New Calibre install won't recognize library

Missymilomax · 04-16-2019, 04:49 AM

My hard drive just died. I back up all my data to a cloud. After re-installing Calibre it will not see my library. I've transferred my cloud backups to the new folder, but it still won't recognize anything. I've tried all the suggestions in Calibre for moving a library to a new computer, but not having any luck. I can go into Calibre and choose add books and choose one book at a time, but it doesn't transfer any descriptive data. Any suggestions?

theducks · 04-16-2019, 12:28 PM

First thing I reccomend is to FIND where valid Librares exist on you PC.
Using the OS serch: look for metadata.db . That is what Calibre shows you and uses to get books from the Authors folders in the same place.

(the reason you don't rename anything HERE using the OS)
If you find more than 1 DB, then look and see which containing folder ALSO has lots of Author folders.
That is the folder to use when you right clic the Library icon: Switch/Create: Use Existing: <the path you found>

No metadata.db. Try running the restore database tool. Right-click the Library Icon: Library Maintenance: Restore (This can take hours for large libraries, but way faster than just adding book PLUS it will have updated metadata)

DoctorOhh · 04-17-2019, 03:12 AM

To add to what @theducks said, the metadata.db file should be in the root of your library folder. It could be you copied all of the book folders into a new library folder but missed the metadata.db file sitting in the root folder of the libraries backup.

Missymilomax · 04-17-2019, 08:29 PM

The only file I can find is 'metadata_db_prefs_backup.json.
I'm going to assume that this is not usable?

kovidgoyal · 04-17-2019, 08:35 PM

Without a metadata.db it means the folder is not a proper calibre library. You can instead try right clicking the Add books button and choosing "Add books from directories (one book per directory)" this should restore most metadata once the add process completes.

04-16-2019, 04:49 AM	#1
Missymilomax Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Roseville, CA Device: kindle PC Reader	New Calibre install won't recognize library My hard drive just died. I back up all my data to a cloud. After re-installing Calibre it will not see my library. I've transferred my cloud backups to the new folder, but it still won't recognize anything. I've tried all the suggestions in Calibre for moving a library to a new computer, but not having any luck. I can go into Calibre and choose add books and choose one book at a time, but it doesn't transfer any descriptive data. Any suggestions?

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04-16-2019, 12:28 PM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,047 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	First thing I reccomend is to FIND where valid Librares exist on you PC. Using the OS serch: look for metadata.db . That is what Calibre shows you and uses to get books from the Authors folders in the same place. (the reason you don't rename anything HERE using the OS) If you find more than 1 DB, then look and see which containing folder ALSO has lots of Author folders. That is the folder to use when you right clic the Library icon: Switch/Create: Use Existing: <the path you found> No metadata.db. Try running the restore database tool. Right-click the Library Icon: Library Maintenance: Restore (This can take hours for large libraries, but way faster than just adding book PLUS it will have updated metadata)

04-17-2019, 03:12 AM	#3
DoctorOhh US Navy, Retired Posts: 9,896 Karma: 13806776 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North Carolina Device: Icarus Illumina XL HD, Kindle PaperWhite SE 11th Gen	To add to what @theducks said, the metadata.db file should be in the root of your library folder. It could be you copied all of the book folders into a new library folder but missed the metadata.db file sitting in the root folder of the libraries backup.

04-17-2019, 08:29 PM	#4
Missymilomax Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Roseville, CA Device: kindle PC Reader	The only file I can find is 'metadata_db_prefs_backup.json. I'm going to assume that this is not usable?

04-17-2019, 08:35 PM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,342 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Without a metadata.db it means the folder is not a proper calibre library. You can instead try right clicking the Add books button and choosing "Add books from directories (one book per directory)" this should restore most metadata once the add process completes.

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