menu_item : main    : USB Connect        : nickel_misc    : force_usb_connection

menu_item : main    : Screensaver Status : cmd_output     : 500: quiet : test -e /mnt/onboard/.kobo/screensaver_old
      chain_success    : dbg_toast       : Screensaver is off
      chain_failure    : dbg_toast       : Screensaver is on
#
menu_item : main : Toggle screensaver    : cmd_output     : 500: quiet: test -e /mnt/onboard/.kobo/screensaver_old
      chain_failure  : skip : 3
      chain_success  : cmd_spawn         : quiet: mv /mnt/onboard/.kobo/screensaver_old /mnt/onboard/.kobo/screensaver
      chain_success  : dbg_toast         : Screensaver on
      chain_always   : skip              : -1
      chain_failure  : cmd_spawn         : quiet          : mv /mnt/onboard/.kobo/screensaver /mnt/onboard/.kobo/screensaver_old
      chain_success  : dbg_toast         : Screensaver off
#
menu_item : main     : Reboot            : power          : reboot
menu_item : main     : Shutdown          : power          : shutdown
#
menu_item : main    : Force WiFi on      : nickel_setting  : toggle: force_wifi
     chain_success  : nickel_wifi        : autoconnect
	 
# menu_item : main    : Pocket             : nickel_open     : library: pocket

# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #

menu_item : reader  : Dark Mode          : nickel_setting : toggle : dark_mode
menu_item : reader  : Invert & Reboot    : nickel_setting : toggle : invert
    chain_success   : power              : reboot
#
# menu_item : reader  : Pocket             : nickel_open     : library: pocket
menu_item : reader  : Screenshots        : nickel_setting : toggle : screenshots
menu_item : reader  : Free Memory        : cmd_output     : 500: free -m
menu_item : reader : Reboot             : power          : reboot
# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #

menu_item : browser : Invert & Reboot    : nickel_setting : toggle: invert
    chain_success   : power              : reboot
# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #

menu_item : library : Dark Mode          : nickel_setting : toggle : dark_mode
menu_item : library : Free Memory        : cmd_output     : 500: free -m
menu_item : library  : Invert & Reboot   : nickel_setting : toggle: invert
    chain_success   : power              : reboot
#
# menu_item : library : Pocket             : nickel_open     : library: pocket
menu_item : library : Screenshots        : nickel_setting : toggle : screenshots
menu_item : library : Import books       : nickel_misc    : rescan_books_full
menu_item : library : Toggle Auto USB    : nickel_setting : toggle : auto_usb_gadget
menu_item : library : USB Connect        : nickel_misc    : force_usb_connection
menu_item : library : Reboot             : power          : reboot
menu_item : library : Shutdown           : power          : shutdown
# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #

[ownedbycats]

What is rescan_books_full?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

What is rescan_books_full?

It triggers the import books routine. I've used it after sending books other than by using USB since they do not trigger an import.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

What is rescan_books_full?

I used to use it when I sent eBooks with KOReader running.