Glo HD Kobo FW 4.24 and Calibre 8.11.0 issues?

[Ripplinger]

Last week I finally ran into a new Amazon book that I couldn't remove DRM, but found a way by upgrading Calibre to 8.11. I had been using Kobo FW 4.24.15676 and Calibre 4.23, which I loved all aspects of that combo and I didn't want or need to upgrade further, DeDRM worked flawlessly for all books and zero issues anywhere. It was perfect for me with all the bells and whistles I want.

But now with the new Calibre 8.11, when I transfer these newer problematic books onto the reader with 4.24.15676 firmware, the books open fine and I can read them. But they will not appear on the home screen, nor will the series show on the homescreen. Since I read only 1 book at a time, it will generally stay open, but it's annoying to have to go dig through the books for it when it might close for whatever reason, and I just don't like that it's no longer working as it should.

So before I get into trying to restore old Calibre to fix the reader issues (and then I can just use the newer Calibre on a 2nd PC, which is most likely how I'm going to do it), are there issues between old Kobo firmware and newer Calibre versions like this?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

Last week I finally ran into a new Amazon book that I couldn't remove DRM, but found a way by upgrading Calibre to 8.11. I had been using Kobo FW 4.24.15676 and Calibre 4.23, which I loved all aspects of that combo and I didn't want or need to upgrade further, DeDRM worked flawlessly for all books and zero issues anywhere. It was perfect for me with all the bells and whistles I want.

But now with the new Calibre 8.11, when I transfer these newer problematic books onto the reader with 4.24.15676 firmware, the books open fine and I can read them. But they will not appear on the home screen, nor will the series show on the homescreen. Since I read only 1 book at a time, it will generally stay open, but it's annoying to have to go dig through the books for it when it might close for whatever reason, and I just don't like that it's no longer working as it should.

So before I get into trying to restore old Calibre to fix the reader issues (and then I can just use the newer Calibre on a 2nd PC, which is most likely how I'm going to do it), are there issues between old Kobo firmware and newer Calibre versions like this?

I have no issues with firmware 4.38.23171. I suggest updating to that version. I've never an issue with books that should be on the home screen not being there. All I remember is some earlier firmware had some bugs that have since been fixed and I don't know what firmware was an issue. I just know what works. I've been using 4.38.23171 since August 16, 2024.

What version of the DeDRM plugin are you using? How are you getting your Amazon eBooks to be able to remove the DRM? You should give the alpha version a go. It's the version with the latest code. Go here to get it.

One other thing, there has been a hotfix and 8.11.0 is now 8.11.1 so you should update your calibre.

[Ripplinger]

Thanks for that info, then I'll give it more of a try to see what's causing the problem sticking with Calibre 8.11 before going down the rabbit hole of reverting back to 4.23.

I used the deDRM plugin V10.0.9 (RC1 for 10.1.0). I'm not sure how much I can say about which method I used publicly, but there's a video with a method that works perfectly with all Amazon books published before April '25, and a link there to method #2 that works with Amazon books published after April '25. Method 2 needs an older Kindle (which fortunately I still have a 6th Gen Paperwhite stuck at firmware 5.12.2.2), and just drag the book from the Kindle into Calibre and it works perfectly. At least for now.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

Thanks for that info, then I'll give it more of a try to see what's causing the problem sticking with Calibre 8.11 before going down the rabbit hole of reverting back to 4.23.

I used the deDRM plugin V10.0.9 (RC1 for 10.1.0). I'm not sure how much I can say about which method I used publicly, but there's a video with a method that works perfectly with all Amazon books published before April '25, and a link there to method #2 that works with Amazon books published after April '25. Method 2 needs an older Kindle (which fortunately I still have a 6th Gen Paperwhite stuck at firmware 5.12.2.2), and just drag the book from the Kindle into Calibre and it works perfectly. At least for now.

Go with the Kindle method. That's your best solution for now.

[Ripplinger]

That's what I've done for the newer books I just bought at Amazon. Actually my old setup with Calibre 4.23 worked perfectly up until Amazon had to remove the download via USB from their options. I don't really buy from Amazon often anymore, but there's a few series that I can't find elsewhere (or at much higher prices). But this is all making me rethink even those books lately and not buying from Amazon at all anymore.

And I discovered I can use the Calibre Portable 8.11v on the same PC to use for Amazon books, and then I could just stick with old reliable 4.23 for my library if I can't figure out the issue in a reasonable amount of time.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

That's what I've done for the newer books I just bought at Amazon. Actually my old setup with Calibre 4.23 worked perfectly up until Amazon had to remove the download via USB from their options. I don't really buy from Amazon often anymore, but there's a few series that I can't find elsewhere (or at much higher prices). But this is all making me rethink even those books lately and not buying from Amazon at all anymore.

And I discovered I can use the Calibre Portable 8.11v on the same PC to use for Amazon books, and then I could just stick with old reliable 4.23 for my library if I can't figure out the issue in a reasonable amount of time.

If you buy from Kobo, you can price match Amazon.

[Ripplinger]

Good to know, I do have an account, if those series are available there, thanks.

[PeterT]

Did you double check the configuration settings for the Kobo Touch driver in calibre?

You can access them a couple of ways; Preferences | Plugins; select Kobo Touch under Device Interface and customize driver, or with the device connected, the Configure this device option on the drop down besides the Device button.

In either case, if you want to use collections on the device ensure the calibre column names are specified. If you want to read in kepub format select the option Use Kobo viewer for EPUB books (all on the Collections, covers and upload tab). To support series you need to select the series options on the Metadata, on device and advanced tab.

Additionally ensure that in calibre Preferences| Import/Export | Sending books to device that the option Metadata Management is set to Automatic management.

Also remember that some data (for instance series) is only synced AFTER the Kobo has successfully imported the book; i.e. after sending a book to the Kobo, disconnect the Kobo and let it import the book and then reconnect the Kobo and eject a second time.

[Ripplinger]

I did double check all that because initially I was only getting Kepubs sent (and they still show the very tops of a line of text at the bottom of every page for me so it looks like a line of morse code), which is odd it didn't pick up all previous settings. So most everything stayed as it was, except for sending epubs somehow wasn't checked. Actually now that I think about it, I think the old setup had one version set for kepubs and the main one I used for epubs... and that main one was discontinued, maybe had "extended" in the name? So that explains why only kebpubs were sent at first.

With the previous versions I had been using combined with the patches, that took care of having to reconnect after importing books to get series to show... they always showed correctly on first sending, and the series does show in the book title/description when I send it. The book though just won't stay on the homepage even while actively reading it, so I'm guessing because of that it won't trigger showing the series it came from either.

[PeterT]

The Kobo Touch extended driver has now been deprecated, and it's functionality added to the base Kobo driver.

[PeterT]

Do you have Kobo Utilities installed. If so please do a Check Database through it.

[Ripplinger]

I've never actually used that feature before, never had to, but this is what it spit out:

Result of running 'PRAGMA integrity_check' on database on the Kobo device:

*** in database main ***
Page 27385: never used
Page 27387: never used
Page 27404: never used
Page 143331: never used
Page 143526: never used
Page 143527: never used
Page 143529: never used
Page 143531: never used
Page 143532: never used
Page 143533: never used
Page 143536: never used
Page 143537: never used
Page 143539: never used
Page 143540: never used
Page 143542: never used
Page 143543: never used
Page 143545: never used
Page 143546: never used
Page 143547: never used
Page 143549: never used
Page 143550: never used
Page 143552: never used
Page 143553: never used
Page 143554: never used
Page 143555: never used
Page 143558: never used
Page 143561: never used
Page 143562: never used
Page 143563: never used
Page 143565: never used
Page 143566: never used
Page 143567: never used
Page 143568: never used
Page 143571: never used
Page 145159: never used
Page 145165: never used
Page 145173: never used
Page 145180: never used
Page 145283: never used
Page 145287: never used

[PeterT]

That makes me think there might be some minor corruption in the database. It might be worthwhile using Kobo Utilities to backup the database and then try a KU Compress of the database followed by another check.

[Ripplinger]

Ok, I'll try doing that next, thanks.

[Ripplinger]

Did all that, even removed the newer books from the device and resent them, and still having the same issue. I also tried reading older books that were on the reader and now they also won't appear on the homepage after opening them and reading for a bit.

I've got another spare reader I'll test sending it to from my old and untouched Calibre 4.23 that's still on another PC with Windows 10 and see what happens. The main Kobo GloHD I'm reading from hasn't been connected at all since I did all these upgrades, I tried it on a spare reader first. Yes, I have 3 spares, I love the GloHD that much I have no intention of ever giving it up.

Edit: Btw, I am using Calibre 8.11.1, I did have the updated version.