Can't download calibre for linux

[Bernadette]

Linux keeps asking for a password. I entered my Google account password, and it said incorrect. I changed the password in linux and entered the new password, it said incorrect. Can't figure out what to do now. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[maryslittlegarden]

What Linux distro are you using? A lot of distro's have a package manager.  I've used that do install Calibre on my PC

[Bernadette]

This is what came up when I tried to check. Linux 6.6.30-02726-gb84bbdf6955e x86_64

[maryslittlegarden]

Is there a synaptic package manager?  Or a terminal?

Terminal will look something like picture one.  Synaptic like picture two.  Are you using something like Mint, Ubuntu, Debian?

[Bernadette]

A terminal

[maryslittlegarden]

You could try installing Calibre on the terminal.  Instructions can be found here


This has more information on using terminal.  It's specific for one distro of Linux (Ubuntu)... but might get you started

[Bernadette]

I've tried that, and it didn't work. I finally found a way to bypass the password, but now it says I'm missing files. I'm about ready to give up.

[maryslittlegarden]

I've tried that, and it didn't work. I finally found a way to bypass the password, but now it says I'm missing files. I'm about ready to give up.

I wish my tech skills were better.  I've used terminal to install calibre before.  I've had better luck with using the package manager for whichever distro I'm using. 

[KreKre]

Run this command, please (copy and paste it into the terminal):

cat /etc/*-release

and copy and paste here what it prints. This will, hopefully, show which distro you're using. Then I can come up with a command to install Calibre. It will probably be something like: sudo apt install calibre

But it's better to check first.

[Bernadette]

Run this command, please (copy and paste it into the terminal):

cat /etc/*-release

and copy and paste here what it prints. This will, hopefully, show which distro you're using. Then I can come up with a command to install Calibre. It will probably be something like: sudo apt install calibre

But it's better to check first.

PRETTY_NAME="Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)"
NAME="Debian GNU/Linux"
VERSION_ID="12"
VERSION="12 (bookworm)"
VERSION_CODENAME=bookworm
ID=debian
HOME_URL="https://www.debian.org/"
SUPPORT_URL="https://www.debian.org/support"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.debian.org/"

[KreKre]

Okay, so your Distro is called Debian. Debian uses the apt package manager, a program that installs other programs, or packages. On this webpage you can search for all the packages, to see what programs you can install with apt. https://packages.debian.org/bookworm/calibre
Calibre is there.

So the command to install Calibre is, like I thought:

sudo apt install calibre

You will be prompted for a password. Assuming your user account has sufficient privileges, the password you need to enter is your user's password, that is, the same password you use to log into your computer at boot. Just type it in (don't be confused by the fact that nothing will appear on screen, no **** symbols or anything, just type the password in correctly and press enter). If you get prompted for anything else, just stick to the defaults.

[Bernadette]

Thank you SO MUCH, @KreKre, this worked! And it didn't ask me for a password at all! You're the best!

[Bernadette]

Well, it's on my Chromebook now, but I can't add any books to my library and it won't recognize my Kindle. 

[KreKre]

I've never used Calibre (I keep my ebook collection as loose PDFs), so I'm not sure what's wrong. But in general, first try to rule out the user error. Have you read or watched any tutorials on how to use this program?

Also, do you get any error messages which would help one diagnose the issue? I wish I could be of more help, but "it's not working" is not much to go by...

[Bernadette]

I think it's an old version. No idea how to get the current version. I've used Calibre for years on a Windows laptop. This is my first time using it on a chromebook.