Windows wants to format Kobo drive

spannah · 07-20-2010, 12:11 AM

This is my wife's Kobo and here is what happen:
- She got the Kobo last week, and one of the first things was to do the updates etc.
- Yesterday, somehow, she lost all her books (the 100 free and a few she had bought)
- She decided to do a factory restore, but alas no books
- Additionally Windows 7 is now asking to format the E: drive. This is the Kobo drive letter
- We have attempted the forced update as described in other threads and as suggested by customer service but it fails to complete

Other notes:
- The device is not locked up or bricked - can use the buttons, go through menu and settings, just that there are no books available
- Tried the factory default more then once - first time plugging in the device right after doing this, Kobo is recognized, but gives the format drive dialog from the OS. After managing to eject the device and plugging the device again, then it is not recognized
- I have tried many Google searches for information on Kobo, drive, format, file system and so on, but most result are on e-book formats, which don't help me much

Questions:
- Anyone come across this? (windows prompt to format Kobo drive)
- Is it safe to format? Which file system should be used?
- If the drive is re-formatted, will a subsequent factory restore and update, or just update, rewrite whatever files are needed?
- Will the update done at Chapters resolve this issue?

Any info on this would be great. Thanks

JPenguin · 07-20-2010, 12:47 AM

I've not come across this or recall reading about other users here with the problem but it probably is worth looking at some of the update and "bricked" threads here. I don't think it would be safe to format unless you had a backup from the entire contents when it was still in a good state so I'd recommend holding back on formatting unless someone can confirm that it is safe.

Have you contacted Kobo's support? Perhaps a Kobo employee will see your thread here and they can track a support ticket to make sure it gets the right attention.

spannah · 07-21-2010, 12:36 AM

Thanks, my wife had actually contacted customer support even before I knew these forums existed. I also read through some of the bricked/locked up kobo threads in here, but could find anything.

The good news - today we took the device to an Indigo store, and had the SD update done. The kobo is working again and the wife is happy :-)

SensualPoet · 07-21-2010, 07:57 PM

Wow. You can get an SD update in an Indigo store? That's impressive! Kudos for Kobo!

sabredog · 07-21-2010, 09:12 PM

Love to see that service offered here in Australia!

I am loathe to update due to so many others having issues.

SageTracey · 07-22-2010, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabredog

Love to see that service offered here in Australia!

I am loathe to update due to so many others having issues.

Me too, SabreDog, even though it would mean a four hour round trip to get it done instore, it would certainly give me peace of mind!

spannah · 07-26-2010, 01:16 PM

A few updates/notes:

- Kobo still working fine. My wife has been able to upload new books, and all seems well. Yay :-)

- There is a Chapters closer then the Indigo store, but when I originally bought the device Chapters was out, and I got the last one from Indigo. I went to the Indigo store because I was thinking if the update didn't work I would return/exchange the device since there were about 2 days left out of the 14.

- I did call ahead to make sure they could do it there. Also, they don't give away the SD card but just use their own (I believe this to be the norm, but just though I would clarify).

- The Indigo lady did the update right in front of us, and from the little I could see on the kobo screen, there was a whole lot more going on than with the more common pc update.

- My theory of the whole problem was that at one time or another the file system got corrupted, hence why windows was prompting to format the drive. The SD update most likely re-formatted the internal partition that appears as a drive letter in windows. The common pc update does not do this - perhaps it should be an advanced option, in case the regular update fails.

- The first thing we did once we got home was copy the full contents of the kobo drive to a new folder in windows. I also noted that the file system of the drive is FAT32, as with most flash memory devices.

- If this was to happen again (where windows is asking to format the kobo drive), I would likely try to re-format the drive and copy over the original contents.

DNSB · 02-02-2019, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sevensleeper

I have same problem!!!!!!Solution?

You have an original Kobo with the D-pad???

07-20-2010, 12:11 AM	#1
spannah Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Winnipeg Device: kobo	Windows wants to format Kobo drive This is my wife's Kobo and here is what happen: - She got the Kobo last week, and one of the first things was to do the updates etc. - Yesterday, somehow, she lost all her books (the 100 free and a few she had bought) - She decided to do a factory restore, but alas no books - Additionally Windows 7 is now asking to format the E: drive. This is the Kobo drive letter - We have attempted the forced update as described in other threads and as suggested by customer service but it fails to complete Other notes: - The device is not locked up or bricked - can use the buttons, go through menu and settings, just that there are no books available - Tried the factory default more then once - first time plugging in the device right after doing this, Kobo is recognized, but gives the format drive dialog from the OS. After managing to eject the device and plugging the device again, then it is not recognized - I have tried many Google searches for information on Kobo, drive, format, file system and so on, but most result are on e-book formats, which don't help me much Questions: - Anyone come across this? (windows prompt to format Kobo drive) - Is it safe to format? Which file system should be used? - If the drive is re-formatted, will a subsequent factory restore and update, or just update, rewrite whatever files are needed? - Will the update done at Chapters resolve this issue? Any info on this would be great. Thanks

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07-20-2010, 12:47 AM	#2
JPenguin Connoisseur Posts: 90 Karma: 42 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo EReader, Kobo for Palm Pre	I've not come across this or recall reading about other users here with the problem but it probably is worth looking at some of the update and "bricked" threads here. I don't think it would be safe to format unless you had a backup from the entire contents when it was still in a good state so I'd recommend holding back on formatting unless someone can confirm that it is safe. Have you contacted Kobo's support? Perhaps a Kobo employee will see your thread here and they can track a support ticket to make sure it gets the right attention.

07-21-2010, 12:36 AM	#3
spannah Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Winnipeg Device: kobo	Thanks, my wife had actually contacted customer support even before I knew these forums existed. I also read through some of the bricked/locked up kobo threads in here, but could find anything. The good news - today we took the device to an Indigo store, and had the SD update done. The kobo is working again and the wife is happy :-)

07-21-2010, 07:57 PM	#4
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	Wow. You can get an SD update in an Indigo store? That's impressive! Kudos for Kobo!

07-21-2010, 09:12 PM	#5
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Love to see that service offered here in Australia! I am loathe to update due to so many others having issues.

07-26-2010, 01:16 PM	#7
spannah Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Winnipeg Device: kobo	A few updates/notes: - Kobo still working fine. My wife has been able to upload new books, and all seems well. Yay :-) - There is a Chapters closer then the Indigo store, but when I originally bought the device Chapters was out, and I got the last one from Indigo. I went to the Indigo store because I was thinking if the update didn't work I would return/exchange the device since there were about 2 days left out of the 14. - I did call ahead to make sure they could do it there. Also, they don't give away the SD card but just use their own (I believe this to be the norm, but just though I would clarify). - The Indigo lady did the update right in front of us, and from the little I could see on the kobo screen, there was a whole lot more going on than with the more common pc update. - My theory of the whole problem was that at one time or another the file system got corrupted, hence why windows was prompting to format the drive. The SD update most likely re-formatted the internal partition that appears as a drive letter in windows. The common pc update does not do this - perhaps it should be an advanced option, in case the regular update fails. - The first thing we did once we got home was copy the full contents of the kobo drive to a new folder in windows. I also noted that the file system of the drive is FAT32, as with most flash memory devices. - If this was to happen again (where windows is asking to format the kobo drive), I would likely try to re-format the drive and copy over the original contents.

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