Libra Kobo Libra H2O Not Connecting.

Skelde · 07-07-2020, 12:42 AM

I purchased my first Kobo reader today, the Libra H20. Unfortunately, I cannot get it to connect to my PC. I get the message 'Connected and Charging' on the Kobo but the PC won't recognise it. If I go to the device manager in Windows 10 it appears as an unknown USB device.

I've tried 3 cables and connecting it through different ports, both directly and through a USB hub. It will connect to my wife's PC, she is also running Windows 10.

Any idea how to overcome this issue?

DNSB · 07-07-2020, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skelde

I purchased my first Kobo reader today, the Libra H20. Unfortunately, I cannot get it to connect to my PC. I get the message 'Connected and Charging' on the Kobo but the PC won't recognise it. If I go to the device manager in Windows 10 it appears as an unknown USB device.

I've tried 3 cables and connecting it through different ports, both directly and through a USB hub. It will connect to my wife's PC, she is also running Windows 10.

Any idea how to overcome this issue?

Without your Libra H2O connected, try running devmgmt (just type that into the search box and click on Device Manager. Once you have Device Manager open, click on View and select Show hidden devices. Look under Universal Serial Bus devices and uninstall the greyed out devices. Next look under Universal Serial Bus controllers. Uninstall any greyed out devices under there. Repeat for Unknown Devices if that heading shows.

Alternately, go to USB Device Viewer at Nirsoft.com, download the appropriate 32 or 64 bit version. Unzip it into a directory of your choice and then run it as administrator (saves having to say yes for every deletion) and remove any unknown USB devices.

Skelde · 07-07-2020, 01:55 AM

Thanks for taking the time to answer David.
I tried both methods but, no luck. I also tried resetting to factory settings.
I'm wondering if it's because I'm running Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview.

DNSB · 07-07-2020, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skelde

Thanks for taking the time to answer David.
I tried both methods but, no luck. I also tried resetting to factory settings.
I'm wondering if it's because I'm running Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview.

I've had issues on and off with Windows Insider previews and ereaders so it's entirely possible. Which build are you on? My VM is currently on 20161 and the last time I tested a Kobo ereader was a couple of weeks back on 20152 where it did work happily enough. Admittedly, I'm running the WIP on a VMWare Workstation VM and not on bare iron. Makes it a lot safer when it's your main work computer and since VMWare emulates very standard hardware, a lot few device issues.

Skelde · 07-07-2020, 11:11 AM

I’m running the same version as you it seems. I’m not using a VM though.

imno007 · 07-07-2020, 01:15 PM

I'm having the same problem with my Kobo Forma, but in my case it refuses to connect in any port on either of two PC's, and I've tried all kinds of troubleshooting and done a factory reset. So I'm pretty sure I just have a bad USB port. It still charges, fortunately, but I can no longer sideload content. Anyway, hopefully someone will be able to help you resolve your own problem, since you know you can still connect on another computer; but if not you can always fall back on Dropbox, which is the only way I am able now to get most of my books onto my Kobo (although no kepub support):

https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/artic...r-with-Dropbox

Valuable lesson learned for me: my next ereader will not be a Kobo or a Kindle, unless they once again start adding SD slots to their ereaders.

JSWolf · 07-07-2020, 01:26 PM

Have you tried different cables and have you tried a USB 2 port?

imno007 · 07-07-2020, 01:53 PM

If that's directed at me, yes, I've tried multiple cables and USB ports (2 and 3). But all the same ports and cables worked up until a couple weeks ago, so unless they all suddenly went bad....

I can tell something is flaky with the port connection on the Kobo. Sometimes plugging the USB cord in doesn't bring up the "Computer detected" dialogue option to connect to the computer, or I'll see it come up for a second before it disappears and the Kobo then just displays the regular screen. When it does that, I can get the Computer detected prompt back up by pressing the USB cord harder into the port, but then it's still not a firm connection, because a little movement will sometimes break the connection. And even when it says it's connected and the I get the "Connected and charging" screen, the drive doesn't appear in Windows.

JSWolf · 07-07-2020, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imno007

If that's directed at me, yes, I've tried multiple cables and USB ports (2 and 3). But all the same ports and cables worked up until a couple weeks ago, so unless they all suddenly went bad....

I can tell something is flaky with the port connection on the Kobo. Sometimes plugging the USB cord in doesn't bring up the "Computer detected" dialogue option to connect to the computer, or I'll see it come up for a second before it disappears and the Kobo then just displays the regular screen. When it does that, I can get the Computer detected prompt back up by pressing the USB cord harder into the port, but then it's still not a firm connection, because a little movement will sometimes break the connection. And even when it says it's connected and the I get the "Connected and charging" screen, the drive doesn't appear in Windows.

Have you tried the cable that came with the Libra?

Semwize · 07-07-2020, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imno007

If that's directed at me, yes, I've tried multiple cables and USB ports (2 and 3). But all the same ports and cables worked up until a couple weeks ago, so unless they all suddenly went bad....

I can tell something is flaky with the port connection on the Kobo. Sometimes plugging the USB cord in doesn't bring up the "Computer detected" dialogue option to connect to the computer, or I'll see it come up for a second before it disappears and the Kobo then just displays the regular screen. When it does that, I can get the Computer detected prompt back up by pressing the USB cord harder into the port, but then it's still not a firm connection, because a little movement will sometimes break the connection. And even when it says it's connected and the I get the "Connected and charging" screen, the drive doesn't appear in Windows.

According to this description, it most likely seems that you damaged the USB socket. And you need to either solder it or change the device under warranty (if any).

Have you tried connecting the device to another computer, by the way? You do not have this in a post.

imno007 · 07-07-2020, 05:34 PM

Yes, as I said above in my first post, I've tried another computer. Also, I'm not sure that I personally damaged the USB port, as opposed to it simply being a poor factory solder that broke down over time. Having searched around, it seems to be a fairly common problem with these kobos. I don't know, maybe I've been lucky, but this is the first time I remember ever having had a USB port fail on any device I've owned - well, any mobile device. (I've had one or two go bad on PC.) Point being that I'm not in the habit of aggressively trying to jam cords into the port the wrong way or anything else that might damage them.

Anyway, it's a bummer, doubly so because the warranty has expired, but I can live with the Dropbox solution until I buy another reader - although, again, the next one will have an SD slot, so that if something like this ever happens again I'll have a backup method of sideloading content.

Semwize · 07-07-2020, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imno007

I'll have a backup method of sideloading content.

The backup method sideloading content on any Kobo is NickelMenu with a configured FTP server.

shalym · 07-07-2020, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Semwize

The backup method sideloading content on any Kobo is NickelMenu with a configured FTP server.

How do you set up NickelMenu if you can't connect the device to a computer?

Shari

DNSB · 07-08-2020, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shalym

How do you set up NickelMenu if you can't connect the device to a computer?

Shari

Hmmm.... devmodeon in the search box, telnet to your Kobo and ftp the files?

Semwize · 07-08-2020, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

telnet

Yes, have to try that way.
Then configure Nickel Menu and use any FTP client to transfer files. From a computer or phone / tablet.

07-07-2020, 12:42 AM	#1
Skelde Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2020 Device: Kobo Libra H20	Kobo Libra H2O Not Connecting. I purchased my first Kobo reader today, the Libra H20. Unfortunately, I cannot get it to connect to my PC. I get the message 'Connected and Charging' on the Kobo but the PC won't recognise it. If I go to the device manager in Windows 10 it appears as an unknown USB device. I've tried 3 cables and connecting it through different ports, both directly and through a USB hub. It will connect to my wife's PC, she is also running Windows 10. Any idea how to overcome this issue?

07-07-2020, 01:15 PM	#6
imno007 Member Posts: 19 Karma: 136498 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: none	I'm having the same problem with my Kobo Forma, but in my case it refuses to connect in any port on either of two PC's, and I've tried all kinds of troubleshooting and done a factory reset. So I'm pretty sure I just have a bad USB port. It still charges, fortunately, but I can no longer sideload content. Anyway, hopefully someone will be able to help you resolve your own problem, since you know you can still connect on another computer; but if not you can always fall back on Dropbox, which is the only way I am able now to get most of my books onto my Kobo (although no kepub support): https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/artic...r-with-Dropbox Valuable lesson learned for me: my next ereader will not be a Kobo or a Kindle, unless they once again start adding SD slots to their ereaders. Last edited by imno007; 07-07-2020 at 01:17 PM.

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07-07-2020, 01:55 AM	#3
Skelde Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2020 Device: Kobo Libra H20	Thanks for taking the time to answer David. I tried both methods but, no luck. I also tried resetting to factory settings. I'm wondering if it's because I'm running Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview.

07-07-2020, 11:11 AM	#5
Skelde Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2020 Device: Kobo Libra H20	I’m running the same version as you it seems. I’m not using a VM though.

07-07-2020, 01:26 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,337 Karma: 136006010 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Have you tried different cables and have you tried a USB 2 port?

07-07-2020, 01:53 PM	#8
imno007 Member Posts: 19 Karma: 136498 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: none	If that's directed at me, yes, I've tried multiple cables and USB ports (2 and 3). But all the same ports and cables worked up until a couple weeks ago, so unless they all suddenly went bad.... I can tell something is flaky with the port connection on the Kobo. Sometimes plugging the USB cord in doesn't bring up the "Computer detected" dialogue option to connect to the computer, or I'll see it come up for a second before it disappears and the Kobo then just displays the regular screen. When it does that, I can get the Computer detected prompt back up by pressing the USB cord harder into the port, but then it's still not a firm connection, because a little movement will sometimes break the connection. And even when it says it's connected and the I get the "Connected and charging" screen, the drive doesn't appear in Windows.

07-07-2020, 05:34 PM	#11
imno007 Member Posts: 19 Karma: 136498 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: none	Yes, as I said above in my first post, I've tried another computer. Also, I'm not sure that I personally damaged the USB port, as opposed to it simply being a poor factory solder that broke down over time. Having searched around, it seems to be a fairly common problem with these kobos. I don't know, maybe I've been lucky, but this is the first time I remember ever having had a USB port fail on any device I've owned - well, any mobile device. (I've had one or two go bad on PC.) Point being that I'm not in the habit of aggressively trying to jam cords into the port the wrong way or anything else that might damage them. Anyway, it's a bummer, doubly so because the warranty has expired, but I can live with the Dropbox solution until I buy another reader - although, again, the next one will have an SD slot, so that if something like this ever happens again I'll have a backup method of sideloading content.

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