For those who will need a serial console - it's relatively simple. Remove plastic cover and you'll see big pads (J9) right next to J23 connector - these are serial lines.
As usual, CMOS/TTL level converter is required (I used small board with MAX232 and external power supply I had from other project). I didn't solder anything - taped wires to the PCB with a scotch tape.

Very cool! What are you using this for may I ask? Just another connectivity port besides usb?

Had to recover after botched jar file update :)

Had to recover after botched jar file update :)

You are my hero!!!!:2thumbsup

I think you are doing great things with K!!

Perhaps folders in book viewer? :2thumbsup

you want everything done, work a little! :p

P.S. thanks ebs, you rule

First networking over usb, then this. You're the man, ebs. I can't wait to see to what use you're putting all this hacking.

great!!! i would try it with usb to ttl convert !, are u think j11 is jtag?

great!!! i would try it with usb to ttl convert !, are u think j11 is jtag?

J11 is battery connector. I think J9 has JTAG pins

today,finally,a usb to ttl convert has been attach to kindle dx. I got the boot log from console.

BTW:hi,ebs,can you show me your kindle dx boot log?

3.Load MMC0 over USB storage

it needs PASSWORD,any one know it？

Had to recover after botched jar file update :)

Hello, can You explain recovery process (step by step)

I think I damaged something important. :smack: :smack: :smack:

My Kindle doesn't boot now... Display shows "Kindle is starting up, this can take a minute" since last night
When I press "Home" Kindle is in recovery mode, and I can access it via usb. BUT THERE ARE NO FILES!!! No any folders, It's clear.

I can't remember what exectly I did from serial console. It was 2 steps. Can you show me recovery menu? I think I will remember what items I chose.

I cannot explain it because it depends on what you actually did.
In my case, I modified U-Boot environment to boot directly to the shell skipping normal systemv init sequence and restored jar file I corrupted.
In other words, you have to be pretty fluent in low-level Linux admin stuff to do what I did, there is no menu or step-by-step instructions (I don't even remember exact commands)

Thank you for quick reply.

As I read from U-Boot docs I need add only 1 kernel argument
setenv bootargs $bootargs init=/bin/sh
then boot.

I'try tomorrow. Wish me luck :)

Thank you for quick reply.

As I read from U-Boot docs I need add only 1 kernel argument
setenv bootargs $bootargs init=/bin/sh
then boot.

I'try tomorrow. Wish me luck :)

No, it's not that simple. You have to *add* this to bootargs, otherwise you don't even see anything on serial console.

OK. I got serial console again.

As I said I damaged something important
My steps:
from recovery menu


Menu
====
3. Load MMC0 over USB storage
4. Erase MMC0
I. Initialize Partition Table (fdisk) and format FAT
O. Format and overwrite FAT partition
E. Export FAT partition
U. Update using rootfs.img.gz or rootfs.img on FAT partition
Q. quit
Choose: 10



I chose "I" :(
Now my fat partition is clear and primary kernel can't mount rootfs

Is it THE END?

Log from console

me too:angry:

now my kindle dx has been restore ,it's work...thanks ebs,your dump file save me. and i has do some manual work:
1. boot message say: cannot open /dev/fb/0,my solution is delete this dev file
2. mkdir -p /mnt/{rwfs,base-us,us}
3. using recovery menu , select '3' to export whole MMC0, and it's ask for PASSWORD,this password gen by serial no, i do it like this :
qemu-arm -g 1234 -cpu arm1136 recovery-util
b *0x128d8
b *0x128e8
first break after get_serail_no,r0 point to serial no ,i change it,then second breakpoint,sp point to password
4.when mmc0 exported , mkfs.ext3 /dev/sdb ,sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sdb /mnt, sudo tar xvf rootfs.tar.gz /mnt.

...thanks ebs,your dump file save me. rootfs.tar.gz

Pleeeeease can I have it?

I restored my kindle too. Thank you, chinaet, your solution helps me.

Pleeeeease can I have it?

I restored my kindle too. Thank you, chinaet, your solution helps me.

Can i have it ?

Myd kindle DX has the same problem?

dr_g100k,can you send me the rootfs dump file? pleese

dr_g100k,can you send me the rootfs dump file? pleese
My comments here (http://www.the-ebook.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12120)

EBS, can you use the serial console to peek into recover mode update install scripts? A while back hand-made updates would fail to install and no one could figure out why. With international Kindle updates fail in similar fashion even when not in the recovery mode.

It looks like Amazon has some additional check that was done only for recovery mode and in software 2.2 it is done for any kind of update.

Figuring out what it is would enable screensaver, savory, unicode font and all other sorts of hacks to work on the K2i.

Dear mans,

I have the same situation as dr_g100k, but I broke it by installing unicode font hack and delete all the font folder in the device, and it restart and can not reboot. I still can access to recovery mode but I do not know how to restore it. Can any one help me? Thank you very much.

today,finally,a usb to ttl convert has been attach to kindle dx.

By "usb to ttl convert" do you mean you are attaching a USB-to-RS232 adapter to the Kindle and connecting it to the PC? Or do you simply mean that you tied onto the kindle serial port leads and ran it through a max232 to your computer (like EBS posted)?

thanks.

By "usb to ttl convert" do you mean you are attaching a USB-to-RS232 adapter to the Kindle and connecting it to the PC? Or do you simply mean that you tied onto the kindle serial port leads and ran it through a max232 to your computer (like EBS posted)?

thanks.

I think he means a USB2RS232 adapter + a MAX232 chip...

Dear mans,

I have the same situation as dr_g100k, but I broke it by installing unicode font hack and delete all the font folder in the device, and it restart and can not reboot. I still can access to recovery mode but I do not know how to restore it. Can any one help me? Thank you very much.
It is NOT the SAME.
You can fix it from serial console
1. Stop boot
2.

uboot> setenv bootargs $(bootargs_base) root=/dev/mmcblk0p1 rw init=/bin/sh
uboot> bootm 0xa0060000

When You will be able to recover your files

I think he means a USB2RS232 adapter + a MAX232 chip...

I used UM232R (http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/EvaluationKits/UM232R.htm) module. USB powered, 3.3V level.

I used UM232R (http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/EvaluationKits/UM232R.htm) module. USB powered, 3.3V level.

AFAIK I've understanded EBS, you need a TTL (5V) RS232 Port attached to Kindle side. You cannot attach a true RS232 port (+12VDC, -12VDC) because you can break Kindle internals. And if you've done it, it is practically sure you've broken internal Kindle serial port and the only available step is to soldering into Kindle if MAX232 (or equivalent) is available, but due Kindle board if you do not have an very good soldering station and are a skilled solder man you will definetively break your Kindle.

At the other side you need a RS232 port. If your computer only have USB, then you need an USB-to-RS232 with TTL levels or a USB-to-RS232 and then attach a RS232 (TRUE)-to-TTL RS232, that can be done with a MAX232 or variant.

I do not know if exists USB-to-RS232TTL converters, at work we use some internal boards made by our electronic engineer using FTDI chips and we can select configuration via jumpers and soldering jumpers...

It is NOT the SAME.
You can fix it from serial console
1. Stop boot
2.

uboot> setenv bootargs $(bootargs_base) root=/dev/mmcblk0p1 rw init=/bin/sh
uboot> bootm 0xa0060000

When You will be able to recover your files

Thank you very much dr-g100k. You are my saviour. I will buy a serial console RS232 to TTL 5v with 4 cabs as rfog said and try to connect with the device.

I do not know if exists USB-to-RS232TTL converters

USB-TO-TTL-convertor 3V3 (http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/EvaluationKits/TTL-232R-3V3.htm)
USB-TO-TTL-convertor 5V (http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/EvaluationKits/TTL-232R.htm)

USB-TO-TTL-convertor 3V3 (http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/EvaluationKits/TTL-232R-3V3.htm)
USB-TO-TTL-convertor 5V (http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/EvaluationKits/TTL-232R.htm)

Yep!

THank you!

USB-TO-TTL-convertor 3V3 (http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/EvaluationKits/TTL-232R-3V3.htm)
USB-TO-TTL-convertor 5V (http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/EvaluationKits/TTL-232R.htm)


Fortunately I found those in my place. I have ordered the USB-TO-TTL-convertor 3V3 we (without end). Hope it will work.

Hope it will work.
It will.

Sorry for disturbing you again dr_g100k, I have the cable now and tried to connect the device but it failed. I set the line as eps said, used PuTTY with com4, 115200, n, 1 to connect. But some very odd characters appeared and nothing else. When I changed the lines, at last I can contact the device but the input is odd. Can you show me the order of the lines? I used 1-orange, 2-yellow and 3 - black.

But some very odd characters appeared and nothing else.

odd characters - It's can happened in case of incorrect charset in PuTTY.
OR
if you connected RX to RX and TX to TX :) Try type something. If you can't see echo change RX to TX