Kubrick: Live CD to debrick Kindle 3, 4, and Touch

[knc1]

Originally Posted by Stultus

Thank you; apparently I'm an idiot. I've been using PWs so long I forgot the older version didn't have this functionality. In that case I got to use Kubrick just for the fun of it!

you have to fake it -
create a custom, "all white", screensaver.

It is hard to turn off a screen that is normally off (except when turning pages) and does not have any internal lighting.

[Stultus]

After the K4 goes into sleep/screensaver mode, I can't get it out without doing a full reboot. Shouldn't the power button work there to wake it back up?

[knc1]

Originally Posted by Stultus

After the K4 goes into sleep/screensaver mode, I can't get it out without doing a full reboot. Shouldn't the power button work there to wake it back up?

It should.
The K4 is 'different' but not that different.

Give us a run-down on what all has been done to the device so far.

[Stultus]

Originally Posted by knc1

Give us a run-down on what all has been done to the device so far.

I jailbroke the device some years ago. Custom screensaver/ads. I think that's it.

Then I patched it at the end of March and the power button wouldn't turn it on, e.g., after booting, reading, etc, once it slipped into the screensaver, device was unresponsive and needed to be rebooted by holding down the power button for 10+ seconds.

I ran Kubrick, and chose to wipe everything and overwrite all data (there's an options screen with three options to format/wipe internal data, external data, etc. I chose them all). However, after that process, power button displays same non-functionality once it slips into the screensaver.

I don't know exactly what Kubrick does or what the internal structure of the Kindle OS is. Is there some way any old files or filesystems are still preserved on the device?

[knc1]

All three choices should have wiped it clean.

Try putting a document or book on to it over USB (into /documents) -
Safely remove cable
re-boot the K4
plug back the cable
Is that document still on the Kindle in /documents ?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Stultus

Thank you; apparently I'm an idiot. I've been using PWs so long I forgot the older version didn't have this functionality. In that case I got to use Kubrick just for the fun of it!

You can't power off ANY eInk Kindle. You can put it to sleep or you can reboot it, but you can't power it off.

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You can't power off ANY eInk Kindle. You can put it to sleep or you can reboot it, but you can't power it off.

Then what does holding the power button about seven seconds until the display blanks actually DO? The battery sure lasts a heck of a lot longer that way...

EDIT: Okay, I held the power button until the LED went off, while playing the "Big Buck Bunny" video with gmplay. It kept playing, so it was not powered off as I thought it was. I hope that the radios are still off, otherwise "power down" is not an alternative to airplane mode while flying... The only REAL way to power it off must be to remove the battery?

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by geekmaster

Then what does holding the power button about seven seconds until the display blanks actually DO? The battery sure lasts a heck of a lot longer that way...

EDIT: Okay, I held the power button until the LED went off, while playing the "Big Buck Bunny" video with gmplay. It kept playing, so it was not powered off as I thought it was. I hope that the radios are still off, otherwise "power down" is not an alternative to airplane mode while flying... The only REAL way to power it off must be to remove the battery?

I am pretty sure it turns off wireless. Possibly some other power-eaters too.
If wireless is on, even in sleep mode the Kindle will periodically connect to Amazon to "see what's new" IIRC. And that doesn't happen in sleep+blankscreen mode.

...

HarryT gave the non-techie version of the power button, but as I said above you can cheat by issuing the poweroff command from a shell prompt.

This is the developers corner, Harry. The technical aspects/workarounds are relevant facts and we like mentioning them.

[Stultus]

Originally Posted by knc1

All three choices should have wiped it clean.

Try putting a document or book on to it over USB (into /documents) -
Safely remove cable
re-boot the K4
plug back the cable
Is that document still on the Kindle in /documents ?

Yep. But after screensaver kicks in, no buttons work.

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by Stultus

Yep. But after screensaver kicks in, no buttons work.

Except for the power button, of course.

[Stultus]

Originally Posted by geekmaster

Except for the power button, of course.

Nope, unless you count holding it down for 10 seconds to reset device as working.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by Stultus

Nope, unless you count holding it down for 10 seconds to reset device as working.

That confirms that the button is working.

What we are trying to determine is if the failure to start on a short touch of the button is firmware or hardware (other than the mechanical button - which works).
One part of the always-on hardware is the device that recognizes the various button hold patterns.

[Stultus]

So it seems like a firmware issue then. How can I nuke the contents and ensure no files remain behind? Any ideas?

[knc1]

Originally Posted by Stultus

So it seems like a firmware issue then. How can I nuke the contents and ensure no files remain behind? Any ideas?

Wrong -
It could be a failing of the micro-controller that is always on and monitoring the button connection.

Which in this case is more likely -
1) Because the firmware can not 'program' the micro-controller
2) Because nearly all the 'wake up' activity is handled by a hardware control signal wired to the SoC.
3) Your guessing -
Dump the logs somewhere, read them, and/or post them somewhere where we can read them.
(Believe it or not, C.S. is a science, not a guessing game. )

= = = =

You already 'nuked' everything according to post 919 above.

[BluPhant]

Hey all.

I have a K3 here that was in use by a 12yo (so god knows what she did to it). It has stopped responding to anything. At one point it was stuck on a list of books screen but somewhere along the line it regained enough sanity to show me the amazon tree along with the definition of kindle. Yay.

Downloaded kubrick & setup to run off usb stick. Per onscreen directions, held power button + volume down button to get it into the proper mode. All is well with this. Then flashes the kernel (very quickly). Finally get to the point where its going to flash the main bits (claims couple hours) and this finishes in less than 10 seconds.

Tried several times, re-downoaded all files to be safe, and tried on a 2nd PC with same results.

Any advice? I did charge for a couple days on a wall charger before attempting this. The battery does not physically appear to have issues (not bulging or anything) but who knows.

I've already ordered a replacement from the eBays, but I'd really like to get this sorted.

Thanks!

-Blu