Frustrated in AZ wrote: Let's start with a decidedly non-legalistic approach. First, you could not have used Adobe Digital Editions to download ebooks without having some form of Adobe ID - it just didn't work that way before, as now. Actually, yes I can (and i did). I've just deauthorised my version of ADE to get a direct quote from the software when you first start it up. It gives you two options: Authorise with an Adobe ID, and the second option, Do Not Authorise, which has this as the description: "
With this option, protected items that you already have or download later will be "tied" to this particular computer, will not be readable on other computers or devices, and can’t be restored from backup if the operating system is re-installed."
Im fairly certain that this is whats happened. I didnt authorise with an Adobe ID, because why would i need to? I've a myriad of log ins, accounts and passwords for other services, why should I force another one upon myself when the option is there to not require one?
Secondly, while i admit i rarely read T&C's for software (hey, if it does the job who am i to complain), that last segment of the disclaimer is pretty important, and easy to overlook. Why not just FORCE the user to create an Adobe ID when they first start digital editions? That way, a vast majority of the issues i've seen on these boards would be fixed, because the black hole of downloads being tied to a computer, not an account, would be plugged.
Next, your plight isn't unique - many users have had system crashes and/or changed operating systems after they downloaded ebooks. Many also have changed their user ID's - and because of the way digital rights have been implemented to conform with the Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 2000 (there's your legal issue), once downloaded with a user ID, that ID must be used for all subsequent retrievals. Sorry - this is not Adobe's decision. It's the industry standard, and if you were using another product, such as Overdrive, you'd still have the same issue. So, don't blame Adobe and talk about suing them. And, since the Adobe product was free, you wouldn't 'get your money back'. Again, these ebooks weren't downloaded with a user ID. You mention also that you're now using Windows 7. That software has additional security features to safeguard against someone taking control of your computer, but those same features must be told to allow you to interact with websites. This is the cause of your 'ascm files' problem. Once Windows 7 security is changed so that ADE is allowed through security, then ADE will will use those files to download ebooks to your computer, just as it did before. I can download the .ascm files fine, sadly the issue is ADE using the .ascm to download my ebooks. What you might be able to do is to change the user ID associated with Adobe Digital Editions now. There's an 'authorization' routine in ADE that permits you to change the authorization ID. You'll need to speak with the (less than helpful) Adobe techs that man the HELP line and see if they are willing to assist. Sadly, as i put in the original post, i've tried this. I spent 30/45 minutes in a live chat with an Adobe Tech, who kept regurgitating the same 'solutions' and ignored me when i said they didn't work, and then wiped their hand of the issue. I know you're frustrated (just look at my ID). Sorry that I don't have any better news for you. ============= | 
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