I think my Kindle Keyboard is toast

NNolan · 07-03-2018, 07:20 PM

I've been using it for years just to download books in AZW3 format.
The 4G has been dead for awhile now but the WiFi still worked.
On Sunday it didn't want to download 4 or 5 books, so I just left it plugged in to keep the battery topped up and to see if those books would eventually download. I checked it today and the documents folder was completely gone. I tried to reset it by holding the power button until it restarted, and now it's stuck at about a 15% on the progress bar. Oh well, I've got more ebooks now than I can read in the rest of my lifetime so if it never recovers it's probably just as well.

Barbara1955 · 07-03-2018, 07:24 PM

Delete those ebooks & re-download....sounds like it hung up

NNolan · 07-03-2018, 07:47 PM

I would if I could get in to it, but it's not moving off the screen with the kid sitting under the tree and the frozen progress bar.

Barbara1955 · 07-03-2018, 08:33 PM

rcentros · 07-04-2018, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NNolan

I would if I could get in to it, but it's not moving off the screen with the kid sitting under the tree and the frozen progress bar.

Have you tried the "40 second" restart?

Quote:

Quick Fix: Restart Your Kindle Keyboard (3rd Generation)

Many issues with your Kindle Keyboard, including a frozen screen or issues with downloading content, can be solved by restarting your device.

Slide and hold the Power button for a full 40 seconds.
After the first 6 to 8 seconds, the screen will go blank, which is normal. Continue holding the Power button.

After the 40 seconds, release the Power button.
The charge indicator light should turn on after a few seconds.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custo...deId=201174640

You've probably already tried this but I just wanted to make sure. I think there's also a "one minute" factory reset option, but that wouldn't help if you're trying to save books that are on the Kindle Keyboard.

rcentros · 07-04-2018, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbara1955

On Top or Bottom there is a tiny hole stick a Paperclip in it... that's the Re-Set. It Will NOT go back to Factory!

There is no accessible reset switch on the Kindle Keyboard. If you open up the Kindle you'll find "reset" silk screened on the board, but you have to hold a small screwdriver to the solder points to use it. I'm not sure why Amazon didn't make this accessible from the case's exterior.

This image comes from ...

http://www.nickengerer.org/personal-...eyboard-d00901

They might also have some other tips to get the Keyboard up and running.

pdurrant · 07-04-2018, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NNolan

I've been using it for years just to download books in AZW3 format.
The 4G has been dead for awhile now but the WiFi still worked.
On Sunday it didn't want to download 4 or 5 books, so I just left it plugged in to keep the battery topped up and to see if those books would eventually download. I checked it today and the documents folder was completely gone. I tried to reset it by holding the power button until it restarted, and now it's stuck at about a 15% on the progress bar. Oh well, I've got more ebooks now than I can read in the rest of my lifetime so if it never recovers it's probably just as well.

You can still get AZW3 using it, even if it's dead. Just download from the Amazon website for "transfer via USB" to the dead Kindle.

Lady Stardust · 07-04-2018, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

You can still get AZW3 using it, even if it's dead. Just download from the Amazon website for "transfer via USB" to the dead Kindle.

Even if you use transfer via USB to Oasis or Paperwhite, you will still get the azw3, so no reason for worry.

NNolan · 07-04-2018, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Stardust

Even if you use transfer via USB to Oasis or Paperwhite, you will still get the azw3, so no reason for worry.

Really?!!! I'll have to try that! The K3 finally finished whatever reset it was doing overnight, but the books are still gone and I can't get anything to download over WiFi anymore. The 4G capability vanished awhile ago, and I'm sorry now that I bothered to pay extra for it when I bought it (right before they were discontinued). If USB transfer works for AZW3 from any of my current Kindles then I'm still good to go. Thanks for all the help! I love this place.

darryl · 07-04-2018, 10:46 AM

At the moment the download for transfer by usb option downloads .azw3 files even for later Kindles that support kfx. Amazon shows no signs of changing this as yet. The utility in having a Keyboard model is that if Amazon does make such a change it does not support kfx at all, and is unlikely to be able to do so given the hardware limitations. My understanding is that kfx support is not currently implemented on any Kindle before the Paperwhite 2, though I imagine it would be far more feasible for Amazon to add kfx support to a PW1 than a Keyboard.

As things now stand, even if Amazon drops the download for transfer by usb option altogether, Kindles from and including the Keyboard to the Paperwhite 1 will still themselves download azw3 files.

Barbara1955 · 07-04-2018, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

There is no accessible reset switch on the Kindle Keyboard. If you open up the Kindle you'll find "reset" silk screened on the board, but you have to hold a small screwdriver to the solder points to use it. I'm not sure why Amazon didn't make this accessible from the case's exterior.

This image comes from ...

http://www.nickengerer.org/personal-...eyboard-d00901

They might also have some other tips to get the Keyboard up and running.

OMG you are Correct How in the world did I forget that ...considering how bad my poor finger hurt

Barbara1955 · 07-04-2018, 07:02 PM

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZV9PXP2...ods_fs_eink_eb

Buy New Trade in Old K3 for 25% Off

NNolan · 07-04-2018, 07:28 PM

So, I've downloaded a few new books using the USB option. If I specify that the books are going to my old K3 then I get AZW3, but if I tell it I'm using my Oasis sometimes I get AZW3 and sometimes I don't. So, from now on tell Ammy it's for my K3 for USB downloads. I should be able to do that even if the K3 really and truly dies, as long as I don't deregister it.

While I was messing around with Calibre today I decided to convert some old epubs that I haven't read yet into AZW3 format and put them on my Oasis 2, which worked for the first 3 books I selected. Sometime between moving that first set of books to my Kindle and converting another set, Calibre lost the ability to write books to my Oasis 2, and I don't know why. I tried upgrading to the latest version of Calibre and that had no effect.
So, now I'm writing them to another folder after converting them, and moving them over via the operating system. I'm also giving serious side eye to the one USB cable that's been a common element in all my Kindle woes over the last two days. I'm going to dig up another cable and see if it makes a difference, although I'm not getting my hopes up.

Edited to add: as I suspected, changing USB cords didn't help. Bummer....

darryl · 07-04-2018, 08:18 PM

@NNolan. If you don't get azw3 via the download by USB what are you getting? You sometimes get .azw, which are basically mobi format, or reportedly can get an azw4 which is a "print replica", which I believe is basically pdf. azw is fine, but azw4 has all the usual drawbacks of pdf. I haven't heard of anyone getting kfx files via this option.

In relation to not being able to transfer books to your kindle, you may wish to post in the Calibre forum. You probably won't get much help unless you also run calibre in debug mode, try to transfer books and then post the log, preferably using a spoiler tag. Good luck.

glossywhite · 07-04-2018, 08:41 PM

Ahhh my first ever Kindle! I love the Kindle Keyboard.

My friend handed me one with a cracked screen, asking me "Can you repair this? My daughter took it traveling and cracked the screen" - I contacted Kindle support and they shipped him a brand new one, no problem. He was over the moon, and I was SO SO enamoured with this new fangled e-ink, the likes of which I'd never experienced, I bought one for myself.

I also bought another one, used, around that time, from a friend who owned one but couldn't understand why she needed it. Now I wish I'd kept them, so I'm gonna go get me one.

Oh look, here's me demonstrating debug mode, back in 2011:

My Octovo "Solis" Kindle reading light demo:

I've got a few more videos besides, if you search "unlokia Kindle" on YouTube. Great memories of making these

07-03-2018, 07:20 PM	#1
NNolan Compulsive Gadget Geek Posts: 407 Karma: 4219324 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: South Central Virginia Device: One of each, and two in some cases	I think my Kindle Keyboard is toast I've been using it for years just to download books in AZW3 format. The 4G has been dead for awhile now but the WiFi still worked. On Sunday it didn't want to download 4 or 5 books, so I just left it plugged in to keep the battery topped up and to see if those books would eventually download. I checked it today and the documents folder was completely gone. I tried to reset it by holding the power button until it restarted, and now it's stuck at about a 15% on the progress bar. Oh well, I've got more ebooks now than I can read in the rest of my lifetime so if it never recovers it's probably just as well.

07-03-2018, 08:33 PM	#4
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Last edited by Barbara1955; 07-04-2018 at 06:59 PM. Reason: Incorrect Information ... Sorry

07-04-2018, 07:28 PM	#13
NNolan Compulsive Gadget Geek Posts: 407 Karma: 4219324 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: South Central Virginia Device: One of each, and two in some cases	So, I've downloaded a few new books using the USB option. If I specify that the books are going to my old K3 then I get AZW3, but if I tell it I'm using my Oasis sometimes I get AZW3 and sometimes I don't. So, from now on tell Ammy it's for my K3 for USB downloads. I should be able to do that even if the K3 really and truly dies, as long as I don't deregister it. While I was messing around with Calibre today I decided to convert some old epubs that I haven't read yet into AZW3 format and put them on my Oasis 2, which worked for the first 3 books I selected. Sometime between moving that first set of books to my Kindle and converting another set, Calibre lost the ability to write books to my Oasis 2, and I don't know why. I tried upgrading to the latest version of Calibre and that had no effect. So, now I'm writing them to another folder after converting them, and moving them over via the operating system. I'm also giving serious side eye to the one USB cable that's been a common element in all my Kindle woes over the last two days. I'm going to dig up another cable and see if it makes a difference, although I'm not getting my hopes up. Edited to add: as I suspected, changing USB cords didn't help. Bummer.... Last edited by NNolan; 07-04-2018 at 07:40 PM.

07-04-2018, 08:41 PM	#15
glossywhite Member Posts: 21 Karma: 100000 Join Date: Aug 2011 Device: Kindle	Ahhh my first ever Kindle! I love the Kindle Keyboard. My friend handed me one with a cracked screen, asking me "Can you repair this? My daughter took it traveling and cracked the screen" - I contacted Kindle support and they shipped him a brand new one, no problem. He was over the moon, and I was SO SO enamoured with this new fangled e-ink, the likes of which I'd never experienced, I bought one for myself. I also bought another one, used, around that time, from a friend who owned one but couldn't understand why she needed it. Now I wish I'd kept them, so I'm gonna go get me one. Oh look, here's me demonstrating debug mode, back in 2011: My Octovo "Solis" Kindle reading light demo: I've got a few more videos besides, if you search "unlokia Kindle" on YouTube. Great memories of making these Last edited by glossywhite; 07-04-2018 at 08:51 PM.

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07-03-2018, 07:24 PM	#2
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Delete those ebooks & re-download....sounds like it hung up

07-03-2018, 07:47 PM	#3
NNolan Compulsive Gadget Geek Posts: 407 Karma: 4219324 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: South Central Virginia Device: One of each, and two in some cases	I would if I could get in to it, but it's not moving off the screen with the kid sitting under the tree and the frozen progress bar.

07-04-2018, 10:46 AM	#10
darryl Wizard Posts: 3,108 Karma: 60231510 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Oasis, Huwei Ascend Mate 7	At the moment the download for transfer by usb option downloads .azw3 files even for later Kindles that support kfx. Amazon shows no signs of changing this as yet. The utility in having a Keyboard model is that if Amazon does make such a change it does not support kfx at all, and is unlikely to be able to do so given the hardware limitations. My understanding is that kfx support is not currently implemented on any Kindle before the Paperwhite 2, though I imagine it would be far more feasible for Amazon to add kfx support to a PW1 than a Keyboard. As things now stand, even if Amazon drops the download for transfer by usb option altogether, Kindles from and including the Keyboard to the Paperwhite 1 will still themselves download azw3 files.

07-04-2018, 07:02 PM	#12
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZV9PXP2...ods_fs_eink_eb Buy New Trade in Old K3 for 25% Off

07-04-2018, 08:18 PM	#14
darryl Wizard Posts: 3,108 Karma: 60231510 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Oasis, Huwei Ascend Mate 7	@NNolan. If you don't get azw3 via the download by USB what are you getting? You sometimes get .azw, which are basically mobi format, or reportedly can get an azw4 which is a "print replica", which I believe is basically pdf. azw is fine, but azw4 has all the usual drawbacks of pdf. I haven't heard of anyone getting kfx files via this option. In relation to not being able to transfer books to your kindle, you may wish to post in the Calibre forum. You probably won't get much help unless you also run calibre in debug mode, try to transfer books and then post the log, preferably using a spoiler tag. Good luck.

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