Paperwhite bricked -- please help

nasser · 07-11-2013, 11:03 AM

hello..

I installed jailbreak on kindle paperwhite.. OS version 5.3.5.. plus the other tools: KUAL, Kterm, kindle explorer.. etc..

Was fooling around with the "shutdown now" command on kterm, invoked under kindle explorer.. nothing happened.. i exited from kterm.. but when i tried to exit from kindle explorer, the screen blanked and i'm now having what seems like a bricked paperwhite.. with only the status screen on top and a blank area beneath.. "(paper)white screen of death.." nothing works..

request forum experts to point me to suitable recovery method..

knc1 · 07-11-2013, 11:06 AM

Does "etc..." include USB networking?

nasser · 07-11-2013, 11:35 AM

thanks for your fast reply, knc1..
i'm afraid i've not (yet) installed usb networking..

nasser · 07-11-2013, 11:40 AM

well, actually.. "nothing works" is not strictly correct.. the screensaver does kick in and i'm able to wake it up and shut it down by short press and long press..

knc1 · 07-11-2013, 11:44 AM

Does it still appear as USB storage to your PC when it is awake?

Hmm...
If so, you might try booting it to DIAGS mode ("ENABLE_DIAGS" on USB storage, re-boot).

OR -
(without USB networking, it may be KUBRICK time).

ixtab · 07-11-2013, 11:50 AM

If you can still access the USB file system after a reboot, place a file called ENABLE_DIAGS (*all caps, no file extension!!!*) in the root directory of the device, and reboot again. Provided that you have the rescue pack installed, this should get you into diags mode, from where you can try to debrick it.

Otherwise... SOL, I guess. There are no known methods to debrick a Paperwhite, besides possibly soldering and accessing it via serial port.

PS: Moved this out of the Kubrick thread and into a new one, as Kubrick can't do anything about Paperwhites.

knc1 · 07-11-2013, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knc1

Does it still appear as USB storage to your PC when it is awake?

Hmm...
If so, you might try booting it to DIAGS mode ("ENABLE_DIAGS" on USB storage, re-boot).

OR -
(without USB networking, it may be KUBRICK time).

Oops, this is a Paperwhite - -
My bad, no KUBRICK for the K5 Paperwhite yet.

knc1 · 07-11-2013, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ixtab

PS: Moved this out of the Kubrick thread and into a new one, as Kubrick can't do anything about Paperwhites.

Thanks,
I was getting lost, trying to have a trouble shooting discussion across two threads.

NiLuJe · 07-11-2013, 12:08 PM

@nasser: I'm assuming you already tried a hard reboot?

nasser · 07-11-2013, 12:28 PM

tried ENABLE_DIAGS.. no dice..
by "reboot" or "hard reboot", i assume a long press of the PW button, followed by a short press is meant..? or am i missing something..?

hmmm... well.. i suppose i should say something like "serves me right for fooling around, instead of reading.." but i won't..

but i do wish to appreciate the quick help and advice from forum members.. some solace for my breaking heart.. :-)

knc1 · 07-11-2013, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasser

tried ENABLE_DIAGS.. no dice..
by "reboot" or "hard reboot", i assume a long press of the PW button, followed by a short press is meant..? or am i missing something..?

hmmm... well.. i suppose i should say something like "serves me right for fooling around, instead of reading.." but i won't..

but i do wish to appreciate the quick help and advice from forum members.. some solace for my breaking heart.. :-)

It is new enough that you can just call Amazon CS and tell them it is broke.
Let them send you a replacement.

NiLuJe · 07-11-2013, 12:43 PM

@nasser: A single long press (a bit over 5s, IIRC), with the device unplugged. Should trigger a reboot.

nasser · 07-11-2013, 12:47 PM

Whooops... i hadn't understood what a "hard reboot" was.. i finally did and my PW is back in business.. wish i could host a beer for all of you.. ;-)

I also was able to replicate the steps which caused the PW to hang.. here goes:
1. ran KUAL
2. ran KindleExplorer
3. navigate to root directory
4. try to open /etc directory by touching it
5. BAM.. PW hangs..

Should this be flagged as a bug in KindleExplorer? Or as a warning, caution, admonition to others..?

Once again, my heartfelt thanks to all.. especially NiLuJe.. for the hard reboot tip.. :-)

will keep away from further fiddling for some time.. :-P

knc1 · 07-11-2013, 01:05 PM

Hmm...
/etc is read-only
Might be having an effect on KindleExplorer.

But nice to know that KE works (sort of) on the Paperwhite.

silver18 · 07-11-2013, 06:32 PM

I had the very same problem with my Touch. The kindle seems to be bricked but it can go into screensaver mode and the status bar works.
Again, the solution was an hard reset.
I didn't fool around with kterm any of the time it happened to me.
It seems to be related to some process using all the CPU.
Everything is freezed and even the menu can be called but nothing happens!

07-11-2013, 11:03 AM	#1
nasser Evangelist Posts: 475 Karma: 445678 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Too many..	Paperwhite bricked -- please help hello.. I installed jailbreak on kindle paperwhite.. OS version 5.3.5.. plus the other tools: KUAL, Kterm, kindle explorer.. etc.. Was fooling around with the "shutdown now" command on kterm, invoked under kindle explorer.. nothing happened.. i exited from kterm.. but when i tried to exit from kindle explorer, the screen blanked and i'm now having what seems like a bricked paperwhite.. with only the status screen on top and a blank area beneath.. "(paper)white screen of death.." nothing works.. request forum experts to point me to suitable recovery method..

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07-11-2013, 11:06 AM	#2
knc1 Going Viral Posts: 17,212 Karma: 18210809 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Texas Device: No K1, PW2, KV, KOA	Does "etc..." include USB networking?

07-11-2013, 11:35 AM	#3
nasser Evangelist Posts: 475 Karma: 445678 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Too many..	thanks for your fast reply, knc1.. i'm afraid i've not (yet) installed usb networking..

07-11-2013, 11:40 AM	#4
nasser Evangelist Posts: 475 Karma: 445678 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Too many..	well, actually.. "nothing works" is not strictly correct.. the screensaver does kick in and i'm able to wake it up and shut it down by short press and long press..

07-11-2013, 11:44 AM	#5
knc1 Going Viral Posts: 17,212 Karma: 18210809 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Texas Device: No K1, PW2, KV, KOA	Does it still appear as USB storage to your PC when it is awake? Hmm... If so, you might try booting it to DIAGS mode ("ENABLE_DIAGS" on USB storage, re-boot). OR - (without USB networking, it may be KUBRICK time).

07-11-2013, 11:50 AM	#6
ixtab (offline) Posts: 2,907 Karma: 6736094 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: K3, K4, K5, KPW, KPW2	If you can still access the USB file system after a reboot, place a file called ENABLE_DIAGS (all caps, no file extension!!!) in the root directory of the device, and reboot again. Provided that you have the rescue pack installed, this should get you into diags mode, from where you can try to debrick it. Otherwise... SOL, I guess. There are no known methods to debrick a Paperwhite, besides possibly soldering and accessing it via serial port. PS: Moved this out of the Kubrick thread and into a new one, as Kubrick can't do anything about Paperwhites.

07-11-2013, 12:08 PM	#9
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047190 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	@nasser: I'm assuming you already tried a hard reboot?

07-11-2013, 12:28 PM	#10
nasser Evangelist Posts: 475 Karma: 445678 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Too many..	tried ENABLE_DIAGS.. no dice.. by "reboot" or "hard reboot", i assume a long press of the PW button, followed by a short press is meant..? or am i missing something..? hmmm... well.. i suppose i should say something like "serves me right for fooling around, instead of reading.." but i won't.. but i do wish to appreciate the quick help and advice from forum members.. some solace for my breaking heart.. :-)

07-11-2013, 12:43 PM	#12
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047190 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	@nasser: A single long press (a bit over 5s, IIRC), with the device unplugged. Should trigger a reboot.

07-11-2013, 12:47 PM	#13
nasser Evangelist Posts: 475 Karma: 445678 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Too many..	Whooops... i hadn't understood what a "hard reboot" was.. i finally did and my PW is back in business.. wish i could host a beer for all of you.. ;-) I also was able to replicate the steps which caused the PW to hang.. here goes: 1. ran KUAL 2. ran KindleExplorer 3. navigate to root directory 4. try to open /etc directory by touching it 5. BAM.. PW hangs.. Should this be flagged as a bug in KindleExplorer? Or as a warning, caution, admonition to others..? Once again, my heartfelt thanks to all.. especially NiLuJe.. for the hard reboot tip.. :-) will keep away from further fiddling for some time.. :-P

07-11-2013, 01:05 PM	#14
knc1 Going Viral Posts: 17,212 Karma: 18210809 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Texas Device: No K1, PW2, KV, KOA	Hmm... /etc is read-only Might be having an effect on KindleExplorer. But nice to know that KE works (sort of) on the Paperwhite.

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07-11-2013, 06:32 PM	#15
silver18 THE NOOB Posts: 701 Karma: 1545649 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Italy Device: Kindle Touch 5.3.2	I had the very same problem with my Touch. The kindle seems to be bricked but it can go into screensaver mode and the status bar works. Again, the solution was an hard reset. I didn't fool around with kterm any of the time it happened to me. It seems to be related to some process using all the CPU. Everything is freezed and even the menu can be called but nothing happens!