Can someone help me to downgrade PW2 5.4.2 to 5.4.0?

[jesse487]

Originally Posted by drakebelisarius

Hi everybody. I'm finally planning to set up my Kindle for Kindle Collection Manager, and full functionality requires that I be running 5.4.0. I recall seeing a guide on how to do so the last time I was here, but a forum search yielded no help this time around. Can anyone point me towards a resource for this?

Thank you in advance.

Did you ever find out how to do this? I too am trying to get my Kindle Paperwhite downgraded from 5.4.3.2 to an earlier version, say 5.3.5 so I can run the Kindle Collection manager pluggin.

[jesse487]

Is it possible to jailbreak the Kindle Paperwhite 5.4.3.2 without having a Linux system? I have tried downloading the update_kindle_5.3.5.bin file and copying to the kindle, but the update menu stays greyed out. If I have understood the thread regarding the Collection Manager pluggin for Calibre, in order for it to work, the OS on the Kindle has to be downgraded. Can someone help me get this done? I am running Windows 8.1 on my desktop.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by jesse487

Is it possible to jailbreak the Kindle Paperwhite 5.4.3.2 without having a Linux system?

Yes.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=186645

Originally Posted by jesse487

I have tried downloading the update_kindle_5.3.5.bin file and copying to the kindle, but the update menu stays greyed out.

Correct.
That firmware is for a different model (PW1), 5.4.0 was the earliest firmware for the PW2.

Originally Posted by jesse487

If I have understood the thread regarding the Collection Manager pluggin for Calibre, in order for it to work, the OS on the Kindle has to be downgraded. Can someone help me get this done? I am running Windows 8.1 on my desktop.

First thing to do - identify your Kindle model!
Compare the first 4 characters of your serial number with this table:
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kindle_Serial_Numbers

Once you (and we) know what model you have . . . .

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by justin916

I've written out a quick guide based on on the instructions for the touch, with the directions changed to match the PW2. So far I'm not able to even get the kindle into diags mode, I move the ENABLE_DIAGS file over but the kindle just boots into its normal state.

On step 13 I have no idea what to copy for a backup because I haven't succeeded in getting it into diags mode yet. After that I'm not positive I have the file/command info correct on Step 15?

Can you double-check that Windows has not sneakily changed this to ENABLE_DIAGS.txt -- Windows by default hates to let people know file extensions exist on the assumption that the entire human race are complete idiots.

There is an option somewhere in Explorer's settings to show file extensions -- make sure it is toggled if you normally don't see them.

[justin916]

Yep, I double-checked and no joy there. I'm not a big fan of Microsoft's (and Apple's for that matter) all people are stupid and must be protected from knowledge policy.

It's an empty file named ENABLE_DIAGS, no extension and no content. I'm placing it in the main directory of the kindle after it boots. I don't know if it will help, but at that point before I reboot the folders/files in the directory are:

.active_content_sandbox (folder)
documents (folder)
driveinfo.calibre (file)
ENABLE_DIAGS (file)
kindle_collections_path_cache.calibre (file)
metadata.calibre (file)

[NiLuJe]

@justin916: Then most likely something went wrong with the Rescue Pack install. It should log something about the process somewhere, IIRC, check that out.

[justin916]

I'm not seeing any signs of logs, though I'm not sure where I'd look aside from .active_content_sandbox folder and there isn't anything in there that looks right.

I tried reinstalling the rescue pack and it did the same thing. The installation goes through, says its successful, tells me it set the ssh server ip and the user to mario. But same result, it boots up as normal.

Thanks,
Justin

[NiLuJe]

@justin916: Yup, my bad, no logs (besides what's written near the progress bar during the update).

Does the progress bar fill up completely during the rescue pack install?

[kogi]

Is there a 5.4.0 bin file for the kindle paperwhite 2?

[knc1]

Originally Posted by kogi

Is there a 5.4.0 bin file for the kindle paperwhite 2?

No.
Amazon does not post a *.bin for the initially released firmware version.

But there is a "forensic" image of 5.4.0 for recovery of a "bricked" device:
http://ixtab.tk/kindle-touch-images/PW2/
The above **is not** a drop-and-go, self-installing *.bin file.
(Read the "README" at that link.)

[kogi]

Thank you. Those instructions seem beyond my expertise.

[justin916]

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

@justin916: Yup, my bad, no logs (besides what's written near the progress bar during the update).

Does the progress bar fill up completely during the rescue pack install?

Sorry, it took me a couple days to circle back around. I reinstalled the rescue pack and confirmed that the progress bar does fill all the way up, then reboots the kindle.

To my surprise the whole thing worked this time and I am in rescue mode. No idea what I did differently but I don't want to turn it off and risk losing it. I am SSHed in but am now stuck on what to do next? I am getting the following message

#################################################
#  N O T I C E  *  N O T I C E  *  N O T I C E  #
#################################################
Rootfs is mounted read-only. Invoke mntroot rw to
switch back to a writable rootfs.
#################################################

I have attached an updated version of the guide I am writing for this, I am on step 14. How do I proceed to backup my current data and copy the partition and kernel files onto the kindle? My instinct is to use the command above to make the kindle writeable and then go to the root directory, but after that I'm stumped.

[justin916]

Any suggestions or pointers in the right direction?

Thanks,
Justin

[NiLuJe]

Missed your edit, sorry.

For backup instructions, check the 'Kindle Touch Hacking' wiki page, although part of it is redundant now.
As for the downgrade, I think ixtab spelled it out in the README, what's bothering you exactly?

[felix158]

My PW2 was dumbly upgraded OTA to the latest version (5.6.1.0.2).
Luckily it was jailbroken before the upgrade.

I followed all the instructions from the TXT written by justin916 (thank you !) (Click on Spoiler to see the TXT) :

Spoiler:

1. Download the Rescue Pack found here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...4&postcount=13
2. Plug the Kindle PW2 into the computer and mount is as a usb drive
3. Drag the file update_rescue_pack_20131220.bin to the root folder (not a sub folder) of the kindle
4. Disconnect the PW2 from the computer
5. Go to the settings Menu, then click the menu a second time and select Update Your Kindle. The update will restart your kindle and install the rescue pack. It will tell you when the update is successful and restart itself.
6. You will need three files on your computer to continue:
a. create a file called ENABLE_DIAGS. It should be an empty text file with no content and no extension.
b. main_kernel.img – Download from http://ixtab.tk/kindle-touch-images/PW2/main/5.4.0/
c. mmcblk0p1.bin.gz – Download from http://ixtab.tk/kindle-touch-images/PW2/main/5.4.0/
7. Plug the PW2 into the computer and mount is as a usb drive. Copy the three files to the main folder of the kindle.
8. Eject the kindle without unplugging it from the computer.
9. Go to the settings Menu, then click the menu a second time and select Restart Device. The PW2 will reboot into diags mode.
10. Select the following menu entries in this order: N - U - Z - X. Wait about 10 seconds, and your Kindle will be recognized as a network device.
11. Plug the kindle into the computer using your usb cable and after a few moments it will show up as a network device in the Network and Sharing Center
12. Open the properties for the new network device and configure your *computer* to use the following IP settings for the network: IP address: 192.168.15.201, netmask 255.255.255.0
13. Connect to your Kindle via SSH. If you do not have an SSH client, you can download Putty for free at http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~s.../download.html. The Kindle's IP address will be 192.168.15.244. Use username "root", password "mario" (type both without the quotes) to log in.
14. Back up the main partition and kernel by copying ???
15. Overwrite the main partition and kernel.
* TO OVERWRITE THE MAIN PARTITION:
zcat /mnt/us/mmcblk0p1.bin.gz| dd of=/dev/mmcblk0p1 bs=4096
* TO OVERWRITE THE MAIN KERNEL:
NOTE: MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT YOU USE THE BELOW "of","bs", and "seek" parameters FOR dd, and that you use the correct method. Otherwise, your Kindle *WILL* end up being FUBAR.
dd if=/mnt/us/main_kernel.img of=/dev/mmcblk0 bs=4096 seek=65
16. IF YOU KEEP GETTING THE "Your Kindle Needs Repair" MESSAGE:
This is only needed if the device still doesn't boot after "normal" debricking.
echo 0 > /var/local/upstart/lab126_gui.restarts
17. After the repairs, issue the following to reboot your device in main mode:
rm /mnt/us/ENABLE_DIAGS
idme -d --bootmode main
reboot

I only had some issues :

1/ First I first had to actualise my Jailbreak ( see here : https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...postcount=1597 )
2/ Step 3 to 5 of the TXT : To install the Rescue Pack, I had to Use KUAL and MR Package Installer (see here : https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=251143 )
3/ Step 11 of the TXT : My "network device" would not install itself automatically (running Windows 8). I followed these instructions for W7. It was almost the same : https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...73&postcount=6
4/ Step 14 of the TXT : I didn't know how to backup, so I crossed my fingers and ignored this step.
5/ Step 17 : /mnt/us/ENABLE_DIAGS didn't exist, somehow it was already deleted. I still typed the command, and continued.

In the end it is perfectly working (5.4.0 is way faster than this shitty 5.6.1.0.2) and I have all my collections like before
(Question to Amazon : How are you supposed to use 4GB of space (japan version) without a proper collection, folder/subfolder like system ??)

This message was to thank you all for your advices, especialy eschwartz who lead me to this topic, and also for the future lurkers who will face the exact same issue.