Calibre not recognizing Kobo on Chromebook

KiwiJ9 · 05-25-2019, 07:07 AM

Hello

I've recently got a Chromebook, and decided to try and use Linux to install Calibre and convert all my Kindle books over to my Kobo.

Having never used Linux before, I've managed (with much googling) to install Calibre, copy my books onto it and convert them to EPUB. The only thing I'm stuck on is that I have my Kobo connected to my Chromebook, but Calibre can't see it. Here's the debug log from Calibre:

calibre 3.42 embedded-python: True is64bit: True
Linux-4.19.26-03278-g71dc68f9c9d0-x86_64-with-debian-9.7 Linux ('64bit', 'ELF')
('Linux', '4.19.26-03278-g71dc68f9c9d0', '#1 SMP PREEMPT Thu Apr 4 13:47:33 PDT 2019')
Python 2.7.15
Linux: ('debian', '9.7', '')
Interface language: None
Successfully initialized third party plugins: DeDRM (6, 6, 3)
USB devices on system:
[]

No disabled plugins
Looking for devices of type: MTP_DEVICE
No MTP devices connected to system

Looking for devices of type: SMART_DEVICE_APP
All IP addresses {'lo': [{'netmask': '255.0.0.0', 'peer': '127.0.0.1', 'addr': '127.0.0.1'}], 'eth0': [{'netmask': '255.255.255.240', 'broadcast': '100.115.92.207', 'addr': '100.115.92.194'}]}
No device is connected

Looking for devices...

Devices possibly connected: None

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

davidfor · 05-25-2019, 07:14 AM

The debug log doesn't show any devices. Does the OS see and mount it? You need that to happen before calibre can use the device.

KiwiJ9 · 05-25-2019, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

The debug log doesn't show any devices. Does the OS see and mount it? You need that to happen before calibre can use the device.

It doesn't seem to be showing anywhere in the Chromebook settings, and it's not showing in the Files folder anywhere. I've tried a couple of different cables, and also tried both USB slots.

theducks · 05-25-2019, 11:23 AM

Just checking that all gotchas have been checked off.

If you have a cover on your Kobo, it must be open and ON

Very shortly after connecting the cable, your Kobo should present you with a Connect? screen (I mention this, because this was very intermittent on my new Aura2. So bad I binned 2 cables I thought were bad. It now appears the connector was contaminated and need many uses before settling in.)
Your OS must see the device first, then Calibre can see it. IIRC some OS can only have 1 MTP device connected at a time. Some devices give you the option on what MODE to connect (simple USB, PTP or MTP), that may help if you need 2 devices connected at the same time

KiwiJ9 · 05-25-2019, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Just checking that all gotchas have been checked off.

If you have a cover on your Kobo, it must be open and ON

Very shortly after connecting the cable, your Kobo should present you with a Connect? screen (I mention this, because this was very intermittent on my new Aura2. So bad I binned 2 cables I thought were bad. It now appears the connector was contaminated and need many uses before settling in.)
Your OS must see the device first, then Calibre can see it. IIRC some OS can only have 1 MTP device connected at a time. Some devices give you the option on what MODE to connect (simple USB, PTP or MTP), that may help if you need 2 devices connected at the same time

Thanks for the ideas. I've tried again this morning with both USB ports and there's still no 'Connect' screen that appears on the Kobo. And based on the error log there aren't any other MTP devices connected, so I'll just have to assume it's a bad connector. When you say it needed many uses, do you mean you just had to keep trying and eventually it worked?

DNSB · 05-25-2019, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiwiJ9

Thanks for the ideas. I've tried again this morning with both USB ports and there's still no 'Connect' screen that appears on the Kobo. And based on the error log there aren't any other MTP devices connected, so I'll just have to assume it's a bad connector. When you say it needed many uses, do you mean you just had to keep trying and eventually it worked?

Does your Kobo work on any other computers? Have you tried a different USB cable? You might try a powered USB hub -- one Samsung Chromebook I played with had issues with the amount of power its USB ports sourced and could not power a gaming mouse. Please don't ask why the owner wanted to use his ridiculously overbuttoned mouse with a Chromebook.

theducks · 05-25-2019, 07:58 PM

DNSB brings up more ideas.
The Kobo needs to have a decent charge (can't be flat).
Either a direct PC port or a POWERED USB hub. Regular ports are limited to 500mA, a unpowered USB hub uses a tiny bit of that plus any other items attached to it.
I am not sure what will wake it up (if any).
The reason I binned cables, was it was intermittent. I would see the Connect, but it would disappear if I touched the Kobo.
I definitely would try another PC with a charged (>25%) device.
You need that 'Connect button' to tap before any other things will work

KiwiJ9 · 05-25-2019, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Does your Kobo work on any other computers? Have you tried a different USB cable? You might try a powered USB hub -- one Samsung Chromebook I played with had issues with the amount of power its USB ports sourced and could not power a gaming mouse.

My Chromebook was over 80% charged, and I also tried it while I had it's power cable in (I know that's not what you meant about a powered USB hub) and it still wouldn't work. So in the end I got my old laptop out and fired that up, and it recognised it first time. So I've managed to get the books onto my Kobo, just not how I was planning on it.

It was really lucky I hadn't taken my laptop to the ewaste collection like I had been planning to.

So I'm not sure if it's a lack of power thing with the Chromebook, or that my Linux needs something else installed to be able to recognize devices.

Long story short, I'm happy with the result. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone

lumpynose · 05-26-2019, 08:26 PM

Are the linux boot messages stored somewhere so that you can look at them? In some system log file typically. Look at that and see what it says while it's booting for any usb hubs or whatnot that it found. Or try connecting some other usb device to the chromebook and see if it recognizes it.

NoClaim71 · 01-05-2020, 11:10 AM

This thread is pretty old, but hopefully someone is still reading this :-)

I also bought myself a chromebook some months ago. I noticed I'm using the Win10 desktop less and less. Only app still used a lot on Windows is Calibre.
So I thought I'll install this in Linux on the chromebook and like a married couple we live a long and happy life.....

A married couple it is.... frustration all the way.... finally managed to install Calibre, copied the library and up to the last phase it works like a charm..... but I'm unable to view my Kobo in Calibre.
I have red that ChromeOS is supporting USB devices in Linux (beta), but it fails to pop up in Calibre. ChromeOS is seeing the KOBO, but Linux is not seeing it.

Any suggestions?

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05-25-2019, 07:07 AM	#1
KiwiJ9 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: New Zealand Device: Kobo Aura One	Calibre not recognizing Kobo on Chromebook Hello I've recently got a Chromebook, and decided to try and use Linux to install Calibre and convert all my Kindle books over to my Kobo. Having never used Linux before, I've managed (with much googling) to install Calibre, copy my books onto it and convert them to EPUB. The only thing I'm stuck on is that I have my Kobo connected to my Chromebook, but Calibre can't see it. Here's the debug log from Calibre: calibre 3.42 embedded-python: True is64bit: True Linux-4.19.26-03278-g71dc68f9c9d0-x86_64-with-debian-9.7 Linux ('64bit', 'ELF') ('Linux', '4.19.26-03278-g71dc68f9c9d0', '#1 SMP PREEMPT Thu Apr 4 13:47:33 PDT 2019') Python 2.7.15 Linux: ('debian', '9.7', '') Interface language: None Successfully initialized third party plugins: DeDRM (6, 6, 3) USB devices on system: [] No disabled plugins Looking for devices of type: MTP_DEVICE No MTP devices connected to system Looking for devices of type: SMART_DEVICE_APP All IP addresses {'lo': [{'netmask': '255.0.0.0', 'peer': '127.0.0.1', 'addr': '127.0.0.1'}], 'eth0': [{'netmask': '255.255.255.240', 'broadcast': '100.115.92.207', 'addr': '100.115.92.194'}]} No device is connected Looking for devices... Devices possibly connected: None Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.

05-25-2019, 07:14 AM	#2
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	The debug log doesn't show any devices. Does the OS see and mount it? You need that to happen before calibre can use the device.

05-25-2019, 11:23 AM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,933 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Just checking that all gotchas have been checked off. If you have a cover on your Kobo, it must be open and ON Very shortly after connecting the cable, your Kobo should present you with a Connect? screen (I mention this, because this was very intermittent on my new Aura2. So bad I binned 2 cables I thought were bad. It now appears the connector was contaminated and need many uses before settling in.) Your OS must see the device first, then Calibre can see it. IIRC some OS can only have 1 MTP device connected at a time. Some devices give you the option on what MODE to connect (simple USB, PTP or MTP), that may help if you need 2 devices connected at the same time

05-25-2019, 07:58 PM	#7
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,933 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	DNSB brings up more ideas. The Kobo needs to have a decent charge (can't be flat). Either a direct PC port or a POWERED USB hub. Regular ports are limited to 500mA, a unpowered USB hub uses a tiny bit of that plus any other items attached to it. I am not sure what will wake it up (if any). The reason I binned cables, was it was intermittent. I would see the Connect, but it would disappear if I touched the Kobo. I definitely would try another PC with a charged (>25%) device. You need that 'Connect button' to tap before any other things will work

05-26-2019, 08:26 PM	#9
lumpynose Wizard Posts: 1,086 Karma: 6719822 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Palm Pilot M105	Are the linux boot messages stored somewhere so that you can look at them? In some system log file typically. Look at that and see what it says while it's booting for any usb hubs or whatnot that it found. Or try connecting some other usb device to the chromebook and see if it recognizes it.

01-05-2020, 11:10 AM	#10
NoClaim71 Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2020 Device: Kobo Libra H2O	This thread is pretty old, but hopefully someone is still reading this :-) I also bought myself a chromebook some months ago. I noticed I'm using the Win10 desktop less and less. Only app still used a lot on Windows is Calibre. So I thought I'll install this in Linux on the chromebook and like a married couple we live a long and happy life..... A married couple it is.... frustration all the way.... finally managed to install Calibre, copied the library and up to the last phase it works like a charm..... but I'm unable to view my Kobo in Calibre. I have red that ChromeOS is supporting USB devices in Linux (beta), but it fails to pop up in Calibre. ChromeOS is seeing the KOBO, but Linux is not seeing it. Any suggestions?

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