Solved problem with used Kindle refusing to register

atl30308 · 04-21-2018, 01:55 AM

I bought a used e-ink Kindle Touch (5th gen) from eBay. Arrived in good shape, although the battery was dead. After charging, it booted up fine, but to an obsolete version of firmware: 5.1.2. My first step was to connect it to Wi-Fi. My next step was to try and register the Kindle to my Amazon account. I got this error message repeatedly:

Unable to Connect
There was an error while registering your Kindle. Please try again later.

So I decided to try to update the firmware. That option was greyed out. I was stuck.

At this point, I feared that the unit had been reported stolen, so I called Amazon tech support at (866) 321-8851.

It took an hour, but "Joe" in the Philippines got everything fixed for me. To skip all the blind alleys we pursued, this is what we found:

5.1.2 is too old to register with Amazon's servers.
5.1.2 is too old to use Amazon's automatic updating service.

So I went to http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=200790650 and

Downloaded Software Update 5.3.2.1 and installed it via USB cable.
Unmounted my Kindle.
Rebooted my Kindle. (This took a while.)
Downloaded Software Update 5.3.7.3 and installed it via USB cable.
Unmounted my Kindle.
Rebooted my Kindle. (This took even longer.)

At that point, I was able to enter my email address and password to register the Kindle to my Amazon account. It worked, and books began to download.

So, at this point, everything seems to work, and I have a functioning Kindle for a third of the price of a new one.

I hope this post helps someone else in a similar situation.

pdurrant · 04-21-2018, 05:19 AM

Thanks! It's worth knowing that a manual firmware update may sometimes be necessary.

rcentros · 04-21-2018, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Thanks! It's worth knowing that a manual firmware update may sometimes be necessary.

A year (or so) ago Amazon pushed out a security update. At that time they warned Kindle users that they would lose their connection to Amazon unless they applied the update by (such-and-such date). It's the same deal with the Kindle 3s, 2s, 1s and the "no-touch" devices. If you've missed that cut-off date, the only way you can update these devices now is via a manual download of the firmware.

HLS · 04-21-2018, 08:58 PM

I do most of my updates this way for I am too eager to wait lol

walsch55 · 10-07-2019, 11:08 AM

Thanks so much for this solution...It solved the problem!!!!!I was finally able to register my kindle

egegeg · 12-19-2019, 02:37 PM

Hi,

how do i downgrade from already being most updated?

links please

thank you

j.p.s · 12-19-2019, 03:23 PM

More information, please.

Thank you.

04-21-2018, 01:55 AM	#1
atl30308 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2016 Device: Kindle	Solved problem with used Kindle refusing to register I bought a used e-ink Kindle Touch (5th gen) from eBay. Arrived in good shape, although the battery was dead. After charging, it booted up fine, but to an obsolete version of firmware: 5.1.2. My first step was to connect it to Wi-Fi. My next step was to try and register the Kindle to my Amazon account. I got this error message repeatedly: Unable to Connect There was an error while registering your Kindle. Please try again later. So I decided to try to update the firmware. That option was greyed out. I was stuck. At this point, I feared that the unit had been reported stolen, so I called Amazon tech support at (866) 321-8851. It took an hour, but "Joe" in the Philippines got everything fixed for me. To skip all the blind alleys we pursued, this is what we found: 5.1.2 is too old to register with Amazon's servers. 5.1.2 is too old to use Amazon's automatic updating service. So I went to http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=200790650 and Downloaded Software Update 5.3.2.1 and installed it via USB cable. Unmounted my Kindle. Rebooted my Kindle. (This took a while.) Downloaded Software Update 5.3.7.3 and installed it via USB cable. Unmounted my Kindle. Rebooted my Kindle. (This took even longer.) At that point, I was able to enter my email address and password to register the Kindle to my Amazon account. It worked, and books began to download. So, at this point, everything seems to work, and I have a functioning Kindle for a third of the price of a new one. I hope this post helps someone else in a similar situation.

10-07-2019, 11:08 AM	#5
walsch55 Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2019 Device: 5th Generation Kindle (Paperwhite)	Problem solved indeed Thanks so much for this solution...It solved the problem!!!!!I was finally able to register my kindle

12-19-2019, 02:37 PM	#6
egegeg Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2019 Device: kindle paperback	how to downgrade Hi, how do i downgrade from already being most updated? links please thank you

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04-21-2018, 05:19 AM	#2
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 71,501 Karma: 306214458 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Voyage	Thanks! It's worth knowing that a manual firmware update may sometimes be necessary.

04-21-2018, 08:58 PM	#4
HLS Wizard Posts: 2,027 Karma: 15107670 Join Date: May 2017 Device: Sage, Scribe, Boox Note 2 Plus, iPad Pros and Samsungs S6,S7,S8	I do most of my updates this way for I am too eager to wait lol

12-19-2019, 03:23 PM	#7
j.p.s Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,278 Karma: 98804578 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: pb360	More information, please. Thank you.