Ebook Help needed... Bad

AximLegionnaire · 12-13-03, 01:56 AM

Okay, I know this is probably double posting (I started a thread in the Ebook section), but I need some answers and I don't think the Ebook area is looked at by enough people.

Alright, it all started when I bought a Star Wars ebook from Amazon.com. I couldn't figure out how to download my ebook. It said something about it shipping tomorrow, how do you ship an ebook?!?!?! So I look around a little bit and find some info about activating my Pocket PC and PC. every time i try to activate my Pocket PC (Dell Axim X3i) it says avtivation error. I have some questions, and what I really need is either answers or a total noob runthrough of buying, downloading, and reading an ebook. Thanks for the help.

Here are my questions:

1.) do i have to activate?

2.) how do i get Activex (or something like that)?, it said that I needed it

3.) How do i get my ebook from amazon.com?

4.) do i need the latest version of Microsoft Reader?

5.) do i need Microsoft Reader on my desktop PC as well as my
Pocket PC?

I would REALLY appreciate ANY help.

Rich P · 12-13-03, 02:10 PM

To activate reader, first cradle your Axim and go here -
http://das.microsoft.com/activate

Sign in with your Passport username and password. If you don't have one, you will have to create one.

When you get to the activation part, click for pocket pc.

That should do it on activation.

Now, I don't know a lot about the reader software...so I had some trouble that I didn't anticipate. I d/loaded from Amazon to my laptop, and it opened the book right up, and when I transferred it to my Axim, it was locked! I don't know if there is a setting in the desktop reader to keep this from happening, so I deleted it from my laptop. Then Amazon wouldn't let me d/load it because the program wasn't on my computer!

So, here is what I did. I just d/loaded it directly to my Axim.

Cradle your baby, then direct IE to amazon.com. Up near the top right, there is Your Account. Click that, and sign in to Amazon with your email and password. There will be some links that some up. Click on track packages. It will tell you if your order is ready to d/load. It took 2 days for mine. I don't know why...maybe they have to scan each book by hand! (You realize, I was just kidding when I said that.)

If it is ready to d/load, click digital library. Your order will show up, and to the right there will be a link for d/loading.

I hope all this rambling helped. I am sure you can do it another way...if anyone knows about how to keep desktop reader from opening it and messing it up, let me know. Not that I will install it ever again...I would just like to know if there is a better/easier way!

Rich

AximLegionnaire · 12-13-03, 04:59 PM

Thanks for the reply. I go the ebook downloaded to my desktop, but I need to know how to get it to my Pocket PC.

I also have another problem, it wont let me activate my Axim! please help, thanks.

Magicmonger · 12-13-03, 06:30 PM

I had problems also finally got mine activated for the first time last night. What version of Activesync you using?

AximLegionnaire · 12-14-03, 08:02 PM

Okay, I think I've got it down so that I only have one problem. I got the ebook on my Pocket PC, but I cannot activate my X3i. Every time I try it comes up with a list of things to make sure are okay, like the "connected" in ActivSync.

MagicMonger, I'm currently running activsync version 3.7. I'm going to try to upgrade to 3.7.1.

Raynne413 · 12-14-03, 09:31 PM

I don't know if the X3 is the same as the X5, but the X5 came with a software CD that had various categories like Getting Started and Productivity. If you went into the Enhancing your Axim and Productivity section, it had an area for MS Reader that would take you to the activation page.

AximLegionnaire · 12-14-03, 09:34 PM

Got 3.7.1 but doesnt help. I've even read some threads and tried deleting my temporary internet files and cookies but that did nothing. We have a 19.2k cellphine connection so maybe that is the problem. I'll try to activate at my campus and maybe that will help.

AximLegionnaire · 12-16-03, 10:41 AM

I'm now activated, but my MS reader won't read the book!

Also, when I try to re-download the ebook directly from my Axim, it says I need to activate, which already did! any help will be appreciated.

JediTim · 12-16-03, 11:57 AM

Did you use the same Passport address and password when you activated the PPC? You may have to go through the process again and activate your PC and your PPC. Can you read the ebook on your PC? Check to see if the emails on the bottom of Reader is the same on your PC and your PPC. You may have a problem with ebook when you're finished, though. I used Barnes and Noble for about $50 worth of ebooks. I had to reactivate my Reader, and was not able to open the books. Microsoft told me that they're encoded at purchase to only work with the Reader that downloaded them. Barnes and Noble never responded to my emails. I don't want to scare you, but I wouldn't buy anymore ebooks until you get this straightened out.

AximLegionnaire · 12-16-03, 01:24 PM

Thanks to everyone for their help. I can now read my ebook on my Axim! I was able to avtivate my Axim at my campus but then reader woudn't read. Using a tip posted by hnelson59, what I did was create a shortcut to the newest version of reader so that I used it instead of the reader stored in ROM, which was the older version accessed by the default icon, and it worked. Thanks again to everyone.

JediTim · 12-16-03, 06:28 PM

You should demove the older version of Reader from your Axim. You should have two Readers in your Remove Programs screen. It'll be hard to tell, so you could delete both of them and re-install the one from the Microsoft site. It will work fine after you activate it. No need to rush to do this since you found a work around, but if space or performance becomes an issue, it would solve some problems.

Raynne413 · 12-16-03, 07:49 PM

The original version of MS Reader is in ROM and cannot be removed.

JediTim · 12-16-03, 08:38 PM

I was able to remove from my Axim using the remove programs screen on my Axim. You can also remove it using ActiveSync.