Tallied results from the first three reports
Spoiler:
First six characters of serial number: same
Firmware version before you started this procedure:
5.7.4 5.8.1 5.8.1
Feature related:
Was this Kindle registered with Amazon? yes,
Was this an ad supported (Special Offers) Kindle? yes,
Was a passcode set? no
Special sub-steps:
Did you clear the passcode before the downgrade? yes,
Did you do the 'Reset (to factory results)' sub-step? yes,
Internal data related:
Using the Kindle's Cloud Account or local or both? cloud, both
Where you using collections? no,
Where you using bookmarks? Different responses
Where you using annotations? no
Native language in use: English
Kindle Hung:
What is the filename of factory initial update that was used? Same
Which mirror did you get it from? Different
Approximately how long did the downgrade process run? (best guess) different times
What was showing on the screen when it 'hung'?
Different screens
When the USB cable was connected, Kindle to PC, could you see the storage on the Kindle? Different responses
What sort of response did your PC make when you plugged in the Kindle?
Did using a USB-2 vs a USB-3 port on the PC make a difference? no
Was this same cable and same port working normally before the downgrade? yes,
Normally, a Kindle is re-booted without any USB cable connected.
Leave the USB cable connected, Kindle-to-PC, re-boot Kindle (hold power button 40 seconds or more, ignore any pop-up panels seen).
What was the result? Same as above or Different (describe please).
Different responses
What OS and OS version in use on your PC: different OS 2 win 10 one mac
USB-2 or USB-3 ports, or both? Unknown
Recovery:
If your PC could 'see' the Kindle storage (even briefly) try putting a file named:
DO_FACTORY_RESTORE
(all caps, no extension, no contents)
into the top level of visible USB storage.
Then use the power button to re-boot the Kindle
If that didn't fix it, or the search bar command for the jb does not work -
re-install the factory initial firmware package again (to fix things the flag file function broke).
describe the result here:
Different results.
Does the 'hung' Kindle boot far enough to show the main screen, can you access the search bar?* no
same download, all special offers, no search bar
Different starting firmwares. Different download places. 2 different OS.