Backup Kindle

[crescere]

Most of my e-books are purchased through Amazon. I also have many books that are mobi, but were given to me by others, and some I converted to mobi from epub books that are free.

I want to backup ALL of my Kindle content to my computer in case something ever happens to my Kindle. I noticed that the books I converted from epub can not be read in the Kindle app. What is the best way to back up all of my books and be able to read them all as well.

Thank you.

[Hampshire Nanny]

For backup purposes, I simply copy the files from the Kindle drive to my PC. I also note *which* Kindle these files came from since most of them won't work if restored to a different Kindle device. I'm also pretty sure that the Kindle reader app won't open one of the DRM-laden books.

If I want to read one of the books at my PC, I import it into Calibre. Of course this only works for the books without DRM. If I wanted to read using the Kindle app for PC, I think I'd have to download directly from Amazon. I should point out that I don't *read* using my PC. I may browse a book, edit a book, or do some research at my PC, but I don't read for entertainment.

[kristalana]

IMO the best way to back up one's library is to keep it allll in Calibre. For many books that will involve removing the drm (which we can't talk about in detail ), but yeah keep everything in Calibre and then back that library up. Mine's backed up both on an external hard drive and in the cloud.

[Barbara1955]

I remove DRM from ALL books then put them on FLASH DRIVE. I also have them on an portable HD. I store them as Mobi AWZ & Epub.

[pidgeon92]

I, too, store all of my ebooks in Calibre. I have redundant backups of those on my Time Machine external drive, and online on Carbonite.

[Mike L]

Originally Posted by Hampshire Nanny

For backup purposes, I simply copy the files from the Kindle drive to my PC. I also note *which* Kindle these files came from since most of them won't work if restored to a different Kindle device. I'm also pretty sure that the Kindle reader app won't open one of the DRM-laden books.

That's the key point. When you purchase a Kindle book from Amazon, you specify which device you want to read it on. If you want to read it on more than one device (which is registered to your account), you must download separate physical files. Each file is keyed to the device you specify.

You need to keep that in mind in any backup strategy. If your Kindle goes kaput, restoring the backup to a new device won't help. You will have to re-download the books. (This applies to books you buy from Amazon; if you have obtained non-DRM books from other sources, this won't be a problem.)

As for the Kindle reader app, that will indeed open a "DRM-laden book", provided you specified the reader app as your device when you purchased the book.

Mike

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by kristalana

IMO the best way to back up one's library is to keep it allll in Calibre. For many books that will involve removing the drm (which we can't talk about in detail ), but yeah keep everything in Calibre and then back that library up. Mine's backed up both on an external hard drive and in the cloud.

That's exactly what I do. I have over 5300 books in Calibre now. It's fabulous

[eschwartz]

Something interesting I do on linux: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=235537

Obviously, if I need to restore to a new device I must check that all books have been DeDRMed. But most are -- I import into calibre and save data as described in the link, then overwrite the Kindle copy with my metadata, and coincidentally, DeDRMed.

[Smartie]

Where does calibre stores files. I mean if I reinstall PC ,will I lost books?

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Smartie

Where does calibre stores files. I mean if I reinstall PC ,will I lost books?

In the Calibre Library folder. If you didn't make one manually (you can have multiple libraries, I have 6 or so), you are probably still using the default one at "C:\Users\<username>\Calibre Library\" (on Win7, but WinXP will of course be "Documents and Settings" instead of "Users").

[Smartie]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

In the Calibre Library folder. If you didn't make one manually (you can have multiple libraries, I have 6 or so), you are probably still using the default one at "C:\Users\<username>\Calibre Library\" (on Win7, but WinXP will of course be "Documents and Settings" instead of "Users").

Thanks,need backup then

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by Smartie

Where does calibre stores files. I mean if I reinstall PC ,will I lost books?

Most simply, it stores the files on your hard drive, unless you change it manually.

[crescere]

Originally Posted by kristalana

For many books that will involve removing the drm (which we can't talk about in detail ), but yeah keep everything in Calibre and then back that library up. Mine's backed up both on an external hard drive and in the cloud.

Thank you, but can you at least direct me to instructions on DRM removal? I put this in youtube, but I have no idea of what they are talking about in some of the videos.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by crescere

Thank you, but can you at least direct me to instructions on DRM removal? I put this in youtube, but I have no idea of what they are talking about in some of the videos.

MR site policy prohibits details discussions of DRM removal. Do a Google search for "Apprentice Alf". Alf is your friend.

[crescere]

Where does the file "My Kindle Content" in My documents come from? I don't recall seating that up, so I assume it is something Kindle put there.