Troubleshooting Kindle PW only stays connected (USB) for 10s at a time?

MyNameIsMrBurns · 02-16-2015, 03:54 AM

I'm trying to solve a problem with my first-gen Paperwhite -- it woke up one day to a "Your Kindle needs repairs, repair code 2" error. It's not jailbroken or messed with any way and nothing unusual happened the day of the error, so it's a bit baffling. I tried rebooting, and hard-resetting (by holding the power down for 30 seconds), which is what Google and Amazon Support recommended -- no luck.

I had the idea to manually download a firmware update and then copy it into the device's root directory, so that it'd update itself on reboot and hopefully fix the issue. Problem: the device will only stay mounted for 10 seconds, not long enough to transfer the 183 MB file across.

This is an issue I can find zero discussion of online, and I have no idea how it might be solved. I've tried multiple computers and multiple cables, so I know it's the Kindle's issue. Strangely, it has other issues: if I plug the cable in, it will reboot and be accessible by USB for 10 seconds, but if I leave it plugged in and just keep rebooting, it never regains access. Only unplugging and re-plugging the cable does it.

Does anyone have any idea why this might happen, or how I might solve my problem?

HarryT · 02-16-2015, 04:05 AM

Sounds like a hardware fault to me. I very much doubt there's anything you can do about it, unfortunately.

Dexmaster · 02-19-2015, 05:52 AM

Firs of all I had a problem with one device some time ago I used downloader program.

So I'll give you the same advice, just use some downloader(Free Download Manager, Orbit Download Manager, built in browser downloader, DownThemAll, Chrono Download Manager) or specific program (teracopy, totalcmd, ultracopier) to copy a firmware file onto it when it stops reconnect and resume.

I'm not sure reinstalling firmware will help and won't crash anything but if you'll need to copy something onto you can do it.

HarryT · 02-19-2015, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexmaster

Firs of all I had a problem with one device some time ago I used downloader program.

So I'll give you the same advice, just use some downloader(Free Download Manager, Orbit Download Manager, built in browser downloader, DownThemAll, Chrono Download Manager) or specific program (teracopy, totalcmd, ultracopier) to copy a firmware file onto it when it stops reconnect and resume.

I'm not sure reinstalling firmware will help and won't crash anything but if you'll need to copy something onto you can do it.

The issue the OP is having, though, is that it doesn't stay mounted long enough to copy a new fimware file onto it. How will your suggested solution get around that?

Dexmaster · 02-19-2015, 03:45 PM

That's a solution, you use downloader to download firmware to your kindle (you can even use local file url "file:///D:/*firmware*.zip").

Then just resume on each new disconnection and re-mount (you just copy part of a file then another part after another connection).

Downloaders and special software help with it (it would be like downloading full film (700Mb-1Gb) over dial-up it will be longer but it could be done)

MyNameIsMrBurns · 02-20-2015, 02:59 AM

Clever solution, Dexmaster, and I tried it... unfortunately, it doesn't work, for a frustrating reason: apparently USB mass storage doesn't support resumable file transfers.

I tried using both TeraCopy and TotalCommander. The former got me the error "The volume has been externally altered" (even if I pause before the disconnect, reconnect, then try to resume) and TotalCommander simply says "Remove the write protection and retry" -- if I reconnect the device and retry, it starts over from 0% again.

I've also tried transferring the update across as 10 separate tar files and then untarring them during one mount session, but that doesn't work either, because it takes over a minute to untar. I think my only hope, short of figuring out why the hell it unmounts itself, is to find a way to split files and then rejoin them into one without writing a new 180 MB file, but I don't know if that's possible.

Dexmaster · 02-20-2015, 07:30 AM

Maybe try downloader(Orbit, Free, Chrono Download Manager or any other), their method is a bit different, maybe it would help you... Other than that I'm not sure I'll have any other ideas...

P.S. You could try downloading from the internet to your device. Also filename must not end on zip until it finishes, then you can just rename it to it's proper name. (your system could remove all update files during restarts)

eschwartz · 02-22-2015, 01:26 AM

Another possible alternative is to do a Factory Restore via a file trick, here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=223067

If that doesn't work, rsync or something similarly basic should work to copy the firmware update. Make sure you use "--append" so rsync doesn't try to checksum the file first. curl would work too, downloading from a file:/// url.

Just try remembering next time to jailbreak and install Rescue Pack/Cowards Rescue Pack/USBNetwork before you have problems. It helps a lot.

MyNameIsMrBurns · 02-27-2015, 01:10 AM

That factory restore trick completely fixed the issue! I love you, eschwartz. I was already seeing how I could scrape together to pay for a replacement unit + Australian shipping (or the US$170 Australian RRP). You (and the guy who posted that thread) have saved me a ton, I appreciate the hell out of it. Thrilled.

eschwartz · 02-27-2015, 01:48 AM

Sure thing.

Ixtab was a big hero here -- too bad the real world intruded and he had to go get a job.

02-16-2015, 03:54 AM	#1
MyNameIsMrBurns Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Nook Simple Touch Reader	Kindle PW only stays connected (USB) for 10s at a time? I'm trying to solve a problem with my first-gen Paperwhite -- it woke up one day to a "Your Kindle needs repairs, repair code 2" error. It's not jailbroken or messed with any way and nothing unusual happened the day of the error, so it's a bit baffling. I tried rebooting, and hard-resetting (by holding the power down for 30 seconds), which is what Google and Amazon Support recommended -- no luck. I had the idea to manually download a firmware update and then copy it into the device's root directory, so that it'd update itself on reboot and hopefully fix the issue. Problem: the device will only stay mounted for 10 seconds, not long enough to transfer the 183 MB file across. This is an issue I can find zero discussion of online, and I have no idea how it might be solved. I've tried multiple computers and multiple cables, so I know it's the Kindle's issue. Strangely, it has other issues: if I plug the cable in, it will reboot and be accessible by USB for 10 seconds, but if I leave it plugged in and just keep rebooting, it never regains access. Only unplugging and re-plugging the cable does it. Does anyone have any idea why this might happen, or how I might solve my problem?

02-19-2015, 03:45 PM	#5
Dexmaster Connoisseur Posts: 72 Karma: 18445 Join Date: Apr 2014 Device: Kindle PW5 (11th gen, 6.8in)	That's a solution, you use downloader to download firmware to your kindle (you can even use local file url "file:///D:/firmware.zip"). Then just resume on each new disconnection and re-mount (you just copy part of a file then another part after another connection). Downloaders and special software help with it (it would be like downloading full film (700Mb-1Gb) over dial-up it will be longer but it could be done) Last edited by Dexmaster; 02-19-2015 at 04:00 PM.

02-20-2015, 07:30 AM	#7
Dexmaster Connoisseur Posts: 72 Karma: 18445 Join Date: Apr 2014 Device: Kindle PW5 (11th gen, 6.8in)	Maybe try downloader(Orbit, Free, Chrono Download Manager or any other), their method is a bit different, maybe it would help you... Other than that I'm not sure I'll have any other ideas... P.S. You could try downloading from the internet to your device. Also filename must not end on zip until it finishes, then you can just rename it to it's proper name. (your system could remove all update files during restarts) Last edited by Dexmaster; 02-20-2015 at 07:34 AM.

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02-16-2015, 04:05 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Sounds like a hardware fault to me. I very much doubt there's anything you can do about it, unfortunately.

02-19-2015, 05:52 AM	#3
Dexmaster Connoisseur Posts: 72 Karma: 18445 Join Date: Apr 2014 Device: Kindle PW5 (11th gen, 6.8in)	Firs of all I had a problem with one device some time ago I used downloader program. So I'll give you the same advice, just use some downloader(Free Download Manager, Orbit Download Manager, built in browser downloader, DownThemAll, Chrono Download Manager) or specific program (teracopy, totalcmd, ultracopier) to copy a firmware file onto it when it stops reconnect and resume. I'm not sure reinstalling firmware will help and won't crash anything but if you'll need to copy something onto you can do it.

02-20-2015, 02:59 AM	#6
MyNameIsMrBurns Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Nook Simple Touch Reader	Clever solution, Dexmaster, and I tried it... unfortunately, it doesn't work, for a frustrating reason: apparently USB mass storage doesn't support resumable file transfers. I tried using both TeraCopy and TotalCommander. The former got me the error "The volume has been externally altered" (even if I pause before the disconnect, reconnect, then try to resume) and TotalCommander simply says "Remove the write protection and retry" -- if I reconnect the device and retry, it starts over from 0% again. I've also tried transferring the update across as 10 separate tar files and then untarring them during one mount session, but that doesn't work either, because it takes over a minute to untar. I think my only hope, short of figuring out why the hell it unmounts itself, is to find a way to split files and then rejoin them into one without writing a new 180 MB file, but I don't know if that's possible.

02-22-2015, 01:26 AM	#8
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)	Another possible alternative is to do a Factory Restore via a file trick, here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=223067 If that doesn't work, rsync or something similarly basic should work to copy the firmware update. Make sure you use "--append" so rsync doesn't try to checksum the file first. curl would work too, downloading from a file:/// url. Just try remembering next time to jailbreak and install Rescue Pack/Cowards Rescue Pack/USBNetwork before you have problems. It helps a lot.

02-27-2015, 01:10 AM	#9
MyNameIsMrBurns Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Nook Simple Touch Reader	That factory restore trick completely fixed the issue! I love you, eschwartz. I was already seeing how I could scrape together to pay for a replacement unit + Australian shipping (or the US$170 Australian RRP). You (and the guy who posted that thread) have saved me a ton, I appreciate the hell out of it. Thrilled.

02-27-2015, 01:48 AM	#10
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)	Sure thing. Ixtab was a big hero here -- too bad the real world intruded and he had to go get a job.