Newest Paperwhite jailbreak-able?

[KatGamer]

I have a first-gen Paperwhite. After struggling with the useless collections feature on it for years, I finally decided to look into the Collections Manager, only to find out that the PW1 on the firmware I had was un-jailbreakable (well, without some kind of dongle or something, I don't remember exactly.)

Having pretty much abandoned my PW since then, now I'd like to have it back. As far as I can tell by searching the forums, it still can't be jailbroken - is that correct? (Firmware version 5.6+)

If I go to Amazon today and buy the latest Paperwhite, can it be jailbroken so that finally I can do something about the disorganized mess that is my Kindle?

And a newbie question about Collections Manager - one of my frustrations was having to reset my Kindle or something, and I lost all my collections and had to start from scratch. Will Collections Manager remember them, or at least let me back them up?

Thanks!

[shamanNS]

IIRC, PW1 is the only model that still can be downgraded from firmware 5.6.x using the "reboot before disconnecting from PC" trick.

Try that. Download 5.4.4.2 update bin from Amazon, connect Kindle to your PC and copy the bin file, DON'T unmaunt/disconnect PW1 from the PC but press and hold Kindle's power button untill it restarts. It the trick still works it should start "updating" to older firmware.

If you disconnect the Kindle from your PC it would just delete the older firmware bin update file you just copied...

As for latest gen PW model (or Voyage or Oasis) you would still need to downgrade, that is install "initial"/"factory" firmware build which can be jailbroken.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by KatGamer

I have a first-gen Paperwhite. After struggling with the useless collections feature on it for years, I finally decided to look into the Collections Manager, only to find out that the PW1 on the firmware I had was un-jailbreakable (well, without some kind of dongle or something, I don't remember exactly.)

Having pretty much abandoned my PW since then, now I'd like to have it back. As far as I can tell by searching the forums, it still can't be jailbroken - is that correct? (Firmware version 5.6+)

If I go to Amazon today and buy the latest Paperwhite, can it be jailbroken so that finally I can do something about the disorganized mess that is my Kindle?

And a newbie question about Collections Manager - one of my frustrations was having to reset my Kindle or something, and I lost all my collections and had to start from scratch. Will Collections Manager remember them, or at least let me back them up?

Thanks!

Your are not reading the correct places.
In the current jail break, top most, see the comment quoted here:

For prior (grayscale) Kindle models, see:
Legacy devices, jail breaks

Since your model (PW1) is not mentioned in that title - that comment applies to you.

And in the 'Current Jailbreaks' section of the page linked to, you will find:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=186645

That is you.

Do not stop reading at the title.
Continue down to the red lettered section: "Firmware >= 5.6" and read the first sentence.
That is also you.

= = = = =

Currently, if what you mean by "Current Paperwhite" does not include the most recent model with 32GiB of memory, the answer is "Yes".

Again, that is answered in the first post of the current jailbreak.

= = = = =

You did not 'lose' anything, you pushed the 'erase user additions' button and it did.
How is that surprising?

Admittedly, there are devices with embedded operating systems which have two (2) copies of the OS on them. On those, 'Factory Reset' loads the backup OS.
But that is not what Amazon means, they mean 'erase everything the user did or added'.
Just like your 'phone, on which a 'Factory Reset' erases what you have put on it.

= = = = =

No, the current collections manager will not hold your hand.
It you push the erase button, it will let you erase the collections.
You need to keep your own backup(s) if you want backup(s).

= = = = =

Sorry everyone for the tone of this post.
It is not a good morning @ here today.

[KatGamer]

In fact, I *did* read those posts but was finding it all very confusing. As I understand it I have a 5th generation device which is a PW1 which can get confusing, the way they've given these things more than one label. I'm sorry that I'm not so well versed in the world of Kindle that I can completely understand without clarification.

That post says:

IMPORTANT notice regarding FW >= 5.6.0:

As with the previous notice, this JailBreak obviously won't work on these new versions (but don't despair, we know have a universal solution, via a factory downgrade ).

That said, it does survive an update to >= 5.6.x, provided your JailBreak is up to date (see the update notice earlier in this post. Take particular notice of the comment about factory resets).

My firmware is a newer version and is not a factory installation of the OS (I have upgraded it since then) and so I did not understand this would work for me.

You did not 'lose' anything, you pushed the 'erase user additions' button and it did.
How is that surprising?

This happened more than 2 years ago so my memory is fuzzy, and I'm pretty sure Amazon had instructed me to reset my Kindle without telling me I'd lose all my collections. At the time I was not as familiar with the Kindle and how it works.

I did not ask if the collections manager would "hold my hand." I asked if it was possible to back up my collections using it. Of course it would erase if I pushed erase. I'm not stupid, just a newbie.

If you know enough to apologize to everyone else for your tone, perhaps you could have either made it nicer or waited until you were feeling better to post it. You've made me feel very unwelcome here. I came here to learn things and sometimes that requires asking for clarification. I have plenty of experience in say, Windows, and can easily find my way around, but I don't with the Kindle, so yes, I'm asking for help before I do something wrong and brick it.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by KatGamer

In fact, I *did* read those posts but was finding it all very confusing. As I understand it I have a 5th generation device which is a PW1 which can get confusing, the way they've given these things more than one label. I'm sorry that I'm not so well versed in the world of Kindle that I can completely understand without clarification.

That post says:



My firmware is a newer version and is not a factory installation of the OS (I have upgraded it since then) and so I did not understand this would work for me.


This happened more than 2 years ago so my memory is fuzzy, and I'm pretty sure Amazon had instructed me to reset my Kindle without telling me I'd lose all my collections. At the time I was not as familiar with the Kindle and how it works.

I did not ask if the collections manager would "hold my hand." I asked if it was possible to back up my collections using it. Of course it would erase if I pushed erase. I'm not stupid, just a newbie.

If you know enough to apologize to everyone else for your tone, perhaps you could have either made it nicer or waited until you were feeling better to post it. You've made me feel very unwelcome here. I came here to learn things and sometimes that requires asking for clarification. I have plenty of experience in say, Windows, and can easily find my way around, but I don't with the Kindle, so yes, I'm asking for help before I do something wrong and brick it.

If you factory reset, you lose everything that you have done to your kindle.
Did they tell you reset or restart? And did you call on a night or weekend?

Now as to your new one, check your serial number before starting the jailbreak.

Oh and knc1 was being nice. He was just telling you what would happen. We don't know what you know or don't know so better to say don't erase.

Too many people have done exactly that to warrant a warning.
You may know not to do that but again we can't read minds.
So if you get simple advice, it is NOT about you. It is just general good advice.
Never assume someone is thinking about your intelligence. They are not. Not enough time.

[KatGamer]

Originally Posted by shamanNS

IIRC, PW1 is the only model that still can be downgraded from firmware 5.6.x using the "reboot before disconnecting from PC" trick.

Try that. Download 5.4.4.2 update bin from Amazon, connect Kindle to your PC and copy the bin file, DON'T unmaunt/disconnect PW1 from the PC but press and hold Kindle's power button untill it restarts. It the trick still works it should start "updating" to older firmware.

If you disconnect the Kindle from your PC it would just delete the older firmware bin update file you just copied...

As for latest gen PW model (or Voyage or Oasis) you would still need to downgrade, that is install "initial"/"factory" firmware build which can be jailbroken.

I'm sorry for the double post but I wanted to say thank you for your help. That did work and I am successfully running 5.4.4.2. I'm still not feeling super confident that the jailbreak will work, but I guess the worst that could happen is I brick it and need a new Kindle, which I was considering anyways. Thanks again!

[KatGamer]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

If you factory reset, you lose everything that you have done to your kindle.
Did they tell you reset or restart? And did you call on a night or weekend?

I'm sure it was reset, and I can't tell you more... again, it was a couple years ago and during a stressful time in my life (I was caring for my mom who had cancer at the time). I don't even remember exactly what issue I was having.

[shamanNS]

Originally Posted by KatGamer

I'm sorry for the double post but I wanted to say thank you for your help. That did work and I am successfully running 5.4.4.2. I'm still not feeling super confident that the jailbreak will work, but I guess the worst that could happen is I brick it and need a new Kindle, which I was considering anyways. Thanks again!

There is next to zero % chance of bricking your PW1. You just have to read the instructions carefully (IIRC most often reason for jailbreak "not working" was when people didn't unpack the archive and copy it's content to correct location on Kindle drive), it does it's thing or doesn't because of some user error, or unsupported firmware.

Also, if you don't want your PW to update again (after jailbreaking and rebooting the Kindle to let it install MKK and "bridge" code that allows the jailbreak to survive firmware update you are free to update it to 5.6.1.1) you will have to read about ways of blocking the OTA update that still work for fw 5.4.4.2 , or keep it offline.
But you probably should update it back to 5.6.1.1 because that update added support for new KFX book format IIRC.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by KatGamer

In fact, I *did* read those posts but was finding it all very confusing. As I understand it I have a 5th generation device which is a PW1 which can get confusing, the way they've given these things more than one label. I'm sorry that I'm not so well versed in the world of Kindle that I can completely understand without clarification.

That post says:

The words in this post: "a factory downgrade" is a hyper-link, click it!
Perhaps your browser did not make that clear.

My firmware is a newer version and is not a factory installation of the OS (I have upgraded it since then) and so I did not understand this would work for me.


This happened more than 2 years ago so my memory is fuzzy, and I'm pretty sure Amazon had instructed me to reset my Kindle without telling me I'd lose all my collections. At the time I was not as familiar with the Kindle and how it works.

I did not ask if the collections manager would "hold my hand." I asked if it was possible to back up my collections using it. Of course it would erase if I pushed erase. I'm not stupid, just a newbie.

If you know enough to apologize to everyone else for your tone, perhaps you could have either made it nicer or waited until you were feeling better to post it. You've made me feel very unwelcome here. I came here to learn things and sometimes that requires asking for clarification. I have plenty of experience in say, Windows, and can easily find my way around, but I don't with the Kindle, so yes, I'm asking for help before I do something wrong and brick it.

See note added into quote above.

If you don't include yourself in "everyone" that is your problem, not mine.

[fonix232]

After spending over 4 hours jailbreaking my PW3 last night (and I'm a guy who rooted Android devices in record time), I have to agree with OP here - the current tutorials are cumbersome, sometimes misleading, and not too descriptive.

I'd like to suggest to move the whole "how to jailbreak" thing into a truly universal guide. The Nintendo 3DS hacking guide is a great example of what I mean.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by fonix232

After spending over 4 hours jailbreaking my PW3 last night (and I'm a guy who rooted Android devices in record time), I have to agree with OP here - the current tutorials are cumbersome, sometimes misleading, and not too descriptive.

I'd like to suggest to move the whole "how to jailbreak" thing into a truly universal guide. The Nintendo 3DS hacking guide is a great example of what I mean.

We have a wiki here for purposes like that.
You don't even need an account to put things in our wiki.

So I suggest that you get started on your project.
That way it is certain to be the way you want it.

Keep in mind that you have to cover all 74 models and 175 firmware versions.
All while not confusing your reader.

[KatGamer]

Originally Posted by shamanNS

There is next to zero % chance of bricking your PW1. You just have to read the instructions carefully (IIRC most often reason for jailbreak "not working" was when people didn't unpack the archive and copy it's content to correct location on Kindle drive), it does it's thing or doesn't because of some user error, or unsupported firmware.

Also, if you don't want your PW to update again (after jailbreaking and rebooting the Kindle to let it install MKK and "bridge" code that allows the jailbreak to survive firmware update you are free to update it to 5.6.1.1) you will have to read about ways of blocking the OTA update that still work for fw 5.4.4.2 , or keep it offline.
But you probably should update it back to 5.6.1.1 because that update added support for new KFX book format IIRC.

Thanks. I got the jailbreak working. I normally do keep my Kindle in airplane mode because A. I rarely use the wifi and B. it extends the battery life. But I'll take a look at upgrading it to the newer firmware.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by KatGamer

Thanks. I got the jailbreak working. I normally do keep my Kindle in airplane mode because A. I rarely use the wifi and B. it extends the battery life. But I'll take a look at upgrading it to the newer firmware.

On the PW-1, your best choice is to run the current firmware.

That product no longer receives firmware updates as a regular thing.
So there is nothing to block against in the future.

Currently, the oldest supported Kindle is the PW-2 and the oldest sold Kindle is the PW-3.