Possible Software bricked Kindle Voyage - can it be recovered?

mihaixp · 03-22-2016, 05:20 AM

Hello,

I've been looking for ages for a Voyage at a good price and I finally found one but the seller says that the device has a Software problem. The only thing I know is that the device is stuck at the lockscreen (picture with pencils). I do not know the exact symptoms, unfortunately, therefore I cannot mention the problems that caused the bricking.

My question is, can the device be hard bricked or can it be saved, by rewriting the OS or something similar? Can anyone hard brick a Kindle Voyage?

I do not have access to the device so basically, I need to decide without seeing it, but I wouldn't want to end up with an expensive paperweight.

Thanks in advance,
Mihai

knc1 · 03-22-2016, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mihaixp

Hello,

I've been looking for ages for a Voyage at a good price and I finally found one but the seller says that the device has a Software problem. The only thing I know is that the device is stuck at the lockscreen (picture with pencils). I do not know the exact symptoms, unfortunately, therefore I cannot mention the problems that caused the bricking.

My question is, can the device be hard bricked or can it be saved, by rewriting the OS or something similar? Can anyone hard brick a Kindle Voyage?

I do not have access to the device so basically, I need to decide without seeing it, but I wouldn't want to end up with an expensive paperweight.

Thanks in advance,
Mihai

We are even further away from having it in our hands than you are.

I would ask the seller some additional questions:
Are you the original owner? (I.E: Can you give me the history of the device?)
Has the device ever been opened? (If not the original owner, seller can only guess this answer)
Alway kept dry? (not just of water, but of every liquid)
Subjected to any extremes of heat or cold?

= = = =

I don't think KV devices have been out a full year yet, so:
Why didn't you return it to Amazon for exchange?
(I.E: Is this thing stolen?)

= = = =

Ask yourself if your willing to add a serial port to the device.
Nearly everything about 'firmware damage' can be fixed over the serial port.

mihaixp · 03-22-2016, 08:48 AM

Thank you very much for the thorough answer. Some pretty valid points that I forgot about there.

I do not believe the Kindle is stolen, because it comes with the boxes and all the other bits and bobs as well (but not with receipt, I suspect).

I will ask all the other questions and come back with the answers.

Cheers.

knc1 · 03-22-2016, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mihaixp

Thank you very much for the thorough answer. Some pretty valid points that I forgot about there.

I do not believe the Kindle is stolen, because it comes with the boxes and all the other bits and bobs as well (but not with receipt, I suspect).

I will ask all the other questions and come back with the answers.

Cheers.

When packaged retail items fall off the back of the truck (or fall through the cracks of the storeroom floor), they usual also come in the original box.

I didn't mean you should suggest to the seller that it is stolen goods but I did mean you should ask why they didn't return it for exchange.

BIG NOTE:
If it is 'lost or stolen' then Amazon has blacklisted it, which means it can not be registered.

So maybe another P.C. question to ask is if the seller has or had it registered.

= = = = =

The screen is a meta-stable display -
It will continue displaying whatever was written to it last, even if removed from the device.

So a picture of the device displaying one of Amazon's screensavers only tells you that you are getting a screen (that worked at least once) and the plastic case.
The rest of the guts may be missing.

Rizla · 03-22-2016, 11:53 AM

It better be damned cheap to try it.

Cinisajoy · 03-22-2016, 08:53 PM

I agree with Rizla.
Unless it is super cheap, I would pass on this Voyage.

NiLuJe · 03-22-2016, 08:59 PM

I'd pass on a Voyage, period. New devices are looming...

mihaixp · 03-23-2016, 11:29 AM

Thank you all for the answers.

I passed on this Voyage. Haven't received any response from the seller but that was not the reason, your opinions were the real reason.

A local store has an offer for the Kindle Paperwhite 2015 (I currently have the 2nd gen, upgraded HW, 212 ppi, 2GB model). I'd upgrade to this one until the new devices surface.

knc1 · 03-23-2016, 11:52 AM

Does that mean a PW-3?
I think it does. . . .
I have one, a nice device (it is a KV without the case buttons or cost).

Keep a watch for sales on them, with new models soon to be released, they should be going on sale, RSN.

mihaixp · 03-23-2016, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knc1

Does that mean a PW-3?
I think it does. . . .
I have one, a nice device (it is a KV without the case buttons or cost).

Keep a watch for sales on them, with new models soon to be released, they should be going on sale, RSN.

Correct. The KV without the flush display or the buttons (or the price

) I'm a bit confused when talking about the Paperwhite generations.

If I can get it I'll keep until something new appears on the horizon.

knc1 · 03-23-2016, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mihaixp

Correct. The KV without the flush display or the buttons (or the price

) I'm a bit confused when talking about the Paperwhite generations.

If I can get it I'll keep until something new appears on the horizon.

You might want to hurry up that purchase,
the better chance then that you can get one still running 5.6.5 or older firmware.

'Small' retailers might be a better chance of still having 'old stock'.

badgoodDeb · 03-23-2016, 01:46 PM

PS knc1: the kindle has been out for 1.5 years now. It was fall of 2014, not 2015, when they came out.

mihaixp · 03-23-2016, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knc1

You might want to hurry up that purchase,
the better chance then that you can get one still running 5.6.5 or older firmware.

'Small' retailers might be a better chance of still having 'old stock'.

Hmm, might I ask what is the advantage of the older firmware?

I have installed the newer version on my existing Paperwhite and it now has a different, more "Android-ish" look.

knc1 · 03-23-2016, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mihaixp

Hmm, might I ask what is the advantage of the older firmware?

I have installed the newer version on my existing Paperwhite and it now has a different, more "Android-ish" look.

You can jailbreak 5.6.5, but not anything else.
Once jail broken, and the 'hotfix' run, then you can update to the Amazon version you prefer.

mihaixp · 03-23-2016, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knc1

You can jailbreak 5.6.5, but not anything else.
Once jail broken, and the 'hotfix' run, then you can update to the Amazon version you prefer.

I just bought it and yes, it is 5.6.5. I have read a few articles on Kindle Jailbreaking. I know it can bring some possible benefits (such as fonts, screensavers). Are there any downsides to the jailbreak? Will I be able to install the newer software versions (even newer than 5.7.3) without any disadvantages? Are there any bugs that I should be aware of?

Momentarily I will keep it on Airplane mode because I have never jailbreaked any Kindle device so far. I have some experience with Android but this seems to be a bit different (not necesarilly more difficult).

I have read some tutorials on the forum but I'm not sure which aprroach is the best. Can you direct me to an easy method of jailbreaking + hotfixing?

Thanks!

03-22-2016, 05:20 AM	#1
mihaixp Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2016 Device: Paperwhite 2	Possible Software bricked Kindle Voyage - can it be recovered? Hello, I've been looking for ages for a Voyage at a good price and I finally found one but the seller says that the device has a Software problem. The only thing I know is that the device is stuck at the lockscreen (picture with pencils). I do not know the exact symptoms, unfortunately, therefore I cannot mention the problems that caused the bricking. My question is, can the device be hard bricked or can it be saved, by rewriting the OS or something similar? Can anyone hard brick a Kindle Voyage? I do not have access to the device so basically, I need to decide without seeing it, but I wouldn't want to end up with an expensive paperweight. Thanks in advance, Mihai

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Kindle Paperwhite 2-Voyage Software Update 5.6.5	arad26	Amazon Kindle	425	09-19-2015 10:17 PM
Kindle Paperwhite 2 bricked after updating Amazon software?	orthog	Kindle Developer's Corner	4	08-20-2015 05:17 PM
Voyage - New Software Update 5.6.2.1	odamizu	Amazon Kindle	48	07-04-2015 01:12 AM
Voyage Software Update 5.6.1.0.3 Now Available	induna	Amazon Kindle	16	04-24-2015 01:38 PM
Bricked my Nookie then recovered it. Here's how.	Apoc	Nook Developer's Corner	9	02-06-2011 01:45 AM

03-22-2016, 08:48 AM	#3
mihaixp Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2016 Device: Paperwhite 2	Thank you very much for the thorough answer. Some pretty valid points that I forgot about there. I do not believe the Kindle is stolen, because it comes with the boxes and all the other bits and bobs as well (but not with receipt, I suspect). I will ask all the other questions and come back with the answers. Cheers.

03-22-2016, 11:53 AM	#5
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	It better be damned cheap to try it.

03-22-2016, 08:53 PM	#6
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	I agree with Rizla. Unless it is super cheap, I would pass on this Voyage.

03-22-2016, 08:59 PM	#7
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,477 Karma: 26012494 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	I'd pass on a Voyage, period. New devices are looming...

03-23-2016, 11:29 AM	#8
mihaixp Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2016 Device: Paperwhite 2	Thank you all for the answers. I passed on this Voyage. Haven't received any response from the seller but that was not the reason, your opinions were the real reason. A local store has an offer for the Kindle Paperwhite 2015 (I currently have the 2nd gen, upgraded HW, 212 ppi, 2GB model). I'd upgrade to this one until the new devices surface.

03-23-2016, 11:52 AM	#9
knc1 Going Viral Posts: 17,212 Karma: 18210809 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Texas Device: No K1, PW2, KV, KOA	Does that mean a PW-3? I think it does. . . . I have one, a nice device (it is a KV without the case buttons or cost). Keep a watch for sales on them, with new models soon to be released, they should be going on sale, RSN.

03-23-2016, 01:46 PM	#12
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,501 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	PS knc1: the kindle has been out for 1.5 years now. It was fall of 2014, not 2015, when they came out.

Advert

Advert