201210 - ECHO/PULSE - Windows - Renaming the Livescribe data folder

How do I rename the Windows Livescribe data folder so I can re-transfer my smartpen data?

Renaming the data folder and transferring everything from your smartpen to EchoDesktop once more can usually resolve data transfer/corruption issues that may be causing problems with Echo Desktop.

NOTE: This will only transfer notes and sessions still on your smartpen.  If you have deleted anything from your smartpen this process will not recover the deleted data.  If you have archived notebooks from your smartpen (see
80404 - Archiving a notebook using Echo Desktop), before starting the rename process please export each archived notebook to your Windows desktop (80960 - ECHO/PULSE - Sharing/Exporting Echo Desktop pencasts and notes).  

Exporting your archived notebooks as .pencast files will allow you to import them back into Livescribe Desktop after the renaming process is finished so that you don't lose them.

To rename the data folder you will first need to make sure hidden folders are visible.  To do so:

  1. Shut down Echo Desktop.
  2. Windows 8/10 - Mouse over the lower left corner of the screen to get the Start icon to appear, right-click, and select "control Panel".  Windows 7/Vista/XP - Click on the Windows "Start" button and select "Control Panel".
  3. Windows 10/8/7/Vista - From Category view, click on "Appearance and Personalization" and select "Show Hidden Files or Folders" OR from Icons view double-click "Folder Options" and select the "View" tab. Windows XP - Double-click "Folder Options" and select the "View" tab.
  4. Under the "Hidden files and folders" section, if not already selected, select the radio button labeled "Show hidden files and folders" and click "OK".

Now you can rename the data folder.  To do so:

  1. Windows 8/10 - Mouse over the lower left corner of the screen to get the Start icon to appear, right-click, and select "File Explorer".  Windows 7/Vista/XP - Right-click on your Windows "Start" button and select "Open Windows Explorer" (7) / "Explore" (Vista/XP).
  2. Windows 8/7/Vista users navigate to "C:\Users\your_windows_account_name\AppData\Local". Windows XP users navigate to "C:\Documents and Settings \your_windows_account_name\Local Settings\Application Data".
  3. Right-click on the "Livescribe" folder and select "Rename".
  4. Rename your "Livescribe" folder to something else (for example "Livescribe - Old".  This way you can keep the files as a backup in case you need to access them later).  NOTE: If you get an error indicating you do not have permissions to change this folder name and you are an Administrator on that computer running Windows 8/7/Vista, you may need to turn User Account Control off temporarily.  Windows 8/10 - Switch back to the Start screen by pressing the Windows key (between "Ctrl" and "Alt" on your keyboard), type "uac", select "Settings" on the right, click on "Change User Account Control Settings", and drag the slider bar down to "Never notify" and click/tap "OK".  You can turn UAC back on after the rename.  Windows 7 - Access http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Turn-User-Account-Control-on-or-off.  Windows Vista - Access http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Turn-User-Account-Control-on-or-off.
  5. Plug your charging cable into a USB port directly on your computer, not into a USB port on a docking station, keyboard, Hub, or monitor.  
  6. Dock your smartpen and run Echo Desktop.
  7. Click "Authorize Echo Desktop".
  8. In the "Online User Account" window leave "Use my existing account" selected, enter your existing email and password and click "Authorize".
  9. At the "Please give your smartpen a name." prompt name your smartpen and click "OK". 

All of the files on your smartpen should now transfer.  

Depending on how full your smartpen is, this could take several minutes to a few hours, so please make sure to leave the smartpen docked until the transfer finishes. When the transfer has finished, the static transfer icon on your smartpen OLED will change back to show the time.

If you exported any archived notebook(s) in the .pencast file format prior to starting the rename process you can re-import the notebook(s) now by going to your Windows desktop and double-clicking on each file to import it back into the Windows Echo Desktop "Imported Notebooks" section (bottom of the viewing pane on the left).

After renaming your data folder if you still have a problem please let us know.

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