How to run KindlePC

General system Applications
1

Hi.
I use Amazon out of necessity despite the DRM issue,
And on top of that I lost my Kindle and does not intend to get a new third one.
Now I’m stuck on that reasing platform on the amazon website, which sucks so hard I can’t even copy/paste text ! Ridiculous…
Is that possible to use KindlePC on linux ? I tried the methods but it doesn’t work… winecfg doesn’t show the “window 98”, as indicated in a rather recent tutorial.
The endgoal would be to remove the DRM, which in my case is certainly legal since the formal impossibility of reading this thing on linux, makes their system a forced sale in favor of Microsoft or Apple.
But I would be fine merely reading my legally bought books that I own… yet can’t f***in’ read.

Here what the window I should use to connect to Amazon from KindlePC looks like:
ici

That’s how the log reads:

Log

mengele@DasReich ~> 596e536e4d746872456e5074456e5
3746835785353536223413258494d4d3741435334475553&openid.claimed_id=http%3A%2F%2Fspecs.openid.ne
t%2Fauth%2F2.0%2Fidentifier_select&openid.ns.oa2=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fap%2Fext%2Foaut
h%2F2&openid.ns=http%3A%2F%2Fspecs.openid.net%2Fauth%2F2.0&openid.identity=http%3A%2F%2Fspecs.
openid.net%2Fauth%2F2.0%2Fidentifier_select&openid.mode=checkid_setup&openid.oa2.scope=device_
auth_access&openid.oa2.response_type=token&openid.return_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.fr%2F&ope
nid.ns.pape=http%3A%2F%2Fspecs.openid.net%2Fextensions%2Fpape%2F1.0&openid.pape.max_auth_age=0
&accountStatusPolicy=P1&pageId=amzn_mazama_pc_aui&openid.assoc_handle=amzn_mazama_desktop_fr&d
isableLoginPrepopulate=1
[INFO][FraudMetadata] Successfully generated metadata key.
[INFO][FraudMetadata] Successfully generated metadata initialvector.
[INFO][FraudMetadata] Successfully generated metadata key.
0284:fixme:wininet:set_cookie secure not handled
[INFO][AxWebView] Cookie successfully set for sending. Name: frc
[INFO][CMetricsManager] Reporting the following metric 211225:172236 Mazama: I AxWebView:MZMA_
SetCookieSuccessfully:
0284:fixme:ieframe:ClientSite_GetContainer (0404D3F8)->(0032D8FC)
0284:fixme:mshtml:InternetBindInfo_GetBindString (12348618)->(10 0032D618 1 0032D61C)
0284:fixme:urlmon:InternetBindInfo_GetBindString not supported string type 20
0284:fixme:ieframe:DocHostUIHandler_GetDropTarget (0404D3F8)
0284:fixme:ntdll:EtwRegisterTraceGuidsW register trace class {a3da04e0-57d7-482a-a1c1-61da5f95bacb}
0284:fixme:ntdll:EtwRegisterTraceGuidsW register trace class {917b96b1-ecad-4dab-a760-8d49027748ae}
0284:fixme:ntdll:EtwRegisterTraceGuidsW register trace class {26d1e091-0ae7-4f49-a554-4214445c505c}
0328:err:winediag:process_attach Failed to load libgnutls, secure connections will not be available.
0328:err:secur32:SECUR32_initSchannelSP no schannel support, expect problems
0328:err:winediag:ntlm_check_version ntlm_auth was not found or is outdated. Make sure that ntlm_auth >= 3.0.25 is in your path. Usually, you can find it in the winbind package of your distribution.
0328:err:ntlm:ntlm_LsaApInitializePackage no NTLM support, expect problems
0284:fixme:ieframe:DocObjectService_IsErrorUrl 11EC6398 L"https://www.amazon.fr/ap/signin?openid.oa2.client_id=device%3A35625043364353647239506e724772476e596e536e4d746872456e5074456e53746835785353536223413258494d4d3741435334475553&openid.claimed_id=http%3A%2F%2Fspecs.openid.net%2Fauth%2F2.0%2Fidentifier_select&openid.ns.oa2=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amaz"… 0032DA70
[INFO][RegistrationDialogWrapper] Webview finished loading
with code=0
[INFO][CMetricsManager] Reporting the following metric 211225:172238 Mazama: I RegistrationDia
logWrapper:RegistrationWebViewLoadTimer:Timer=5026:
0284:fixme:ieframe:handle_navigation_error Navigate to error page
0284:fixme:ieframe:PropertyNotifySink_OnChanged unimplemented dispid 1005
0284:fixme:mshtml:CustomDoc_SetUIHandler custom UI handler supports IOleCommandTarget
[INFO][RegistrationDialogWrapper] Webview finished loading
with code=1
[WARN][NetworkManager] Network request error: URL=[https://www.amazon.com/ping], description=[
5], reason=[Operation canceled], httpcode=[]
[INFO][InternetConnectivityMonitor] Ping request timed out; trying again (attempts left: 1)
[WARN][flashcardsplugin/Flashcards:FlashcardsPlugin] Failed tget directed ID; trying again i
n 4 msec
[WARN][flashcardsplugin/Flashcards:FlashcardsPlugin] Failed tget directed ID; trying again i
n 8 msec
[INFO][InternetConnectivityMonitor] Internet connection detected
[INFO][NetworkManager] Network Finished: https://www.amazon.com/ping status=200
[WARN][flashcardsplugin/Flashcards:FlashcardsPlugin] Failed tget directed ID; trying again i
n 16 msec
[WARN][flashcardsplugin/Flashcards:FlashcardsPlugin] Failed tget directed ID; trying again i
n 32 msec
[WARN][flashcardsplugin/Flashcards:FlashcardsPlugin] Failed tget directed ID; trying again i
n 64 msec
[WARN][flashcardsplugin/Flashcards:FlashcardsPlugin] Failed tget directed ID; trying again i
n 128 msec
[WARN][flashcardsplugin/Flashcards:FlashcardsPlugin] Failed tget directed ID; trying again i
n 256 msec
[WARN][flashcardsplugin/Flashcards:FlashcardsPlugin] Failed tget directed ID; trying again i
n 512 msec
[WARN][flashcardsplugin/Flashcards:FlashcardsPlugin] Failed tget directed ID; trying again i
n 1024 msec
[WARN][flashcardsplugin/Flashcards:FlashcardsPlugin] Failed tget directed ID; trying again i
n 2048 msec
mengele@DasReich ~> [WARN][flashcardsplugin/Flashcards:FlashcardsPlugin] Failed to get
directed ID; trying again i
n 4096 msec
[WARN][flashcardsplugin/Flashcards:FlashcardsPlugin] Failed to get directed ID; trying
again i
n 8192 msec
[INFO][RegistrationDialogWrapper] onMarketplaceComboBoxChanged selectionIndex=9
[INFO][RegistrationDialogWrapper] reloadWebview
0284:fixme:ieframe:WebBrowser_Stop (0404D320)
[INFO][RegistrationDialogWrapper] Loading registration URL: https://www.amazon.fr/ap/signin?op
enid.oa2.client_id=device%3A35625043364353647239506e724772476e596e536e4d746872456e5074456e5374
6835785353536223413258494d4d3741435334475553&openid.claimed_id=http%3A%2F%2Fspecs.openid.net%2
Fauth%2F2.0%2Fidentifier_select&openid.ns.oa2=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fap%2Fext%2Foauth%2
F2&openid.ns=http%3A%2F%2Fspecs.openid.net%2Fauth%2F2.0&openid.identity=http%3A%2F%2Fspecs.ope
nid.net%2Fauth%2F2.0%2Fidentifier_select&openid.mode=checkid_setup&openid.oa2.scope=device_aut
h_access&openid.oa2.response_type=token&openid.return_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.fr%2F&openid
.ns.pape=http%3A%2F%2Fspecs.openid.net%2Fextensions%2Fpape%2F1.0&openid.pape.max_auth_age=0&ac
countStatusPolicy=P1&pageId=amzn_mazama_pc_aui&openid.assoc_handle=amzn_mazama_desktop_fr&disa
bleLoginPrepopulate=1
[INFO][RegistrationDialogWrapper] Registration: URL changed to https://www.amazon.fr/ap/signin
?openid.oa2.client_id=device%3A35625043364353647239506e724772476e596e536e4d746872456e5074456e5
3746835785353536223413258494d4d3741435334475553&openid.claimed_id=http%3A%2F%2Fspecs.openid.ne
t%2Fauth%2F2.0%2Fidentifier_select&openid.ns.oa2=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fap%2Fext%2Foaut
h%2F2&openid.ns=http%3A%2F%2Fspecs.openid.net%2Fauth%2F2.0&openid.identity=http%3A%2F%2Fspecs.
openid.net%2Fauth%2F2.0%2Fidentifier_select&openid.mode=checkid_setup&openid.oa2.scope=device_
auth_access&openid.oa2.response_type=token&openid.return_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.fr%2F&ope
nid.ns.pape=http%3A%2F%2Fspecs.openid.net%2Fextensions%2Fpape%2F1.0&openid.pape.max_auth_age=0
&accountStatusPolicy=P1&pageId=amzn_mazama_pc_aui&openid.assoc_handle=amzn_mazama_desktop_fr&d
isableLoginPrepopulate=1
[INFO][FraudMetadata] Successfully generated metadata key.
[INFO][FraudMetadata] Successfully generated metadata initial vector.
[INFO][FraudMetadata] Successfully generated metadata key.
0284:fixme:wininet:set_cookie secure not handled
[INFO][AxWebView] Cookie successfully set for sending. Name: frc
[INFO][CMetricsManager] Reporting the following metric 211225:172255 Mazama: I AxWebView:MZMA_
SetCookieSuccessfully:
0284:fixme:ieframe:ClientSite_GetContainer (0404D3F8)->(0032D8FC)
0284:fixme:urlmon:InternetBindInfo_GetBindString not supported string type 20
0284:fixme:ieframe:DocHostUIHandler_GetDropTarget (0404D3F8)
0284:fixme:ieframe:DocObjectService_IsErrorUrl 11EC6398 L"https://www.amazon.fr/ap/signin?openid.oa2.client_id=device%3A35625043364353647239506e724772476e596e536e4d746872456e5074456e53746835785353536223413258494d4d3741435334475553&openid.claimed_id=http%3A%2F%2Fspecs.openid.net%2Fauth%2F2.0%2Fidentifier_select&openid.ns.oa2=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amaz"… 0032DA70
[INFO][RegistrationDialogWrapper] Webview finished loading
with code=0
[INFO][CMetricsManager] Reporting the following metric 211225:172256 Mazama: I RegistrationDia
logWrapper:RegistrationWebViewLoadTimer:Timer=1771:
0284:fixme:ieframe:handle_navigation_error Navigate to error page
[WARN][flashcardsplugin/Flashcards:FlashcardsPlugin] Never
got a directed ID; giving up
initia
lization
0284:fixme:mshtml:ConnectionPointContainer_EnumConnectionPoints (120336F8)->(0032D270)
0284:fixme:ieframe:ControlSite_OnFocus (0404D3F8)->(1)

mengele@DasReich ~> 034c:fixme:font:find_matching_face Untranslated charset 255
034c:fixme:font:get_nearest_charset returning DEFAULT_CHARSET face->fs.fsCsb[0] = 00000000 file = L"\??\Z:\usr\share\fonts\noto\NotoKufiArabic-Regular.ttf"
034c:fixme:font:find_matching_face Untranslated charset 255
034c:fixme:font:get_nearest_charset returning DEFAULT_CHARSET face->fs.fsCsb[0] = 00000000 file = L"\??\Z:\usr\share\fonts\noto\NotoKufiArabic-Bold.ttf"
034c:fixme:font:find_matching_face Untranslated charset 255
034c:fixme:font:get_nearest_charset returning DEFAULT_CHARSET face->fs.fsCsb[0] = 00000000 file = L"\??\Z:\usr\share\fonts\noto\NotoKufiArabic-Black.ttf"
034c:fixme:font:find_matching_face Untranslated charset 255
034c:fixme:font:get_nearest_charset returning DEFAULT_CHARSET face->fs.fsCsb[0] = 00000000 file = L"\??\Z:\usr\share\fonts\noto\NotoKufiArabic-Light.ttf"
034c:fixme:font:find_matching_face Untranslated charset 255
034c:fixme:font:get_nearest_charset returning DEFAULT_CHARSET face->fs.fsCsb[0] = 00000000 file = L"\??\Z:\usr\share\fonts\noto\NotoKufiArabic-Thin.ttf"
034c:fixme:font:find_matching_face Untranslated charset 255
034c:fixme:font:get_nearest_charset returning DEFAULT_CHARSET face->fs.fsCsb[0] = 00000000 file = L"\??\Z:\usr\share\fonts\noto\NotoKufiArabic-Medium.ttf"
034c:fixme:font:find_matching_face Untranslated charset 255
034c:fixme:font:get_nearest_charset returning DEFAULT_CHARSET face->fs.fsCsb[0] = 00000000 file = L"\??\Z:\usr\share\fonts\TTF\odokai-ExtB.ttf"
034c:fixme:font:get_gasp_flags Unsupported gasp table: ver 65535 size 8 recs 1
[INFO][CMetricsManager] Persisting metrics
[INFO][AppStateManager] On Sync items.
[INFO][AppStateManager] On Sync items.
[INFO][AppStateManager] On Sync items.
[INFO][AppStateManager] On Sync items.
[INFO][AppStateManager] On Sync items.
[INFO][AppStateManager] On Sync items.

Thanks for your help.

2

One workaround would be to run it within a Windows virtual machine. It’s less than ideal, but probably the most reliable way to get it working…

1 Like
3

If possible - I would just download the books for offline reading and use Calibre. A quick Google shows very little possibility of using that particular software on Linux.

You may want to consider keeping a Windows installation around. If I recall correctly, this isn’t the first piece of software you’ve asked for help with. It may be in your best interest to just use it on Windows.

Or I do like the previous suggestion - Install Windows in a VirtualMachine, then install the software inside “Windows” and you should be good to go.

Edit: I’m giving it a go to see if it’s possible:

Screenshot_20211225_133802

1 Like
4

Looks like it should work . . I’m not buying it/setting it up - I don’t want to go through the hassle of logging into Amazon to download something I don’t want or need.

But, you should be good to roll with a VM at least.

Screenshot_20211225_135237

Screenshot_20211225_135618

1 Like
5

I’m not sure what all the KindlePC app does but if just lets you read your ebooks, Can’t you just read them on the website?
https://read.amazon.com

6

Indeed it’s not the first time I have issues with a program… If it’s specific to the program, I use the github/whatever page of the author.
Otherwise if it might be related to the system/distrib or to the fact of using linux (not just a particular program), I ask here. Am I wrong :flushed:

Yes I CAN use the website… I already do. But it’s cumbersome as f***, to say the least, ultra slow, bookmarks are s***, and full text search is equally as awkward. It doesn’t even compare to using calibre or any ebook reader for the matter.
Down the virtual machine route I go…

Thanks.

7

Btw: DRM → No can use calibre or anything else than their damn app.

8

We can likely help you with Linux built programs. If you have an issue with say, libre office. . . But Windows programs it’s pretty unlikely.

1 Like
9

Too bad you can only get the drm off kindle files in a non legal way through Calibre plugins. However none of that on this forum as it goes against the forum rules.

10

According to wineHQ kindle should run.
Which versions of wine and kindle do you use?
https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=40103
https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=39700

There is just this workaround mentioned:

It will crash when the installation ends since the installer tries to run the software.
To bypass the crash on startup, create the required missing directory with a command similar to:
mkdir -p $WINEPREFIX/drive_c/users/$USER/AppData/Local/Amazon/Kindle/crashdump
Then Kindle.exe will launch successfully.
For details: Bug 46320

11

Another alternative is to find a way to run the Kindle app on Android. I use it on my tablet and phone, but I understand it can be done to set up an Android-capable system on Linux (I am not knowledgable on that!).

Amazon has abused its DRM considerably - even when the author has specifically requested release without DRM, they release with their "enhanced’ formatting which does the same thing!

12

So, that is why they call it Amazon Swindle. :rofl:

13

Just set it up, it works like any other linux distro:

I just spun up a VM:

Screenshot_20211226_024813
Screenshot_20211226_0248131920×1080 112 KB

Screenshot_20211226_025202
Screenshot_20211226_0252021920×1080 115 KB

14

I’m clearly not trying that… My prospective headaches already kill me. Funny that it does exist though.
Version: wine-7.0-rc1
So already winehq… nice difference from Debian.
I didn’t know they would FORCE the DRM on authors… What a bunch of despicable s**mbags !
Also, no change when creating the folder. It never crashed per se, it just shows that white window. If it tries to open a browser, well it fails doing that…

Picture

ici

Whatever, I’ll favor the virtual machine, this wine annoys me. No hating the staff though, of course that kind of emulation can’t alwyas go swimmingly… This is uphill battle from the getgo.

15

I understand - have luck with virtual machine.

About those wine versions - it sometimes happens that newer version breaks things that worked in an old build. Based on the information from WineHQ you know which versions are compatible. And there is a nice tool called lutris that allow you to manage various wine versions and environments.

I just wanted to point out the difference. Wine is not an emulator like VM is. It tries to translate application calls so that linux can run them directly. For your case it probably isn’t that important but for other use cases you can for example see a performace issue or hardware access issue (USB, IR, LPT, …).

Maybe here you will have the benefit of VM that isolates all those Amazon stuff from your linux system. Who knows what hidden telemetry and spyware is there as well. :grin: Wine cannot do that.

16

For the benefit of other viewers who might read @vlkon’s reply, if you install Lutris, you do not need to install Wine. Lutris comes with Wine. I learned that lesson the hard way last year; takes up quite a bit of drive space.

17

I’ll try. but fortunately (HUMHUM, damn that one nearly killedm me) the friend I wanted to give that book to, has Windows, so he’ll use KindlePC with my data.