Barnes & Noble Nook discussion

201 views
Nook - The Technical Side > Help with downloading ebook with Nook

Comments Showing 1-24 of 24 (24 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Anna D. (new)

Anna D. | 14 comments Has anyone had issues downloading your ebooks from Barnes & Noble? I download them to my laptop using Nook for PC and I'm getting "network error 1017" when I try logging in. B&N's customer support (phone calls and email chats) have not worked and it's getting frustrating :(

I've read discussion threads on this issue (as old as 2010 to as recently as Noember 6th 2014) and I've tried suggestion people have posted as fixes (log in/out, uninstall/reinstall, don't use WiFi, add Nook in my firewall exceptions, etc). Many have said there is no fix, but I can't believe that. I'm not VERY tech savvy, but I can usually navigate my way through this..and it's been working fine for 2 years. I don't know what I did differently to cause this change.

Any help would be appreciated.


message 2: by Carlissa (last edited Nov 10, 2014 04:15PM) (new)

Carlissa I was having trouble last week with Nook for PC app (it was showing that I had no ebooks when I have over a thousand!). I called B&N and they weren't too sure what was the matter, but said they would refer my problem to management. Fortunately, the problem seems to have been fixed and now it's working fine.

But, I just got an email from B&N management today which thanked me for reporting the problem and said that the "Nook for PC is no longer a supported application"! I'm not sure what that really means though as it can still be downloaded from their website.


message 3: by Anna D. (new)

Anna D. | 14 comments If that's the case, that they are pulling it as an app.. how are people downloading the book? It makes sense that I didn't get much help when I called. My problem was "submitted" and I'm supposed to get an email... I've yet to get the helpful email.

Ironically, I got the email surveying how my customer support experience was.

Thanks for your reply!!


message 4: by Carlissa (new)

Carlissa I've heard that B&N is doing away with the download option to prevent piracy. They have already removed the download button from the "My Library" section on their website. The only other way to download ebooks is with the Nook For PC app. I think that all the problems that people have been having lately with this app may be because B&N is trying to keep people from downloading ebooks to their computer.

It took several days before I got an email from B&N regarding my call to support, and the email wasn't very helpful! Fortunately the app is working for me now, but don't know how long it will last.


message 5: by Anna D. (last edited Nov 11, 2014 08:41AM) (new)

Anna D. | 14 comments This is good to know! Thanks Carlissa.

Not being able to download the files is one of the reasons I don't like to buy ebooks from Amazon. The idea that I paid for a book but I can't really take possession of the file is frustrating.

At the very least, they should just come out and say this is their new policy - because phasing it out in the guise of a network error is making it seem like something went wrong and so people, like me and many others, are spending hours trying to fix something that isn't really broken since it was really B&N that turned off a feature in the app. Sorry for the rant! Thanks again!!


message 6: by Carlissa (new)

Carlissa You can download ebooks from Amazon if you use the Kindle app on your computer. It doesn't automatically download, but if you right click on the ebook you want, it will give you the option to download it. This will download two files; the .azw file is the actual ebook, I'm not sure what the other file is for. The files are put in a folder call "My Kindle Content" or something like that.


message 7: by Anna D. (new)

Anna D. | 14 comments I didn't know this was an option for Kindle books..thank you!


message 8: by Hannah (new)

Hannah (bookwormhannah) | 41 comments What type of PC do you have? There is a new update to the Nook shop that went out last week and another coming out in another week or two. It's supposed to actually expand what you can do with the Nook apps.
If you have a system like Windows 7, you've probably just been saving files or links...but if you have an app-based system like Windows 8, downloading is supported unless you try to access a page-perfect (think No Fear Shakespeare) or enhanced (common for biography/history). Those are only available on full-featured Nook software (Nook tablets/new Samsung).


message 9: by Anna D. (new)

Anna D. | 14 comments I have a Dell laptop with Windows Vista.. for this support the new B&N app? I have been downloading my books in the past.


message 10: by Mj (new)

Mj | 1 comments I have windows Vista also and the Nook for the PC has the same sign in error 1017. After chatting twice and calling three times there is no solution. I also have tried the numerous suggestions and nothing has changed it. I believe that it has not been working since April of 2014. I use the Nook for PC to continue reading a book when I have to recharge my Nook. Now I cannot access any of my 1700 books that I have purchased over the past years. Now how do I get my library? I don't think they know how to fix this issue and do not want to admit it. It's a pain to read it on line because I have to keep signing in.

I would also love to hear about how to fix this.


message 11: by Hannah (new)

Hannah (bookwormhannah) | 41 comments Yes, Vista support was ended when Microsoft ended it in April 2014. You'll find that more and more. I've got an old computer on XP and pretty much have to use it for a word processor now. Because of Microsft's decision to end support for older programs, there isn't going to be a fix. I hate it, because at work we still have XP, and it makes getting online really hit-or-miss.

Sad to say, there's not going to be an option for Vista users. Do either of you have a smartphone or tablet? Anything that runs current Windows/Android/Apple programs will be able to access Nook books just fine.


message 12: by Hannah (new)

Hannah (bookwormhannah) | 41 comments And, Anna, basically there's not a fix because Microsoft decided to kill support for old computers in a desperate attempt to turn around profits. That's why there was such an outcry over it. People who spent a lot of money on pre-Windows 7 computers are stuck with an expensive, malfunctioning brick.


message 13: by Lee (new)

Lee Thames (sardonic) | 7 comments Try searching for an old copy of Nook Study and install that.

Not sure how computer savvy you are but there is a plug-in for firefox that puts an 'alternate download' button in your BN library.

Here's a link that may help you:

http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/2014...


message 14: by Anna D. (new)

Anna D. | 14 comments Thanks guys! I'm not that tech savvy but I'll try the Nook Study to access the books I've previously purchased.

It's really very frustrating - I've stopped buying ebooks from B&N for this reason :(


message 15: by Eric (new)

Eric Mesa (djotaku) | 54 comments Anna D. wrote: "Thanks guys! I'm not that tech savvy but I'll try the Nook Study to access the books I've previously purchased.

It's really very frustrating - I've stopped buying ebooks from B&N for this reason :("


The first time our hard drives fail we learn to have backups. Let this be a new lesson: you need to have copies of all of your ebooks and remove the DRM or you will end up losing access to your books over and over again as the vendors do what they will to us.


message 16: by Hannah (new)

Hannah (bookwormhannah) | 41 comments That's why I still buy hard copies. The main benefit of ebooks for me is using them as backups when travelling, getting free or nearly so copies, and checking out library books that I don't have to worry about returning. I've spent maybe $15 so far on ebooks and have over 300.


message 17: by Anna D. (new)

Anna D. | 14 comments The ones I downloaded I still have, but the last 10 or so books I bought I didn't get around to downloading them so although I still have access to it via Nook, I don't have the actual epub file in my possession :( It just feels wrong.

I borrow from the library too and all that stuff to save money, but actual books are now a nuisance to read/carry. we can't highlight, look up words on the spot, read in the dark, switch books when my mood changes, etc etc...


message 18: by John (new)

John Sleeper | 1 comments B&N has decided to become like Amazon and not give you the book you purchase. Like Amazon they now retain control over the book. It's like going to their retail store and buying a book but you are only allowed to read it in the store, you can't take it home and keep it or let your brother read it or anyone else.
This is the reason I no longer purchase from Amazon and I will no longer be buying from B&N. There are plenty of other e-book sellers that are more than willing to let you have what you pay for.


message 19: by Anna D. (new)

Anna D. | 14 comments Exactly John! and it's a very disappointing change from B&N.


message 20: by Eric (new)

Eric Mesa (djotaku) | 54 comments John wrote: "B&N has decided to become like Amazon and not give you the book you purchase. Like Amazon they now retain control over the book. It's like going to their retail store and buying a book but you are ..."

Weird, I'm able to d/l all my Amazon books (unless they're comics) to my computer.


message 21: by Jean (new)

Jean French (jfrench55) | 82 comments I can download the books using Nook for PC version 2.5. If I remember, I searched for the version for Windows Vista and not Windows 8 which is what my PC uses. Unless something has changed recently, I can still side load them from Calibre to my Nook but can't open them to read on Calibre's reader. I don't use my Nook as much any more because my father bought me a Kindle Paperwhite for Christmas. I know people hate Amazon for a variety of reasons, but I borrow a lot of books from the library and the Kindle makes the process incredibly easy. With the price of ebooks lately, the library saves me a lot of money too. Kindle also lets me share my entire library with my father and not just selected books.

The whole DRM issue angers me. I understand the arguments for and against but I'm not selling the books. I just want to lend them to my family and friends.


message 22: by Missyb (new)

Missyb | 221 comments Jean wrote: "I can download the books using Nook for PC version 2.5. If I remember, I searched for the version for Windows Vista and not Windows 8 which is what my PC uses. Unless something has changed recentl..."

Amazon & Barnes & Noble lets you have 3 or 4 people on the same account. Everything is shared between them. My Mom is on my account for both, and everything downloads to her Nook as well as mine. That might be an option, depending on the people. Some B&N books are lendable to other Nooks.


message 23: by Jean (new)

Jean French (jfrench55) | 82 comments I didn't know that B&N let you have others on your account as well. My daughter has a Nook and usesy account but then I get books I don't want cluttering up my Nook


message 24: by willaful, dedicated nookworm (new)

willaful | 414 comments Mod
It's a lot easier with a kindle -- I can send books either to my kindle or to my mom's kindle. (Or both.) Which is great, because I usually don't want her seeing my books! ;-)


back to top