Kobo PC connection sucks

PeterA · 01-25-2021, 08:18 AM

I found that our 2 Kobo Aura bothe refuse to connect to Windows 10, thus making it unable to transfer content from Calibre to the reader.
Internet fora claim it is a known issue, between Kobo and cable connections. I have used both their own, and my other cables, effect none.
Will look out for another brand, without the hassle.

Quoth · 01-25-2021, 09:18 AM

The problem is usually Windows 10 or a cable. Not the Kobo.
I've had no problem with three Kobo models: The Touch, C version, Original Aura H2O and Libra.

No-one else here is reporting Kobo specific connection issues. There was a disconnection issue with one firmware version.

PeterT · 01-25-2021, 09:51 AM

What type of USB port are you connecting to on your PC? Anecdotal reports are that Kobo is happier connecting to a USB 2 port. If you only have USB 3 ports use a USB 2 hub attached to a USB 3 port.

JSWolf · 01-25-2021, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

What type of USB port are you connecting to on your PC? Anecdotal reports are that Kobo is happier connecting to a USB 2 port. If you only have USB 3 ports use a USB 2 hub attached to a USB 3 port.

I've been connecting my H2O to a USB 3 port for 4-5 years and I've never once had a problem. One of the USB 3 ports is a charge port. The other three are just standard USB 3. Also, I am using Windows 10 64-bit Home and Pro (MSI aptop and MS Surface Pro 2)

DNSB · 01-25-2021, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterA

I found that our 2 Kobo Aura bothe refuse to connect to Windows 10, thus making it unable to transfer content from Calibre to the reader.
Internet fora claim it is a known issue, between Kobo and cable connections. I have used both their own, and my other cables, effect none.
Will look out for another brand, without the hassle.

Which version of the Aura? And as has been pointed out several times in this thread, there are issues with some USB3 ports and Kobo ereaders (my laptop connects happily on a USB3 port but will only charge from the USB3 always on charging port). There are also reports that several Windows tablets having issues with not supplying enough power. Plugging a powered USB2 hub into either port and connecting a Kobo to the hub allows me to use either port. Considering the cost of a USB2 hub compared to a new ereader, that might be something to try before purchasing a new ereader.

Sirtel · 01-25-2021, 12:14 PM

My Libra refused to connect to my new Dell laptop via any USB-C/USB-A adapter I tried (the Dell only has USB-C ports). I bought an USB-C/USB-2 hub then and that worked.

I might add that none of my other devices, external drives, Kindles, cordless mouse etc had any trouble with connecting via an adapter. The Kobo was the only device refusing to do so.

twowheels · 01-25-2021, 12:17 PM

I've never tried to connect my Clara to a Windows computer, but have never had any problem connecting to either Linux nor macOS.

JSWolf · 01-25-2021, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

The problem is usually Windows 10 or a cable. Not the Kobo.
I've had no problem with three Kobo models: The Touch, C version, Original Aura H2O and Libra.

No-one else here is reporting Kobo specific connection issues. There was a disconnection issue with one firmware version.

It's not Windows 10. If it was, we'd have a lot of reports of connection problems.

We have had reports of the cable and the port being used. And we've had reports of using a USB 2 hub works.

PeterT · 01-25-2021, 07:35 PM

As Jon says, it's not the much maligned Windows 10. I've seen highly reputable anecdotes of issues on Apple devices with certain USB ports.

JSWolf · 01-25-2021, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

As Jon says, it's not the much maligned Windows 10. I've seen highly reputable anecdotes of issues on Apple devices with certain USB ports.

Apple with the M1 chip because Apple is using bleeding edge and it bleeds too much.

@PeterA on this computer, what type of USB ports are they and what is the connector type?

Quoth · 01-26-2021, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's not Windows 10. If it was, we'd have a lot of reports of connection problems.

We have had reports of the cable and the port being used. And we've had reports of using a USB 2 hub works.

Mostly it's the port. Sometimes it *IS* a particular Win10 update and HW combination. I've had SD card ports vanish and Sound Devices vanish after a Win10 update, both easily fixed without any download.

Where it is an issue on Mac, Linux or Windows it usually affects more than the Kobo.

Sweetpea · 01-26-2021, 10:16 AM

I can't connect my Kobo with the USB-3 connection in my case. Generally, it won't connect, but sometimes it does/doesn't/does/doesn't/does... (ping, ping, ping is all I'll get then

)

So, I just connect it with a USB-2 connection directly on my motherboard. That works perfectly, all the time.

PeterT · 01-26-2021, 10:25 AM

Unfortunately I think the OP just joined, vented and departed.

DNSB · 01-26-2021, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

Unfortunately I think the OP just joined, vented and departed.

Sadly you're probably right. Wrote the message at 5:18AM my time, last activity at 5:26AM my time.

01-25-2021, 08:18 AM	#1
PeterA Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2021 Device: Kobo Aura	Kobo PC connection sucks I found that our 2 Kobo Aura bothe refuse to connect to Windows 10, thus making it unable to transfer content from Calibre to the reader. Internet fora claim it is a known issue, between Kobo and cable connections. I have used both their own, and my other cables, effect none. Will look out for another brand, without the hassle.

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01-25-2021, 09:18 AM	#2
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,157 Karma: 85874891 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	The problem is usually Windows 10 or a cable. Not the Kobo. I've had no problem with three Kobo models: The Touch, C version, Original Aura H2O and Libra. No-one else here is reporting Kobo specific connection issues. There was a disconnection issue with one firmware version.

01-25-2021, 09:51 AM	#3
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,166 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	What type of USB port are you connecting to on your PC? Anecdotal reports are that Kobo is happier connecting to a USB 2 port. If you only have USB 3 ports use a USB 2 hub attached to a USB 3 port.

01-25-2021, 12:14 PM	#6
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,128 Karma: 224760044 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	My Libra refused to connect to my new Dell laptop via any USB-C/USB-A adapter I tried (the Dell only has USB-C ports). I bought an USB-C/USB-2 hub then and that worked. I might add that none of my other devices, external drives, Kindles, cordless mouse etc had any trouble with connecting via an adapter. The Kobo was the only device refusing to do so.

01-25-2021, 12:17 PM	#7
twowheels Wizard Posts: 1,786 Karma: 13412766 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kobo Clara HD, iPad Pro 10", iPhone 15 Pro	I've never tried to connect my Clara to a Windows computer, but have never had any problem connecting to either Linux nor macOS.

01-25-2021, 07:35 PM	#9
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,166 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	As Jon says, it's not the much maligned Windows 10. I've seen highly reputable anecdotes of issues on Apple devices with certain USB ports.

01-26-2021, 10:16 AM	#12
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I can't connect my Kobo with the USB-3 connection in my case. Generally, it won't connect, but sometimes it does/doesn't/does/doesn't/does... (ping, ping, ping is all I'll get then ) So, I just connect it with a USB-2 connection directly on my motherboard. That works perfectly, all the time.

01-26-2021, 10:25 AM	#13
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,166 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	Unfortunately I think the OP just joined, vented and departed.