PW1 fastboot flashing problem

uniqdom · 04-14-2015, 10:38 AM

Hi. I'm an old user here in mobileread.com, but this is my first post.

When I try to flash a system image (~350MB) with fastboot, it takes like 20 seconds. It looks too fast for me, and I think that it just flash a few MBs.

Just to be sure about this behavior, I have edited with an hex editor the last 64 bytes of the system image with some strings, to flash the image and then check from a terminal in the PW1 using the command 'strings /dev/mmcblk0p1 | grep "string here" ' if the string is there. Well, it wasn't there.

I'm wondering if anyone has succeeded trying to flash a complete system image using fastboot.

Thanks to all who has contributed to know the secrets of this eink devices

eschwartz · 04-14-2015, 11:45 AM

Yes, all the time. See the Kubrick thread.

Do note: It isn't the same fastboot as the android-tools one. yifanlu modified fastboot in order that it could work on Kindles.

The Kubrick LiveCD includes all necessary commands for debricking/flashing your Kindle.

EDIT: On the other hand, the PW1/2 doesn't have USB Downloader mode anyway...

uniqdom · 04-14-2015, 12:48 PM

Thanks for your answer. I was using a fork of yifanlu's fastboot, this one: https://github.com/TobiasWooldridge/...commits/master

I will try with the fastboot that is inside Kubrick.

eschwartz · 04-14-2015, 01:13 PM

Oh, well that is all right. It is the same thing anyway.

But after the Touch, Amazon killed USB Downloader mode, so we can't get in anymore without going all the way to the serial port.

uniqdom · 04-14-2015, 01:25 PM

Ok I have finished to flash with the fastboot that is in kubrick, but the same behavior happen. The system image is not flashed completely.

My PW1 is opened, so I can reach the serial port, that's how I get into fastboot, you know, "uboot > bist fastboot"

My kindle is not bricked. I want to try to change the OS with Debian. I know that you can do a chroot to Debian, I have already done that, but I want to get rid of Amazon's OS.

knc1 · 04-14-2015, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uniqdom

My kindle is not bricked. I want to try to change the OS with Debian. I know that you can do a chroot to Debian, I have already done that, but I want to get rid of Amazon's OS.

Forget it - Debian does not have support for the Kindle hardware.

NiLuJe · 04-14-2015, 04:14 PM

That's a known issue. The only reliable way has always been to flash a *diags* kernel/part pair over fastboot, since those are smaller, and *then* flash a system kernel/part from diags over SSH (or serial).

cf. the manual debricking threads for the gory details, but that should cover the gist of it.

uniqdom · 04-15-2015, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knc1

Forget it - Debian does not have support for the Kindle hardware.

I'm not an expert in Debian, in fact this is my first attempt to put it into an embedded system. I'm still reading and learning about how to do it. I would appreciate if you can explain why is not supported, please. If it is not supported, then, why a chroot to a debootstrap/multistrap (armel) Debian worked?

This is what I have in mind:
- About the kernel, I'm going to use the one provided from Amazon, or at least a recompiled one from Amazon's sources.
- I'm planning to do a debootstrap/multistrap (armel) Debian.

eschwartz · 04-15-2015, 11:23 AM

I don't think Amazon supplies all the sources for the firmware/drivers in the Kindles. That might be a bit of problem.

knc1 · 04-15-2015, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uniqdom

I'm not an expert in Debian, in fact this is my first attempt to put it into an embedded system. I'm still reading and learning about how to do it. I would appreciate if you can explain why is not supported, please. If it is not supported, then, why a chroot to a debootstrap/multistrap (armel) Debian worked?

This is what I have in mind:
- About the kernel, I'm going to use the one provided from Amazon, or at least a recompiled one from Amazon's sources.
- I'm planning to do a debootstrap/multistrap (armel) Debian.

Ah, a newbee - at least to EN_CS - -
"I am going to replace the Amazon OS ..."
That **IS** the Linux Kernel, everything else is user space.

I can't answer your question about differences between a chroot and an actual root implementation until I have:
Your Kindle model;
Your Current Kindle firmware version;
The Kindle firmware version from which you are planning re-use the kernel;
Also the same information for the u-boot and any changes you intend from what Amazon provides.

uniqdom · 04-16-2015, 12:46 PM

Kindle model: Paperwhite 1
Kindle firmware version: 5.3.4
U-Boot firmware version: U-Boot 2009.08-lab126 (Mar 05 2013 - 18:22:51)

Again, I'm just a newbie with no rush at all, I want to learn about u-boot, fastboot, kernel recompilation and building root filesystems for embedded devices.

I want to have the control over the device. I want a Debian like root filesystem (to have apt-get), that's why I thought of debootstrap/multistrap. If that's not possible then I will have to build a basic root filesystem from the sources.

I already did a debootstraped root filesystem (ext3) that I want to test, but I have a kernel panic. It complains about not finding 'init'. So, coming back to the topic of this thread

, I think that what is stoping me now is fastboot. Now I want to try with kermit protocol to send the image directly to u-boot. I have to learn.

knc1 · 04-16-2015, 02:03 PM

Start with BuildRoot(.org) -

Download it, use it, read the on-line manual (several times), join the mailing list to see the discussion (and changes) in its use . . . . .

It is a menu-driven, make file system, that builds just what its name implies - root file systems.

04-14-2015, 10:38 AM	#1
uniqdom Member Posts: 17 Karma: 2270 Join Date: Jul 2013 Device: Boox Max3	PW1 fastboot flashing problem Hi. I'm an old user here in mobileread.com, but this is my first post. When I try to flash a system image (~350MB) with fastboot, it takes like 20 seconds. It looks too fast for me, and I think that it just flash a few MBs. Just to be sure about this behavior, I have edited with an hex editor the last 64 bytes of the system image with some strings, to flash the image and then check from a terminal in the PW1 using the command 'strings /dev/mmcblk0p1 \| grep "string here" ' if the string is there. Well, it wasn't there. I'm wondering if anyone has succeeded trying to flash a complete system image using fastboot. Thanks to all who has contributed to know the secrets of this eink devices

04-14-2015, 11:45 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)	Yes, all the time. See the Kubrick thread. Do note: It isn't the same fastboot as the android-tools one. yifanlu modified fastboot in order that it could work on Kindles. The Kubrick LiveCD includes all necessary commands for debricking/flashing your Kindle. EDIT: On the other hand, the PW1/2 doesn't have USB Downloader mode anyway... Last edited by eschwartz; 04-14-2015 at 01:12 PM.

04-14-2015, 04:14 PM	#7
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	That's a known issue. The only reliable way has always been to flash a diags kernel/part pair over fastboot, since those are smaller, and then flash a system kernel/part from diags over SSH (or serial). cf. the manual debricking threads for the gory details, but that should cover the gist of it. Last edited by NiLuJe; 04-14-2015 at 04:16 PM.

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04-14-2015, 12:48 PM	#3
uniqdom Member Posts: 17 Karma: 2270 Join Date: Jul 2013 Device: Boox Max3	Thanks for your answer. I was using a fork of yifanlu's fastboot, this one: https://github.com/TobiasWooldridge/...commits/master I will try with the fastboot that is inside Kubrick.

04-14-2015, 01:13 PM	#4
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)	Oh, well that is all right. It is the same thing anyway. But after the Touch, Amazon killed USB Downloader mode, so we can't get in anymore without going all the way to the serial port.

04-14-2015, 01:25 PM	#5
uniqdom Member Posts: 17 Karma: 2270 Join Date: Jul 2013 Device: Boox Max3	Ok I have finished to flash with the fastboot that is in kubrick, but the same behavior happen. The system image is not flashed completely. My PW1 is opened, so I can reach the serial port, that's how I get into fastboot, you know, "uboot > bist fastboot" My kindle is not bricked. I want to try to change the OS with Debian. I know that you can do a chroot to Debian, I have already done that, but I want to get rid of Amazon's OS.

04-15-2015, 11:23 AM	#9
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)	I don't think Amazon supplies all the sources for the firmware/drivers in the Kindles. That might be a bit of problem.

04-16-2015, 12:46 PM	#11
uniqdom Member Posts: 17 Karma: 2270 Join Date: Jul 2013 Device: Boox Max3	Kindle model: Paperwhite 1 Kindle firmware version: 5.3.4 U-Boot firmware version: U-Boot 2009.08-lab126 (Mar 05 2013 - 18:22:51) Again, I'm just a newbie with no rush at all, I want to learn about u-boot, fastboot, kernel recompilation and building root filesystems for embedded devices. I want to have the control over the device. I want a Debian like root filesystem (to have apt-get), that's why I thought of debootstrap/multistrap. If that's not possible then I will have to build a basic root filesystem from the sources. I already did a debootstraped root filesystem (ext3) that I want to test, but I have a kernel panic. It complains about not finding 'init'. So, coming back to the topic of this thread , I think that what is stoping me now is fastboot. Now I want to try with kermit protocol to send the image directly to u-boot. I have to learn.

04-16-2015, 02:03 PM	#12
knc1 Going Viral Posts: 17,212 Karma: 18210809 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Texas Device: No K1, PW2, KV, KOA	Start with BuildRoot(.org) - Download it, use it, read the on-line manual (several times), join the mailing list to see the discussion (and changes) in its use . . . . . It is a menu-driven, make file system, that builds just what its name implies - root file systems.