Dealing with Kindle for PC/Mac 1.19 and KFX in calibre

[milmom2005]

Just reporting in about success with Kindle 1.26.1, Big Sur, DeDRM 6 & Calibre 4.23, basically using Method 2. I purchased a new MacBook Pro (mid-2020) last week which came with Catalina and then I installed Big Sur. I first tried with Calibre 5+ and the new DeDRM 7+k plugin and could not get the combo to DeDRM. So went back to Calibre 4.23 & DeDRM 6 and voila, worked. I applied chmod -x too. I also tried Method 3 with an e-ink...could not get it to work...no .azw downloaded...not sure what it going on.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

So my Kindle for PC automatically updated even though I have it set not to. I tried method 1, downloaded and installed 1.17 and when I try to register, I get an error saying "Enter a valid email or mobile number". Now obviously the email that I'm using is the email I've always used with Amazon. I'm not sure what's going on.

*edit* Ok it seems to be working now, after installing 1.26 and then 1.24 (both of which didn't allow removal of drm) and then finally 1.17 again. This time I didn't even have to register as I had already registered on either 1.26 or 1.24. Maybe I just didn't wait long enough.

[Preetpal]

I'm using latest version of calibre 5.6 and Kindle for PC version 1.17. I've installed the KFX Input plugin from Calibre library. However, as mentioned in Github Apprenticeharper De_Drmtools plugin guide. I've to install the previous plugin from PC. There is no option for customize plugins in Calibre.

I think that's why I'm unable to convert kindle(.azw) to pdf. What should I do. Please help with this.

It shows following for different files.

calibre, version 5.6.0 (win32, embedded-python: True)
Conversion error: Failed: Convert book 1 of 1 (B.SC.PRACTICAL PHYSICS)

Convert book 1 of 1 (B.SC.PRACTICAL PHYSICS)
Conversion options changed from defaults:
  verbose: 2
  read_metadata_from_opf: 'C:\\Users\\ECS\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calibre_zgd46d8r\\y08l2xg6.opf'
  output_profile: 'generic_eink'
  cover: 'C:\\Users\\ECS\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calibre_zgd46d8r\\ckuo7rbr.jpeg'
Resolved conversion options
calibre version: 5.6.0
{'asciiize': False,
 'author_sort': None,
 'authors': None,
 'base_font_size': 0.0,
 'book_producer': None,
 'change_justification': 'original',
 'chapter': "//*[((name()='h1' or name()='h2') and re:test(., "
            "'\\s*((chapter|book|section|part)\\s+)|((prolog|prologue|epilogue)(\\s+|$))', "
            "'i')) or @class = 'chapter']",
 'chapter_mark': 'pagebreak',
 'comments': None,
 'cover': 'C:\\Users\\ECS\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calibre_zgd46d8r\\ckuo7rbr.jpeg',
 'debug_pipeline': None,
 'dehyphenate': True,
 'delete_blank_paragraphs': True,
 'disable_font_rescaling': False,
 'dont_compress': False,
 'duplicate_links_in_toc': False,
 'embed_all_fonts': False,
 'embed_font_family': None,
 'enable_heuristics': False,
 'expand_css': False,
 'extra_css': None,
 'extract_to': None,
 'filter_css': '',
 'fix_indents': True,
 'font_size_mapping': None,
 'format_scene_breaks': True,
 'html_unwrap_factor': 0.4,
 'input_encoding': None,
 'input_profile': <calibre.customize.profiles.InputProfile object at 0x07AD9328>,
 'insert_blank_line': False,
 'insert_blank_line_size': 0.5,
 'insert_metadata': False,
 'isbn': None,
 'italicize_common_cases': True,
 'keep_ligatures': False,
 'language': None,
 'level1_toc': None,
 'level2_toc': None,
 'level3_toc': None,
 'line_height': 0.0,
 'linearize_tables': False,
 'margin_bottom': 5.0,
 'margin_left': 5.0,
 'margin_right': 5.0,
 'margin_top': 5.0,
 'markup_chapter_headings': True,
 'max_toc_links': 50,
 'minimum_line_height': 120.0,
 'mobi_file_type': 'old',
 'mobi_ignore_margins': False,
 'mobi_keep_original_images': False,
 'mobi_toc_at_start': False,
 'no_chapters_in_toc': False,
 'no_inline_navbars': False,
 'no_inline_toc': False,
 'output_profile': <calibre.customize.profiles.GenericEink object at 0x07AD94A8>,
 'page_breaks_before': "//*[name()='h1' or name()='h2']",
 'personal_doc': '[PDOC]',
 'prefer_author_sort': False,
 'prefer_metadata_cover': False,
 'pretty_print': False,
 'pubdate': None,
 'publisher': None,
 'rating': None,
 'read_metadata_from_opf': 'C:\\Users\\ECS\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calibre_zgd46d8r\\y08l2xg6.opf',
 'remove_fake_margins': True,
 'remove_first_image': False,
 'remove_paragraph_spacing': False,
 'remove_paragraph_spacing_indent_size': 1.5,
 'renumber_headings': True,
 'replace_scene_breaks': '',
 'search_replace': '[]',
 'series': None,
 'series_index': None,
 'share_not_sync': False,
 'smarten_punctuation': False,
 'sr1_replace': None,
 'sr1_search': None,
 'sr2_replace': None,
 'sr2_search': None,
 'sr3_replace': None,
 'sr3_search': None,
 'start_reading_at': None,
 'subset_embedded_fonts': False,
 'tags': None,
 'timestamp': None,
 'title': None,
 'title_sort': None,
 'toc_filter': None,
 'toc_threshold': 6,
 'toc_title': None,
 'transform_css_rules': '[]',
 'unsmarten_punctuation': False,
 'unwrap_lines': True,
 'use_auto_toc': False,
 'verbose': 2}
InputFormatPlugin: AZW4 Input running
on C:\Users\ECS\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_zgd46d8r\23h1r3ia.azw4
Extracting PDF from AZW4 Container...
Converting file to html...
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "runpy.py", line 194, in _run_module_as_main
  File "runpy.py", line 87, in _run_code
  File "site.py", line 82, in <module>
  File "site.py", line 77, in main
  File "site.py", line 49, in run_entry_point
  File "calibre\utils\ipc\worker.py", line 215, in main
  File "calibre\gui2\convert\gui_conversion.py", line 41, in gui_convert_override
  File "calibre\gui2\convert\gui_conversion.py", line 28, in gui_convert
  File "calibre\ebooks\conversion\plumber.py", line 1108, in run
  File "calibre\customize\conversion.py", line 245, in __call__
  File "calibre\ebooks\conversion\plugins\azw4_input.py", line 27, in convert
  File "calibre\ebooks\azw4\reader.py", line 59, in extract_content
  File "calibre\ebooks\conversion\plugins\pdf_input.py", line 54, in convert
  File "calibre\ebooks\pdf\pdftohtml.py", line 83, in pdftohtml
calibre.ebooks.ConversionError: pdftohtml failed with return code: 1
Syntax Error: Document stream is empty

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Preetpal

I'm using latest version of calibre 5.6 and Kindle for PC version 1.17. I've installed the KFX Input plugin from Calibre library. However, as mentioned in Github Apprenticeharper De_Drmtools plugin guide. I've to install the previous plugin from PC. There is no option for customize plugins in Calibre.

I think that's why I'm unable to convert kindle(.azw) to pdf. What should I do. Please help with this.

Detailed help with DRM removal isn't permitted here. Ask at Apprentice Alf's blog, or Apprentice Harper's github repository.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Preetpal

I'm using latest version of calibre 5.6 and Kindle for PC version 1.17. I've installed the KFX Input plugin from Calibre library. However, as mentioned in Github Apprenticeharper De_Drmtools plugin guide. I've to install the previous plugin from PC. There is no option for customize plugins in Calibre.

Go to https://apprenticealf.wordpress.com and download the current beta. If you need help after it's installed, you can ask in the comments at Alf's place.

[rracoon01]

Kindle reader on my PC also updated without asking and now I am still having problems registering with the Kindle 1.17. It won't let me register. I tried installing Kindle 1.24 and it allowed registering OK so this time I did not de-register and then tried loading 1.17 again and still cannot register. Looks like an earlier post had success with this 1.24/1.17 sequence but I am stuck.

[jeff47]

For folks on the Mac side, here's a thought: install the version of Kindle for Mac that you want. Then, create a read-only disk image and run the app from there. This ought to prevent any updates.

PC users might try something similar, making an ISO and mounting that to run Kindle for PC.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jeff47

For folks on the Mac side, here's a thought: install the version of Kindle for Mac that you want. Then, create a read-only disk image and run the app from there. This ought to prevent any updates.

PC users might try something similar, making an ISO and mounting that to run Kindle for PC.

Depending on the version of OSX, you won't be able to run any 32-bit version of KindleforMAC. So you'll need a 64-bit version.

Also, the ISO on Windows is not a good idea. It's not easy to do and it's not worth the hassle.

[jeff47]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Depending on the version of OSX, you won't be able to run any 32-bit version of KindleforMAC. So you'll need a 64-bit version.

Yes, that's true - but doesn't change the advice. You can run 1.26 in this way, at least. 1.17 is a no-go, as you pointed out.

Also, the ISO on Windows is not a good idea. It's not easy to do and it's not worth the hassle.

It was a suggestion - I don't think it's that hard, and if the app is updating without permission and messing people's deDRM workflows up, it might be worth it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jeff47

Yes, that's true - but doesn't change the advice. You can run 1.26 in this way, at least. 1.17 is a no-go, as you pointed out.

You are best with KindleforMAC 1.30 as I believe that's what was tested with DeDRM and Big Sur.

It was a suggestion - I don't think it's that hard, and if the app is updating without permission and messing people's deDRM workflows up, it might be worth it.

There is a fix posted in this thread to fix the Amazon forced update problem which requires just running a simple .bat file.

[biaros]

Hello, Do you know if and when a DeDRM plugin for Calibre will be available to remove the DRM of Kindle KFX-ZIP ebooks ? I buy the books, so I do not steal them. But I want to read the books on my Kobo.
Thanks a lot for your reply,
Karine

[lkmiller]

@biaros
It's already possible for most books. See the first post in this thread for ways to get the older file type (which is generally better for conversion to epub) or obtaining kfx files which can be converted. If you need more help with actual DRM removal ask at Apprentice Alf's blog or Apprentice Harper's GitHub.

[Inukami]

Just noticed my K4Mac updated without my consent from 1.26 to 1.30 on Mac Mini. Still working so all good, however I had to do chmod again. Did anyone else notice that when K4Mac updated, you also had to do chmod again? Or was/should it already be working and not need to be set again?

Inukami

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by biaros

Hello, Do you know if and when a DeDRM plugin for Calibre will be available to remove the DRM of Kindle KFX-ZIP ebooks ? I buy the books, so I do not steal them. But I want to read the books on my Kobo.
Thanks a lot for your reply,
Karine

The solution is to DeDRM KF8 and use the KFX Output plugin to convert to KFX for your Kindle.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by Inukami

Just noticed my K4Mac updated without my consent from 1.26 to 1.30 on Mac Mini. Still working so all good, however I had to do chmod again. Did anyone else notice that when K4Mac updated, you also had to do chmod again? Or was/should it already be working and not need to be set again?

Inukami

It does need to be set again.