"watch the kernel ring buffer for messages:
watch -n1 dmesg"
It wasn't blank.
Code:
[ 7322.256026] usb 2-10: new low-speed USB device number 9 using ohci-pci
[ 7322.466037] usb 2-10: New USB device found, idVendor=1949, idProduct=dead
[ 7322.466042] usb 2-10: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=1, SerialNumber=0
[ 7322.466045] usb 2-10: Product: USB Charger
[ 7322.478090] input: USB Charger as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/usb2/2-10/2-10:1
.0/input/input18
[ 7322.478259] hid-generic 0003:1949:DEAD.0007: input,hidraw4: USB HID v1.11 Device [US
B Charger ] on usb-0000:00:02.0-10/input0
[ 7322.669043] usb 2-10: USB disconnect, device number 9
I tried rebooting with the usb still attached but no new entries were recorded. In fact the only changes to dmesg came about when usb was connected from a completely powered off state (battery disconnected).
I would think this might be a good thing if the word "dead" wasn't displayed twice.
EDIT: After rereading your instructions it appears that you initially wanted me to plug in the usb when the kindle was on and at it's "hung" state. At this point the ring buffer remains empty.
"Ring buffer still empty:
Reboot Kindle.
*nix recognizes USB bus changes:"
On reboot there is no change, there is no output for the "raw storage device" recognition step.