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Old 02-14-2020, 11:04 PM   #1
s2042
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s2042 began at the beginning.
 
Posts: 4
Karma: 10
Join Date: Feb 2020
Device: Kindle Paperwhite
PW3 hangs at Tree Screen

I have a Kindle Paperwhite that hangs on the Tree screen. This is a PW3 (SN begins with G090G1), I purchased new in 2015. I've tried the usual 'hold down the reset' per Google search, but didn't help -- tried this many times and held it down for 40+ seconds and up to several minutes.

I ran across these forums on how to unbrick a PW using its serial port. I took the Kindle case apart and connected to its serial port -- using DSD Tech SH-U09C2 USB-TTL adapter (nice adapter with jumper for setting the TTL level to 1.8V). After doing this, I'm able to see the PW (try) to boot up in the serial console. I'm using Putty on Windows 10 laptop, to talk with the PW (for both the serial port and its USB). I'm able to interrupt both u-boot, and later to get the Recovery menu.

I've tried the following, without resolving my issue:

1) downloaded and installed the latest Amazon .bin file, mentioned in several of the forums . Basically, a) reset the Kindle, b) interrupt to get the Recovery menu, c) select option E (Export FAT), d) plug in PW USB to laptop, e) copy .bin file to PW over its USB port, f) select option U (Update bin). This takes several minutes, and appears to successfully install the update. However, afterwards the Kindle still hangs on the Tree screen. I've attached the serial console's messages for here typical_console_output.txt. When it stopped outputting, I hit enter after the console messages stop, and got the Kindle Login prompt.

2) I interrupted u-boot and typed 'bootm 0xE41000' per Part 4 of the 1st link below, to try to enter the diag mode. However, when I do this, the diag menu is never displayed. bootm_0xe41000.txt is the PW's serial console output.

I'm not really sure what to look for in serial output, but didn't see any obvious errors -- (e.g. MMC errors as described in the #2 link below).

Can anyone offer suggestions of what is wrong or what to try next?

thank you!


#1 https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=267541
#2 https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...ght=Export+FAT

Amazon bin file: update_kindle_all_new_paperwhite_5.12.3.bin
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