Kobo N289 non-functioning (database) even with Calibre

BCGlenn · 09-22-2014, 07:58 PM

I picked up a used Kobo N289 in excellent condition and although it seems to be working and is fully charged and ready to go, I have tried unsuccessfully to load books on it. I tried the Kobo software and nothing seems to happen. I tried using Calibre (my personal choice of e-reader mgmt software) and it gives me an error communicating with device message;

"unable to open database file

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\device.py", line 86, in run
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\device.py", line 490, in _books
File "site-packages\calibre\devices\kobo\driver.py", line 290, in books
OperationalError: unable to open database file"

Any ideas? or should I give-up?

meeera · 09-22-2014, 10:49 PM

Have you done a factory reset?

Bear in mind, however, that the rather venerable Wifi is having a lot of trouble with the most recent auto firmware update. So you'll need to retain an older version of the firmware. Alternatively Kobo customer care has at times been offering people Touch replacement for those affected by the firmware glitch.

davidfor · 09-22-2014, 11:24 PM

The error message says the database on the device is corrupt. It needs to be rebuilt or replaced. As meera said, a factory reset is the way to go. But, there is an issue with the firmware update that will happen after that.

The alternative is to get an empty database from elsewhere. I'm pretty sure there are instructions for how to do that in an old thread here. A search should find it.

BCGlenn · 09-23-2014, 01:17 AM

thanks. yes I tried factory reset twice to no avail. After that, I'm over my head in programming. I'm not really sure how to rebuild a database.

davidfor · 09-23-2014, 02:07 AM

If it doesn't work after a factory reset, then it suggests a hardware problem. The internal memory might be failing. If this is the case, these devices have an internal micro SD card that can be replaced.

The database on the device can easily be replaced. From memory, there is a thread here with instructions and a link to an empty database. Unfortunately, I can't find it at the moment.

09-22-2014, 07:58 PM	#1
BCGlenn Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2014 Device: kobo N289	Kobo N289 non-functioning (database) even with Calibre I picked up a used Kobo N289 in excellent condition and although it seems to be working and is fully charged and ready to go, I have tried unsuccessfully to load books on it. I tried the Kobo software and nothing seems to happen. I tried using Calibre (my personal choice of e-reader mgmt software) and it gives me an error communicating with device message; "unable to open database file Traceback (most recent call last): File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\device.py", line 86, in run File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\device.py", line 490, in _books File "site-packages\calibre\devices\kobo\driver.py", line 290, in books OperationalError: unable to open database file" Any ideas? or should I give-up?

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09-22-2014, 10:49 PM	#2
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,670 Karma: 66420972 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Have you done a factory reset? Bear in mind, however, that the rather venerable Wifi is having a lot of trouble with the most recent auto firmware update. So you'll need to retain an older version of the firmware. Alternatively Kobo customer care has at times been offering people Touch replacement for those affected by the firmware glitch.

09-22-2014, 11:24 PM	#3
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,906 Karma: 47303822 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	The error message says the database on the device is corrupt. It needs to be rebuilt or replaced. As meera said, a factory reset is the way to go. But, there is an issue with the firmware update that will happen after that. The alternative is to get an empty database from elsewhere. I'm pretty sure there are instructions for how to do that in an old thread here. A search should find it.

09-23-2014, 01:17 AM	#4
BCGlenn Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2014 Device: kobo N289	thanks. yes I tried factory reset twice to no avail. After that, I'm over my head in programming. I'm not really sure how to rebuild a database.

09-23-2014, 02:07 AM	#5
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,906 Karma: 47303822 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	If it doesn't work after a factory reset, then it suggests a hardware problem. The internal memory might be failing. If this is the case, these devices have an internal micro SD card that can be replaced. The database on the device can easily be replaced. From memory, there is a thread here with instructions and a link to an empty database. Unfortunately, I can't find it at the moment.

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