trying to convert epub to mobi with calibre - error

[quanga]

Forgive me if this is a dumb question, I just got a Kindle for Christmas and also a B&N gift card, so I downloaded a book I wanted in EPUB format, and while attempting to convert it to MOBI using calibre, I got the following error:

ERROR: Conversion Error: <b>Failed</b>: Convert book 1 of 1 (9780385529976 ePub.v2)

Convert book 1 of 1 (9780385529976 ePub.v2)
Resolved conversion options
calibre version: 0.7.35
{'asciiize': False,
'author_sort': None,
'authors': None,
'base_font_size': 0.0,
'book_producer': None,
'change_justification': u'original',
'chapter': u"//*[((name()='h1' or name()='h2') and re:test(., 'chapter|book|section|part|prologue|epilogue\\s+', 'i')) or @class = 'chapter']",
'chapter_mark': u'pagebreak',
'comments': None,
'cover': None,
'debug_pipeline': None,
'disable_font_rescaling': False,
'dont_compress': False,
'extra_css': None,
'font_size_mapping': None,
'footer_regex': u'(?i)(?<=<hr>)((\\s*<a name=\\d+></a>((<img.+?>)*<br>\\s*)?\\d+<br>\\s*.*?\\s*)|(\\s* <a name=\\d+></a>((<img.+?>)*<br>\\s*)?.*?<br>\\s*\\d+))(?=<br>)' ,
'header_regex': u'(?i)(?<=<hr>)((\\s*<a name=\\d+></a>((<img.+?>)*<br>\\s*)?\\d+<br>\\s*.*?\\s*)|(\\s* <a name=\\d+></a>((<img.+?>)*<br>\\s*)?.*?<br>\\s*\\d+))(?=<br>)' ,
'html_unwrap_factor': 0.4,
'input_encoding': None,
'input_profile': <calibre.customize.profiles.InputProfile object at 0x058B42B0>,
'insert_blank_line': False,
'insert_metadata': False,
'isbn': None,
'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,
'max_toc_links': 50,
'minimum_line_height': 120.0,
'mobi_ignore_margins': False,
'no_chapters_in_toc': False,
'no_inline_navbars': True,
'no_inline_toc': False,
'output_profile': <calibre.customize.profiles.KindleOutput object at 0x058B4590>,
'page_breaks_before': u'/',
'personal_doc': u'[PDOC]',
'prefer_author_sort': False,
'prefer_metadata_cover': False,
'preprocess_html': False,
'pretty_print': False,
'pubdate': None,
'publisher': None,
'rating': None,
'read_metadata_from_opf': 'c:\\users\\paellas\\appdata\\local\\temp\\calibre _0.7.35_tmp_atapuf\\calibre_0.7.35_7vp5fl.opf',
'remove_first_image': False,
'remove_footer': False,
'remove_header': False,
'remove_paragraph_spacing': False,
'remove_paragraph_spacing_indent_size': 1.5,
'rescale_images': False,
'series': None,
'series_index': None,
'smarten_punctuation': False,
'tags': None,
'timestamp': None,
'title': None,
'title_sort': None,
'toc_filter': None,
'toc_threshold': 6,
'toc_title': None,
'use_auto_toc': False,
'verbose': 2}
InputFormatPlugin: EPUB Input running
on C:\Users\Paellas\Calibre Library\Unknown\9780385529976 ePub.v2 (4)\9780385529976 ePub.v2 - Unknown.epub
Python function terminated unexpectedly
File is not a zip file (Error Code: 1)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site.py", line 103, in main
File "site.py", line 85, in run_entry_point
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\worker.py", line 107, in main
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\convert\gui_conversion.py", line 24, in gui_convert
File "site-packages\calibre\ebooks\conversion\plumber.py", line 853, in run
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\conversion.py", line 216, in __call__
File "site-packages\calibre\ebooks\epub\input.py", line 137, in convert
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\zipfile.py", line 734, in __init__
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\zipfile.py", line 755, in _GetContents
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\zipfile.py", line 767, in _RealGetContents
calibre.utils.zipfile.BadZipfile: File is not a zip file

It seems to be expecting a ZIP file. I found an answer on another forum that suggested the epub file was simply a ZIP file in disguise, and that if I changed the extension and unzipped the file, then that would work - but that attempt was unsuccessful.

Any ideas? Thanks for your help

[JSWolf]

The ePub has DRM. The only way you can convert it is to first strip the DRM. Calibre will not convert any eBook with DRM unless you have a plugin for the DRM you need to strip. I'm not sure if there is a plugin for the B&N format of DRM. But, there are external programs to do it.

[quanga]

OK, that makes sense. Thanks

[nitamac]

I too, have a problem converting ePub to Mobi. It's a library book download. Should I copy and paste the error code here?

[user_none]

Library books will have DRM.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by nitamac

I too, have a problem converting ePub to Mobi. It's a library book download. Should I copy and paste the error code here?

Nope. The error is because Library eBooks have DRM. Kindle's cannot use Library eBooks. So if you want to be able to use Library eBooks, you'll have to get a reader that handles ePub such as a Sony Reader PRS-650, SPRS-350, PRS-950, B&N nook or a Kobo. There are others. But those are the top ones in the USA.

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by nitamac

I too, have a problem converting ePub to Mobi. It's a library book download. Should I copy and paste the error code here?

You will have to strip the DRM before you can convert it.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by sadievan

You will have to strip the DRM before you can convert it.

Of course stripping the DRM from a library book in the USA is illegal.

If you purchased said book DRM stripping may or may not be illegal in the US. The letter of the law says it is illegal, but there are fair use issues that have yet to adjudicated in court.

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

Of course stripping the DRM from a library book in the USA is illegal.

If you purchased said book DRM stripping may or may not be illegal in the US. The letter of the law says it is illegal, but there are fair use issues that have yet to adjudicated in court.

You are correct. I was just pointing out that it cannot be converted with DRM.

Carol