Adobe eBooks FAQs

What is an Adobe eBook?

What software do I need to read Adobe eBooks?

On what computers/devices can I read Adobe eBooks?

Do your Adobe eBooks work on the Sony Reader?

Do your Adobe eBooks work on the iPhone?

Why should I use the Adobe eBook format instead of another format?

Can I print Adobe eBooks?

Can I read the Adobe eBooks from eBookMall on my Palm or Pocket PC?

Can I read my Adobe eBook on a new or second computer?

Troubleshooting FAQs

I'm being asked to use an Adobe ID. I need more information about that.

I receive the error "Error getting license" or "License fulfilled by a different user"

I receive Error #2038 in Adobe Digital Editions.

I receive the error: "Your Adobe software could not be activated. A bad session ID was used in the header."

I receive an error similar to: "None of the requested vouchers could be obtained", "Content type not acceptable", "Adobe DRM client error 706/422/810"

ebx.etd -- When I purchase an Adobe eBook, all I get is an ebx.etd file but no eBook.

.acsm files -- When I download my eBook I get a .ascm file but no eBook.

I receive the error message, "This document can not be opened because ownership can not be established on this computer."

I downloaded my Adobe eBook but now I can't find it.

Adobe Reader / Adobe Digital Editions opens but there is no eBook displayed.

I see the eBook title in the Digital Editions library, but when I click on it nothing happens.

I receive the error message, "There was an error opening this document. The file is damaged and could not be repaired."

I receive the error message, "The Adobe DRM Activator is not responding."

I receive the error message, "The voucher folder is not writable."

I receive the error message (on a Mac), "Could not create an EDB database. Unable to load the specified database driver dynamic link library."

Q: What is an Adobe eBook?
A: An eBook made to be read with the Adobe's eBook software, Adobe Digital Editions.

Q: What software do I need to read Adobe eBooks?
A: Adobe Reader and Adobe Digital Editions.

Q: On what computers/devices can I read Adobe Reader eBooks?
A: Windows Vista, XP, 2000 and Mac OS X Power PC and Intel.

Q: Do your Adobe eBooks work on the Sony Reader?
A: Yes, Adobe has now released a version of Adobe Digital Editions for the Sony Reader PRS-505
 

Q: Do your Adobe eBooks work on the iPhone?
A: Adobe has not yet released a version of Adobe Digital Editions for the iPhone that will work with digitally secure Adobe eBooks.

You can always check on this by looking at the "Platforms" list for each eBook. If/when the iPhone can read our Adobe eBooks, we will add it to that list.

Q: Why should I use the Adobe eBook format instead of another format?
A: Adobe Digital Editions can be used on Windows and Mac computers, allowing for a little more versatility between those two operating systems. Adobe Digital Editions is a new program from Adobe that's made specifically for eBooks and will be developing even further in the future.

Q: Can I print Adobe eBooks?
A: Most are not printable. The printing capability is up to each publisher and many choose to disable printing.

If you need the book to be on paper, it's best to buy the hardcopy instead of an eBook.

Q: Can I read the Adobe eBooks from eBookMall on my Palm or Pocket PC?
A: Adobe has not yet released versions of Adobe Digital Editions for these handheld devices.

Q: Can I read my Adobe eBook on a new or second computer?
A: Yes, you can.

1. Install Adobe Digital Editions on the new/second computer.

2. Activate with the same Adobe ID that you used when you originally downloaded your eBook.

1. Sign into your Adobe ID

2. Open Adobe Digital Editions

3. Click on the Library button (looks like 3 books, at the left of the page)

4. Click on the downward arrow next to the word LIBRARY

5. Click on Authorize Computer

3. Login to the View Orders page to download the eBook.

Troubleshooting FAQs

Q: I'm being asked to use an Adobe ID. I need more information about that.
A:

In order to download your eBook to multiple computers, you can sign into your account with Adobe by using an Adobe ID on each computer where you'd like to use the eBook.

To make sure this process goes smoothly, we recommend that you install the newest version of Adobe Digital Editions and Activate it with an Adobe ID before you purchase any Adobe eBooks.

1. Sign into your Adobe ID

2. Open Adobe Digital Editions

3. Click on the Library button (looks like 3 books, at the left of the page)

4. Click on the downward arrow next to the word LIBRARY

5. Click on Authorize Computer

If you don't remember your Adobe ID or need additional information, please see Adobe's ID FAQs.

Q: I receive the error "Error getting license" or "License fulfilled by a different user"
A:

1. Activate Adobe Digital Editions with an Adobe ID (NOTE: If you've already done this on a different computer than the one you're using now, make sure to Activate with the SAME Adobe ID that you used the first time.)

1. Sign into your Adobe ID

2. Open Adobe Digital Editions

3. Click on the Library button (looks like 3 books, at the left of the page)

4. Click on the downward arrow next to the word LIBRARY

5. Click on Authorize Computer

2. Login to the View Orders page to download the eBook.

If that does not work:

Some customers have told us that uninstalling Adobe Reader cleared up this problem. It seems that sometimes Adobe Reader interferes with the authorization process of Adobe Digital Editions. (You can always reinstall Adobe Reader after you get the eBook working.)

Q: I receive Error #2038 in Adobe Digital Editions.

A: Full text of error message is --

IOError on local file open

Path:
(this varies depending on the eBook being downloaded)

Event Detail:
Error #2038
--- end ---

We have been able to come up with two possible solutions for this.

Option 1. This error occurs when the eBook is no longer in your My Digital Editions folder (located in your My Documents folder).

What To Do:

1. Delete the eBook from the Library in Digital Editions. At the top, click on "Library". This will take you to the Library view. Click the title that you need to delete. Click the arrow next to it, then select "Delete".

2. Login to the View Orders page to download the eBook again.

Option 2. Adobe Digital Editions will run into trouble if your hard drive or other similar folders has non-English characters in its name. If you remove those characters, Digital Editions should behave normally.

Option 3. Adobe Digital Editions need to be reinstalled.

What To Do:

1. Reinstall Adobe Digital Editions. First uninstall it, then download it again.

2. Login to the View Orders page to download the eBook again.

Q: I receive the error: "Your Adobe software could not be activated. A bad session ID was used in the header."
A: This can be resolved by closing Adobe Digital Editions and re-opening it. After you do that, try the eBook download again.

Q: I receive an error similar to: "None of the requested vouchers could be obtained", "Content type not acceptable", "Adobe DRM client error 706/422/810"
A: This is a known issue of Adobe's. There are a few different things that could be causing this:

1: Temporary Internet Files folder is full -

Adobe uses your temporary internet files folder to transfer eBooks to the My eBooks/My Digital Editions folder after downloading. If this folder is full, your download won't be able to complete.

In Internet Explorer, go to Tools > Internet Options. In the middle section called "Temporary Internet Files" click the "Delete Files" button.

Then, return to the View Orders page to try the eBook download again.

Note: If you experience this error with another browser, please refer to the browser's help files for further information on how to delete temporary Internet files and clear the history of web pages visited.

2: Pop-up Blockers

Temporarily turn off all pop-up blocking programs. Most new browsers have pop-up blockers built in, so you may have to disable that as well.

3: Internet Accelerators

Turn off Internet acceleration applications. (See the documentation included with the application for instructions.)

Q: ebx.etd -- When I purchase an Adobe eBook, all I get is an ebx.etd file but no eBook.
A:

1. Install Adobe Digital Editions.

2. Double-click the .etd file to continue the eBook download process.

Q. .acsm files -- When I download my eBook I get a .ascm file but no eBook.
A: This is a normal part of Adobe's eBook download system. Adobe requires that you open the file with the most recent version of Adobe Digital Editions (1.6 or newer).

Q: I receive the error message, "This document can not be opened because ownership can not be established on this computer."

When trying to open your eBook, you get the error message, "This document can not be opened because ownership can not be established on this computer."

You click "Obtain Ownership" and are directed to a page on Adobe's website saying:

This Digital Edition cannot be opened.

Here's the problem and how to solve it:

You have tried to open an Digital Edition that was downloaded to another computer. You can open such a document on two computers only when you have activated Adobe Reader or Acrobat on both computers using the same Microsoft .NET Passport or Adobe ID.

Problem: This computer and the computer to which the document was downloaded were activated using different .NET Passports or Adobe IDs.

Solution: Return to the retailer, library, or other location where you acquired the document and obtain permission to open it on this computer.

This usually happens if you have reinstalled any or all of your Adobe software, including Adobe Reader or Adobe Digital Editions.

To solve this, make sure to open your eBooks with Adobe Digital Editions. Your computer may be set to automatically open .pdf files with Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

To open with Adobe Digital Editions, right-click on the file, go to "Open With", and select Adobe Digital Editions.

If you do not yet have Adobe Digital Editions, you can download it here.

Q: I downloaded my Adobe eBook but now I can't find it.
A: Adobe eBooks will automatically download to a folder called "My Digital Editions", which is in your My Documents folder. If you don't have that folders, you probably need to install Adobe Digital Editions, and you can download it here.

Q: Adobe Reader or Adobe Digital Editions opens but there is no eBook displayed.
A: This is a known issue of Adobe's. There are a few different things that could be causing this:

Adobe uses your temporary internet files folder to transfer eBooks to the My eBooks/My Digital Editions folder after downloading. If this folder is full, your download won't be able to complete.

In Internet Explorer, go to Tools > Internet Options. In the middle section called "Temporary Internet Files" click the "Delete Files" button.

Then, return to the View Orders page to try the eBook download again.

Q: I receive the error message "The Adobe DRM Activator is not responding."
A:

1. You may be using Adobe Acrobat instead of Adobe Reader. Even though Acrobat is the full, paid program, it was not designed for these secure eBook downloads. Install Adobe Digital Editions

Q: I receive the error message, "The voucher folder is not writable."
A: This is an error that occurs when your computer's name has non-English characters in it. We've been told that Adobe is working on this issue. For now, the best information we've been able to find is here.

Q: I receive the error message (on a Mac), "Could not create an EDB database. Unable to load the specified database driver dynamic link library."
A: You apparently don't have the edb1drv file in your /Library/CFMSupport/ folder, which indicates that Adobe Reader didn't fully install on your computer.

1. Are you trying to run Adobe Reader from the .dmg file?
That won't work. Adobe Reader has to be installed before it will work correctly.

2. Incorrect file permissions on your system are the most likely cause.
Before attempting a Adobe Reader reinstall, check your file permissions:

• Open the root-Library folder on your computer and select the CFMSupport folder: /Library/CFMSupport/ (This is not the Library folder found under your user name.)
• Right-click on the CFMSupport folder and select "Get Info"
• Expand the "Ownership & Permissions" section of the "Info" window
• Expand "Details"
• The permissions for: "You can", "Owner", and "Group" should be Read & Write. "Others" should be "Read only".
  If not, change them.
• Click "Apply to enclosed items..."
• Now reinstall Adobe Reader

Q: The text is too small to read.
A: Either at the top or the bottom of the screen, there is a box with a percentage in it. There is a - one side of it, and a + on the other. Click the + button to increase the percentage, and the text will become larger.