v10.0.17

[Satsuoni]

With the new 2.8.2 K4PC, Amazon introduced new key system that uses encrypted keys that are never in cleartext in memory. As such, I was forced to step one step closer to the gaping, quivering Analog hole.

Introducing new tool, KFXArchiver (KFXArchiver282), which uses some more of the code from DeDRM plugin to create decrypted book archives. The archives have extension KFX-ZIP, but are decrypted. One needs KFX Input Calibre plugin installed. Then on import, they should become a single KFX file. In theory, DeDRM plugin does not need to be installed (for KFX), but why not keep it for other formats and older books?

Usage is similar to KFXKeyExtractor282, but it produces books instead of keyfile.

Example:
KFXArchiver282.exe "C:\Users\User\Documents\My Kindle Content" output_folder output.k4i

Note that output folder must exist, tool is not going to make one. When in doubt, might as well use "." (current folder)
k4i file should be like before, unless I forgot something again.

Note: KFXKeyExtractor282 might still work for some books, as it seems like the settings are not stable yet on Amazon servers.
Note: Both of the *282 executables should all work on 2.8.0, 2.8.1 and 2.8.2, but not other versions.

As usual, no guarantee, what works for me (and some others) might not work for a particular setup other people might have.

---

This discussion was created from the release v10.0.17.

[Satsuoni]

@jadehawk, any comments?

[jadehawk]

Working good so far. Powered thru 100 random book few hours ago. No issues so far..

[jadehawk]

@jadehawk, any comments?

Also Python script updated to work with KFXArchiver282

[T-E-N]

• To v2.7.1 Decryption failed until I ran KRFExtractor again #7 (comment) on kindle.dmp still applies. Even for books already downloaded but not imported into Calibre yet, or do extracted keys stay unchanged as long as the version isn't updated?

• There's no way yet to make titles come out more human-readable than as CR!G1BB3R15H.azw?

Is this understanding correct?

[Satsuoni]

As a note, book key usually does not change between k4pc versions. I am yet to see book key change at all, a single book format (there are several for different devices, like the format with black and white images and the one with smaller images) would have the same key regardless of device (Tested with android and mac). But you still need k4pc to get the key in the first place. And copying books to PC and trying to extract keys would no longer work, since now amazon uses different methods of key obfuscation for each platform.

[T-E-N]

Why would someone take the time to extract keys and NOT IMPORT is beyond me. IMPORTING is needed when using KFXKeyextractor to COMPLETE the DRM removal process

Because as @Satsuoni explained a little later in #55 (reply in thread), these extracts from 2.7.1 do remain decryptable once made.
The good reason for sticking with versions earlier than 2.8 (and still supported for KRFExtractor on DMP) when and where one can is that all further steps don't need to run and rely on any of their code, incl. triggering potential tripwires.

Can you convert the "TITLES" to a more human-readable, yes by IMPORTING them to Calibre and let Calibre handle that, then you can save, store, back-up the book DRM free anyway you want... To be clear the filename is the books ASIN number (remove the _EBOK part).

The trouble is when bulk-importing from multiple folders, Calibre (even when asked to assume all of each folder's files are for the same book) doesn't let you pick the file type extension, but instead takes the title (file and book name) from CR!G1BB3R15H.azw.md rather than EBOK_B01234567.azw, and accordingly doesn't show the title but CR!G1BB3R15H.azw instead (and besides KFX puts an extra useless entry of type MD into its database for each book).
Welcome to suggest a workflow that avoids this without having to import every book on its own rather than folders in bulk.

[Satsuoni]

I am not strictly familiar with Calibre bulk import, but maybe the KFXArchiver can actually help? It makes each book into a single zip file, and you can then import from the output folder all at once? You do need to have K4PC 2.8.0-2.8.2 though. (Though you may not necessarily need to install it, I did not try with older K4PC books). (A note: KFXArchiver has an optional 4th argument which is a folder into which K4PC installer was unpacked, it would use that instead of installed K4PC if set)

[jadehawk]

Why would someone take the time to extract keys and NOT IMPORT is beyond me. IMPORTING is needed when using KFXKeyextractor to COMPLETE the DRM removal process

Because as @Satsuoni explained a little later in #55 (reply in thread), these extracts from 2.7.1 do remain decryptable once made. The good reason for sticking with versions earlier than 2.8 (and still supported for KRFExtractor on DMP) when and where one can is that all further steps don't need to run and rely on any of their code, incl. triggering potential tripwires.

Can you convert the "TITLES" to a more human-readable, yes by IMPORTING them to Calibre and let Calibre handle that, then you can save, store, back-up the book DRM free anyway you want... To be clear the filename is the books ASIN number (remove the _EBOK part).

The trouble is when bulk-importing from multiple folders, Calibre (even when asked to assume all of each folder's files are for the same book) doesn't let you pick the file type extension, but instead takes the title (file and book name) from CR!G1BB3R15H.azw.md rather than EBOK_B01234567.azw, and accordingly doesn't show the title but CR!G1BB3R15H.azw instead (and besides KFX puts an extra useless entry of type MD into its database for each book). Welcome to suggest a workflow that avoids this without having to import every book on its own rather than folders in bulk.

Do not use Calibre import from GUI. Instead use Drag&Drop and only Drag the *.azw into Calibre.

[T-E-N]

The trouble is when bulk-importing from multiple folders, Calibre (even when asked to assume all of each folder's files are for the same book) doesn't let you pick the file type extension, but instead takes the title (file and book name) from CR!G1BB3R15H.azw.md rather than EBOK_B01234567.azw, and accordingly doesn't show the title but CR!G1BB3R15H.azw instead (and besides KFX puts an extra useless entry of type MD into its database for each book). Welcome to suggest a workflow that avoids this without having to import every book on its own rather than folders in bulk.

KFXArchiver can actually help? It makes each book into a single zip file, and you can then import from the output folder all at once? You do need to have K4PC 2.8.0-2.8.2 though. (Though you may not necessarily need to install it, I did not try with older K4PC books). (A note: KFXArchiver has an optional 4th argument which is a folder into which K4PC installer was unpacked, it would use that instead of installed K4PC if set)

Do not use Calibre import from GUI. Instead use Drag&Drop and only Drag the *.azw into Calibre.

Actually the easiest workaround (albeit hidden deep in the menu tree, and not in the "Automatic adding" tab where e.g. Google/Gemini hallucinates it to be) for both getting the right titles (or the titles right) and skipping the unusable MD imports seems to be Preferences > Import/export: Adding books > Adding actions > Control which files are added during bulk imports: Rules to filter added files > Add rule > Ignore the file, if the filename ends with: .md > OK (Restart)

[titanzeonprime-lab]

So to use the KFXArchiver282.exe, It would look something like C:Users\Username\Local\Amazon\kindle\application\kfkarchiver282.exe "C:Users\Username\Local\Documents\My Kindle Content" output_folder output.k4i" ? Just want to make sure I am doing this cmd right.

[jadehawk]

So to use the KFXArchiver282.exe, It would look something like C:Users\Username\Local\Amazon\kindle\application\kfkarchiver282.exe "C:Users\Username\Local\Documents\My Kindle Content" output_folder output.k4i" ? Just want to make sure I am doing this cmd right.

Correct, however the path to the output folder has to EXIST. The tool will not create the path "folder" if it is missing

[jadehawk]

One more question. Where can I find the .exe file. cause all there is in the folder is a CPP file for the KFX ARchiver282?

First comment on this thread has the link to the ZIP folder with ALL the files needed

[Satsuoni]

It should work from any user-writable location, but as usual, not tested on other PCs, so kindle\application is still the best bet. And yes, output_folder has to exist. It will tell you if it does not.

[joedahill]

Does this work with 2.8.70995 and if not where can i get an older version of the installer

[ElleKayEm]

Use the latest pre-release 10.0.18.

[joedahill]

Use the latest pre-release 10.0.18.

I got a friend to send me an installer for 2.8.70980 like in the guide. Do i need to update to latest version to have access to new books. Sorry im new to this.

[ElleKayEm]

No, looks like they haven't cut off any of the 2.8 versions yet.

[Satsuoni]

You can also usually get official installer links, like https://kindleforpc.s3.amazonaws.com/70980/KindleForPC-installer-2.8.70980.exe , change "70980" parts for build number that you want.... (And 8 for 9 when the time comes).

[RainbowSquid04]

When I run the command it gives me:
frontconfig error: Cannot load default config file
Could not open directory
How do I resolve this? Sorry if this is a really basic question I am very new to this sort of thing.

[RainbowSquid04]

@jadehawk
heres the full command and everything that outputs when I run it.

[jadehawk]

@RainbowSquid04

You need an actual output folder location. and it needs to exists prior to running the command.

create new folder in example "C:\Users\kling\Downloads\Extracted_Books"

Then run the command from the DeDRM_tools folder again:

.\KFXArchiver282.exe "C:\Users\kling\Docucments\My Kindle Content" "C:\Users\kling\Downloads\Extracted_Books" output.k4i

[Satsuoni]

"Could not open directory" happens when it cannot open Kindle books directory, the error for output directory is "Directory xxx does not appear to exist. Please check path and create is necessary". Either "C:\Users\kling\Documents\My Kindle Content" does not exists or it has to be double-escaped like so "C:\\Users\\kling\\Documents\\My Kindle Content". I guess if that does not work, try copying the books to another folder, preferably without spaces?

[praschak]

ran into the same issue. copying and renaming the "My Kindle Content" folder to C:\kindle did the trick.
.\KFXArchiver283.exe "C:\kindle" output_folder output.k4i

[RainbowSquid04]

"Could not open directory" happens when it cannot open Kindle books directory, the error for output directory is "Directory xxx does not appear to exist. Please check path and create is necessary". Either "C:\Users\kling\Documents\My Kindle Content" does not exists or it has to be double-escaped like so "C:\Users\kling\Documents\My Kindle Content". I guess if that does not work, try copying the books to another folder, preferably without spaces?

Turns out I was writing the address wrong, whoops! Thank you so much for the help!