de-DRMing Kindle books

[beatrice_otter]

I read ebooks on my computer.  I use Calibre and have the plugins from A guide for the perplexed.  It says that if you get Kindle for PC, you don't have to customize any of the plugins; the books should be unlocked automatically when you add them to Calibre.  Except it's not working--the books is not unlocking.  Why not, and how can I fix it?  I moved the books from "My Kindle Content" folder to the folder with the rest of my ebooks in it; does that matter?  I've tried adding the book with nothing changed in the plugins (although it does already have the PID from other stores).  I've tried adding the book with my Amazon password entered where the PID goes; I've tried adding the book with the e-mail associated with my Amazon account there; I've tried adding it with "____'s Kindle for PC" there.  (Those are the only three identifying things I can think of or find.)  None of them have worked.  Help!

Comments

[elf]

The Amazon password is not the Kindle PID, which is a unique device number (it's like a serial number that's only used for generating ebook DRM); there's a different one for physical Kindles & Kindle-for-PC content. Amazon started hiding the PID just before the Kindle-for-PC program came out; it's internal to the device. You'll need to get the PID, possibly with a tool like the one at prestonlee's blog (about which I know nothing; I don't deal with DRM nor with a Kindle). There's also a python script called Kindlepid.py that can sort out your PID; it involves installing python, possibly a particular version of it.

Melina had a couple of panels at Escapade about ereaders & DRM; her wrap-up notes are here.

If you get really lost, I suggest sending a note to melina, because she's fluent in Kindle and DRM removal, and I'm just supportive.

[melina]

Hi there... Did you make sure that you have the most recent version of the tools package? Its usually linked in the very first post (bottom of the page) on Apprentice Alf's blog. The plugins changed not too long ago and the old ones don't work. Uninstall any old versions from Calibre and remove any customization from the kindle plugin. No PID is used for K4PC files.

You don't have to move or rename files, or do anything else. Just make sure they are the K4PC files, not downloaded files meant for a Kindle device.

Removing Kindle DRM

[(Anonymous)]

DLed the plugins- v03.8- and it's not working. Any help would be appreciated.

[(Anonymous)]

Hello, I bought a kindle book from amazon and downloaded it on my Mac Kindle reader, now I want to convert it to PDF. I read at http://stream-recorder.com/forum/read-convert-amazon-azw-ebook-epub-fb2-t8954.html that Calibre can do it but first the DRM needs to be removed. I used a Calibre plugin to do that but it failed saying it couldn't find the PID. I read elsewhere that Mobipocker Reader could give the PID, I installed the Windows version in Wine but it didn't recognize the .azw or .mobi

Any solution ?