Downloading metadata from Goodreads stopped

LadyKate · 05-14-2015, 04:21 PM

For some reason downloading metadata from Goodreads stopped sometime very early this morning.

Yesterday I did a bunch of Windows (ver 8.1) updates and updated the Avast program (although while updating a large number of records I tend to turn off real time web monitoring as well as real time monitoring to try to speed things up). I was still able to download metadata after these updates but a few hours later ... no more Goodreads. Not even when the goodreads id was already in the id.

I prefer the goodreads info usually and don't know what to do other than ask here. I'm still using Calibre 2.22 but plan to update it to the current version tomorrow.

BetterRed · 05-14-2015, 04:36 PM

@LadyKate - I doubt a new calibre will fix it, it's more likely that Avast has infected your firewall with an unauthorised restriction Ψ²

BR

LadyKate · 05-14-2015, 06:30 PM

Thanks! I was going to do a restore back to before the windows updates and do them one at a time instead of the bulk of all 11 updated I did and see what caused it then check avast.

It was Avast! The combination of the Home Network Security (what bleeding good is an antivirus program with home network security that stops a non threatening program like Calibre from doing what it does best!) and the SecureLine VPN.

I feel so out of touch these days... in the bad old days of the 80s and early 90s I did network admin and yet today find the programs for antivirus etc make me feel so out of control of my own system

Thanks to your post I saved hours of testing. I really prefer the Goodreads link being included.

BetterRed · 05-14-2015, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyKate

It was Avast! The combination of the Home Network Security (what bleeding good is an antivirus program with home network security that stops a non threatening program like Calibre from doing what it does best!) and the SecureLine VPN.

Of course it was Avast - for some reason most mainstream AV vendors seem to think that they have carte blanche to change peoples systems - arrogance.

FWIW I use the Windows F/W and a combo of MSE and Malwarebytes. For sanity's sake when I upgraded to Win7 (2009) I decided to cut out most the security stuff I had on XP - no ill effects.

BR

theducks · 05-14-2015, 07:11 PM

Home (SOHO) network security IS needed if you have a large Windows network with shares enabled.
If it is just your pc AND A printer (+Blu-ray or other media only devices)

Ducks network is very device heavy

LadyKate · 05-15-2015, 12:53 AM

ARGH!!! It was working with just the home network and the SecureLine VPN turned off then it stopped again!!

BUT when I turn off the entire antivirus for an hour it works!!

HELP! what antivirus will not kill downloading from Goodreads. Gawd, who knows what else it will kill next. Going without an antivirus is not acceptable but I have no idea what one to use now.

The latest avast doesn't even give me the option not to scan epub and mobi files etc...

BetterRed · 05-15-2015, 01:50 AM

@LadyKate - if you are doing lots of bulk download jobs it could be that Goodreads is blocking you for hogging their servers.

BR

LadyKate · 05-15-2015, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@LadyKate - if you are doing lots of bulk download jobs it could be that Goodreads is blocking you for hogging their servers.

BR

I've been updating individual books because I'm kinda anal. So it is a case of download book info, select which server to use, fix tags to my preferred choices, go to next book.

Not exactly intensive. Takes a minute or two per book.

BetterRed · 05-15-2015, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyKate

I've been updating individual books because I'm kinda anal. So it is a case of download book info, select which server to use, fix tags to my preferred choices, go to next book.

Not exactly intensive. Takes a minute or two per book.

@LadyKate - that should be OK - I was thinking you might be selecting a zillion books and using the crtl/d bulk download with multiple concurrent jobs enabled.

Try turning Avast off - might have to uninstall, and use MS Defender with Malwarebytes | Anti-Malware Premium 14 days free trial.

I have no vested interest in MB products - other than I wouldn't like to see them go bust or get swallowed up by - a list too long

BR

BeeTee-Ess · 05-16-2015, 11:09 PM

I agree in principle with @BR, except, instead of relying on MS Defender, I decided to give Avira a go (because a number of columnists have rated it as the best of the free AV software).

I've been using it for nearly a year now without problems.

... and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware Home (Premium) is always there too. I used the free version for a while, then after using the Premium free trial, decided it was worth paying for.

LadyKate · 05-19-2015, 04:41 AM

I entered the sites giving problems in exclusions in Avast.

I noticed that several things have changed over the years with Avast including not being able to find a way to indicate to Avast that I want to exclude epub, azw etc from being scanned.

Time for me to investigate the other antivirus programs including the ones mentioned here.

05-14-2015, 04:21 PM	#1
LadyKate Fanatic Posts: 515 Karma: 1470724 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Quebec CA Device: android 4 (samsung tablet and asus tablet)	Downloading metadata from Goodreads stopped For some reason downloading metadata from Goodreads stopped sometime very early this morning. Yesterday I did a bunch of Windows (ver 8.1) updates and updated the Avast program (although while updating a large number of records I tend to turn off real time web monitoring as well as real time monitoring to try to speed things up). I was still able to download metadata after these updates but a few hours later ... no more Goodreads. Not even when the goodreads id was already in the id. I prefer the goodreads info usually and don't know what to do other than ask here. I'm still using Calibre 2.22 but plan to update it to the current version tomorrow.

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05-14-2015, 04:36 PM	#2
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,722 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@LadyKate - I doubt a new calibre will fix it, it's more likely that Avast has infected your firewall with an unauthorised restriction Ψ² BR

05-14-2015, 06:30 PM	#3
LadyKate Fanatic Posts: 515 Karma: 1470724 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Quebec CA Device: android 4 (samsung tablet and asus tablet)	Thanks! I was going to do a restore back to before the windows updates and do them one at a time instead of the bulk of all 11 updated I did and see what caused it then check avast. It was Avast! The combination of the Home Network Security (what bleeding good is an antivirus program with home network security that stops a non threatening program like Calibre from doing what it does best!) and the SecureLine VPN. I feel so out of touch these days... in the bad old days of the 80s and early 90s I did network admin and yet today find the programs for antivirus etc make me feel so out of control of my own system Thanks to your post I saved hours of testing. I really prefer the Goodreads link being included.

05-14-2015, 07:11 PM	#5
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,048 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Home (SOHO) network security IS needed if you have a large Windows network with shares enabled. If it is just your pc AND A printer (+Blu-ray or other media only devices) Ducks network is very device heavy

05-15-2015, 12:53 AM	#6
LadyKate Fanatic Posts: 515 Karma: 1470724 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Quebec CA Device: android 4 (samsung tablet and asus tablet)	ARGH!!! It was working with just the home network and the SecureLine VPN turned off then it stopped again!! BUT when I turn off the entire antivirus for an hour it works!! HELP! what antivirus will not kill downloading from Goodreads. Gawd, who knows what else it will kill next. Going without an antivirus is not acceptable but I have no idea what one to use now. The latest avast doesn't even give me the option not to scan epub and mobi files etc...

05-15-2015, 01:50 AM	#7
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,722 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@LadyKate - if you are doing lots of bulk download jobs it could be that Goodreads is blocking you for hogging their servers. BR

05-16-2015, 11:09 PM	#10
BeeTee-Ess Addict Posts: 306 Karma: 679580 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Brisbane, Australia Device: K3, K4NT, KPW2, Voyage, iP4, iP6, iPad Mini, HP TouchPad, Kobo Mini	I agree in principle with @BR, except, instead of relying on MS Defender, I decided to give Avira a go (because a number of columnists have rated it as the best of the free AV software). I've been using it for nearly a year now without problems. ... and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware Home (Premium) is always there too. I used the free version for a while, then after using the Premium free trial, decided it was worth paying for.

05-19-2015, 04:41 AM	#11
LadyKate Fanatic Posts: 515 Karma: 1470724 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Quebec CA Device: android 4 (samsung tablet and asus tablet)	I entered the sites giving problems in exclusions in Avast. I noticed that several things have changed over the years with Avast including not being able to find a way to indicate to Avast that I want to exclude epub, azw etc from being scanned. Time for me to investigate the other antivirus programs including the ones mentioned here.

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