Calibre will not connect to Kobo Touch

[Richard59]

Hello and thanks for any help you may be able to provide.
I am using Calibre 2.20.0 in a brand new system running Windows7 Home Premium. I have a Kobo Touch which has been upgraded to firmware version 3.11.0
Was previously using Calibre in a Windows XP environment without problems.
Since switching to the new PC Calibre no longer connects to the device. I can connect to files on the device when it is connected to the USB port but since the Kobo software only processes new loaded books from the root directory, and not from within any folder or sub-folder this method is unsatisfactory.
To assist with diagnosis of the problem I provide the following two debug reports. First without the Kobo connected and the second with it attached. As you can see, Windows does recognize the device but calibre says it is unable to locate a compatible device. I don't know whether the problem is with Calibre, Kobo or Windows7 or something to do with USB drivers of the Asus motherboard.
Debug Report Number 1

calibre 2.20 [64bit]  isfrozen: True is64bit: True
Windows-7-6.1.7601-SP1 Windows ('64bit', 'WindowsPE')
('Windows', '7', '6.1.7601')
Python 2.7.9
Windows: ('7', '6.1.7601', 'SP1', 'Multiprocessor Free')
Successfully initialized third party plugins: KoboTouchExtended && Kobo Utilities
USB devices on system:
[u'usb\\root_hub20&vid8086&pid8ca6&rev0000',
 u'usb\\root_hub20&vid8086&pid8cad&rev0000',
 u'usb\\vid_046d&pid_082c&rev_0011',
 u'usb\\vid_046d&pid_082c&rev_0011&mi_00',
 u'usb\\vid_046d&pid_082c&rev_0011&mi_02',
 u'usb\\vid_046d&pid_c52b&rev_1201',
 u'usb\\vid_046d&pid_c52b&rev_1201&mi_00',
 u'usb\\vid_046d&pid_c52b&rev_1201&mi_01',
 u'usb\\vid_046d&pid_c52b&rev_1201&mi_02',
 u'usb\\vid_8087&pid_8001&rev_0000',
 u'usb\\vid_8087&pid_8009&rev_0000']
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "site-packages\calibre\devices\scanner.py", line 85, in __call__
DriveError: No removable drives found
Drives detected:

No disabled plugins
Looking for devices of type: MTP_DEVICE
The Windows WPD service says there are no portable devices connected
 
Looking for devices of type: SMART_DEVICE_APP
All IP addresses {'{846EE342-7039-11DE-9D20-806E6F6E6963}': [{'addr': '127.0.0.1', 'netmask': '255.0.0.0', 'broadcast': '127.255.255.255'}], '{9EEEA170-2075-4785-B6E9-608F7781684C}': [{'addr': '192.168.0.23', 'netmask': '255.255.255.0', 'broadcast': '192.168.0.255'}]}
No device is connected
 
Looking for devices...
 
Devices possibly connected: None

Debug Report Number 2

calibre 2.20 [64bit]  isfrozen: True is64bit: True
Windows-7-6.1.7601-SP1 Windows ('64bit', 'WindowsPE')
('Windows', '7', '6.1.7601')
Python 2.7.9
Windows: ('7', '6.1.7601', 'SP1', 'Multiprocessor Free')
Successfully initialized third party plugins: KoboTouchExtended && Kobo Utilities
USB devices on system:
[u'usb\\root_hub20&vid8086&pid8ca6&rev0000',
 u'usb\\root_hub20&vid8086&pid8cad&rev0000',
 u'usb\\vid_046d&pid_082c&rev_0011',
 u'usb\\vid_046d&pid_082c&rev_0011&mi_00',
 u'usb\\vid_046d&pid_082c&rev_0011&mi_02',
 u'usb\\vid_046d&pid_c52b&rev_1201',
 u'usb\\vid_046d&pid_c52b&rev_1201&mi_00',
 u'usb\\vid_046d&pid_c52b&rev_1201&mi_01',
 u'usb\\vid_046d&pid_c52b&rev_1201&mi_02',
 u'usb\\vid_8087&pid_8001&rev_0000',
 u'usb\\vid_8087&pid_8009&rev_0000']
Drives detected:

No disabled plugins
Looking for devices of type: MTP_DEVICE
List of WPD PNP ids:
[u'\\\\?\\wpdbusenumroot#umb#2&37c186b&0&storage#volume#_??_scsi#disk&ven_kobo&prod_ereader-3.11.0#000000##{6ac27878-a6fa-4155-ba85-f98f491d4f33}']
No suitable MTP devices found
 
Looking for devices of type: SMART_DEVICE_APP
All IP addresses {'{846EE342-7039-11DE-9D20-806E6F6E6963}': [{'addr': '127.0.0.1', 'netmask': '255.0.0.0', 'broadcast': '127.255.255.255'}], '{9EEEA170-2075-4785-B6E9-608F7781684C}': [{'addr': '192.168.0.23', 'netmask': '255.255.255.0', 'broadcast': '192.168.0.255'}]}
No device is connected
 
Looking for devices...
 
Devices possibly connected: None

Please

[PeterT]

Some weirdness

First of all the Touch processes new content regardless of where it is (with the exception of any folders that begin with a ".")

Secondly, your device is NOT showing up as a USB storage device; if it was it would appear in the first section under USB devices on system:

By any chance is the Kobo plugged into a USB 3 port or a port that is using a USB Fast Charge (or similar) driver?

[BetterRed]

@Richard59 - see if there's anything in here that helps ==>> FAQ - Device Integration

Two thoughts - maybe ASUS disabled MTP (Media Transport Protocol), nothing any box builder does to software ever surprises me. Are you using an external USB 2.0 hub attached to a USB 3.0 port - that setup recently caused me much exasperation in another context.

I don't use calibre device integration. so I wont try to help beyond that.

BR

[Richard59]

Thanks for responding. I have tries the KOBO in both USB2 and USB3 ports on the "Front" connectors and also on the ports integrated in the motherboard with the same lack of result.
I agree with Peter T regarding the device not showing in the list of USB devices even when connected. This is odd given that it shows up in windows explorer and is assigned a drive letter. I am certainly able to use the "Connect and Share" control in Calibre to link to folders in the Kobo but I re-iterate any books transferred into such folders fail to be processed by the Kobo when it is disconnected. For some reason the Touch only seems to process side-loaded books from it's root directory.
BetterRed may be onto something regarding the absence of Media Transport Protocol. It may be worth my while addressing this question to ASUS. I did load the motherboard drivers after installing windows and did load the specific USB3 driver as well. I don't know about Fast Charge. Thanks again. I'll get back if I find a solution and will of course welcome any other suggestions.

[kovidgoyal]

You can have connect to folder place books in the root, simply right click on its icon in calibre, select configure and change the template to not include any slashes.

As to why your device is not being detected, I haven't a clue, according to that debug output, windows isn't listing your device as a USB device or a removable drive. Try resetting the device and rebooting your computer.

[PeterT]

But Kobo has NO issues processing books in folders! No need to change that.

Is the time / date / time zone set correctly on both your computer and Kobo?

Does Kobo Desktop see your device?

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Richard59

Thanks for responding. I have tries the KOBO in both USB2 and USB3 ports on the "Front" connectors and also on the ports integrated in the motherboard with the same lack of result.
I agree with Peter T regarding the device not showing in the list of USB devices even when connected. This is odd given that it shows up in windows explorer and is assigned a drive letter. I am certainly able to use the "Connect and Share" control in Calibre to link to folders in the Kobo but I re-iterate any books transferred into such folders fail to be processed by the Kobo when it is disconnected. For some reason the Touch only seems to process side-loaded books from it's root directory.

The Kobo firmware will definitely process books from sub directories unless the name starts with a dot. Or the names used are otherwise invalid or the extensions are not recognised ebook formats. When you look at the connected device, do you see the ".kobo" directory with database, config files and the kepub directory? Can you change anything in this directory?

After you use calibre to send the book to the connected directory, can you see them through explorer? When you disconnect and reconnect the device, are the books still there? Does it change if the device is restarted when disconnected?

BetterRed may be onto something regarding the absence of Media Transport Protocol. It may be worth my while addressing this question to ASUS. I did load the motherboard drivers after installing windows and did load the specific USB3 driver as well. I don't know about Fast Charge. Thanks again. I'll get back if I find a solution and will of course welcome any other suggestions.

The presence or lack of MTP on the PC should have no connection this. The Kobo e-ink ereaders are connected as mass storage devices, not via MTP.

The things I can think of to check are:

- What does "Devices and Printers" or the Device manager say about the device when it is connected?
- Have you installed the Kobo desktop application and does it see the device? The desktop application isn't really needed, but it should be able to see the connected device.
- Do you still have the XP PC or another you can check with?
- Does the PC work with other USB memory sticks? Does calibre list them in the device detection?

[Richard59]

Kobo desktop software detects and connects the device without issue and syncs it and upgraded it to the latest firmware without any issues. it is only Calibre that will not automatically connect to it. Devices & Printers reports it as a SCSI disk device. Under Properties/Hardware there are three Device Functions listed. First is ASUS Bot Storage Driver. Second is Kobo eReader-3.11.0 SCSI Disc Device, and third is KOBOeReader Portable device. For some reason it is not being listed as associated with USB in any way and I think that may be where Calibre is having it's issue.

[Richard59]

Just noticed in Devices & Printers there are two items showing when the Kobo is connected
One is described as(No name brand) eReader-3.11.0 and under properties shows as a USB3 device.
The second is named Kobo eReader-2.5.1 SCSI Disc Device with the properties as shown in my previous reply. This is getting more weird by the day.

[davidfor]

For the two devices that are shown in Devices & Printers, what are the vender and product is? Do they both disappear when the Touch is not connected? And do you have an SD card in the Touch?

One thing to try is to get USBDeview and see what drivers it shows. Then delete all the references to Kobo and reboot. And restart the Touch before connecting again.

[Richard59]

Both items disappear when the kobo is disconnected and re-appear when re-connected. The un-named eReader is described as Asus USB3 Boost Storage Driver
Provider is Asus Tek Computers Inc and it has an ennumerator VID-2237&PID_4163&ASUS
The Kobo has as I said before three things within the properties. I note it is identified as a KOBO 2.5.1 but the properties panel lists it as 3.11.0 which is the latest firmware version that has been loaded. I did use the USBDeview utility as suggested and uninstalled the KOBO that way. Rebooted both the PC and KOBO and re-connected but got same result. I have had another look at the folders on the kobo and see that they do indeed have a "." at the beginning of the name. I will be able to set a new folder to hold the books and expect the KOBO appropriately process files put there using the Connect to Folder function within Calibre. While this workaround will be successful the original problem of failure to automatically connect remains. PS. there is no SD card in this reader

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Richard59

Both items disappear when the kobo is disconnected and re-appear when re-connected. The un-named eReader is described as Asus USB3 Boost Storage Driver
Provider is Asus Tek Computers Inc and it has an ennumerator VID-2237&PID_4163&ASUS

The device and product id for my Touch is "USB\VID_2237&PID_4163\KG319xxxxxxxxB" (the last bit is the serial number). That makes me think the ASUS driver is to blame in how it is presenting the device to the OS and apps.

The Kobo has as I said before three things within the properties. I note it is identified as a KOBO 2.5.1 but the properties panel lists it as 3.11.0 which is the latest firmware version that has been loaded.

Looking at things on my PC, there is some record of the earlier firmware versions. It looks like one of the descriptions is set the first time the ereader is connected, but another is update each time the firmware has been updated.
[/QUOTE]
I did use the USBDeview utility as suggested and uninstalled the KOBO that way. Rebooted both the PC and KOBO and re-connected but got same result. I have had another look at the folders on the kobo and see that they do indeed have a "." at the beginning of the name. I will be able to set a new folder to hold the books and expect the KOBO appropriately process files put there using the Connect to Folder function within Calibre. While this workaround will be successful the original problem of failure to automatically connect remains. PS. there is no SD card in this reader[/QUOTE]

You were putting the books in a directory starting with a "."? Removing that, should at least get the books seen.

[BetterRed]

@Richard59 - did you try tweaking the ASUS USB driver to Normal ?



Would have thought that should only effect USB3 ports, but maybe worth a try.

BR

[Richard59]

BetterRed.... You-da-man.

Somehow USB3 boost had been turned on for that device. I don't remember doing this but switching it to normal did the trick. Now when the KOBO is connected there is only one instance of it appearing in Devices & Printers and Calibre connected to it in about 3 seconds. Big Thanks all for your help in resolving this issue.

[BetterRed]

@Richard59 - its probably on by default - it purports to make things faster, so if you're ASUS it would make sense to have it on.

My understanding is that not all "Boost" facilities on USB 3.0 adapters are the same, in fact I suspect their all bloody different. Whaddya get if yer put one walled garden in anuva walled garden - a $#@*& maze

BR