Kobo Clara HD problems

[rockman4140]

Hey there everyone, I was wondering if you could help me out since Reddit users apparently won't offer any assistance if I skip activation. :/

I bought a Kobo Clara HD on the cheap brand new. I love it, it does most everything I need a book reader to do. I had skipped activation and loaded about 12 books on it; no problem.

A few nights ago (after a long period of time of it being neglected) I decided to plug it in, charge it up and get it back up and running. While it was charging, it did not seem to want to come on. I gave it a day, turned it on, and was greeted to all my books being gone. I'm thinking maybe somehow the Kobo updated via WiFi and cleared everything? I'm not exactly sure, and I did not do my due diligence and check the before and after software version, I'm sorry.

So I decide "Wellp, lemme boot up Calibre and move all my books over" and it gets to around 6 books and then gives me an error that there is not enough space. I find it odd, but there are still books on it, so I try and use it.

I cannot open ANY book. Whenever I touch the tile for "My Books", the outline of the covers darkens but nothing launches.

I plugged it in, decided to download the Kobo app to my Desktop and update through that; same issue, though now I cannot even access the burger menu to check my status.

I then installed the first firmware version I could find manually, and that does not stop the book issue. I learn how to manually factory reset the device and do so, which leaves it at a version not listed in the Wiki, but I still have the same problem.

I'm taking a guess, could it be a dying memory card that could be causing this issue?

In the interim I have installed KOReader and Plato and those seem to allow me to read the books, but if it is a memory card issue, I will go ahead and bite the bullet and replace (and expand it).

I would love any and all help I can get. I love this thing (mostly due to the case for it) and would love to get it back up and running again.

[NiLuJe]

The fact that KOReader/Plato are not *also* behaving erratically is mildly strange, as they shouldn't have magic powers as far as evading hardware failure goes ;p.

(Unless the card is dying in an extremely unlucky pattern for nickel...).

[rockman4140]

That's what I was thinking. Unless somehow the built in book reader "app" (for lack of a better term) got screwed somehow, but it should get fixed with a factory reset, right? I've narrowed out:
1. Not using Calibre for book transfers
2. Different books to transfer

Pretty much the ONLY thing I haven't done is registered the damn thing, but the device worked fine with skip last time, so I don't think its that. Guessing no one else has had this issue? Are there any nifty logging tools that may give some insight?

[JSWolf]

You should register. That could be your problem. Kobo Readers do need to be registered.

[rockman4140]

I will give it a shot as my last ditch effort, but I swear if it doesn't work. *Grumble*

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rockman4140

I will give it a shot as my last ditch effort, but I swear if it doesn't work. *Grumble*

If that doesn't work, you can find the thread to request a firmware image and get a new microSD card and write the image to the card. Then you can open the Clara HD and swap cards and hopefully that will work.

[rockman4140]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You should register. That could be your problem. Kobo Readers do need to be registered.

*Hangs head in shame* I guess it really was that easy after all. It's just so disappointing because it worked perfectly fine without an account before. Oh well. I thank you for your help!

[Barruel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You should register. That could be your problem. Kobo Readers do need to be registered.

None of my Claras are registered and I never had an issue with that. The wifi in them has never been enabled, though.

I'd try to factory reset it, skip registration and never ever enable wifi. It's very easy to update firmware manually.

If your SD card is screwed and you have to resort to an SD image, keep in mind that the serial number of your device is in the image and you'll lose it unless you write it down and add it to the image by hex editing it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Barruel

None of my Claras are registered and I never had an issue with that. The wifi in them has never been enabled, though.

I'd try to factory reset it, skip registration and never ever enable wifi. It's very easy to update firmware manually.

If your SD card is screwed and you have to resort to an SD image, keep in mind that the serial number of your device is in the image and you'll lose it unless you write it down and add it to the image by hex editing it.

Very bad idea to skip registration. There have been two firmware updates that have caused the fake registration to reset the database. This could happen again. You won't know until it happens. With a proper registration, this won't happen. Plus, if you buy eBook from Kobo, it's no different registering then it is to buy eBooks. Being fake registered, you cannot use Overdrive if you ever decide you want to. You cannot sync if you want to. You lose these options.

And besides, @rockman4140 has his Clara HD working. No need to rock the boat.

[Barruel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Very bad idea to skip registration. There have been two firmware updates that have caused the fake registration to reset the database. This could happen again.

Didn't know this. Where can I get info about it?

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Barruel

Didn't know this. Where can I get info about it?

Take @JSWolf's "Very bad idea to skip registration" with a grain of salt. His post pretty much gives the reasons to register. In my opinion, if you don't want to register, then don't. But, I just don't think it is worth the hassle. The registration is painless and can be with a completely fake email address.

[rockman4140]

Originally Posted by Barruel

None of my Claras are registered and I never had an issue with that. The wifi in them has never been enabled, though.

I'd try to factory reset it, skip registration and never ever enable wifi. It's very easy to update firmware manually.

If your SD card is screwed and you have to resort to an SD image, keep in mind that the serial number of your device is in the image and you'll lose it unless you write it down and add it to the image by hex editing it.

Oh, believe me, at this point I will just deal with being "legit" registered. I think the only other thing I could do is copy the Database, then edit some of the registration info to fake the ID parts of it. In the meantime I just made a throwaway Kobo account on my throwaway e-mail address to sate the requirement.

In terms of troubleshooting, even after doing a Factory Reset -Skip, I had the problems, and I mean factory reset on the system itself through the hardware reset option. I tried downgrading - Skip and no luck. I'm not going to monkey around with it too much (other than doing an image of the SD card right now in its current state, and then maybe a factory reset - register - No files messed around with). I need the Clara HD because I'm using the Clara Bookcover which holds it in the perfect position for me to take notes from my textbooks.

I don't like the registering because I don't plan on every buying books through Kobo. I'm getting my books through Humble Bundle ePubs to give me the most access to them; I loathe DRM and do what I can to avoid it. I picked up the Clara HD and... Aura? dirt cheap, so I will make do with them what I can.

My hypothesis is that Wifi was on and I forgot to turn off updates and got smacked with one of those firmware updates. Either way, I thank you for all the assistance!

[Ripplinger]

Originally Posted by rockman4140

I don't like the registering because I don't plan on every buying books through Kobo.

I registered with a real email address, one that I don't use for anything important, but like you I also never buy books from Kobo. So there is zero info entered about me or any payment card. I did grab a few freebies from Kobo when I got my first Kobo reader, which registering without any payment info allowed me to do. But my to-be-read pile is so huge now, I don't even bother with that anymore. The majority of my books have been coming from Amazon lately and I sideload everything to my Kobo, so wifi is always off. And that works out perfectly for me.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rockman4140

Oh, believe me, at this point I will just deal with being "legit" registered. I think the only other thing I could do is copy the Database, then edit some of the registration info to fake the ID parts of it. In the meantime I just made a throwaway Kobo account on my throwaway e-mail address to sate the requirement.

In terms of troubleshooting, even after doing a Factory Reset -Skip, I had the problems, and I mean factory reset on the system itself through the hardware reset option. I tried downgrading - Skip and no luck. I'm not going to monkey around with it too much (other than doing an image of the SD card right now in its current state, and then maybe a factory reset - register - No files messed around with). I need the Clara HD because I'm using the Clara Bookcover which holds it in the perfect position for me to take notes from my textbooks.

I don't like the registering because I don't plan on every buying books through Kobo. I'm getting my books through Humble Bundle ePubs to give me the most access to them; I loathe DRM and do what I can to avoid it. I picked up the Clara HD and... Aura? dirt cheap, so I will make do with them what I can.

My hypothesis is that Wifi was on and I forgot to turn off updates and got smacked with one of those firmware updates. Either way, I thank you for all the assistance!

Given that you do not like DRM, you can setup Calibre to remove DRM. Install ADE 2.0.1 for download ePub with DRM. Then go to Apprentice Alf's blog and download the appropriate version of DeDRM for the version of Calibre you have installed. If you need help getting set up, ask at the blog in the comments and you'll get the help you need. I cannot give any more help out in the open on Mobileread.

ADE 2.0.1: https://www.adobe.com/support/digita...downloads.html
Apprentice Alf: https://apprenticealf.wordpress.com

[rockman4140]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Given that you do not like DRM, you can setup Calibre to remove DRM. Install ADE 2.0.1 for download ePub with DRM. Then go to Apprentice Alf's blog and download the appropriate version of DeDRM for the version of Calibre you have installed. If you need help getting set up, ask at the blog in the comments and you'll get the help you need. I cannot give any more help out in the open on Mobileread.

ADE 2.0.1: https://www.adobe.com/support/digita...downloads.html
Apprentice Alf: https://apprenticealf.wordpress.com

Thank you so much for this JSWolf, that was what turned me on to Calibre in the first place. I did that with my A+ book (which was the primary use of my Clara HD, to keep the book handy while working with my notes. I am now finding out just how amazing Calibre is to use though (like the web server built in; THAT IS SO COOL!)