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How to make your Kindle ebooks readable on ereaders other than the Kindle.

September 1, 2010 by Tahlia Newland

Post updated 18.3.13  

I bought an ebook from Amazon, read it on my PC, then decided to buy a sony ereader.   But I wanted to read my Amazon purchased ebook again, and some I hadn’t read yet, hence the beginning of a long web journey to find a way to change a Kindle file so I could read it on whatever device I wanted. Below is a step by step guide so you do’t have to take the same long journey.

The process is a lot simpler than when I wrote the original post, which is still below. I left it here in case there is anything helpful for there for any of you who get bugs. The new system also removed the DMR from Topaz files. Thanks to the people who made these tools available. Like me, they are completely against pirating and have said so on their sites. Here’s my version of it.

Note  – the only reason anyone should be removing DMR on a Kindle book (or any other ebook)  is so they can read a book they’ve purchased for one ereader on a different kind of ereader. Pirating is not cool – it’s very  bad karma.

If a book is under $5, why don’t you just go and buy it again in a different format? Save yourself all the bother of changing the format yourself. Some books are only 99c and a lot are only $2.99. Buying another book is very good karma because it supports an author and their family.

So if you’re as poor as me, here are the steps. If you’ve got a good job, at least buy another of the author’s books after you’ve read this one.

  1. Download Calibre. http://calibre-ebook.com/download  (It’s free)
    This is a program for managing ebooks and converting their files from one format to another. If you have files that aren’t DMR protected – free books often aren’t  – then this software will work without resorting to anything else.
  2. Open Calibre. Go to ‘add books’ to put your books into the Calibre library, then go to ‘convert books’. On the top right hand side is something that says output format. Choose the one you want –  Epub is the industry standard and should fit most ereaders –  and click okay. If it tells you that the book is DMR protected, you’ll have to follow the steps below to remove the DMR protection.

How to remove the DMR protection.

  1. Download and Install Python ( this will go into the C drive) http://www.python.org/download/
  2. Download DMR stripping  tools_V4.8.   There’s scripts there for decrypting any file you can think of. You can get them here. http://www.4-shared.eu/download/dEmAsblNQQr40w1y613lPu/tools-v4-8.html
  3. Open the _V4.8 folder and click on KindleBooks, then on Kindle Books again. A dialogue box comes up. Fill it in.
  4. The input file is the file you want to decrypt. Find it on your computer . If it’s on a Kindle device you will need to put the devices serial number in the bottom line of the box.
  5. The directory for the unencrypted file is where you want the finished book to go.
  6. Click start.
  7. When its finished, at the bottom it will say it’s successfully unencryted.
  8. That’s it. Close the box or do another book.
  9. Now to change the file type to suit an ereader that takes epub. Open Calibre. Go to ‘add books’ to put the unencrypted book into the Calibre library.
  10. Click on ‘convert books’. On the top right hand side is something that says output format. Choose the one you want –  Epub is the industry standard and should fit most ereaders .
  11. On the epub output check maintain cover ratio.
  12. on ‘Look and Feel’ check remove spacing between paragraphs
  13. click okay.
  14. Calibre will create a folder for the output that you will find under your name in the Users folder on your C drive. You can change where they go by using the ‘Save to Disc ‘button.

If you want to say thanks for me helping you out here. Buy one of my books. They are actually quite good. If you don’t believe me check the reviews.

THE ORIGINAL POST

 Thank you to ‘Dark reverser’ who created the hack, and to ‘I love cabbages’ and all the others who’ve put instructions on the web and videos on this on utube.

In this instance, they’re people who just want to be able to read their legally purchased ebooks on whatever ereader they choose. On all the sites I visited and in all the videos I watched, the writers said that they were not advocating piracy or copyright infringement. They all said that was wrong, but they thought that Amazon was also wrong to try to limit their ebooks to Kindle use only.

I agree.

They said it was simple. It is once you get it to work, but first I had to scout around to find the latest versions of the software. Many of the links in older posts didn’t work anymore. I also had to search countless forums to find the solutions to the error messages that I and many others got. Nowhere did I find clear step by step instructions that included what to do to avoid the common error messages. After several days of research and trial and error, I finally succeeded in making the file conversion work on both my Windows 7 Netbook and my XP laptop.

I was so thrilled to finally make it work that I was leaping around the house. Yay, I did it!

Here’s step by step instructions that are simple enough for the non-tech-minded like me and should also avoid the common error messages.

  1. Download Calibre. http://calibre-ebook.com/download  (It’s free)
    This is a program for managing ebooks and converting their files from one format to another. If you have files that aren’t DMR protected – free books often aren’t  – then this software will work without resorting to anything else.
  2. Open Calibre. Go to ‘add books’ to put your books into the Calibre library, then go to ‘convert books’. On the top right hand side is something that says output format. Choose the one you want –  Epub is the industry standard and should fit most ereaders –  and click okay. If it tells you that the book is DMR protected, you’ll have to follow the steps below to remove the DMR protection.

How to remove the DMR

  1. If you already have Kindle for PC on your computer uninstall it first. Then download this earlier version of Kindle for PC beta. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2992929/Kindl…
    OR
    http://ifile.it/tq05bk4
  2. Immediately disable automatic updates on Kindle for PC ( see menu/settings)
  3. If you already have kindle books on your computer, you will need to download them again from Amazon to get the a new ‘Book path’ . To do this go to your Kindle for PC Home screen, select ‘menu’ then ‘sync and check for new items’, then go to “Archived Items” and download them again.
  4. Download and Install Python ( this will go into the C drive)
    http://www.python.org/download/
  5. Disable UAC if you use Windows 7 or Vista. (Control panel/useraccounts/)
  6. Download these Python Scripts  to a folder of your choice
    http://bit.ly/bTTVIU  (this is unswindle.pyw and mobidedrm.py in one folder)
  7. Double-click the Mobidedrm.py file, then the unswindle.pyw file. Kindle For PCwill open.[If you get a message saying that unswindle can’t find the Mobidedrm.py file – it did this on my XP – then copy Python (see 4) into the same folder as the Python scripts (see 6). Then try again. You’ll find the Python folder on your C drive.]
  8. When Kindle for PC opens, select the book you want to convert.
  9. When the book loads, simply exit Kindle For PC.
  10. The “Select unencrypted Mobipocket file to produce” dialog will open asking you where you want to save your decrypted .mobi file. Enter the filename with the .mobi extension and save the DRM-free .mobi file.
  11. Now use Calibre (see step 2) to change the .mobi file to whatever other file type you require.

Note that this doesn’t remove DRM protection from Topaz .tpz ebooks. More and more new Amazon ebooks will have this file name so if you don’t have a kindle, try to get latest releases from other stores if you can. Smart publishers will make sure they’re available in at least two formats, one for Kindle and one for the others.

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Filed Under: Book talk Tagged With: Can I read Kindle ebooks on other ereaders?, How do I remove DMR from Kindle files?, Step by step instructions for converting Kindle files to epub etc

« Rejection isn’t rare, but feedback with it is.
The Pros and cons of ebooks »

Comments

  1. jennifer janes says

    September 5, 2010 at 11:49 pm

    Hi Tahlia,
    I have been seriously considering buying an Ebook reader (to cope with bringing those big fat tomes to retreat!) I am also going on to USA next year after retreat and it’s so much stuff to lug around. Think I’m leaning to the Ipad. I suggested to my son (tech head) that it could be a problem downloading books from Amazon but you can actually do it quite easily by use of one of the apps.
    I am not actually quite sure of what I’m talking about (you know what a genius I am with computers!) but I wondered whether this might help,
    Love jen.

  2. tahliaN says

    September 6, 2010 at 9:27 am

    You have to find out what sort of files the Ipad takes, then you’ll know if the Amazon ones are compatable with the kindle files or not.

  3. IP Camera says

    September 12, 2010 at 4:43 am

    I am undeniably thankful to you for providing us with this invaluable critical info. My spouse and I are unquestionably grateful, entirely the computer data we needed.

  4. IP Camera says

    September 12, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    Good!!! Bookmarked this page that has this amazing content. Will come back to see if there are any updates. You, the author, are a master. Thanks

  5. vici says

    January 6, 2011 at 8:04 am

    hey i have a quick question!

    For some reason, python won’t download properly onto my computer and everytime i try to run it , it just doesn’t do anything!

    Any idea why?

    • tahliaN says

      January 6, 2011 at 9:40 am

      Gee, sorry I don’t know. I’d try waiting a while then trying again. If it still doesn’t download properly, try googling the question and finding forums from more tech minded people.

      • vici says

        January 7, 2011 at 11:23 pm

        so it’s on my computer, but everytime i double click on unswindle and mobidrm the kindle for PC Beta won’t open up! Nothing happens. I don’t know what window’s i should see or anything,
        mayb if u have time sometime you could tell me,

        thanks so much for responding!

  6. tahliaN says

    January 8, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    You may not have the right version of kindle for PC. It only works with an older version than is around today. Uninstall it, then reinstall it using the link above, and don’t upgrade to more recent versions. (turn off automatice upgrades)

    Kindle for PC should open and you see what you see when you normally open it.

  7. Mitchina says

    November 15, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    Steps 8,9 and 10 are not working as you describe. I highlight the book in the library, nothing happens – Open it to read, nothing happens and “simple exiting Kindle Kindle for PC” does nothing (“Select unencrypted Mobipocket file to produce” dialog will open) does not happen. And where is Calibre?

  8. Mitchina says

    November 15, 2011 at 6:15 pm

    Calibre is never mentioned in any of your instructions until the end – and I have no idea what or where that is… lol I guess I should stop trying, 48 and so not with the technology of today. But thank you so very much for giving me hope – I know it is me, not you. 🙂 happy reading everyone!

    • Tahlia Newland says

      November 16, 2011 at 9:13 am

      Have a look at step one. It has the link for Calibre

  9. Mitchina says

    November 15, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    Okay so Calibre was the first step. Wow, you probably wonder how I arrive anywhere on time and where I am supposed to. But still… even putting this piece back the: 9. When the book loads, simply exit Kindle For PC.
    10. The “Select unencrypted Mobipocket file to produce” dialog will open asking you where you want to save your decrypted .mobi file. Are still not happening as you describe. Sorry for being long winded.

    • Tahlia Newland says

      November 16, 2011 at 9:15 am

      I’m not a techo, so if these instructions don’t work then I really can’t help further. Just check that the dialogue box in step 10 hasn’t appeared underneath another window. Minimise whatever windows you have up and you might find it behind it.

  10. lel says

    October 15, 2012 at 11:07 pm

    fantastic!!! it works! I can read the kindle book on ipad too!

  11. K says

    January 21, 2013 at 10:14 pm

    I just spent all night trying to make this work. I’m so desperate!!! I downloaded Calibre and uninstalled my Kindle for PC, installed the beta, and beta won’t open. Totally forgot that I used to have this problem before with the program. Now I’m just stuck. : (

    • Tahlia Newland says

      January 29, 2013 at 10:13 am

      I know how frustrating it is, but unfortunately I don’t have enough technical knowledge to know what the problem is. My advice is to check all the info again and check that you have followed the steps. Sorry I can’t be of more help

  12. Carol Hessell says

    March 19, 2013 at 3:48 am

    Didn’t work! Same problem as above, have had to reinstall original Kindle prog so I don’t lose the books I bought!

    • Tahlia Newland says

      March 19, 2013 at 10:14 am

      Try it with the new tools and the program you already have where the books are stored. They’re much simpler, just choose the right tool, find the file you want for the input code (you need to put your kindle’s code in at the bottom as well) and the output code is for where you want the decrypted book to go. I’ll update this post somtime and leave a comment to let you know.

      • Carol Hessell says

        March 20, 2013 at 3:09 am

        I don’t have a Kindle, only the PC application, is there a code for that?

        • Tahlia Newland says

          March 20, 2013 at 10:21 am

          I don’t know, but you should be able to find the files in a folder called my kindle content.

  13. Tahlia Newland says

    March 19, 2013 at 11:42 am

    I’ve updated the post to show how to do it using the new tools. It’s a lot simpler. I hope it works for you all.

  14. Carol Hessell says

    March 20, 2013 at 3:55 am

    I installed V4_8 tools, it came up Downtango, but I can’t get it to open. I’ve found I can only open it on installation, then not at all, have uninstalled and reinstalled several times, any suggestions? Also Initially it opened after installation but no Kindlebooks to click on.

    • Tahlia Newland says

      March 20, 2013 at 10:11 am

      I have no idea. I suggest you google V4_8 tools and see if you can find a more knowledgeable person to help. I’d like to know the answer if you find it. I’m on windows 7.

  15. James Sylvester says

    August 18, 2014 at 7:13 am

    How do I get the convrted book off of my computer and onto my e-reader?

    • Tahlia Newland says

      August 19, 2014 at 6:31 pm

      That depends on the ereader, but most of them you can plug them into your computer in the same way as a USB drive and just drag the file over.

Trackbacks

  1. How to make your Kindle ebooks readable on ereaders other than the … | Discount Kindle Books says:
    September 1, 2010 at 9:36 am

    […] Original post by tahliaN […]

  2. Tweets that mention How to make your Kindle ebooks readable on ereaders other than the Kindle. « 'Lethal Inheritance' -- Topsy.com says:
    September 1, 2010 at 10:18 am

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by sell ebooks, Joaane. Joaane said: How to make your Kindle ebooks readable on ereaders other than the …: Here's the bug in the wonderful new … http://tinyurl.com/28nrwz8 […]

  3. Choosing an ebook reader. | 'Lethal Inheritance' says:
    October 31, 2010 at 10:32 am

    […] an ebook and they don’t have a kindle, you’re stuck. Unless you have the secret I revealed in how to change a kindle file into an epub file. I use this often so I can get the Amazon cheap deals and still read them on my […]

  4. How to make Amazon’s free reads work on a non kindle ereader | 'Lethal Inheritance' says:
    December 30, 2010 at 11:03 am

    […] If you have chosen an ereader that isn’t a kindle and you want to be able to partake of Amazon’s occaisonal freebees and cheapies then the info you need is  here. […]

  5. Which ereader is best – comparing the Sony, the kindle & the Australian Kogan. | Tahlia Newland, author says:
    November 27, 2011 at 11:25 am

    […] me or anyone who does the research and sets up the facility on their computer, (easier to do than stripping DMR from kindle files to change them to epub.) I only do it so I can read my books on whatever device I want to, and even though I don’t use […]

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