Large number of duplicate database entries

[evand]

I did a search on this topic, but everyone said doing an "Initialize now" fixes the problem.  Not for me! I have Rockbox installed on a Sansa e280, where about 7 of the 8 gigabytes are used.  I just installed Rockbox version r18515-080914 today (Oct 10). I also did an "Initialize now" (although, since it runs in the background, I'm not sure when/if it completed).

After doing the above, I still show 12 entries for every song in the database! This has been going on for a couple months.

I don't know if it matters, but in installing the latest build, I received an error while attempting to install Themes. I've gotten this error message for a while now. However, my main concern here is the duplicate database entries.

Any suggestions what I should do?

[bascule]

Do a database export (Settings > Database > Export Modifications (http://download.rockbox.org/manual/rockbox-sansae200/rockbox-buildch4.html#x7-480004.2.3)
Go into the /.rockbox directory and delete all the database files (*.tcd)
Initialise database again.

[evand]

bascule:  Thanks for the quick reply!  After sending my message, I tried "Initialize now" again, but this time let it sit for several hours. 

When I returned, I tried your suggestion to export modifications, but the unit responded "Failed".  So I then tried going into the database, but the unit responded something like "Reboot then retry".  When I rebooted, everything was fixed!

Anyone have any idea what causes this to happen in the first place?

[Strife89]

I don't have an answer to that question, but you can do something that will keep a database initialization or an update from taking so long: enable the directory cache (dircache for short). (Settings/General Settings/System/Disk/Directory Cache). It should cut the time down from [however long it takes for you] to no more than a couple of minutes.

Also, whenever your Sansa is reading or writing to the disk, you'll see a small icon show up on the right side of the Statusbar. After initializing or updating, watch it. When it turns off and stays off, it should be done. Reboot (turn off and then turn on) your DAP to see the changes.

[evand]

Strife89: Thanks for the tips!  I made the change and can hardly wait until I need to re-initialize the player ... well, not really, but at least it won't take so long.

Thanks again.