Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre

[Rellwood]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Why would the K4PC keys have anything to do with removing DRM from a KFX book imported from a Kindle ereader? Have you entered the serial number for your Kindle(s) in the DeDRM plugin configuration dialog for Kindle eInk? Copy/paste from your device descriptions on Amazon is the best way to avoid errors. To import the books, browse to the directory holding them on your Kindle and open the KFX file since that location will also be used to fetch the multiple parts of the KFX package.

BTW, you should not be worrying about the firmware on your PW3s since the last firmware update for them was 5.16.2.1.1. Not quite sure what a PW3 2019 new edition is but that date would indicate a PW4 10th gen which does have an update to 5.18.1,

Ok.

Because I have been using Calibre and DeDRM and K4PC since 2013. I have amassed a LOT of keys and serial numbers.

Because of this, and don't ask me how, it causes my imported kfx books to show as KFX-Zip - no matter if it's a K4PC or a pulled off a device file. Every instance where a kfx file comes into my library it is turned into KFX-ZIP and it is unlocked.

The older kindle pw I have from 2015 (whatever gen that is) which runs on the fw you mentioned the 5.16.2.1.1 will still pull a kfx file and show it as KFX-ZIP (the recently published books that is - I haven't tested it on older books since it's not necessary right now) - but the normally unlocked KFX-Zip file is still locked. My old kindle, using old firmware which of course is properly entered into the plugin will not give me unlocked newly published books.

My newer 11Gen Paperwhite running whatever the latest firmware is will ALSO give me a KFX-Zip file BUT it WILL be unlocked.

Thats what I was talking about. I was questioning why an older Kindle would not be able to be unlocked while a newer kindle running newer firmware will allow a newly published book to be unlocked.

My bringing up the K4PC has to do with the fact that all my imported kfx files ended up being KFX-Zip due to the excess keys or using a different version of the DeDRM which is only for KFX files or something that I don't feel like testing to figure out exactly why I am getting kfx-zip instead of kfx.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Rellwood

Thats what I was talking about. I was questioning why an older Kindle would not be able to be unlocked while a newer kindle running newer firmware will allow a newly published book to be unlocked.

The reason is usually that its serial number is not in the plugin settings, or is not the correct one (might have a typo in it, for example).

[texasnightowl]

Originally Posted by Rellwood

The older kindle ...is still locked.

My newer 11Gen Paperwhite ... WILL be unlocked.

If one works and the other doesn't, then you need to check the serial number is entered correctly for the one that doesn't work. Check 0/O and 5/S, etc.

As for why you have kfx-zip instead of kfx even when unlocked...I have no idea. Anytime mine show as kfx-zip it is because they did not dedrm.

Double check your plugins are the latest...nodrm 10.0.9 and kfx input 2.23.

[Quoth]

Copy paste from your Amazon Devices web page to avoid typos.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by texasnightowl

As for why you have kfx-zip instead of kfx even when unlocked...I have no idea. Anytime mine show as kfx-zip it is because they did not dedrm.

Importing books in KFX format is a multi-step process. First all of the files that make up the book are gathered into a .kfx-zip file, then DRM removal is done on that, and finally the contents of the .kfx-zip are combined into a single .kfx file.

That last step can fail for multiple reasons. The most common is that DRM removal was unsuccessful. In order to tell what other problem might be preventing the combining process in this case I would need to see a debug log from an import.

[Rellwood]

Yeah, I don't understand what or why it wasn't working, but perhaps it was that the book wasn't fully downloaded when I attempted it the first time, but its working now. Still KFX-ZIP but the new edition was pulled off my old device and works. I had the correct serial number and everything, I didn't change a thing, I am guessing that the book wasn't 100 percent fully downloaded when I attempted the first time.

I wasted a ton of time getting screenshots of all the steps I was taking - Screenshots of the serial number in Amazon, screenshots of the plugin and the serial number of the plugin, then when I was about to do a screenshot of the "DRM LOCKED" screen - book opened. FML. Well, at least its working and I don't have to deal with the fact that only newer kindles download the books.

Thanks for all your suggestions!

HA!!! I figured it out! It wasn't my huge stockpiles of keys. I removed them all but the current default one I created. Then I restarted Calibre and it STILL gave me KFK-Zip. I looked in the "filetypes" and saw that the DeDRM was there, I saw the "Gather KFX-Zip" and didn't see that I had Disabled the part two (which I didn't even know there was a part 2) the "Gather KFX-Zip and turn into a single monlith kfx). I enabled it and now get the .kfx files. Still the KFX-Zips were decrypted, but whatever.

[xyzzy_foo]

PSA: The BlueStacks K4A method will be discontinued on May 26, 2025. Amazon emailed customers today informing them that support for older versions of K4A will end on starting that date, and it will no longer be possible to download new contents.

[Blue2u]

Originally Posted by Lief

Everytime I look at this topic to see if there is any updated method for drm removal on kindle I see a method going away... I'm so glad I decided to just switch to buying everything on kobo, easy to remove drm and the quality of images on manga is better (not really sure why)... same price (even better in italy I switched from a 3% discount on amazon gift card generated by intesa san paolo to a 4% discount on satispay kobo gift card).
To read on PC I use Cover app instead of kobo app (the kobo app for pc really sucks to read manga as it does not go really fullscreen), to read on a tablet/smartphone I could go with the official app right now but I still also convert to kindle to be also able to use the kindle app (as a reader for manga is still the best on mobile device) but I don't use my smartphone a lot. Right now my kindle 4 is really too small for manga and I think my next manga reader will be basically an android e-ink tablet, I think it would be better to get a device where I can get both kindle and kobo app instead of just one.
Also, I tried to remove the drm from a google play ebook and it works there too so there is another option where I can remove drm and where I can buy manga in Italian.

I was so used to amazon I was a little scared to make the switch to be honest....
The only bad thing is that some books are only available on amazon, fortunately not my beloved manga, but I've already found some examples. I think that in the future the real struggle will be to contact the authors to convince them to publish elsewhere.
Amazon is now a lost cause, their drm is likely to be broken in the future but it is also true that they are doing everything to keep it updated which means that any holes are unlikely to last long.
Obviously both books and manga are nothing more than a set of writings/images so in desperate situations you can always proceed manually with the creation of a DRM-free version by copying by hand/taking screenshots. But as long as you can avoid it, it's definitely better to avoid it.

I still advice those who can to switch to Kobo or other good alternatives at least for ebook where it is possible, even if you got a kindle device just use kindle previewer 3 to turn the epub that you got from kobo (drm-free or where you removed the drm) into a compatible mobi/other format compatible with kindle... or just use https://www.amazon.com/sendtokindle (the quality for manga/comics/images epub will be worst than using kindle previewer and you will need to divide epub with more than 200mb in pieces but on the plus side you will get the epub on the cloud).

Do not support amazon if you can avoid it.

I feel the same as you, so used to Kindle/Amazon buying that I'm reluctant to switch. I used to use Kobo only, way back, but took the plunge and went to Kindle. I guess ultimately it doesn't matter, as I use Calibre and fiinally learned how to send to my Kindle too, but I'm a creature of habit. And technology and I don't mix that well. lol

[yoshi]

This is not directly a topic about Calibre, though.

"BookFab Kindle Converter" is set to be released soon.
https://www.dvdfab.cn/kindle-converter.htm
I'm curious about the method they will use.

[jpetts99]

No. To access and download your Kindle eBooks, you need to install and log into the official Kindle for PC application. BookFab will then parse and convert the opened eBooks from your Kindle library.

amazon will close it down soon.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by jpetts99

amazon will close it down soon.

Probably. The only real question is how long it will take.

[jpetts99]

Adding:

Any method that relies on the book in an online AZ environment that AZ can force upgrades to will be shut down. The only thing that will work for the foreseeable future is device based. Once it's delivered to the device and the device is taken offline, AZ is no longer able to control. And then people will break the DRM.

Keep those old devices!!!

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by jpetts99

Adding:

Any method that relies on the book in an online AZ environment that AZ can force upgrades to will be shut down. The only thing that will work for the foreseeable future is device based. Once it's delivered to the device and the device is taken offline, AZ is no longer able to control. And then people will break the DRM.

Keep those old devices!!!

Amazon will probably shut down very old Kindles at some point (i.e. they won't be able to download any longer).

[jpetts99]

It's a race condition. They can't/won't brick devices that use an extant tech. So until WiFi tech used by a device is dead it'll be supported. AZ need to keep trimming the trailing edge of the life window as quickly as they can. Unless they are willing to push out FW updates to older models, their hands are tied.

Like I said, keep those old devices!

[jpetts99]

(PS - I worked in Kindle in the mid-late teens, and these were live discussions then. The consensus was to make things really difficult, but shutting it down completely was impossible. However, they are few and we are many. i.e. it will always BECOME easy for a while.))