[ Kindle Touch ] Firmware downgrade

[vpx]

Hello, I am disappointed with 5.0.3+ non functional landscape mode, so I would like to try downgrade to 5.0.1
The problem is, that on Amazon is only the newest firmware downloadable.
Could someone post firmware 5.0.1 ?, maybe 5.0.0 or 5.0.2, filename is Update_Kindle_5.0.1.bin. Thank you very much.

[varnie]

I doubt it will be safe.
There were few valuable notices from Geekmaster about the latest firmware update changes. I'd suggest you to dig the forum.

[hostar]

I agree with varnie. Updating newer firmware might brick your device.
But still, there is a way how to downgrade.
You can do it over RUNME script or ssh somehow described here.
In this link you can download whole Touch system, but I don't know, which version it is.

The rewriting is made by dd if=/mnt/us/mmcblk0p1.img of=/dev/mmcblk0p1 bs=4K command and it probably delete all personal data. Also it might be dangerous, if you write this command wrong.

This should be fine now.
For RUNME version do this:
1) install data.tar.gz RUNME hack
see this thread to download proper data.tar.gz

2) copy data.tar.gz to root folder of userstore
3) restart Kindle over Menu -> Settintgs -> Menu -> Restart
4) copy again to root folder "RUNME.sh" file with this content:

Spoiler:

#!/bin/sh
dd if=/mnt/us/mmcblk0p1.img of=/dev/mmcblk0p1 bs=4K

5) copy to root folder downloaded mmcblk0p1.img
6) restart again

[vpx]

OK, thank you very much for advices and will wait for somebody confirmation of hostar's solution.

[JustAMan]

You won't be able to apply older updates than are installed - Amazon software checks for it on Kindle itself.
And good for you it doesn't allow this, because if it would allow installing that update you'd get your device bricked with 99% probability.

[vpx]

OK, so thank you very much, will wait for better firmware or better rotation hack

[wsxhwyy]

I think you must downgrade your main partition and kernel simultaneously. Or you'll brick your device when you update your firmware again as mine.

My device is still bricking because of the wrong kernel.

P.S. Could anyone provide me a main kernel image?

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by vpx

Hello, I am disappointed with 5.0.3+ non functional landscape mode, so I would like to try downgrade to 5.0.1
The problem is, that on Amazon is only the newest firmware downloadable.
Could someone post firmware 5.0.1 ?, maybe 5.0.0 or 5.0.2, filename is Update_Kindle_5.0.1.bin. Thank you very much.

You can downgrade by flashing (dd) your mmcblk0p1 partition with the 5.0.0 "debricking repair" image from the "Select Boot" thread, and erase the /var/local partition (copy /dev/zero to /dev/mmcblk0p3). Be sure to backup your collections or other valuable information first.

You can downgrade to other versions too if you get partition copies from somebody. If you downgrade from 5.0.4, you should (probably) also flash a copy of the older main linux kernel (which upgraded with the 5.0.4 update).

[diba]

All this trouble because of landscape reading? Use the hack, it is downgrading the reader app to 5.0.1 and thats it.

[vpx]

@diba: rotation hack is no longer fully functional under 5.0.4, you can just select between:
1) missing characters on the end of line, but images are OK (GUI Launcher)
or
2) cut off images, but text on the end of line is OK (KT_Rotation)

or which hack exactly I have to use for fully functional landscape reading (pdf) ?

[diba]

I use the reader for reading, so I would accept the cropped pictures, if I would read landscape. For me it is ridicolous trying to go back to an older firmware with all the risks of bricking implied.
But its your choice.
AFAIK the rotaion hack has only implications on mobi/azw, not on pdf. But not sure.

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by diba

...
For me it is ridicolous trying to go back to an older firmware with all the risks of bricking implied.
But its your choice.
...

There is no risk of bricking if you do as I said. You can use whatever firmwmare you want.

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by hostar

For RUNME version do this:
1) install data.tar.gz RUNME hack
2) copy data.tar.gz to root folder of userstore

You provided a link to the WRONG data.tar.gz. This one ONLY works while booting from the main partition. To write to main, you MUST boot from the diags partition, which needs a data.tar.gz that works in diags.

Use the data.tar.gz that is in the "Select Boot" thread first post: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=169645

Be sure to include an ENABLE_DIAGS file too, as documented in that thread. The "simple debricking" thread has a lot of useful information too.

[diba]

I see, no risk ...

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by diba

I see, no risk ...

No risk if you follow instructions.

Using (or recommending or supplying) the wrong data.tar.gz is not following instructions.

Of course, for some people, getting out of bed is not without risk, and using a kindle for things other than reading books may be intolerable risk for them.

I guess you have to decide for yourself if having and interesting life is worth the risk.