B&N removed download option on all books in "My Nook" library

[Difflugia]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

Nook Study may use different protocols at BN's end, they didn't discontinue it, just renamed it to Yuza or some other odd name and later spun it off to someone else. So it's more likely to keep working for awhile.

Nook for Windows has a chance to work for quite some time since they tied it to the Microsoft store.

NOOK Study, NOOK for Windows and NOOK for PC all use slightly different commands to the same server, but Yuzu connects to a different server. If they turn off the NOOK server, all NOOK apps will stop working. They could intentionally kill one and leave the others, but I can't think of a reason that they'd do that at this point now that they've farmed maintenance out to another company.

Originally Posted by MGlitch

However if you want your ebooks backed up it may be wise to seek other sources aside from BN. History has shown that they would prevent you from having any access to the ebook files if they could. There are still a fair few out there providing epub versions, Kobo, Google, Baen, etc. all of which allow you to download your purchases.

Even counting the thing with the DRM keys a while back, I've had far fewer problems with B&N than I've had with Kobo. B&N ebooks are certainly in more danger of disappearing altogether, but it's been over a year since they've made any changes affecting DRM or downloading. If I were specifically worried about my books remaining in the cloud after I've downloaded them then I'd go with Amazon or Google. Since I'm not, Barnes & Noble still gives me the easiest experience overall.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by Difflugia

NOOK Study, NOOK for Windows and NOOK for PC all use slightly different commands to the same server, but Yuzu connects to a different server. If they turn off the NOOK server, all NOOK apps will stop working. They could intentionally kill one and leave the others, but I can't think of a reason that they'd do that at this point now that they've farmed maintenance out to another company.



Even counting the thing with the DRM keys a while back, I've had far fewer problems with B&N than I've had with Kobo. B&N ebooks are certainly in more danger of disappearing altogether, but it's been over a year since they've made any changes affecting DRM or downloading. If I were specifically worried about my books remaining in the cloud after I've downloaded them then I'd go with Amazon or Google. Since I'm not, Barnes & Noble still gives me the easiest experience overall.

What issues have you had with getting books from Kobo? I have had zero issue being able to download a book from their site and get rid of the DRM. With BN I have had issues getting the book, but DRM removal is just as easy once the ebook is on your computer.

[javabird]

Originally Posted by Difflugia

Have you tried logging out and back in? I've had NOOK for PC get to the point where it goes through the motions of syncing, but doesn't actually download new titles. Logging out and in seems to fix the problem.

Yes. It's odd because Nook study still seems to work (at least for now). However, I'm now getting an error when trying to de-drm books downloaded from the Nook Study.
Bother.

[AnitainTN]

I had a case where a slight change on payment method at bn klutzed the tools (I just updated the card expiration date). I had to reinstall Nook for PC, then all was well again. I'm not sure if this would work for Nook Study, too, but it's worth a try.

On the subject of what type Nooks have proper file access (no rooting required) - I have a Nook Color, and it's just a matter of plugging it into your PC with a USB cable. Drag & drop files. Presuming a similar process would work on Macs. Notably - to get true magazine view with pictures, I have to go through the NC device on the way to Calibre. NOT Nook for PC. Nook for PC only delivers text. Since I subscribe to National Geographic specifically FOR the pictures, this is not acceptable. If you care about such things, consider picking up a used NC.

Finally - if you are (quite justifiably) worried about battery life on these old devices, check out www.newpower99.com I replaced the battery on my Subaru-specific TomTom. Easy directions & tools to do it. They have a battery for my NC when the time comes. Highly recommended. (For the record - my only connection with them is happy customer.)

[MGlitch]

On Nook devices and getting to your purchased content

Nook First Edition, Nook Color - plug your Nook in to your computer. The .epub files are right there.

Nook eInk models with an SD card - there is a mod which does not require root which will sym link the folder from the internal hidden partition to the SD card. - http://nookworks.blogspot.com/2012/0...d-card-as.html

Nook eInk models without an SD card slot (Glowlight, Glowlight Plus), Nook Tablet, Nook HD/HD+, and the Samsung Nooks to date- you must* root the device**.


*The guy who made the eink sd card mod says it -might- work on the Tablet, but as far as I know no testing has been done.

** I know the eink Nooks, and the Tablet have been rooted, I am not sure about the HD line nor the Samsung line. But as the tablet lines all have SD card slots they should not be overly difficult to root.

[Difflugia]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

What issues have you had with getting books from Kobo? I have had zero issue being able to download a book from their site and get rid of the DRM. With BN I have had issues getting the book, but DRM removal is just as easy once the ebook is on your computer.

Once I get the book downloaded from Kobo, then DRM isn't a problem. I've had multiple purchases, though, that either weren't downloadable or were the wrong book once it did download. Each time I contacted customer service, their first email response was invariably instructions for using ADE. After the first few email exchanges, I started saving up a few bad books so I only had to go through the process once per batch rather than for each book. While they were doing their coupon contests, it was worth it. Now, it's not.

I've only had to deal with B&N customer service once. They didn't bill my credit card for a book that I bought.

For comparison, I just checked my email sent folder. I found twelve emails to Kobo customer service covering eight different books. I also used their chat system a few times, but I don't remember how exactly many (three or four?). Chat had the benefit of getting things taken care of in one session, but it usually took a half-hour or so as opposed to a few minutes per email. That's out of 418 total books (paid and free) in my Kobo library. I have 2549 books in my B&N library.

[Difflugia]

Originally Posted by javabird

Yes. It's odd because Nook study still seems to work (at least for now). However, I'm now getting an error when trying to de-drm books downloaded from the Nook Study.
Bother.

If the books are downloading, but you're getting a de-DRM error, then you need to update the DRM key. If you're using an old version of the tools, you may need to update that, too.

[javabird]

Originally Posted by Difflugia

If the books are downloading, but you're getting a de-DRM error, then you need to update the DRM key. If you're using an old version of the tools, you may need to update that, too.

I downloaded the updated updated deDRM tools for Mac and tried to decrypt the files again, still no joy.

I also tried to uninstall and reinstall the Nook app, but now I'm getting an error "we are experiencing an error while connecting to the time servers". I guess I'll try again later tonight.

[lkmiller]

For some accounts, the key is different for Nookstudy.

A couple people over at Alf's had trouble getting their keys, but were fine after updating their credit card info at B&N. Even though the DRM isn't cc-based anymore, it seems like Nook for PC/Mac still might check.

I had one book that wouldn't download recently. I got some sort of message about busy servers. It was a freebie that was available everywhere. After a few attempts, I just deleted it and got it elsewhere.

ETA: Someone over at Alf's might remember how to "manually" get the Nookstudy key.

[Froide]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

Nook Study may use different protocols at BN's end, they didn't discontinue it, just renamed it to Yuza or some other odd name and later spun it off to someone else. So it's more likely to keep working for awhile.

Nook for Windows has a chance to work for quite some time since they tied it to the Microsoft store.

However if you want your ebooks backed up it may be wise to seek other sources aside from BN. History has shown that they would prevent you from having any access to the ebook files if they could. There are still a fair few out there providing epub versions, Kobo, Google, Baen, etc. all of which allow you to download your purchases.

Despite BN's spin, NOOKStudy and Yuzu are unrelated and, in most cases, don't share the same content rights. Consequently (as I've reported previously in this forum), I lost access to numerous books when NOOKStudy stopped working on my computers, and BN/Yuzu Customer Service could not help me, for the above-mentioned reason. [I imagine, though, the books are not lost forever: if I were able to use NOOKStudy on another computer, then I could do what lkmiller noted, "disinfect" those books, and back them up.]

I 100% agree with your advice: "if you want your ebooks backed up it may be wise to seek other sources aside from BN. History has shown that they would prevent you from having any access to the ebook files if they could."

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

For some accounts, the key is different for Nookstudy.

A couple people over at Alf's had trouble getting their keys, but were fine after updating their credit card info at B&N. Even though the DRM isn't cc-based anymore, it seems like Nook for PC/Mac still might check.

I had one book that wouldn't download recently. I got some sort of message about busy servers. It was a freebie that was available everywhere. After a few attempts, I just deleted it and got it elsewhere.

ETA: Someone over at Alf's might remember how to "manually" get the Nookstudy key.

Instructions for locating B&N key is in the help file in the tools config menu.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Instructions for locating B&N key is in the help file in the tools config menu.

I was referring to finding the key in the Nookstudy log yourself then importing it into the tools (if the usual method didn't work).

@Froide
If it can only be downloaded with Nookstudy, then you can't "future-proof" it. No one ever created a tool for that.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

I was referring to finding the key in the Nookstudy log yourself then importing it into the tools (if the usual method didn't work).

@Froide
If it can only be downloaded with Nookstudy, then you can't "future-proof" it. No one ever created a tool for that.

Yes, the instructions are there for Nookstudy.

[SNIP - slightly too detailed discussion of DRM removal]

[pdurrant]

Members are reminded that detailed instructions/discussion of the practicalities of DRM are not permitted at MobileRead. For help and assistance, try Alf's blog or Harper's github repository.

[Manabi]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

** I know the eink Nooks, and the Tablet have been rooted, I am not sure about the HD line nor the Samsung line. But as the tablet lines all have SD card slots they should not be overly difficult to root.

Nook HD and HD+ are quite easily rootable. I have two HD+s I bought as refurbs that I put CyanogenMod on. They make really nice Android tablets that way. Still awesome for reading manga with the larger screen.