Kindle paperwhite - how to connect to calibre

Jenny_China · 08-12-2017, 10:13 AM

Hello!

I'm new to this community. I'm sorry that my first message is to ask for assistance.

I've been given a kindle paperwhite as a gift and as recommended I've downloaded dropbox and calibre but I simply can't work out how to connect them to the kindle itself so that I can transfer my books. Each time I connect the cable the kindle responds with USB charging mode and it simply won't allow me to "see" it on the computer!

Many thanks

HarryT · 08-12-2017, 10:29 AM

When you connect your Kindle to your PC using the USB cable, it should appear as an external drive on your PC. If it doesn't do so, try using a different USB port and a different USB cable.

coplate · 08-12-2017, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenny_China

Hello!

I'm new to this community. I'm sorry that my first message is to ask for assistance.

I've been given a kindle paperwhite as a gift and as recommended I've downloaded dropbox and calibre but I simply can't work out how to connect them to the kindle itself so that I can transfer my books. Each time I connect the cable the kindle responds with USB charging mode and it simply won't allow me to "see" it on the computer!

Many thanks

Is this a brand new kindle, or a used one?

Like HarryT says, your first step is to make sure the USB cable is good ( can you hook up a phone, or digital camera or similar to see if that works ).

if the cable works, can you try restarting the kindle just in case?

With the kindle on the home screen, you can hold the power button down until a popup comes up, asking if you want to reboot.

GlenBarrington · 08-12-2017, 11:25 AM

Welcome Jenny_China! We all look forward to your contributions. All the advice you have received so far is good. I have a new refurbished Paperwhite 2, which makes me think I can relate a bit about your confusion! So I might take a different approach to your question.

Calibre doesn't really make an overt display of 'seeing' a connected ereader. There is no message that says something like "eReader detected". On a PC, at least, with your PW physically connected, you might want to R-Click a book in your Calibre library, and from the pop up window, if the "Send to device" option is not grayed out, select it. Yet ANOTHER pop up menu will appear and then select, "Send to Main Memory". If any of the options I described are grayed out, then Your PW is not properly connected.

The book will be sent to the kindle once the selections are made. When you eject the kindle from the PC, your book should appear in the PW. Hope this helps.

HarryT · 08-12-2017, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Calibre doesn't really make an overt display of 'seeing' a connected ereader.

True, but all bets are off if the Kindle's not showing up as a drive on the PC.

Jenny_China · 08-13-2017, 08:55 AM

Good afternoon all!

Following your advice, I ordered a new cable from Amazon on speedy delivery, it's just this moment arrived and I've connected it to the kindle and it's instantly recognised it and showed it in the "my computer" area of my laptop!

I will now follow the instructions to transfer my books over!

Thank you so much for your help, I would never have thought it could be a cable problem.

HarryT · 08-13-2017, 08:57 AM

Delighted to hear it. Yes, cable problems are common. Always a good idea to try using a different one in case of problems.

08-12-2017, 10:13 AM	#1
Jenny_China Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: England, NL depends really Device: Kindle paperwhite	Kindle paperwhite - how to connect to calibre Hello! I'm new to this community. I'm sorry that my first message is to ask for assistance. I've been given a kindle paperwhite as a gift and as recommended I've downloaded dropbox and calibre but I simply can't work out how to connect them to the kindle itself so that I can transfer my books. Each time I connect the cable the kindle responds with USB charging mode and it simply won't allow me to "see" it on the computer! Many thanks

08-12-2017, 11:25 AM	#4
GlenBarrington Cheese Whiz Posts: 1,986 Karma: 11677147 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Springfield, Illinois Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Tab A 10.1(2019), Pixel 6a.	Welcome Jenny_China! We all look forward to your contributions. All the advice you have received so far is good. I have a new refurbished Paperwhite 2, which makes me think I can relate a bit about your confusion! So I might take a different approach to your question. Calibre doesn't really make an overt display of 'seeing' a connected ereader. There is no message that says something like "eReader detected". On a PC, at least, with your PW physically connected, you might want to R-Click a book in your Calibre library, and from the pop up window, if the "Send to device" option is not grayed out, select it. Yet ANOTHER pop up menu will appear and then select, "Send to Main Memory". If any of the options I described are grayed out, then Your PW is not properly connected. The book will be sent to the kindle once the selections are made. When you eject the kindle from the PC, your book should appear in the PW. Hope this helps. Last edited by GlenBarrington; 08-12-2017 at 11:28 AM.

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08-12-2017, 10:29 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	When you connect your Kindle to your PC using the USB cable, it should appear as an external drive on your PC. If it doesn't do so, try using a different USB port and a different USB cable.

08-13-2017, 08:55 AM	#6
Jenny_China Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: England, NL depends really Device: Kindle paperwhite	Good afternoon all! Following your advice, I ordered a new cable from Amazon on speedy delivery, it's just this moment arrived and I've connected it to the kindle and it's instantly recognised it and showed it in the "my computer" area of my laptop! I will now follow the instructions to transfer my books over! Thank you so much for your help, I would never have thought it could be a cable problem.

08-13-2017, 08:57 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Delighted to hear it. Yes, cable problems are common. Always a good idea to try using a different one in case of problems.

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