Appeal to PW2 owners running 5.4.0

cryzed · 12-20-2013, 01:09 AM

Hey,
It would be great if some people could be found, who are still running the 5.4.0 software version on their PW2 devices, that would be willing to wait to update to a newer version until ixtab had the opportunity to create a "rescue pack" package. This would theoretically allow you, the device owner, to backup your 5.4.0 firmware partitions and would allow others to restore their PW2 to that software revision if you made these available to others, if you are inclined to do so.

I am asking because it seems like the delivery of ixtab's device has been delayed for a rather long time, and it is very possible that he will already get a 5.4.2 device. As some of you have surely noticed, the 5.4.2 update is in no way better for most european users -- the cloud collections are badly implemented, the error messages when dealing with them are intrusive and annoying, and the goodreads integration doesn't work anyways.

Of course I can't force anyone, it would be just very nice if someone or possibly multiple people could be found.

eschwartz · 12-20-2013, 01:14 AM

Well, are you asking that they show solidarity with him, or that they offer the services of their 5.4.0 firmware Kindle?

cryzed · 12-20-2013, 01:16 AM

I am asking people that feel technically confident enough, to install the rescue pack when it exists, backup their firmware partitions, and make them available to other people.

Yolina · 12-20-2013, 04:03 AM

I'm still on 5.4.0 and have absolutely no intention of upgrading for now given the mess with cloud collections

Happy to do a backup of the partition when we have a rescue pack as long as someone gives me very clear instructions on how to do this

cryzed · 12-20-2013, 08:41 AM

Hey there Yolina, that's great news! I might have to write something up detailed when it's time.

Thank you.

ixtab · 12-21-2013, 10:01 AM

http://ixtab.tk/kindle-touch-images/PW2/

GoSharks · 12-21-2013, 11:00 AM

ixtab =

(a man for all seasons!)

geekmaster · 12-21-2013, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ixtab

http://ixtab.tk/kindle-touch-images/PW2/

Although a PW2 is the only eink kindle I do not have (other than a K1), I want to thank you for providing these download links, on behalf of those who need them.

cryzed · 12-21-2013, 03:54 PM

Thank you so much ixtab, great work!

EDIT: Everything worked, wrote back the main image/kernel back successfully, running the 5.4.0 version. Only problem is, that all my collections are gone now -- presumably because of the Cloud Collection switch for the later firmware revisions. They are still being displayed when I edit an item's collections, but they aren't displayed under the Collections tab strangely. I am going to assume it's some configuration file incompatibility.

Oh well! I am simply resetting the device now, after backing up my documents folder and then recreating the collections, nothing I can do.

Also is there already a way to prevent automatic updates?

NiLuJe · 12-21-2013, 05:18 PM

@cryzed: The DB format changed w/ 5.4.2, so, yep, I would expect Collections to be broken, and possibly even the catalog to behave wonkily.

cryzed · 12-21-2013, 05:52 PM

Yep, that's exactly what happened. I had to reset the device and recreate all the collections -- a small price to pay though.

cryzed · 12-21-2013, 07:00 PM

I'm pretty sure I was able to deactivate the automatic OTA updates by editing the /etc/todo/handler_registry.conf file, just like the original backdoor lock hack does. I hope it works!

Does anyone know where the partial update is downloaded to on the PW2? Still /mnt/us?

duydangle · 12-22-2013, 05:29 AM

I just hope anyone could make a complete .bin file for roll back. So frustrating with 5.4.2 now. Is this possible?

knc1 · 12-22-2013, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duydangle

I just hope anyone could make a complete .bin file for roll back. So frustrating with 5.4.2 now. Is this possible?

Not likely for us to do it.
We don't have the package signing key required by the initial, ram resident, system.
Although Amazon could.

Once the system image is "live" (running) it can't reliably be replaced.

The "rescue pack" and the manual process of replacing the system image depends on the fact that these Kindles are "dual boot" devices.

We boot one of the systems, and then copy / modify / replace / whatever the **other** (not running) system.

12-20-2013, 01:09 AM	#1
cryzed Evangelist Posts: 408 Karma: 1050547 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	Appeal to PW2 owners running 5.4.0 Hey, It would be great if some people could be found, who are still running the 5.4.0 software version on their PW2 devices, that would be willing to wait to update to a newer version until ixtab had the opportunity to create a "rescue pack" package. This would theoretically allow you, the device owner, to backup your 5.4.0 firmware partitions and would allow others to restore their PW2 to that software revision if you made these available to others, if you are inclined to do so. I am asking because it seems like the delivery of ixtab's device has been delayed for a rather long time, and it is very possible that he will already get a 5.4.2 device. As some of you have surely noticed, the 5.4.2 update is in no way better for most european users -- the cloud collections are badly implemented, the error messages when dealing with them are intrusive and annoying, and the goodreads integration doesn't work anyways. Of course I can't force anyone, it would be just very nice if someone or possibly multiple people could be found. Last edited by cryzed; 12-20-2013 at 01:18 AM.

12-21-2013, 03:54 PM	#9
cryzed Evangelist Posts: 408 Karma: 1050547 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	Thank you so much ixtab, great work! EDIT: Everything worked, wrote back the main image/kernel back successfully, running the 5.4.0 version. Only problem is, that all my collections are gone now -- presumably because of the Cloud Collection switch for the later firmware revisions. They are still being displayed when I edit an item's collections, but they aren't displayed under the Collections tab strangely. I am going to assume it's some configuration file incompatibility. Oh well! I am simply resetting the device now, after backing up my documents folder and then recreating the collections, nothing I can do. Also is there already a way to prevent automatic updates? Last edited by cryzed; 12-21-2013 at 04:51 PM.

12-21-2013, 07:00 PM	#12
cryzed Evangelist Posts: 408 Karma: 1050547 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	I'm pretty sure I was able to deactivate the automatic OTA updates by editing the /etc/todo/handler_registry.conf file, just like the original backdoor lock hack does. I hope it works! Does anyone know where the partial update is downloaded to on the PW2? Still /mnt/us? Last edited by cryzed; 12-21-2013 at 07:08 PM.

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12-20-2013, 01:14 AM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Well, are you asking that they show solidarity with him, or that they offer the services of their 5.4.0 firmware Kindle?

12-20-2013, 01:16 AM	#3
cryzed Evangelist Posts: 408 Karma: 1050547 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	I am asking people that feel technically confident enough, to install the rescue pack when it exists, backup their firmware partitions, and make them available to other people.

12-20-2013, 04:03 AM	#4
Yolina Wizard Posts: 1,179 Karma: 11573197 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: London, UK Device: Voyage	I'm still on 5.4.0 and have absolutely no intention of upgrading for now given the mess with cloud collections Happy to do a backup of the partition when we have a rescue pack as long as someone gives me very clear instructions on how to do this

12-20-2013, 08:41 AM	#5
cryzed Evangelist Posts: 408 Karma: 1050547 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	Hey there Yolina, that's great news! I might have to write something up detailed when it's time. Thank you.

12-21-2013, 10:01 AM	#6
ixtab (offline) Posts: 2,907 Karma: 6736094 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: K3, K4, K5, KPW, KPW2	http://ixtab.tk/kindle-touch-images/PW2/

12-21-2013, 11:00 AM	#7
GoSharks SQUIRREL!! Posts: 1,636 Karma: 8400000 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: California Device: K-Fire, PW2, PW3	ixtab = (a man for all seasons!)

12-21-2013, 05:18 PM	#10
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	@cryzed: The DB format changed w/ 5.4.2, so, yep, I would expect Collections to be broken, and possibly even the catalog to behave wonkily.

12-21-2013, 05:52 PM	#11
cryzed Evangelist Posts: 408 Karma: 1050547 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	Yep, that's exactly what happened. I had to reset the device and recreate all the collections -- a small price to pay though.

12-22-2013, 05:29 AM	#13
duydangle Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 480010 Join Date: Aug 2013 Device: PW\|PW3	I just hope anyone could make a complete .bin file for roll back. So frustrating with 5.4.2 now. Is this possible?

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