Windows Nook App Discontinued

[Aleron Ives]

Microsoft distributed an official update that crippled systems around the entire world a few weeks back, so maybe you should indeed be more suspicious of files that come from Microsoft.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

Microsoft distributed an official update that crippled systems around the entire world a few weeks back, so maybe you should indeed be more suspicious of files that come from Microsoft.

I was under the impression that update was from Crowdstrike not Microsoft.

In a couple of items I read, Microsoft blamed the EU for forcing them to open up Ring 0/kernel level access for third party access which allowed Crowdstrike's flawed update to blue screen Windows systems. A political decision which resulted in technical issues.

[Aleron Ives]

Yes, but it was officially distributed by MS, so just because something comes from MS in no way means you can trust it.

[sydmalicious]

Considering their recent spate of security issues that have landed Nadella a seat in front of Congress recently, maybe you should. You do you but I'm saying don't download and install executables from random websites, which is what I said.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by sydmalicious

I'm saying don't download and install executables from random websites, which is what I said.

With your addition of the word random, I would agree with you. Sadly, you did not have that word in your previous message where you were chastising the poster for downloading and installing a VC++ redistributable file without asking where they had downloaded the file from.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

You can disable this in the browser settings. Of course this presumes that you know what exactly it is you're downloading.

I've almost never had Windows 10 block my downloads.

I don't download many files for Windows, but they're usually lesser known and older files, like Trelby. Just about every time I download a file I get the "are you sure this is safe" notification.

If I'm worried about a Windows application file, I'll download it to Linux and run a virus there. (I've only done that a couple times, usually when I was worried my wife might have downloaded malware on her Windows computer.)

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I don't download many files for Windows, but they're usually lesser known and older files, like Trelby. Just about every time I download a file I get the "are you sure this is safe" notification.

As I said, this can be disabled in the browser settings (at least in Chrome, no idea about Edge).

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I can see worrying about downloads from a random site but making a global statement such as you did is going above and beyond into the realm of pure paranoia.

This particular site — https://store.rg-adguard.net/ — seems to have a good reputation. It seems to serve the same purpose for Windows that F-Droid, Apkmirror or Aurora Store serve for Android apps. I'm sure there is a possibility of risk, but what isn't when talking about computers?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

As I said, this can be disabled in the browser settings (at least in Chrome, no idea about Edge).

I use Firefox. I prefer to keep the download warning, it's easy to bypass. If I used Windows regularly I might feel differently about this. But I'm talking about maybe five or six applications a year (and usually the same ones, like the Nook App).

[pypeke]

I cannot figure out how to use the 2 quote buttons....

"You should (IMO) have one calibre library. It's easy to view sub-sets of your library through "Virtual Libraries" from pdurrant.

I am not sure if I will de-drm the books. I thought different libraries could help me keep track of which books were bought from B&N and which from Amazon. Then using Calibre I would know which app to open to read a particular nook. (If I get a Boox and use Nook and Kindle apps.) I have not read about virtual libraries yet.

Sirtel- "If you can open a book in the Calibre viewer, there's no need to delete and re-import it. Re-importing is only necessary for the books with DRM."

Thank you. I just created a yes/no column in Calibre. I put a checkmark for the books that have DRM. The majority of the books open so that's good.

JSWolf- I downloaded the Nook for Windows app, and now I have all of my books downloaded. Only a few books could not be found using Calibre's Metadata search, but usually I could remove the ISBN and the book was found. Sometimes the ISBN was not there and I added it, then my search found the book. I found all but about a dozen books.

I cannot find books that have multiple authors like a boxed set, but I think that has something to do with how the authors are listed. Thanks for your help.

[pypeke]

ZodWallop "If calibre is able to open the book and doesn't throw a DRM message, it is already DRM-free and shouldn't need to be downloaded again." Thank you. I put a check on the ones that have DRM. Surprisingly, not that many have DRM.

I use an external hard drive to backup my PCs so my Calibre library is on that. I use a second external drive to backup my library of blurays and DVDs. (Sort of like de-DRMing movies.) My son-in-law set up an old laptop that is used like a server and all PCs/laptops are networked. I have no idea if that is a good thing or bad....to have them networked. My new laptop is not networked yet.

RCentros-
"If you haven't already done it, just go to Calibre, Preferences, Plugins, File Type plugins, select DeDRM and Customize. Select the option for B&N books and it should automatically set it up for you. Then just add your ePubs into Calibre again." Thanks! I looked under File Type plugins, but none of the 5 plugins said De or no-DRM. I guess I need to download it to my old PC first??

"I was able to install the Nook App on a Windows 11 partition on a laptop today. I did have to download and install at least one of the C library files (I got a "dependency not met" error before I installed the libraries. (I installed both the 64 bit and 32 bit files (the ones that started with 2024) — I may have only needed the 64 bit version, I don't know.)"

Oh boy, I have no idea what "on a Windows 11 partition" means.

"I was also able to download and install Calibre and NoDRM (DeDRM) and create the hash for B&N eBooks. Calibre successfully liberated four books I tested, but none of these are new, so I can't guarantee it'll work on newer books." I have no idea what "create a hash" means.

[pypeke]

I have not downloaded anything to my new laptop. My old laptop is old, but I have upgraded it over the years. I love that laptop, but it is pretty old now (2013). I heard that MS will stop supporting Windows 10 next year so I bought a new laptop. My old laptop is a giant tablet called Sony Tap 20. Best PC I have ever had but pretty heavy for a laptop! It is still faster than my new laptop, but my new laptop weighs about 3 lbs! If nothing bad happens on my old laptop, I will download that app on the new one along with Calibre. Always good to be reminded to be careful when downloading unknowns.

So, since my 2 old laptops are wirelessly networked with the two 8TB external drives, could a virus or malware (or anything bad) infect every laptop and external drive? I know he was trying to be helpful, but I usually never know what he is doing to my stuff. He put my Apple account (movies and music) in with his Apple account so we could share each other's movies, and now I cannot buy anything from Apple. I have a cash balance there and cannot spend it. Apple refuses to remove his account from mine. They say he is the only one who can.

ANYWAY....I am not sure if it is safe to have all 3 laptops networked together now that I have downloaded that Nook for Windows app. Maybe, some malwarer viruses stay hidden for a while.....I have no idea.

Thanks, to all!

[pypeke]

Well, I have downloaded into Calibre the 1200+ books that I bought at B&N. Plus I had other books in Calibre, so total books = 1363.

1,116 books opened up as Epubs. 233 books did not open.

I did not remove those 233 books from Calibre.

After installing the plugin to Callibre, 219 of those 233 books opened so I did not have to remove them from Calibre. I only had to remove the remaining 14 books from Callibre, then add them back to Callibre and they opened as well.

Is that normal? I thought I would have to remove all 233 books. Saved me a lot of time.

I also fixed the problem with covers of the books. Once a book opened, I right clicked on the opened book, clicked on copy image, closed the book, then went to medadata and right clicked where the cover should be. Pasted the image and I now have all books with a cover image.

I did not know that would work until I tried it. What a great shortcut!

Now, on to Kindle books! I had read about Nook books being so difficult and having to find a key.......

Thanks everyone!

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by pypeke

Oh boy, I have no idea what "on a Windows 11 partition" means.

It just means that I have both Linux and Windows installed on the same SSD and I can boot into either Operating System. In my case the Windows partition (section of the SSD) is very small and hardly used.

Originally Posted by pypeke

I have no idea what "create a hash" means.

The hash is what you need to use to bypass B&N Nook books' DRM and so you can read your ePub book on any ePub device. NoDRM walks you through crating the "hash." You only have to do this once — after that it just works automatically when you move a Nook book into Calibre.

[sails]

Originally Posted by RWTS

Try this:

1. Go to Adguard Online Link Generator:
https://store.rg-adguard.net/

2. Copy and paste the link the Microsoft store used for the Nook app in the search field and click the check mark:
https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9wzdncrfj33h

3. There should be a list of files. You want the one named:
BarnesNoble.Nook_1.11.0.4_x86__ahnzqzva31enc.appx

It's 50.94 MB in size. I right clicked on the link, then "save link as" to save a copy to my hard drive.

4. Double-click on the file to install. (Scan the file with your security software and/or upload it to VirusTotal if you're at all concerned about the source. Everything was clean when I did this in February.)

5. Open the Nook app. Log into your B&N account and download your books to your library.

6. To find the epubs on your computer, make sure hidden files are shown in Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\"YourUsername"\App Data\Local\Packages\BarnesNoble.Nook_ahnzqzva31enc \LocalState

The epub files will have random numbers for the names.

7. If the files are DRM-protected, you should be able to drop them in Calibre with the proper plugins and free them. I'm not too savvy in that department, but others should be able to point you in the right direction if you have any questions there.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

It worked!! Admittedly, I still had to do some jump arounds. I've also moved continents and switched jobs since originally posting here, but I kept this window open on my laptop throughout everything. I have a Linux laptop that I've modded and kept having trouble, but I gave my boyfriend my B&N info and he was able to download the app on his Windows computer at home and get everything pulled and zipped for me. Thank you SO much!