Adobe Digital Editions Troubleshooting Guide
I keep getting a pop-up window that says I have to install Digital Editions, but I've already installed it!

This pop-up window can be the result of a couple of issues.

  • The installation of Adobe Digital Editions did not complete. Your first order of business will be to uninstall and reinstall this program. Then open the program from your desktop and ensure that it opens properly. You should see a black screen with "Adobe Digital Editions" written in the top left-hand corner.
  • If you are using Internet Explorer, this error will be your main problem. We have found that IE does not communicate very well with the site that provides the credentials necessary to open DRM-protected books. Install Mozilla Firefox (the link for this browser is available within the pop-up window that you keep getting) and, using Firefox as your browser, go back to your eBook library and click on the link for your book. It should download with no problem.
The download begins, but all I get is an ebx.etd file.

Every eBook is specially encrypted to prohibit unauthorized viewing and distribution. This ebx.etd file is a small transfer file that contains the encryption codes necessary for opening your eBook. Once you open it, it will authorize your computer to acquire the appropriate credentials from the DRM (Digital Rights Management) site in order to open the eBook in your reader. You may see the download manager come up with the ebx.etd file as a download. Just click "Open," and it will begin the downloading process.

Every time I try to download my eBook, I get an error message and it doesn't download!

There are a variety of different error messages that can occur with DRM technologies. Many of them will have to do with trying to download from behind a firewall or proxy server. The best place to start is by Googling the exact text of the error message. The most important word in the sentence that you just read is "exact.' This will generally bring you to a specific Adobe Forum having to do with that error message. It's always fun to learn from other people's mistakes!

My eBook starts to download, but then the window disappears and my book doesn't show up in the reader!
  • An eBook downloads by first directing itself to your temporary data files. On Internet Explorer this folder is called "Temporary Internet Files." In Mozilla Firefox, it is called "private data." These file folders can fill up and basically cause the download to have nowhere to go. If you clear these files and try the download again, it should go through just fine. However, this is rarely an issue, as most people direct their settings to clear these files either upon shutting down or starting up their computer.
  • Another possible reason this can occur is that the reader program is not installed fully. You may be getting part of an ebx.etd file, but then, since the program is not properly installed, it has no home to go to, and so it stops. The next step would be to uninstall and reinstall the reader. If you are installing Adobe 6 or 7, remember that the initial download is only the set-up file.
When I try to use my eBooks, I get this message: "Your Adobe software could not be activated. The Adobe DRM Activator is not responding."
  • It may be that the Adobe Activator site is busy and you should try later, or that your network will not support downloads from Adobe. In this case, please contact your network administrator.
  • Another reason this happens is that your copy of Adobe Digital Editions is not registered to your computer. Often registration will happen automatically when you open the ebx.etd file, but occasionally it requires a manual activation. Just visit this site: https://aractivate.adobe.com/eden/edenui.asp and register as directed. Then close out Digital Editions, reopen, and visit your Powells.com eBook library to hit your link again.
I've downloaded Adobe Digital Editions and all I get is a black screen!

Don't fret! This is normal. Initially DE shows up as an empty black box; then, as you download books into the program, their cover art will appear in the library. The black background provides excellent contrast when reading your books.

I have Adobe 8 and my eBook will not download!

Adobe 8 is no longer designed to read eBooks and is not crucial to your download — crazy, we know. Hence, the birth of Adobe Digital Editions, their beta answer to Adobe 8's question of what to do with eBooks. You can still use an older version of Adobe Reader if you'd like to have the ability to make notations, print, etc. We recommend Adobe Reader 7.

Just visit the following site and download the version that you'd like to use:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2_allversions.html

You can also use the new Digital Editions software. This product is still going through a lot of development and there are regular updates. It's become quite functional, allowing printing and notation (printing for qualifying ebooks only...please check product details).

How do I save a copy of my new eBook?

We strongly recommend backing up your ebooks, and Adobe Digital Editions software makes it very easy. First, you'll need to 'activate' your Adobe Digital Editions software. When you first install the software, the set up wizards prompts you to activate (which involves signing up for an Adobe ID, which is free and quick. You then use your Adobe ID to sign in to your Adobe Digital Editions software — which is what 'activation' means. If you decided to skip activation when you first installed, no problem — open your Adobe Digital Editions software, click on the Library icon (the 'three books' icon in the top left hand corner of Adobe Digital Editions), and open the pull down menu next to the word LIBRARY. Select Authorize Computer from the menu and it will take you through the process.

Once activated, books you download (or have already downloaded) can be saved and transferred to other machines, and opened by up to 6 other installations of Adobe Digital Editions software. So, to make your back ups, first locate and open the My Digital Editions folder, located inside the My Documents folder on your computer. Once you find them, you can copy them and move them like you would any other file. Burn them to a disc and put them on your shelf, and you'll always have them on hand.

How do I print my eBook?

Some eBooks offered on Powells.com are printable, and some are not. You'll want to double-check what you are ordering if printing is something that is important to you. You can find this information beneath the listing on each eBook's product page, along with system requirements and compatibility. This ability is encrypted into the file that you purchase and we cannot add in the option to print.

How many downloads do I get?

Adobe eBooks allows four downloads.

Is my handheld device compatible with my Adobe eBook purchase?

You can read Adobe eBooks on a handheld device with Adobe eBook Reader for Pocket PC. Here's Adobe's advice, from their product website:

Adobe Reader for Pocket PC 2.0 extends the value and capabilities of Adobe PDF files by adapting them for high-quality viewing on smaller screens, while preserving their rich content. Working with the ActiveSync filter, which runs on Windows®, Adobe Reader for Pocket PC enables you to view PDF files from your desktop computer anywhere, anytime. Adobe Reader for Pocket PC also makes it easier for you to take digital editions and slide shows along on your Pocket PC device.
You will need to install Adobe Reader on both your desktop and your handheld. For more information on Adobe Reader for Pocket PC, click here.


Adobe Digital Editions is not yet compatible with handheld devices.

Do I need Adobe 8 in order to use Digital Editions to view my eBooks?

No, you do not. The functions of Adobe 8 and Digital Editions are not linked in any way. Keep in mind that if you need to keep Adobe 8 on your computer for other projects, you will not be able to install Adobe 7 (which you need in order to print an eBook), and you will have to use Digital Editions. However, you can certainly use Digital Editions completely on its own.

How do I find my eBook again?

The link that is issued for your eBook purchase will be hosted within your account on Powells.com. Just log in to your account with your user name and password, click on "View Order Status and History," then visit your eBook library. There's your link!