Books will not merge or delete since last update to version 7

[sattahipchris]

Since the the last update to version 7 of Calibre I can not merge or delete older versions of a book. I get an access is denied note.
I am windows 11 pro and it is up to date. I have checked the individual book files and they are not marked read only. Copy of response below.

calibre, version 7.2.0
ERROR: Unhandled exception: <b>PermissionError</b>:[WinError 5] Access is denied: 'D:\\Calibre Library\\Ray Nayler\\The Mountain in the Sea (60269)\\cover.jpg'

calibre 7.2 embedded-python: True
Windows-10-10.0.22000-SP0 Windows ('64bit', 'WindowsPE')
('Windows', '10', '10.0.22000')
Python 3.11.5
Windows: ('10', '10.0.22000', 'SP0', 'Multiprocessor Free')
Interface language: None
Successfully initialized third party plugins: Barnes & Noble (1, 5, 2) && Fantastic Fiction (1, 6, 4) && FictionDB (1, 4, 1) && Goodreads (1, 7, 9) && Resize Cover (1, 2, 0)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "calibre\gui2\actions\edit_metadata.py", line 678, in merge_books
File "calibre\gui2\actions\edit_metadata.py", line 731, in delete_books_after_merge
File "calibre\gui2\library\models.py", line 465, in delete_books_by_id
File "calibre\db\cache.py", line 88, in call_func_with_lock
File "calibre\db\cache.py", line 2221, in remove_books
File "calibre\db\backend.py", line 2277, in remove_books
File "calibre\db\backend.py", line 2164, in move_book_to_trash
File "calibre\utils\copy_files.py", line 281, in copy_tree
File "calibre\utils\copy_files.py", line 136, in __enter__
File "calibre\utils\copy_files.py", line 130, in open_all_handles
File "calibre\utils\copy_files.py", line 112, in _open_file
PermissionError: [WinError 5] Access is denied: 'D:\\Calibre Library\\Ray Nayler\\The Mountain in the Sea (60269)\\cover.jpg'

[kovidgoyal]

See https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...n-denied-error

[sattahipchris]

I have already checked this out, the files are not marked read only, I am the only user, the files are not open in any other program and the root directory is nowhere near full. This problem has only occurred since the transition from 6 to 7. I have removed the program via Revouninstaller and reinstalled it twice, I have also run the the program and stored library through Eset Nod anti virus checker producing no evidence of infection.
I am loathe to remove the program and instal V6 as the last time I did that (V4 to V3) i couln't access my books.
I have also tried running the program as administrator by right clicking on the ikon but when I do this I can not drag and drop books onto the open program I just get a red circle with a line through it.

[kovidgoyal]

That's clearly a permission denied error. So someting on your computer is preventing calibre from accessing its files.

[sattahipchris]

This morning I was further investigating and both versions the books I tried to merge disappeared from the main window when you view a author it appeared that they had been deleted. On investigation I found both versions still in the calibre library book files and was able to restore one and the delete the other accessing them through the library.

[sattahipchris]

It seems to be all the books I've saved in Version 6 that are affected I tried to add metadata to a book I got the same access denied then when I checked the book had disappeared from the calibre program but was still in the calibre library.

[BetterRed]

@sattahipchris - There are over a million active users of calibre 7, most of whom would have upgraded from version 6, and 80% of them use Windows 10 or 11.

Almost all problems of this nature are either due to:

• third party programs running in the background (e.g. anti-virus, disk cleaners, file manager enhancers/replacements etc);
• users using their file manager to add/change/remove directories and/or files from the library… which is a calibre no no. There is no reason why you should need to do that, and a dozen reasons why you should avoid doing it.

If you can establish a repeatable set of steps to generate the issue, try running on Windows Safe mode.

BR

[theducks]

Another cause is the Library is ON a NAS or in a folder with Active sync.

The FAQ says DON'T. Others say... I do this all the time....
Those work until they don't