Calibre Portable for Windows to Calibre for Linux

[SpicyPoison]

I have my Calibre library on an external drive using Calibre Portable latest version (v7.13). Until now I am a Windows user but soon to be Linux user. Calibre Portable had been a great way to access my library from any Windows OS running computer.

How can I transport my Calibre Library from Calibre Portable for Windows to Calibre for Linux with all the books (450+), settings and preferences, News Recipe Schedules. In short, I want to have my Calibre configured on Linux as it is on my Windows Calibre Portable.

What is the easiest and fastest way? Do I have to manually configure all the preferences again and manually copy paste the library folder to the linux? Or is there any other easier and faster way.

[kovidgoyal]

https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...ter-to-another

[SpicyPoison]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...ter-to-another

calibre, version 7.13.0
ERROR: Cannot export/import: You are running calibre portable, all calibre data is already in the calibre portable folder. Export/import is unavailable.

I know this method of exporting calibre data to a single file and importing on another. But the problem is that I am using 'Calibre Portable' version running from an external hard drive.
Hence, I am getting the above mentioned error.

[kovidgoyal]

So instead of running calibre-portable.exe, run calibre.exe, while setting the CALIBRE_CONFIG_DIRECTORY environmnet variable to point to the portable config directory and then use the export tool.

https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/cus...ment-variables

[SpicyPoison]

I have installed calibre on linux from official installation guide.
And I already have my library on a "USB Drive/Calibre/Spicy Poison's Library".
I have my portable Calibre installed on "USB Drive/Calibre/Calibre Portable" in this folder.

Since I am going to use both OS (Windows and Linux) I have decided to not use export feature described earlier. Instead I will be using Calibre on both OS to use same folder on which my library is stored.

The only disadvantages is that I would need to setup configuration and preferences settings again on linux. Now, is there any way by which I can copy some configuration and preference files from "USB Drive/Calibre/Calibre Portable" directory to where Calibre has equivalent directory in linux directories? If not, I shall manually configure my whole Calibre again.

[kovidgoyal]

You cannot share the same library folder between windows and linux, that will lead to data loss as their filesystems have very different semantics.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by SpicyPoison

Since I am going to use both OS (Windows and Linux) I have decided to not use export feature described earlier. Instead I will be using Calibre on both OS to use same folder on which my library is stored.

The only disadvantages is that I would need to setup configuration and preferences settings again on linux. Now, is there any way by which I can copy some configuration and preference files from "USB Drive/Calibre/Calibre Portable" directory to where Calibre has equivalent directory in linux directories? If not, I shall manually configure my whole Calibre again.

You need to use Export, then have same version of Calibre, but for target OS, and then use Import. All the configurations and even noDRM settings will import.

I've used Linux & Windows on dual boot since 1998 (NT 4, Win 2K, XP, Win7) and since Jan 2017 deleted the Windows 7.
I still have an old Win10 laptop and XP, win7 and Win10 on VMs on Linux (and used export/import to Win10 destination).
The XP and Win7 calibre installs still exist, but books can only be added, the versions of Calibre are too old for Import.

[SpicyPoison]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

You cannot share the same library folder between windows and linux, that will lead to data loss as their filesystems have very different semantics.

Ok. If you say so I won't do this. So I think I will permanently use Linux for Calibre from now on.

I tested this method by using a duplicate copy of my calibre portable library by using a seperate USB Drive and opened that library folder from Linux installed Calibre and everything seemed to work fine. I used a duplicate copy of my calibre portable library because I was not sure it will work fine and to avoid any data loss if things go wrong between both Windows and Linux running Calibre programs. After testing out on both OS, all the changes made by Calibre on Linux were also shown in Calibre Portable for Windows. That's why I thought it will work fine forever.

But if the creator of the program says its not a good idea. Then I don't think there is anything to say against it.

Thank You everyone for all the help.

[SpicyPoison]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I've used Linux & Windows on dual boot since 1998 (NT 4, Win 2K, XP, Win7) and since Jan 2017 deleted the Windows 7.

Hey I am new to the Linux Operating System. Currently running Linux Mint Cinnamon from a pendrive to test it out. But for the future, I am definitely going to dual boot my PC with Windows and Linux running side by side. I want to ask you, that does Microsoft windows updates have tendency to cause problems with the dual boot? I watched a video on YouTube and there someone said dual booting windows and Linux should be avoided because Microsoft windows does not want other OS running along side themselves and can disturb the whole dual boot setup by updates.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by SpicyPoison

Hey I am new to the Linux Operating System. Currently running Linux Mint Cinnamon from a pendrive to test it out. But for the future, I am definitely going to dual boot my PC with Windows and Linux running side by side. I want to ask you, that does Microsoft windows updates have tendency to cause problems with the dual boot? I watched a video on YouTube and there someone said dual booting windows and Linux should be avoided because Microsoft windows does not want other OS running along side themselves and can disturb the whole dual boot setup by updates.

Be aware that SYSTEM TIME (as stored in the CMOS) is different unless you tweak Windows by adding a registry entry.

[Quoth]

MS by default uses local time on the HW / Cmos clock. Change this in registry for dual boot. Doesn't seem to matter with a VM.

Everything else uses UTC on the HW / Cmos clock and uses the regional settings for the user to display local time.

Ihe free VM (Windows and Linux both use Oracle) and typical RAM means the clunky Dual boot is history. I last used it in 2016 and after MS ditched the older NT ini file for boot and PCs had UEFI boot, you needed to use GRUB om Linux. That worked up to Dec 2016.

If you have 8G RAM or more you don't need dual boot, except unless you have hardware the VM can't access. Better to put MS in a VM on Linux and only have Calibre on Linux. You need a VM ANYWAY, often on Win10 or W11 for reliable running of 32 bit SW and most Windows programs not updated since Vista. That's why MS includes Vbox on Win 10.

MS updates can simply stop ANY booting occurring and may stop you shutting down windows or slow starting up, so Windows on a VM is better.

If you have Win7 or earlier (even on a UEFI bios) booting in legacy mode there is an MS application to convert that install into a file for Vbox VM on Win10. The file works on Vbox on Linux, though not with default creation settings.

I've saved my 2002 XP laptop and a Win7 install using legacy boot on a UEFI tower to vm files on Linux with this free MS Utility.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sy...loads/disk2vhd

I used a USB HDD as the destination. You can install the files in a Vbox install on internal drive or ext4 USB HDD on Linux, back up the saved stated with rsync and restore on a different Linux laptop. Unlike dual boot, XP takes a few seconds to load, win 7 a bit longer and Win10 40s on Linux, and map linux USB devices (direct), directories, linux serial & parallel ports, graphics, network, sound to VM devices. Copy/paste data between a Linux window and Windows, drag & drop files.

I recommend Mint + Mate + X for best reliability & performance, but with Linux you can install multiple desktop systems and choose at log in.