Idiot directions for Igorsk's Mobipocket workaround

[Devon]

I am sorry I am ignorant about Python, but how do I use the scripts. I have two computers - One Mac and one pc (vista) Directions please.

Have I mentioned today that I hate Vista!

[Ervserver]

Hello Devon, I'm sure someone here will give you a hand soon. LOL about Vista

[bchowdhr]

I am, in particular, interested in finding out how books I bought for Kindle can be read on a computer using Mobipocket reader. Reading the forum seemed to suggest that this was indeed feasible but I also need "Idiot" instructions.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by bchowdhr

I am, in particular, interested in finding out how books I bought for Kindle can be read on a computer using Mobipocket reader.

This isn't possible. The knowledge necessary to break the Kindle's DRM is out there, both for adding MobiPocket PIDs and for completely removing the encryption, but no one has made such software available so far as I know. It would definitely be illegal in the US to make such software available. Note that Amazon could easily allow this, but unless they do so the AZW files are locked down to particular Kindle's only.

What Igorski's workaround does is the reverse: it makes DRMed MobiPocket e-books you purchased available on the Kindle. This is (probably) legal if the site you bought the MobiPocket e-book from adds the Kindle's PID for you, as required by the workaround. Note that some sites will reject the Kindle PID as invalid.

[bojan]

Arghh...., ignore...

[bojan]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

This isn't possible. The knowledge necessary to break the Kindle's DRM is out there, both for adding MobiPocket PIDs and for completely removing the encryption, but no one has made such software available so far as I know. It would definitely be illegal in the US to make such software available. Note that Amazon could easily allow this, but unless they do so the AZW files are locked down to particular Kindle's only.

Somebody probably has it

But your are right that it's probably a legal issue of releasing it.

[somebuddy]

Okay, but how about still giving us the idiot's directions for using Igor's Python script to generate a PID? I'd just like to "unlock" my Kindle so I can start using the PID to download stuff from other sites.

[TallMomof2]

Originally Posted by somebuddy

Okay, but how about still giving us the idiot's directions for using Igor's Python script to generate a PID? I'd just like to "unlock" my Kindle so I can start using the PID to download stuff from other sites.

In this thread in post four I wrote down exactly how I got the scripts to work. It took me a couple of days because I had to figure it out.

You have to do both scripts. The first script tells you your Kindle ID. Then you go to non-MobiPocket resellers (fictionwise, ebooks, and booksonboard are three that I know of that use different servers) and enter that PID in your personal settings. Each site is a little different.

Then you download your DRMed mobi books with your Kindle PID inserted. *But* the files still need to be massaged so that's why you run the second script.

The downside to using these scripts is that, at least in my experience, the vast majority of files will not show the title and/or the author on the Kindle. That's why you need to use MobiPerl. MobiPerl has a set of executable files so you don't have to download Perl and install that.

HTH, and I hope this is a little logical since I'm on day 3 of the flu and am seeing lots of pretty hallucinations.

[somebuddy]

Woo hoo! I got it to work! Reading my library books as I type this! Thanks for the instructions. It's so obvious once one knows to run the scripts in the DOS prompt!

So one final questions - what's the prc.py script for?



Thanks,
Mer

[snookums]

Originally Posted by somebuddy

Woo hoo! I got it to work! Reading my library books as I type this! Thanks for the instructions. It's so obvious once one knows to run the scripts in the DOS prompt!

So one final questions - what's the prc.py script for?



Thanks,
Mer

It's a helper file that kindlefix.py calls on to read and write mobi files.

[j2jensen]

I wrote an easy-to-use Windows Version here.

[susan_cassidy]

You cannot use a Kindle PID with Fictionwise Secure Mobipocket books. It will not accept the asterisk in the PID. They used to, but changed a year or so ago.

[PERSISTENCE]

There are now files available to convert kindle files (azw format).

Google 'UNLOCK AZW' and go down the page. I can't tell you which one of the responses...one of the early ones will provide instructions AND files required to convert kindle files.

You need unlock the AZW file (the DRM protection) to convert the file. So this will answer your question....it's now possible to do, and there are files available. It's a pain but if you're familiar with python, you'll be fine.

Good luck.

[HarryT]

This thread is almost four years old. It's a complete waste of time replying to it now!