MS Reader Problem with Windows Vista

bookfanmd · 10-02-2009, 10:27 AM

Hi,

I'm not sure if this is the best place to post this problem so please move it if I'm wrong.

My computer running Windows XP died unexpectedly and I just got a replacement running Windows Vista. I downloaded MS Reader and activated it. I then downloaded 3 recently purchased books in secure MS Reader format from Fictionwise as well as 1 DRM free MS Reader book. All the books downloaded to the computer. The DRM free book opens fine in MS Reader. The secure books are showing in the MS Reader library when I open the software but they won't open. No matter which one I click on I just get the Vista spinning circle that indicates it's trying to do something. It just gets hung up and I end up closing MS Reader after about 15 minutes.

I want to get these converted to a format I can use with my Sony Reader but I need one to open so I can get the conversion software to work.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks.

pilotbob · 10-02-2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bookfanmd

My computer running Windows XP died unexpectedly and I just got a replacement running Windows Vista. I downloaded MS Reader and activated it.

Did you activate it with the same login/password/live id/passport (whatever MS is calling it these days) as the one you had on the XP machine?

BOb

bookfanmd · 10-03-2009, 11:43 PM

Yes, it's the same password. Also, these books had never been downloaded so I don't think they would have been linked to that account.

pilotbob · 10-04-2009, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bookfanmd

Yes, it's the same password. Also, these books had never been downloaded so I don't think they would have been linked to that account.

And you don't happen to have a backup of your previous keys.txt file?

BOb

pilotbob · 10-04-2009, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bookfanmd

Yes, it's the same password. Also, these books had never been downloaded so I don't think they would have been linked to that account.

Have you tried running MS Reader "as administrator"?

BOb

bookfanmd · 10-05-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

And you don't happen to have a backup of your previous keys.txt file?

BOb

The old home laptop is as dead as a doornail and no backup of the keys.txt file. I do have MS Reader installed on my work PC and download fine with that - using the same activation login and password I am trying in Vista. I did email the keys.txt file from the work PC and put it where needed on the Vista PC but got an error. I don't remember exactly what it was but something to the effect of invalid key.

I'm really not supposed to have the software on my work PC so it's not a good option for long term. I work for a huge company that scans all the computers on the network and eventually I'll get an email telling me to remove it so I'd really like to get me home PC working.

I spent about an hour on the phone yesterday with various Microsoft support departments and they have finally referred me to the MS Reader support team. I'm supposed to get a call within a few days from a specialist. That will be good since the first support person I spoke with didn't even know what Reader was and kept asking me for my PID. I had to tell her it was a Microsoft application.

Also, now I have used up the limit of Reader activations although I've only ever activated/tried to activate 3 PC's - work, old dead laptop, new non-working laptop. I've applied for more and indicated I should only show 2 active now but who knows how that will work out.

Good suggestion though about the keys.txt file. I really thought I'd be OK when I tried that.

JSWolf · 10-05-2009, 12:52 PM

My MS Reader is broken. It won't read DRMed eBooks. But when it did work, I did get the key and am able to lremove the DRM and then MS Reader will work.

bookfanmd · 10-05-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Have you tried running MS Reader "as administrator"?

BOb

I'm not sure what you mean. There were special instructions for Vista to download Reader and I followed them. I'm the only one who uses the computer so I guess I'm considered the administrator. It always asks me to approve before it will download anything. How can I tell for sure?

bookfanmd · 10-05-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

My MS Reader is broken. It won't read DRMed eBooks. But when it did work, I did get the key and am able to lremove the DRM and then MS Reader will work.

Yes. If I could just get it to work once I'd be OK.

AnemicOak · 10-05-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bookfanmd

I'm not sure what you mean. There were special instructions for Vista to download Reader and I followed them. I'm the only one who uses the computer so I guess I'm considered the administrator. It always asks me to approve before it will download anything. How can I tell for sure?

When you go to open it try right clicking on the icon/shortcut and selecting run as administrator, although I've never had to do that to run it in Vista it might be worth a try.

JSWolf · 10-05-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bookfanmd

I'm not sure what you mean. There were special instructions for Vista to download Reader and I followed them. I'm the only one who uses the computer so I guess I'm considered the administrator. It always asks me to approve before it will download anything. How can I tell for sure?

Try turning off UAC. We have a laptop with Vista on it and I had to turn off UAC to be able to do anything without being asked everytime I wanted to do something.

bookfanmd · 10-05-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

When you go to open it try right clicking on the icon/shortcut and selecting run as administrator, although I've never had to do that to run it in Vista it might be worth a try.

I'll try that when I get home.

bookfanmd · 10-05-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Try turning off UAC. We have a laptop with Vista on it and I had to turn off UAC to be able to do anything without being asked everytime I wanted to do something.

Yes. It's really annoying. I haven't explored Vista too well since I'll get a free upgrade to Windows 7 in a few weeks and I'll have to do it all over again. I should have just waited to buy a new laptop but I'm too impatient and I didn't have any way to load new books to my reader without it.

pilotbob · 10-05-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

<snip>and I had to turn off UAC to be able to do anything without being asked everytime I wanted to do something.

Well, we all know that is an exaggeration.

UAC is much fixed in Win7. I very seldom see the UAC prompt unless I am installing something. And that is when it is expected to show.

BOb

bookfanmd · 10-06-2009, 09:38 AM

Running MS Reader as an administrator did not help. Microsoft support called last night and they are working on getting my authorizations corrected so we can try again. They will call back in a few days when that is resolved and then work on the secure book issue.

Just for the heck of it I tried to downconvert a secure file again and it worked. The only thing that was different was that I checked put "downconverted" in the file name this time. I was converting from one directory into another so I shouldn't have needed the "downconverted" but I'll take what I can get. I'm backing up the keys.txt file for future use.

I'd still really like to get MS Reader working for secure books. Reader only worked about half the time on my old PC and when it was having issues I wasn't able to purchase secure books from Harlequin. I would get a message that I needed an activated copy of MS reader on my PC to puchase books. They have some good deals and freebies and I like romances. I don't know if I'd have problems on other sites with this or not. Fictionwise lets me buy secure MS reader OK.

Thanks for all the suggestions with this issue. I'll let you know if Microsoft is able to get things straightened out.

Sheila

10-02-2009, 10:27 AM	#1
bookfanmd Addict Posts: 246 Karma: 4476 Join Date: May 2009 Location: US - Maryland Device: Sony 300/505/T1 Nook STWG Kobo Glo Kobo Aura HD KDX iPad1 K3 KT PW2	MS Reader Problem with Windows Vista Hi, I'm not sure if this is the best place to post this problem so please move it if I'm wrong. My computer running Windows XP died unexpectedly and I just got a replacement running Windows Vista. I downloaded MS Reader and activated it. I then downloaded 3 recently purchased books in secure MS Reader format from Fictionwise as well as 1 DRM free MS Reader book. All the books downloaded to the computer. The DRM free book opens fine in MS Reader. The secure books are showing in the MS Reader library when I open the software but they won't open. No matter which one I click on I just get the Vista spinning circle that indicates it's trying to do something. It just gets hung up and I end up closing MS Reader after about 15 minutes. I want to get these converted to a format I can use with my Sony Reader but I need one to open so I can get the conversion software to work. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

10-06-2009, 09:38 AM	#15
bookfanmd Addict Posts: 246 Karma: 4476 Join Date: May 2009 Location: US - Maryland Device: Sony 300/505/T1 Nook STWG Kobo Glo Kobo Aura HD KDX iPad1 K3 KT PW2	Running MS Reader as an administrator did not help. Microsoft support called last night and they are working on getting my authorizations corrected so we can try again. They will call back in a few days when that is resolved and then work on the secure book issue. Just for the heck of it I tried to downconvert a secure file again and it worked. The only thing that was different was that I checked put "downconverted" in the file name this time. I was converting from one directory into another so I shouldn't have needed the "downconverted" but I'll take what I can get. I'm backing up the keys.txt file for future use. I'd still really like to get MS Reader working for secure books. Reader only worked about half the time on my old PC and when it was having issues I wasn't able to purchase secure books from Harlequin. I would get a message that I needed an activated copy of MS reader on my PC to puchase books. They have some good deals and freebies and I like romances. I don't know if I'd have problems on other sites with this or not. Fictionwise lets me buy secure MS reader OK. Thanks for all the suggestions with this issue. I'll let you know if Microsoft is able to get things straightened out. Sheila Last edited by bookfanmd; 10-06-2009 at 09:41 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Calibre - Ever on 64 bit Vista or Windows 7?	estral	Calibre	16	08-22-2009 04:38 PM
Reader / Memory Card / Vista problem	ckriel	Sony Reader	4	01-31-2009 10:18 AM
Windows Vista	giedre	iRex	7	06-22-2008 01:53 AM
CONNECT Reader software not installing on Windows Vista	gandalfbp	Sony Reader	6	12-28-2006 12:09 AM
Windows Vista Wallpapers	skweezer	Lounge	0	09-21-2005 01:19 PM

10-03-2009, 11:43 PM	#3
bookfanmd Addict Posts: 246 Karma: 4476 Join Date: May 2009 Location: US - Maryland Device: Sony 300/505/T1 Nook STWG Kobo Glo Kobo Aura HD KDX iPad1 K3 KT PW2	Yes, it's the same password. Also, these books had never been downloaded so I don't think they would have been linked to that account.

10-05-2009, 12:52 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,983 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	My MS Reader is broken. It won't read DRMed eBooks. But when it did work, I did get the key and am able to lremove the DRM and then MS Reader will work.

Advert

Advert