[Kindle] Sideloaded covers being removed AFTER the usual procedure with Calibre

[hengyu]

Some time ago Amazon pushed an update that caused sideloaded books to lose their covers (if you're connected to the internet).

Then, Calibre pushed an update that allowed us to recover those lost covers by connecting the Kindle to Calibre again, and that had worked perfectly for the past many months.

Today I'm encountering a new problem where it would seem like some of the recovered covers are lost again. I can't recreate the problem exactly - some of the covers remain fixed, and some of them are lost repeatedly.

Anyone else having the same problems?

[markvdvelde]

Originally Posted by hengyu

Today I'm encountering a new problem where it would seem like some of the recovered covers are lost again. I can't recreate the problem exactly - some of the covers remain fixed, and some of them are lost repeatedly.

Anyone else having the same problems?

Yep, same problem here, since a few weeks. I restored my Kindle Paperwhite to factory settings, but that didn't help at all. If you found a solution already, please let me know!

[kovidgoyal]

The only sure way is to keep your kindle in airplane mode, then amazon cant pull its shenanigans.

[Tzar]

Originally Posted by hengyu

Some time ago Amazon pushed an update that caused sideloaded books to lose their covers (if you're connected to the internet).

Then, Calibre pushed an update that allowed us to recover those lost covers by connecting the Kindle to Calibre again, and that had worked perfectly for the past many months.

Today I'm encountering a new problem where it would seem like some of the recovered covers are lost again. I can't recreate the problem exactly - some of the covers remain fixed, and some of them are lost repeatedly.

Anyone else having the same problems?

Same here. I've found an haphazard way of making them stick by repeatedly plugging and unplugging the Kindle out of Calibre like 5 or 6 times, opening the books, going back to the home screen, opening them again, going back... I eventually get the covers to stick by this random method. It's total madness.

Unfortunately, because I am using my Kindle to learn other languages, I sometimes need to use the translator function of the Kindle so keeping it in airplane mode all the time isn't really an option for me.

[Les Kern]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

The only sure way is to keep your kindle in airplane mode, then amazon cant pull its shenanigans.

Well this has got me stumped... I love my Kindle, but their "shenanigans" is making me crazy.
I have thousands of books and documents, all dutifully set with complete metadata and covers. Just the other day, NO covers were sticking. None. Zero.
I have tried every method for correcting this, to no avail (and I have read them all, even the crazy ones). The file on the Kindle called "amazon-cover-bug" stopped adding thumbnails at the last good entry. I copied and deleted it, thinking a new one would be generated, but that didn't work.
I can't bear the thought of doing a factory reset, then taking the DAYS to re-upload with no guarantee that it would work.
Do I need to give up my Oasis due to my OCD-related issue on seeing a cover?

[Bookstooge]

Originally Posted by Les Kern

Well this has got me stumped... I love my Kindle, but their "shenanigans" is making me crazy.
I have thousands of books and documents, all dutifully set with complete metadata and covers. Just the other day, NO covers were sticking. None. Zero.
I have tried every method for correcting this, to no avail (and I have read them all, even the crazy ones). The file on the Kindle called "amazon-cover-bug" stopped adding thumbnails at the last good entry. I copied and deleted it, thinking a new one would be generated, but that didn't work.
I can't bear the thought of doing a factory reset, then taking the DAYS to re-upload with no guarantee that it would work.
Do I need to give up my Oasis due to my OCD-related issue on seeing a cover?

No need to give up the Oasis. Just keep it in airplane mode like Kovid suggested.

[Les Kern]

Originally Posted by Bookstooge

No need to give up the Oasis. Just keep it in airplane mode like Kovid suggested.

I haven't taken it out of airplane mode recently, last time was when the Kindle had an update and I had several thousand fewer books and documents. That was months ago.
Like I said, I've tried everything.
Except a reset, which I dread.

[markvdvelde]

Originally Posted by Les Kern

Like I said, I've tried everything.
Except a reset, which I dread.

No need to do a reset. I did, and it had zero effect. I now send mobi files to my Kindle via email. These are recognised as "personal documents", meaning Amazon won't try to replace the covers. I don't see any other solution yet.

[Joliet Jake]

If you use AZW files (and polish the covers) do you still run into this problem?

[Les Kern]

Originally Posted by Joliet Jake

If you use AZW files (and polish the covers) do you still run into this problem?

I use ASW and polish, no go.
I was using MOBI before this started happening and never had an issue till now. I changed to AZW just to see if that would fix it.

It didn't.

[Les Kern]

Originally Posted by markvdvelde

No need to do a reset. I did, and it had zero effect. I now send mobi files to my Kindle via email. These are recognised as "personal documents", meaning Amazon won't try to replace the covers. I don't see any other solution yet.

I'd rather not turn off airplane mode, but I suppose at this point I could try it.

[MikeFL]

I was not aware this was an issue, and somehow stumbled upon the subject. I have been on wifi all the while with seemingly the only issue was to connect and disconnect, repeat a couple of times if needed and I was good. (Always AZW3 files) - If the idea is now to stay in airplane mode, I'm fine with that of course. How will we know when firmware updates are available and can we pop on to wifi just to get the update, go back to airplane mode and everything will be intact? Thanks.

[Les Kern]

Originally Posted by MikeFL

I was not aware this was an issue, and somehow stumbled upon the subject. I have been on wifi all the while with seemingly the only issue was to connect and disconnect, repeat a couple of times if needed and I was good. (Always AZW3 files) - If the idea is now to stay in airplane mode, I'm fine with that of course. How will we know when firmware updates are available and can we pop on to wifi just to get the update, go back to airplane mode and everything will be intact? Thanks.

Just to get updates it hasn't been an issue in the past, at least for me. The tried-and-true method, if and when the covers disappear, is to just re-attach and eject. They always came back up until my little kerfluffle, the subject of this thread.

Now for the good news: I'm back in operation.
I first went to my mac, and the same thing happened with no covers on all newly added books. Obviously it's the Kindle.
NOTHING worked before on my main computer, so I bit the bullet and did a factory reset of the Oasis, and, to be sure, I deleted Calibre and its registry entries, just so I was starting from known good components.
The second I plugged it in, it did the transfers in record time, and when I ejected the Kindle after adding the first 1,000, the covers popped right back up. AND, to test it, I took it off Airplane Mode to do an update, and the covers remained. (I put it right back on AM, of course!)
And the better news... transfer speeds are really, REALLY fast now. I did those first 1,000 books in about 4 minutes. Before this just a few books took that long.

So my lessons learned:
1: If there are issues, it's the Kindle. Calibre is solid. (Just make sure to use the 64-bit version)
2: Don't be afraid to factory reset. It's pretty painless even with the immense number of books I have.
3. AZW3 or any other formats DO NOT work as well as EPUB to MOBI for me. Mileage may vary, but I am sticking with MOBI on the Kindle.

Thanks to all for helping me out here, I truly appreciate the time you gave.

[Les Kern]

Postscript: After adding the books, the Kindle has been indexing for two days now.

[vranger]

I can confirm that converting your file to epub and emailing it to your Kindle will result in the cover image displaying in the Kindle menu. I just did it with my Scribe. They'll sync to your device within a very few minutes. It was three or four for me. I did it a few times for different groups of my own manuscripts.