Kindle Paperwhite 2 can't enter USB Drive mode until reboot

[el.jeffe58]

Originally Posted by ixtab

Disclaimer: I don't own a PW2, so I can only speculate.

All Kindles so far have presented themselves as a simple HDD to the "outside", so they should not be treated any differently than a USB stick by the computer's OS (whatever that may be: Windows, MacOS, Linux, BSD, ...). But they do recognize if they are connected as a USB drive (attached and mounted), or just plugged in (attached and not mounted).

AFAIK, there have never been complaints about previous Kindles with MacOS. So my guess is that the PW2 does something differently from previous versions. Maybe they don't reset their internal state correctly, so that they think they're "attached, but not mounted/mountable" on next connect.

I tend to think that it's the Kindle's fault, but it may also be Apple's.

Did anybody test how the PW2 behaves with Linux?

This overview makes the most sense to think; it is how I feel. Thanks for putting it into words.

[tweebee]

Thank you for updating this thread with your findings! I was having the same issue with my Paperwhite 2 also with VMware View client. I uninstalled the client and now my Kindle is recognized. Thanks again!

[Outrager]

Originally Posted by tweebee

Thank you for updating this thread with your findings! I was having the same issue with my Paperwhite 2 also with VMware View client. I uninstalled the client and now my Kindle is recognized. Thanks again!

I'm glad it helped. I eventually installed a newer version of VMWare and it worked fine, but I returned the PW since it had some pinholes in it.

[tumaotm_122]

Originally Posted by Outrager

Update #3: I think I might have isolated the cause. I uninstalled VMWare Workstation (which installed some virtual USB drivers and stuff so they your USB devices would work across Windows and your VMs) and so far that seems to have fixed the problem.
I'll have to see if updating to the latest version still causes the Kindle problems, but I don't need VMWare much these days so I'll try that at a later date.

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Update #2: So the weird USB Drive Mode problem is still happening. I don't have the FitBit Zip's USB syncing dongle plugged in today either so I guess it's not that.

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Update #1: So it seems the USB dongle that I use for my FitBit Zip to sync with my PC is conflicting with the Kindle somehow and causing the problem below.
This is the second time this dumb dongle has caused a problem with a USB device.

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I was wondering if anyone else had this problem.

I plug my PW2 into my Windows 7 PC and it goes into USB Drive Mode.
I eject it so that it can continue indexing my eBooks.

Now if I unplug the USB cable and plug it back in it will either go to the USB Drive Mode (where it shows a picture of the MicroUSB cable and says to eject it) for 1 second then goes to my homepage OR it just stays on the homepage and starts charging.

If I want it to get back into USB Drive Mode I need to either reboot the PW2 or my PC.

Has this happened to anyone else? Did you guys ever find a solution to this? This is the 2nd PW2 I've tried that had this happen.

Also, is it normal behavior to NOT sleep the PW2 when you're charging it? Even after 10+ minutes it doesn't go into sleep mode and the light stays on. I'm charging it using my PC.

Yes! I have faced the same problem with you. Thanks for your hints. After I disabled all the services of VMware in Windows 7. My kindle can re-enter the usb drive mode.

[GKinHK]

I have the same problem with a Paperwhite 2 and a MacBook Air. It doesn't even consistently enter USB drive mode if I reboot - it seems to work if I shutdown and then plug it into the right hand side USB rather than restart with it plugged in. I've tried both ports and 2 cables. Never had a problem with the original Paperwhite. It's very annoying/disappointing - I like to download newspapers from Calibre before I head to work in the morning so I use this feature frequently.

[pidgeon92]

I haven't come across this issue with my PW2 and my iMac. I hooked it up via USB three times yesterday in a span of about ten minutes to transfer some titles from calibre. It mounted every time, no reboot needed.

OSX 10.8.5

Kindle Firmware 5.4.0.

[machunter46]

Amazon issued an update (5.4.2) yesterday to PW2 to add features such as Goodreads etc. No bug fixes are listed but I NO LONGER HAVE TO REBOOT TO RECONNECT ! (sorry about the shouting.) I have Vmware fully operational and have no issues since updating. See http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=201307450

I too was was having problem connecting it to my Mac Mini running Mavericks until the PW2 FW 5.4.2 update. Now it connects without issue.

[GKinHK]

Thanks - I've updated and it fixed it for me too

[el.jeffe58]

Good news. Glad the 5.4.2 sounds like it solved the Mac mounting issue; thanks for the updates.

[Kythas]

Originally Posted by Outrager

Update #3: I think I might have isolated the cause. I uninstalled VMWare Workstation (which installed some virtual USB drivers and stuff so they your USB devices would work across Windows and your VMs) and so far that seems to have fixed the problem.
I'll have to see if updating to the latest version still causes the Kindle problems, but I don't need VMWare much these days so I'll try that at a later date.

Thank you so much for this. I was unable to get my Kindle back in USB mode, also. I saw this and also had VMWare Workstation on my PC. I uninstalled it and everything seems to be working fine now.