Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre

[gordonsj]

I still use what would seem to be the 'old' method. I download books to a 3rd gen Kindle Keyboard, they show up as azw3 files. I then import to Calibre via a USB connection. The Calibre I use has an older version of DeDRM tools installed with the DRM key of my Kindle installed and the DRM is removed nicely. Only issue is sometimes the old Kindle does not find the book in my library, in that case I push to the device via the Amazon website. Works for KU books as well as purchases.
I might set up a VM to test the new DeDRM tools, as I don't want to risk the setup I have working.

[theducks]

I have not seen issues using the new tools with older models serial. You might as at the tools site, if there will be issues.
Simply save your old tools plugin (if you have not kept in in an backup archive)
and install the new Tools.

Remember, the tools do not affect previously cleaned books.

If you are not happy, simply reinstall the old tools plugin

[Shykat]

I'm collecting files and info for my personal use and currently have the Kindle PC 2.4.20904, and then will install the KFX input into the newest version of Calibre.

When going through my previous instructions with the old 1.19 version of Kindle, I have a bat file that disables Kindle from doing an automatic update.

Though I realize this is a forum more for working with the conversion of the files, will that bat file work on the news version of Kindle to prevent it from updating unless *I* want it to? Plus, (pardon the old lady brain), how do I use the bat file as I don't have those directions written down.

Thank you all.

[hurr88icane]

I happened to see today that Amazon force updated my install of KindleForPC 2.4.0 (70904) to some flavor of 2.4.1 (I do have the box for automatic updates unchecked). I tested with a new book released today, and was not able to convert my book in Calibre.

I happened to find the bat file Shykat references in their post ("disable k4pc download.bat" found attached on the first comment of the previous main thread). Looking at the batch file, it appears to be referencing the ProgramFiles (x86) directory for Kindle install, but Kindle these days installs to your %localappdata% directory instead, so you see some error messages when running the file (all you do is double click the file to run it).

Good news, the batch file still searches that %localappata% directory, and only uses the Program Files (x86) directory to determine if KindleForPC was even installed. The batch file looks to only be deleting two directories, so if you're comfortable navigating Windows Explorer you can delete them yourself if you don't want to use the bat file:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Amazon\Kindle\storage
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Amazon\Kindle\updates


Point being, I was able to uninstall the forced update KindleForPC, manually download and install KindleForPC 2.4.0 (70904), delete the two folders, and have not seen further attempts to force update the software.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by hurr88icane

Point being, I was able to uninstall the forced update KindleForPC, manually download and install KindleForPC 2.4.0 (70904), delete the two folders, and have not seen further attempts to force update the software.

Keep the installer for 2.4.0 because a forced install will happen eventually. Make a backup of 2.40 just to be safe.

[Shykat]

Originally Posted by hurr88icane

Good news, the batch file still searches that %localappata% directory, and only uses the Program Files (x86) directory to determine if KindleForPC was even installed. The batch file looks to only be deleting two directories, so if you're comfortable navigating Windows Explorer you can delete them yourself if you don't want to use the bat file:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Amazon\Kindle\storage
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Amazon\Kindle\updates


Point being, I was able to uninstall the forced update KindleForPC, manually download and install KindleForPC 2.4.0 (70904), delete the two folders, and have not seen further attempts to force update the software.

Thank you, hurr88icane, for the names of the files to delete.

Thank you, JSWolf, for the reminder to save the installer which I have just done.

I'll be installing KForPC while not connected to my network, too, in the hope that deleting those files will stay deleted and no forced update will happen when I reconnect to the network.

I'll be back as usual, if I have any issues. You all are very helpful.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by hurr88icane

Good news, the batch file still searches that %localappata% directory, and only uses the Program Files (x86) directory to determine if KindleForPC was even installed. The batch file looks to only be deleting two directories, so if you're comfortable navigating Windows Explorer you can delete them yourself if you don't want to use the bat file:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Amazon\Kindle\storage
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Amazon\Kindle\updates

Minor nit is that while the batch file deletes the updates directory, it also creates a file called updates which prevents the updates directory from being recreated.

[Shykat]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Minor nit is that while the batch file deletes the updates directory, it also creates a file called updates which prevents the updates directory from being recreated.

So will the .bat file still work correctly with the 2.4.70904 version? If not, how would I manually create a new file called Updates to prevent the updates directory from being recreated?

[DNSB]

I looked at the original disable k4pc download.bat file and cleaned it up a bit and added some comments to make it clearer what it's doing. The new copy is attached to this message.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Shykat

So will the .bat file still work correctly with the 2.4.70904 version? If not, how would I manually create a new file called Updates to prevent the updates directory from being recreated?

Yes, it does create the file called updates. I installed an older version of K4PC and let it update. A file was downloaded but could not be renamed and copied into the updates directory so the update was never completed.

[Shykat]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Yes, it does create the file called updates. I installed an older version of K4PC and let it update. A file was downloaded but could not be renamed and copied into the updates directory so the update was never completed.

Fantastic!!!

Thank you very much.

[odamizu]

I have updated the original post about Kindle for PC 2.4.1 and the disable_k4pc_download.bat file.

As mentioned, I am not a Windows user, so if there are corrections to be made in what I wrote, please let me know.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Shykat

Thank you, hurr88icane, for the names of the files to delete.

Thank you, JSWolf, for the reminder to save the installer which I have just done.

I'll be installing KForPC while not connected to my network, too, in the hope that deleting those files will stay deleted and no forced update will happen when I reconnect to the network.

I'll be back as usual, if I have any issues. You all are very helpful.

When I reinstalled KindleforPC 1.17, I did not disconnect the network.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I looked at the original disable k4pc download.bat file and cleaned it up a bit and added some comments to make it clearer what it's doing. The new copy is attached to this message.

Thank you!

[BionicGecko]

Many thanks DNSB, the script works well. It might perhaps be worth giving a small word of caution to people using it that it does not actually prevent the downloading of the update, only its installation.

The update file (with filename temp_%1%2) is downloaded to the Kindle directory every time the application is launched, whether the update file already exists in the directory or not; if the file is already there, the newly downloaded file (with a slightly different filename) gets deleted but only after it is fully downloaded.

So people should make sure to count with a permanent extra 260MB of disk space used, plus an extra 260MB of internet traffic every time time Kindle for PC is launched.