[HD2 General] brucegil:
Not much has been said about the Microsoft (MS) ereader app on this forum (that I could find), but I found an extensive discussion on a Microsoft forum (http://social.answers.microsoft.com...e/thread/49DD09A8-3B32-4F97-AAA3-2585818F03DF). The problem is that MS Reader does not work well with WM6.5. Several people, including me, have been told by MS support staff that MS Reader does not work with WM6.5. That is not quite correct. There are activation issues (see below), but the main problem is that DRM/locked (copyrighted) books cannot be opened on WM6.5 systems such as the HTC HD2. Trying to do so will cause the program to hang and a soft reset is necessary. I was able to open and read unlocked, public domain books in the LIT format.

The current version of MS Reader for smartphones is 3.4.2. (See http://www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/ppc.aspx) It was intended for WM6.0 and WM6.1. Changes in WM6.5 apparently conflict with the reading of DRM books.

A number of HD2 users experienced problems activating MS Reader. Apparently, a file - OEMInfo.xml - was missing. This file is required for the activation process. The missing file may be due to replacing the stock ROM. My HD2 with stock ROM 2.13.531.1 has the file, and I was able to install and activate the MS Reader. If the file is not available from HTC, the link above has references on how to obtain the file. (I tried contacting the person referred to, but never heard from her.) If you want to use MS Reader to read your old LIT files, first make sure you have the OEMInfo.xml file in the Windows folder, or try to obtain a copy.

There are some programs that can convert LIT files to other formats that other ereader apps support, but these converters will not convert DRM/locked files. My solution was to use the ConvertLit program's "down convert" feature. I used the GUI version of the program because it was "easier" to use (see http://dukelupus.pri.ee/convertlit.php). With this program on my PC, I was able to unlock or decrypt the DRM books I had purchased over the years. I consider this "fair use" since it for my personal use and I don't make the files available to anyone else.

You will need to have the desktop version of MS Reader installed and activated on your PC (http://www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/pc.aspx). I am able to read my DRM books with the desktop version on my Vista PC. (Please read and follow the directions on the MS Reader website for using PCs with Vista to activate MS Reader on the PC or smartphone. It requires running your browser in Administrator mode. Windows 7 PCs have a different set of problems. I can't even get a Win7 PC to recognize my HD2, but that is another issue.)

Next, install the ConvertLit GUI program and start it. Also start the desktop MS Reader program. Select a LIT file in ConvertLit, in the My Library folder under My Documents by default. Select your output folder or check the box to use the input folder. The converted file will be renamed so you don't lose your original file. Click on the Downconvert button at the top. The first time you do this, you will be prompted that the keys.txt file is missing. Also, you may be asked to select a DRM book in MS Reader. Open the MS Reader library and select any DRM/locked book. You are asked if you want to use the Key Convert program. Click Yes to any prompts. After a short time, you should get a message that the keys.txt file has been created. Close the dialog for the key conversion program.

You may still get an error message that the keys.txt file is missing when you again click the Downconvert button. I believe the keys.txt file got created in the My Library folder. You may need to copy this file to the ConvertLit folder under Program Files on your PC. The error message indicates where the file is needed. Once I did that, I was able to select a LIT file, click the Downconvert button, and get a decrypted file, slightly smaller than the original file. I copied the file to my HD2 using my PC's File Explorer. (I also removed the locked copy already on my HD2 that would not work.) I was able to open and read the file with no problem. I was even able to convert multiple books at one time.

The advantage to this process is that is does not require converting the file to another format, although ConvertLit can do that after unlocking the file.

One issue with the MS Reader is page turning. The program was designed for hardware buttons or the D-ring to change pages. These don't exist on most new smartphones. It is necessary to tap on the turn page links at the bottom of the screen. This takes some practice and occasionally multiple taps.

With both Amazon and Barnes & Noble providing ebook readers for various other OS's, I would not be surprised to see them on the new WindowsPhone 7 phones in the near future.. But I will be surprised if we see an upgrade of the MS Reader for LIT files. Taking your LIT files to a WinPhone7 system probably will require converting files to another format that has a WM7 supported ereader program.