Frotz Crashes on Kindle Paperwhite (Firmware 5.16.2.1.1) — Is There a Working Version

Hubris · 05-20-2025, 08:58 PM

Hi everyone,
First time posting here!

I’ve successfully jailbroken my Kindle Paperwhite 7th Gen, running firmware 5.16.2.1.1, and I’ve been trying to get Frotz (Infocom game interpreter) working using the well-known 2017 release (frotz-2.43d-kindle_k5_kterm_kual-1.1.2.zip).

Here’s what I’ve done so far:

Installed KUAL, Frotz extension, and the dialog-based launcher UI
(downloaded from https://www.ifarchive.org/indexes/if...preters/frotz/)

Placed frotz, dialog, and .dialogrc in /mnt/us/bin/

Verified that the .z5 game file is in /mnt/us/if/ (tested multiple known-good files like hitchhik.z5)

Set correct file permissions in kterm using chmod +x to which I got permission denied errors.

Launcher UI appears when I open from KUAL. I can select the file, but after tapping OK, it immediately crashes back to the home screen (no error)

I strongly suspect this is a firmware compatibility issue. I’m guessing the newer firmware no longer allows execution from /mnt/us/bin/ (FAT32), or there are additional runtime restrictions that break this build of Frotz.

for all your help!!!

Hubris · 05-21-2025, 09:09 PM

midrare · 05-21-2025, 09:31 PM

You can use Gargoyle, which is also in this forum.

Hubris · 05-21-2025, 10:19 PM

Unfortunately, I have a Kindle device with firmware 5.16.2.1.1, which is just slightly under the required version for Gargoyle (which, as noted, needs 5.16.3 or higher).

Do you know anything that will work on my firmware version?

05-20-2025, 08:58 PM	#1
Hubris Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2025 Device: Jailbroken Kindle paperwhite 7th gen Firmware 5.16.2.1.1	Frotz Crashes on Kindle Paperwhite (Firmware 5.16.2.1.1) — Is There a Working Version Hi everyone, First time posting here! I’ve successfully jailbroken my Kindle Paperwhite 7th Gen, running firmware 5.16.2.1.1, and I’ve been trying to get Frotz (Infocom game interpreter) working using the well-known 2017 release (frotz-2.43d-kindle_k5_kterm_kual-1.1.2.zip). Here’s what I’ve done so far: Installed KUAL, Frotz extension, and the dialog-based launcher UI (downloaded from https://www.ifarchive.org/indexes/if...preters/frotz/) Placed frotz, dialog, and .dialogrc in /mnt/us/bin/ Verified that the .z5 game file is in /mnt/us/if/ (tested multiple known-good files like hitchhik.z5) Set correct file permissions in kterm using chmod +x to which I got permission denied errors. Launcher UI appears when I open from KUAL. I can select the file, but after tapping OK, it immediately crashes back to the home screen (no error) I strongly suspect this is a firmware compatibility issue. I’m guessing the newer firmware no longer allows execution from /mnt/us/bin/ (FAT32), or there are additional runtime restrictions that break this build of Frotz. for all your help!!!

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05-21-2025, 09:09 PM	#2
Hubris Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2025 Device: Jailbroken Kindle paperwhite 7th gen Firmware 5.16.2.1.1

05-21-2025, 09:31 PM	#3
midrare Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jul 2023 Device: Paperwhite SE	You can use Gargoyle, which is also in this forum.

05-21-2025, 10:19 PM	#4
Hubris Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2025 Device: Jailbroken Kindle paperwhite 7th gen Firmware 5.16.2.1.1	Unfortunately, I have a Kindle device with firmware 5.16.2.1.1, which is just slightly under the required version for Gargoyle (which, as noted, needs 5.16.3 or higher). Do you know anything that will work on my firmware version?

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