Safest way to eject Kindle3 ?

pchrist7 · 02-19-2011, 05:11 AM

Prior to Calibre 0.7.45 I used to use Vista OS "eject Kindle" and Calibre would find out after approx 10 seconds.
Since 0.7.45 this is no longer the case.
I've just had a bad, sad week as calibre and K3 got out of sync.
Suspect a corrupt metadata.calibre file on my K3.
( had to start over from scratch ! )
Testing 7.45 and 7.46 using Calibre's Eject Device works as a snap, but seen from the OS it looks different.
Does Calibre Eject device do a "Eject device" + "Safely remove usb device" ?
Any ways: don't want to spend a week again with no reading, so looking for recommendations, and maybe explanations.
Thanks

pchrist7 · 02-24-2011, 10:12 AM

Hi Moderators
Aparrently no body else but me had this problem.
So lets close this thread.
Couldn't figure out how to do this myself, sorry

theducks · 02-24-2011, 11:38 AM

I don't know about Kindle, but I wait till after Calibre closes the 'on device' column, before I reach for the cord.

If you manage to only corrupt metadata.calabre.
Shut-down Calibre completely, then delete the corrupt file.
Then start Calibre and WAIT while it re-scans your K3 (can take a bit of time. Go play with the cat

while you wait.)

Manichean · 02-24-2011, 12:04 PM

From what I know, Calibre calls the OS'es eject functionality for the device. Thus, you should get a "Device can now be safely removed" message from Windows (at least, on XP with my device, I get that message, YMMV). If you see that message, you can unplug the Kindle.

theducks · 02-24-2011, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manichean

From what I know, Calibre calls the OS'es eject functionality for the device. Thus, you should get a "Device can now be safely removed" message from Windows (at least, on XP with my device, I get that message, YMMV). If you see that message, you can unplug the Kindle.

I don't ever see that message if I have Calibre (XP SP3) Eject the device.
(I don't connect my PEz to my Ubuntu box, because it only has Intel enhanced USB, which does not play nice

with the FS on my device.)

If I have Windows USB icon do the eject, I do see the message.

DoctorOhh · 02-24-2011, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manichean

Thus, you should get a "Device can now be safely removed" message from Windows (at least, on XP with my device, I get that message, YMMV). If you see that message, you can unplug the Kindle.

I don't ever see that message if I have Calibre (XP SP3) Eject the device.

If I have Windows USB icon do the eject, I do see the message.

I too have Win XP sp3 and never see the message when I eject through calibre (and I always eject through calibre). I just wait until the on device column goes away before I disconnect.

kovidgoyal · 02-24-2011, 09:29 PM

calibre does use a system call to eject devices, but it's not quite the same thing as what happens when you use the safely remove hardware function, mainly because the USB subsystem in windows is so poorly designed that trying to figure it out was not worth the effort for me.

As far as being safe to disconnect, you can actually pull the cable at any time as long as no device jobs are running in calibre (that's what I do, though it is best to wait a few seconds after the last device job completes, just to be safe). The eject button is there only because I got tired of getting requests for it from people that were under the impression it was necessary.

Manichean · 02-25-2011, 03:10 AM

For certain devices, it actually is necessary- the Cybook Gen3, for example, develops faults in its file system if not ejected properly.

pchrist7 · 02-25-2011, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

I don't know about Kindle, but I wait till after Calibre closes the 'on device' column, before I reach for the cord.

If you manage to only corrupt metadata.calabre.
Shut-down Calibre completely, then delete the corrupt file.
Then start Calibre and WAIT while it re-scans your K3 (can take a bit of time. Go play with the cat

while you wait.)

Hi there
Tried that, but the new file was way smaller than it used to be, and I still had a lot of books with wrong "On Device" status.
Learned to hard way to backup everything, every time, before I let Calibre and K3 talk to each other.

pchrist7 · 02-25-2011, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

calibre does use a system call to eject devices, but it's not quite the same thing as what happens when you use the safely remove hardware function, mainly because the USB subsystem in windows is so poorly designed that trying to figure it out was not worth the effort for me.

As far as being safe to disconnect, you can actually pull the cable at any time as long as no device jobs are running in calibre (that's what I do, though it is best to wait a few seconds after the last device job completes, just to be safe). The eject button is there only because I got tired of getting requests for it from people that were under the impression it was necessary.

Hi Kovid
I'm on Vista at the moment, so I used to use the Vista "Eject" and NOT the "safely remove .." feature. Worked like a charm until, I think, 7.45.
Will do some experiment to see if I can replicate the problem.
More info to come.

Edit: Calibre eject device, seems to be the as Vista " Eject device" and "Safely remove .."
Will use that in the future, but backup, backup, backup

pchrist7 · 02-25-2011, 11:28 AM

Hi All
Thank you for you replies, a bit late,but still extremely valuable.
I Want to avoid a Factory reset in the future just to get things in sync,
Right now I have the following setup:
Calibre 0.7.46
Kindle 3 FW 3.1
Vista 64

Test:
IF I rename the metadata.calibre on my K3 ( calibre is shutdown ! )
and then eject K3 from Vista, disconnect USB, wait, reconnect, Vista detects new device, and now the "fun" begins
K3 is of course working absolute fine, but
Starting calibre (debug options) a new metadata.calibre file is created on my K3.
Fine - good job - new file is created, size of new file is 1/2 of original ?.
BUT Calibre does NOT recognise ALL the the books on the K3, all of the "problem books" were sent by calibre v. 0.7.46. No errors as such in debug output, but the status of books in Calibre book view are way off !
Books from Calibre on the K3 are not shown as on Device for some.
After the the full "reset/resend" etc. etc. all was well
I'm too tired tired right now, but other threads here mentioned other user having to the dreaded factory reset to get things in order.
I have copies of the files if Kovid & team want to look at.
Otherwise I hope you all have a nice weekend,
Need sleep

02-19-2011, 05:11 AM	#1
pchrist7 Addict Posts: 385 Karma: 6514 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3 3G+Wifi, Oasis	Safest way to eject Kindle3 ? Prior to Calibre 0.7.45 I used to use Vista OS "eject Kindle" and Calibre would find out after approx 10 seconds. Since 0.7.45 this is no longer the case. I've just had a bad, sad week as calibre and K3 got out of sync. Suspect a corrupt metadata.calibre file on my K3. ( had to start over from scratch ! ) Testing 7.45 and 7.46 using Calibre's Eject Device works as a snap, but seen from the OS it looks different. Does Calibre Eject device do a "Eject device" + "Safely remove usb device" ? Any ways: don't want to spend a week again with no reading, so looking for recommendations, and maybe explanations. Thanks

02-24-2011, 10:12 AM	#2
pchrist7 Addict Posts: 385 Karma: 6514 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3 3G+Wifi, Oasis	Close this thread Hi Moderators Aparrently no body else but me had this problem. So lets close this thread. Couldn't figure out how to do this myself, sorry

02-24-2011, 09:29 PM	#7
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,858 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	calibre does use a system call to eject devices, but it's not quite the same thing as what happens when you use the safely remove hardware function, mainly because the USB subsystem in windows is so poorly designed that trying to figure it out was not worth the effort for me. As far as being safe to disconnect, you can actually pull the cable at any time as long as no device jobs are running in calibre (that's what I do, though it is best to wait a few seconds after the last device job completes, just to be safe). The eject button is there only because I got tired of getting requests for it from people that were under the impression it was necessary. Last edited by kovidgoyal; 02-24-2011 at 09:31 PM.

02-25-2011, 11:28 AM	#11
pchrist7 Addict Posts: 385 Karma: 6514 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3 3G+Wifi, Oasis	Something is up I think Hi All Thank you for you replies, a bit late,but still extremely valuable. I Want to avoid a Factory reset in the future just to get things in sync, Right now I have the following setup: Calibre 0.7.46 Kindle 3 FW 3.1 Vista 64 Test: IF I rename the metadata.calibre on my K3 ( calibre is shutdown ! ) and then eject K3 from Vista, disconnect USB, wait, reconnect, Vista detects new device, and now the "fun" begins K3 is of course working absolute fine, but Starting calibre (debug options) a new metadata.calibre file is created on my K3. Fine - good job - new file is created, size of new file is 1/2 of original ?. BUT Calibre does NOT recognise ALL the the books on the K3, all of the "problem books" were sent by calibre v. 0.7.46. No errors as such in debug output, but the status of books in Calibre book view are way off ! Books from Calibre on the K3 are not shown as on Device for some. After the the full "reset/resend" etc. etc. all was well I'm too tired tired right now, but other threads here mentioned other user having to the dreaded factory reset to get things in order. I have copies of the files if Kovid & team want to look at. Otherwise I hope you all have a nice weekend, Need sleep

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02-24-2011, 11:38 AM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,800 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I don't know about Kindle, but I wait till after Calibre closes the 'on device' column, before I reach for the cord. If you manage to only corrupt metadata.calabre. Shut-down Calibre completely, then delete the corrupt file. Then start Calibre and WAIT while it re-scans your K3 (can take a bit of time. Go play with the cat while you wait.)

02-24-2011, 12:04 PM	#4
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	From what I know, Calibre calls the OS'es eject functionality for the device. Thus, you should get a "Device can now be safely removed" message from Windows (at least, on XP with my device, I get that message, YMMV). If you see that message, you can unplug the Kindle.

02-25-2011, 03:10 AM	#8
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	For certain devices, it actually is necessary- the Cybook Gen3, for example, develops faults in its file system if not ejected properly.