Tools Software Jailbreak for PW2, PW3, PW3W, KT2, KV, KOA and KT3

[knc1]

I can't think of anything publicly printable on current design directions myself.

[NiLuJe]

@eschwartz & @knc1: Glad we're agreed, then ^^.

[knc1]

Right!
But back on-topic for a change . . . .

I can think of something we could do for the people who have boot-looped their Kindles.

Issue a 'patch package' for Kubrick.

There is only one Kubrick distribution and we control how it behaves internally.
So there is only one solution set to maintain.

What I imagine, is:
*) Install Kubrick on read/write media (USB stick)
*) Add our 'patch package' to that media
*) Boot Kubrick
*) Escape to command line
*) Run our 'patch package' (which would add u-dev rules and/or drop some scripts with mount points that we know will happen inside of Kubrick environment).
*) Then do something magic to make it all wait for a Kindle
*) Plug in bricked Kindle and re-boot the Kindle.

I.E: we wouldn't have to deal with every OS distribution in the world, only our own.

[NiLuJe]

I seem to recall ixtab mentionning that Kubrick was not rerollable, unfortunately (and that basically everything had to be re-done from scratch if changes were to be made).

EDIT: Okay, maybe that approach could work, though?

[eschwartz]

Is there anything fundamentally issueful about extracting the Kubrick filesystem, dropping a new udev rules.d file in the right place, and recreating the ISO?

[foghat]

Apoligize if this has been asked already in this thread. tried searching and didn't find it:

I have made it to step 7 - I'm not clear on the instructions about pasting url into text editor and modifying url. What url? Modify to what?

On the page linked (http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=200203720) I have downloaded the tar.gz file for the FW I want, but am not sure how to install it? Simply copying the tar.gz file to the root on the kindle does not enable the 'update kindle' option.

Is there a bin file I can download from somewhere?

Edit: Just as a I finished typing this I checked the 'update kindle' option again and it was enabled. Looking at the device, it seems my kindle downloaded the necessary update bin file. So I am good now.

That said, as noted above, step 7 was a little unclear to me.

Thanks.

[foghat]

One other 'hiccup' I encountered was that after downgrading (Step 4) and confirming I was at version 5.7.4 , I went to have supper.

Upon my return I downloaded and tried installing the jailbreak. Did not work - confirmed the file was in the right spot in the kindle, ensured I was correctly typing ;installHtml - no go.

Checked my device info again and I was back at version 5.8.1. Guess the device auto updated while I was having supper.

In the instructions, it might be worth suggesting putting the device in airplane mode before doing the downgrade to prevent the auto update from happening.

Just a thought.

Really appreciate you guys doing all of this.

[knc1]

Rhetorical question:
How many Kindle owners do not know the devices will update over the air when connected to the Internet?

Did you read the part about downloading with your PC and transferring from the PC to your Kindle over USB cable?
I think I wrote that at least three times in the directions.

Did you open and read the spoiler in Step #7?
You must have, your trying to follow its directions.

Did you notice the sentence about adding an OTA blocking directory name in that same spoiler?

- - - -

You do not use the source code, you use the numeric string in its file name.

Tell me the device and the firmware version and I will give you a worked example.

Edit: Don't bother, your only choices at the moment are 5.7.4 (which you had when you finished steps 0 .. 6), 5.7.4.1, and 5.8.1 (which is current and sent OTA for you).

- - - -

What is your native language (Inuktitut)?
And do you have the time to help translating these directions into something other than English?

[foghat]

Originally Posted by knc1

Rhetorical question:
How many Kindle owners do not know the devices will update over the air when connected to the Internet?

Did you read the part about downloading with your PC and transferring from the PC to your Kindle over USB cable?
I think I wrote that at least three times in the directions.

Did you open and read the spoiler in Step #7?
You must have, your trying to follow its directions.

Did you notice the sentence about adding an OTA blocking directory name in that same spoiler?

- - - -

You do not use the source code, you use the numeric string in its file name.

Tell me the device and the firmware version and I will give you a worked example.

- - - -

What is your native language?
And do you have the time to help translating it into something other than English?

Yes, I know kindle updates OTA. But not something I was thinking about at the time and not something I expected would happen so quickly.

Adding a note about airplane mode was just a suggestion (and not meant to ruffle feathers) - as if anything interrupts a person between step four and steps 5/6, they could end up in the same position I was in.

I did see the OTA blocking note, but since that is in step 7, does not really help/apply while going through steps 4-6. Plus I imagine it would get wiped out anyway with the downgrade in step 4?

I downloaded everything with a PC and then transferred via usb (with the exception of the 5.8.1 bin file which I could not understand how to get by the instructions in step 7 spoiler.

I guess my problem in step 7 was that I couldn't find the download page referenced in step one. I clicked the link in step 3 and saw a bunch of files and figured I was good to go. My bad.

I just managed to find this page with a google search - no idea how you navigate to it via amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=200529680

Maybe including the above link in it in step 7 (1), would be of benefit?

Either way, appreciate all the work. I know it is a big job maintaining the code and also writing all these instructions.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by foghat

Yes, I know kindle updates OTA. But not something I was thinking about at the time and not something I expected would happen so quickly.

Adding a note about airplane mode was just a suggestion (and not meant to ruffle feathers) - as if anything interrupts a person between step four and steps 5/6, they could end up in the same position I was in.

I did see the OTA blocking note, but since that is in step 7, does not really help/apply while going through steps 4-6. Plus I imagine it would get wiped out anyway with the downgrade in step 4?

I downloaded everything with a PC and then transferred via usb (with the exception of the 5.8.1 bin file which I could not understand how to get by the instructions in step 7 spoiler.

I guess my problem in step 7 was that I couldn't find the download page referenced in step one. I clicked the link in step 3 and saw a bunch of files and figured I was good to go. My bad.

I just managed to find this page with a google search - no idea how you navigate to it via amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=200529680

Maybe including the above link in it in step 7 (1), would be of benefit?

Either way, appreciate all the work. I know it is a big job maintaining the code and also writing all these instructions.

Your post is one of the big reasons I recommend reading ALL the instructions at least twice and asking questions before even starting the jailbreak.

[knc1]

I presume the user knows how to access the Kindle's account on Amazon.
and then select 'manage device' for the device shown in your account.

- - - -

I appreciate the suggestions, and over the past three weeks have made a lot of changes based on suggestions.

but your series of posts this evening seem to be more a problem with the reading than the writing.

- - - - -

There have been a few people in the situation:
Never seen a Kindle before ;
Never used a Kindle before ;
Received the device ;
Opened the box ;
Plugged it in ;
Showed up here (the first time in their life) to jail break the device.
(Their only experience with a Kindle being pushing the power button once.)

I could be convinced that we need a:
"For experienced Kindle users only."
warning right up at the top, following the links to other device jail break instructions.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by knc1

I presume the user knows how to access the Kindle's account on Amazon.
and then select 'manage device' for the device shown in your account.

- - - -

I appreciate the suggestions, and over the past three weeks have made a lot of changes based on suggestions.

but your series of posts this evening seem to be more a problem with the reading than the writing.

- - - - -

There have been a few people in the situation:
Never seen a Kindle before ;
Never used a Kindle before ;
Received the device ;
Opened the box ;
Plugged it in ;
Showed up here (the first time in their life) to jail break the device.
(Their only experience with a Kindle being pushing the power button once.)

I could be convinced that we need a:
"For experienced Kindle users only."
warning right up at the top, following the links to other device jail break instructions.

Ok I do believe we need what I bolded in your post.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Ok I do believe we need what I bolded in your post.

Done.
It was either that or quote the entire Kindle User's Manual.

(and the site software updated the home page edition automatically, its a link, not a copy.)

[foghat]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Your post is one of the big reasons I recommend reading ALL the instructions at least twice and asking questions before even starting the jailbreak.

I did read 1-7 a couple of times before starting. Nothing I read would have saved me from the OTA install of 5.8.1 after having to pause the process at step 4 (this is assuming the blocker directory gets wiped when doing the downgrade). Newbie or not, I don't think it is out of the realm of possibility that one will not be thinking of the OTA update when doing this.

I am far for a 'beginner' when it comes to this type of stuff (granted, I haven't played around with jail breaking kindle since the kindle keyboard - and a lot has changed since then).

I get that a lot of you are eyeballs deep in this stuff pretty much day in and day out and it is all second nature, but beginner or not, it is a lot to piece together when coming at this completely fresh.

I landed on the screen saver thread because I wanted to show the cover for the book I am currently reading on the the startup screen. Before I know it, I have multiple threads open for different pieces that need to be installed. With caveats based on FW version and so on. It is great that everything is so thorough, but surely you can't be surprised by a question or 2 being asked due to a misread step or step missed.

Originally Posted by knc1

I presume the user knows how to access the Kindle's account on Amazon.
and then select 'manage device' for the device shown in your account.

- - - -

I appreciate the suggestions, and over the past three weeks have made a lot of changes based on suggestions.

but your series of posts this evening seem to be more a problem with the reading than the writing.

- - - - -

There have been a few people in the situation:
Never seen a Kindle before ;
Never used a Kindle before ;
Received the device ;
Opened the box ;
Plugged it in ;
Showed up here (the first time in their life) to jail break the device.
(Their only experience with a Kindle being pushing the power button once.)

I could be convinced that we need a:
"For experienced Kindle users only."
warning right up at the top, following the links to other device jail break instructions.

Fair enough on the MRPI note you commented on in the screen saver thread. That was a complete oversight on my part, but I will take a bit of exception with the 'more a problem reading than the writing'.

I am not trying to imply the instructions are bad - they are very good.

But, for step 7 (1) first place I went was to my kindle account and 'manage you content and devices'. I checked again after reading your response above - I still cannot see anywhere that has the firmware download or a link to it.

Even if it is right there in my face and I am somehow missing it, given how thorough the other steps were with providing links and what not, I still see value in including the link I provided above. If you don't, well, this is your baby, so...

And, nothing written would have prevented my OTA update from happening after step 4 (again assuming the blocker directory get wiped on the downgrade). I appreciate that this happening to me is likely an edge case, but it did happen - I thought I'd let you know (as I know from experience trying to cover all the angles/scenarios can be trying) and make a suggestion of turning on airplane mode as part of the step prevent this from happening to others in the event they get interrupted (or even just step away for a bit while the downgrade is installing - it was quite surprising how quickly the OTA update was applied). Again, take the suggestion for what you feel it is worth.

At the end of the day, I got everything working and I appreciate the pointed points in the right direction when I had a question.

[knc1]

I am not sure how to fit that information in.
The directions are already simplified nearly to the point of being insulting.

I did add that notice after commenting on your suggestions tonight.
That should cover a lot of the en_Kindle speak and assumptions in the directions.