Help in activating microsoft reader

corso · 09-23-2008, 12:09 PM

I have tried to activate the reader for several days now. Each time, I get a message telling me that the server is unavailable. Has anyone else had a similar problem?

Thanks in anticipation

UKHaiku · 09-23-2008, 06:13 PM

Sorry I'm no help, but also having the same problem, so it's not just you...

corso · 09-26-2008, 04:27 PM

Thanks for the reply.

Glad to hear that it's not just me.

I have tried on several machines and with different broadband connections. So what is happening I wonder? I have a .lit book at fictionwise waiting to be downloaded. Do I just write it off to experience?

Snowman · 09-26-2008, 06:31 PM

I have to say that one of the reasons that I do not use the Microsoft reader myself is the warning from BooksOnBoard:

Quote:

Most difficult Reader to configure; increasing compatibility issues.

We do NOT recommend this format. We offer it to accommodate our long-term Microsoft Reader customers.

see http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=formats

afaik it used to say that this format was no longer supported by Microsoft, but recently changed.

UKHaiku · 09-27-2008, 05:49 AM

I think the server is back up now - I managed to authorise my laptop last night...

HarryT · 09-27-2008, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowman

I have to say that one of the reasons that I do not use the Microsoft reader myself is the warning from BooksOnBoard:

Hmmm. I've used and activated MS Reader on many machines and not had the slightest difficulty myself. It certainly isn't "rocket science"!

JSWolf · 09-27-2008, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Hmmm. I've used and activated MS Reader on many machines and not had the slightest difficulty myself. It certainly isn't "rocket science"!

It doesn't help that the activation server was down.

HarryT · 09-27-2008, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It doesn't help that the activation server was down.

I was referring to the comment from BoB that MS Reader is "difficult to configure". Allowing for the occasional outage of the activation server, I've never found it to be so, personally.

corso · 09-27-2008, 10:34 AM

Many thanks UKHaiku.Tried it again - now successful.

GingerTez · 10-12-2008, 09:02 AM

Grrr.... tried it on 23rd September before going on holiday but couldn't get it to work so had to not download the books I'd bought for my holiday... and now I'm home it still says the server is down.

I'm very annoyed.... I've been recommended to download the Microsoft Reader files rather than the Adobe ones from Fictionwise (for my PRS-505) so that they can be converted easily... but this is a major PITA. Can Secure eReader files from Fictionwise be easily converted?

Cheers,
Terry.

bbusybookworm · 10-12-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GingerTez

Grrr.... tried it on 23rd September before going on holiday but couldn't get it to work so had to not download the books I'd bought for my holiday... and now I'm home it still says the server is down.

I'm very annoyed.... I've been recommended to download the Microsoft Reader files rather than the Adobe ones from Fictionwise (for my PRS-505) so that they can be converted easily... but this is a major PITA. Can Secure eReader files from Fictionwise be easily converted?

Cheers,
Terry.

Yes Secure eReader and secure Mobipocket can both be converted.

How Easy is it?

Well it does require you to install Python and run a couple of scripts to convert them to HTML.

Once in Html, you can easily convert them to lrf using Calibre.

But if you were planning to convert the .lit file anyway, it should not be any more difficult.

Just search on google for for the scripts Mobi DeDRM for Mobipocket and eReader2html for eReader.

For how to use them, look at this thread in the forums.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18310

bbusybookworm · 10-12-2008, 10:17 AM

For A little more specific info

Mobidedrm - How the heck do you use it?
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23718

eReader Decoder Tool
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20407

pilotbob · 10-12-2008, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GingerTez

I'm very annoyed.... I've been recommended to download the Microsoft Reader files rather than the Adobe ones from Fictionwise (for my PRS-505) so that they can be converted easily... but this is a major PITA. Can Secure eReader files from Fictionwise be easily converted?

Removing DRM from LIT, Mobi, eReader are all pretty much the same. You d/l the file and run a script/app which does the work. Once done you can convert to whatever format you need. Calibre will convert all three mentioned to LRF.

That said, LIT can only be purchased on a windows machine using IE. So, it isn't a choice for Mac/Linux people.

However, if you've already bought the LIT's you pretty much can't change to another format.

You might want to call MS support... I doubt the server is really down all this time. Do you have a firewall or something running on your PC that may be causing a problem?

BOb

pilotbob · 10-12-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GingerTez

Grrr.... tried it on 23rd September before going on holiday but couldn't get it to work so had to not download the books I'd bought for my holiday... and now I'm home it still says the server is down.

FYI: I always recommend also that people download the reader, get it working and download the free LIT book from FW to test the whole process before you start spending money on LIT ebooks.

BOb

GingerTez · 10-12-2008, 11:25 AM

Thanks chaps - I'm a Windows user (and due to some expensive Windows-only music software I'll be a Windows user for some time to come) so the Microsoft Reader format seemed to be a good idea. Since I last posted I've been perusing the forums looking for eReader conversion stuff and I've managed to:
(1) Install Python (the proper one from the official Python site)
(2) Find the Python script for converting eReader files to HTML
(3) Convert a book from Fictionwise to HTML
(4) Amend the HTML to justify left rather than centre (annoying!)
(5) Download and install Calibre
(6) Convert the HTML file to LRF using Calibre
(7) Copy the LRF to my reader

It all seems to work wonderfully... thanks to everyone on here!

Of course I still want to have Microsoft Reader as an option but when I go to the MS support site and try to select Microsoft Reader as the product I want support for it isn't listed and tells me to check my spelling!

09-23-2008, 12:09 PM	#1
corso Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony PRS-505	Help in activating microsoft reader I have tried to activate the reader for several days now. Each time, I get a message telling me that the server is unavailable. Has anyone else had a similar problem? Thanks in anticipation

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Microsoft Reader	sceadugenga	Workshop	3	08-17-2010 03:52 AM
Microsoft Reader software	cyberbaffled	Feedback	13	03-20-2010 01:36 PM
Activating a reader with more than one Adobe ID	janusandersen	Reading and Management	6	08-07-2009 07:39 AM
Trouble activating MS Reader	Elfwreck	Other formats	5	05-29-2009 07:57 AM
Activating Microsoft Reader	Billydog	Sony Reader	2	02-23-2009 04:32 PM

09-23-2008, 06:13 PM	#2
UKHaiku Enthusiast Posts: 48 Karma: 104 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony Reader - PRS-505	Sorry I'm no help, but also having the same problem, so it's not just you...

09-26-2008, 04:27 PM	#3
corso Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony PRS-505	Thanks for the reply. Glad to hear that it's not just me. I have tried on several machines and with different broadband connections. So what is happening I wonder? I have a .lit book at fictionwise waiting to be downloaded. Do I just write it off to experience?

09-27-2008, 05:49 AM	#5
UKHaiku Enthusiast Posts: 48 Karma: 104 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony Reader - PRS-505	I think the server is back up now - I managed to authorise my laptop last night...

09-27-2008, 10:34 AM	#9
corso Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony PRS-505	Many thanks UKHaiku.Tried it again - now successful.

10-12-2008, 09:02 AM	#10
GingerTez Stroppy Ginger Scotsman Posts: 62 Karma: 284 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Altrincham, UK Device: Sony PRS-505	Grrr.... tried it on 23rd September before going on holiday but couldn't get it to work so had to not download the books I'd bought for my holiday... and now I'm home it still says the server is down. I'm very annoyed.... I've been recommended to download the Microsoft Reader files rather than the Adobe ones from Fictionwise (for my PRS-505) so that they can be converted easily... but this is a major PITA. Can Secure eReader files from Fictionwise be easily converted? Cheers, Terry.

10-12-2008, 10:17 AM	#12
bbusybookworm Tech Junkie Posts: 1,027 Karma: 10080 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Earth Device: iPad, MotoXStyle, OnePlusOne	For A little more specific info Mobidedrm - How the heck do you use it? https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23718 eReader Decoder Tool https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20407

10-12-2008, 11:25 AM	#15
GingerTez Stroppy Ginger Scotsman Posts: 62 Karma: 284 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Altrincham, UK Device: Sony PRS-505	Thanks chaps - I'm a Windows user (and due to some expensive Windows-only music software I'll be a Windows user for some time to come) so the Microsoft Reader format seemed to be a good idea. Since I last posted I've been perusing the forums looking for eReader conversion stuff and I've managed to: (1) Install Python (the proper one from the official Python site) (2) Find the Python script for converting eReader files to HTML (3) Convert a book from Fictionwise to HTML (4) Amend the HTML to justify left rather than centre (annoying!) (5) Download and install Calibre (6) Convert the HTML file to LRF using Calibre (7) Copy the LRF to my reader It all seems to work wonderfully... thanks to everyone on here! Of course I still want to have Microsoft Reader as an option but when I go to the MS support site and try to select Microsoft Reader as the product I want support for it isn't listed and tells me to check my spelling!

Advert

Advert