New to Calibre - using older version

[JWK]

Here's the scenario:

I have a used Kindle Oasis. I will deregister the device. I do not use Amazon at all. Ever. I borrow books from the library and off of other free sites, like Gutenberg. At times I will need to convert epub to mobi, or whatever my oasis is using now.

My computer uses linux mint. In trying to download the latest version of Calibre, I get a message telling me I need to upgrade my GNU C library to version 3.5. My version of linux right now has 3.1. I am not tech savvy enough to know how to do this in linux.

My software manager has calibre version 4.99. The latest version is 7.23.

Will the older version of Calibre work OK for stripping DRM and converting epub to mobi, or is it not that hard to find out how to update the GNU C library to 3.5?

Thanks for any info and advice.

[Sirtel]

For the current Adobe DRM (most epubs) 4.99 is fine. Ditto for converting (AZW3 is better than mobi).

[JWK]

Well, I've got bigger problems than an older version of Calibre. Thank you Sirtel for that info.

My computer and calibre do not see my oasis at all. I downloaded the 4.99 version of calibre just to mess around. I had a book on Grant, and loaded it into my calibre library. I did a right click on it, and no kindle in the menu. This oasis is version 9 from 2018. I can't believe you can't transfer data with a usb with an oasis, but there is no setting that has any usb designation in the oasis settings menu.

I have a useless oasis unless I can load books from my laptop.

[Sirtel]

You can certainly load books to an Oasis over USB on Windows and Mac. No idea about Linux.

[gbm]

Sound to me like you are still using Mint 18 so my first recommendation is to upgrade to the latest Mint 22. calibre runs with no problems on my system using Mint 22. Has no problem with my 2019 Kindle.



bernie

Originally Posted by JWK

Here's the scenario:

I have a used Kindle Oasis. I will deregister the device. I do not use Amazon at all. Ever. I borrow books from the library and off of other free sites, like Gutenberg. At times I will need to convert epub to mobi, or whatever my oasis is using now.

My computer uses linux mint. In trying to download the latest version of Calibre, I get a message telling me I need to upgrade my GNU C library to version 3.5. My version of linux right now has 3.1. I am not tech savvy enough to know how to do this in linux.

My software manager has calibre version 4.99. The latest version is 7.23.

Will the older version of Calibre work OK for stripping DRM and converting epub to mobi, or is it not that hard to find out how to update the GNU C library to 3.5?

Thanks for any info and advice.

[JWK]

Originally Posted by gbm

Sound to me like you are still using Mint 18 so my first recommendation is to upgrade to the latest Mint 22. calibre runs with no problems on my system using Mint 22. Has no problem with my 2019 Kindle.



bernie

mint 20.1, but I guess it still could be too old. Doesn't sound right, though. What a pain reformatting and going through all that. I really don't like playing with computers like I did when I was younger and not retired. Now I just want to read.

Thanks for the info.

[gbm]

No need to reformat just do Mint Upgrade.

https://linuxmint-user-guide.readthe...o-mint-21.html

Mint 21 will work.

bernie

Originally Posted by JWK

mint 20.1, but I guess it still could be too old. Doesn't sound right, though. What a pain reformatting and going through all that. I really don't like playing with computers like I did when I was younger and not retired. Now I just want to read.

Thanks for the info.

[JWK]

Originally Posted by gbm

No need to reformat just do Mint Upgrade.

https://linuxmint-user-guide.readthe...o-mint-21.html

Mint 21 will work.

bernie

Do you mean that mint 21 will see my kindle oasis, or that the upgrade to 21 from 20 will work without reformatting? Thanks for the link!

[gbm]

No need to format your HD, calibre will work with Mint 21. Your Kindle, check different usb cables, try another pc if possible.


bernie


P.S.

Mint 20 end of life is April of 2025.

Originally Posted by JWK

Do you mean that mint 21 will see my kindle oasis, or that the upgrade to 21 from 20 will work without reformatting? Thanks for the link!

[georgemk]

Originally Posted by gbm

Sound to me like you are still using Mint 18 so my first recommendation is to upgrade to the latest Mint 22. calibre runs with no problems on my system using Mint 22. Has no problem with my 2019 Kindle.

bernie

Quick check but did you have to do anything to the USB automount daemon to stop it grabbing the Kindle as that has been an issue on other Linux systems?

[JSWolf]

If you can use the latest calibre 7, you are best to do so. That way you are assured all the latest plugins work.

[gbm]

No, Mint 21 and up will recognize your ebook reader, then launch calibre if installed.

bernie

Originally Posted by georgemk

Quick check but did you have to do anything to the USB automount daemon to stop it grabbing the Kindle as that has been an issue on other Linux systems?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by gbm

No, Mint 21 and up will recognize your ebook reader, then launch calibre if installed.

bernie

Bad idea to auto-launch calibre. What if you don't want calibre auto-launched. How would you stop it from doing so?

[JWK]

Well, I spent the morning doing a fresh install of mint 22 xfce. My mint 20 is expiring in April anyway, so it was time. The software manager had the version 7 of calibre, so I installed that.

My computer still does not see my kindle oasis at all, so of course calibre doesn't, either. I'm totally stumped, and can't find anything anywhere about this problem.

[JWK]

Originally Posted by georgemk

Quick check but did you have to do anything to the USB automount daemon to stop it grabbing the Kindle as that has been an issue on other Linux systems?

I have no idea what you're talking about. I just plugged it in to a USB and looked in my computer folder under devices. Nothing there but my drives. The only thing the USB does is charge the kindle.