Troubleshooting What just happened to my K3? It keeps hanging

[Popup]

Originally Posted by Popup

Curiously enough, it seemed to behave itself better last night.

That was probably a bit premature. Today it's refusing to do anything.

Actually, that's not quite true. It's instead exhibiting a behaviour that I haven't seen before. If I slide the power switch the green light goes on for five seconds, and then flashes twice in rapid succession. And then it's back to paperweight.

Does anyone know what that means?

[TimW]

Originally Posted by Popup

That was probably a bit premature. Today it's refusing to do anything.

Actually, that's not quite true. It's instead exhibiting a behaviour that I haven't seen before. If I slide the power switch the green light goes on for five seconds, and then flashes twice in rapid succession. And then it's back to paperweight.

Does anyone know what that means?

I've never heard of that. Sadly, it sounds like it's not going to make it. You've done everything that I imagined would be helpful.

[Fluribus]

Have you tried the firmware update? You can download it to a computer and put it on the Kindle via USB.

There is also a sticky thread in the Kindle Developer's Corner (at the top of the page) you might want to look at. It's called "Simple debricking methods..."

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by Fluribus

Have you tried the firmware update? You can download it to a computer and put it on the Kindle via USB.

There is also a sticky thread in the Kindle Developer's Corner (at the top of the page) you might want to look at. It's called "Simple debricking methods..."

More details: In the case that your firmware is corrupted for some reason, reflashing it (simple debricking method) might help. The available good fimware image is version 3.0.2, which you can then update to the latest 3.4 (in stages as described at amazon).

EDIT: You cannot trust the power LED to show the charge status on a bricked Kindle. It can take up to 20 hours with a power adapter to recharge a discharged battery when the Kindle is bricked, because the firmware controls the charging and it defaults to a "slow charge curve".

[Popup]

Originally Posted by geekmaster

More details: In the case that your firmware is corrupted for some reason, reflashing it (simple debricking method) might help.

Thanks!

I'll try this or this tomorrow.

[digiridan]

I'm getting:
- conection error. Please reset the board and make sure the board in the boot strap mode
and
- failed to initial flash or do not support this flash, please reset the target
errors on ATK.
I'm open to any suggestions...

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by digiridan

... I'm open to any suggestions...

You might have "USB driver" issues.

You may get more suggestions by posting to the "simple debricking" sticky thread in the Dev Corner.

[digiridan]

ok, thanks, I'll do that.

[Popup]

I had very little success with the Freescale tools, nor with the k3flasher utility. Either the PC wouldn't recognize the Kindle, or I'd get mixed (and varied) error messages.

I put the whole thing on hold for a while, but yesterday I decided to have another look. I took it apart (again), but this time with a voltmeter and oscilloscope at the ready, to see what's happening. The first thing I checked was the battery, and to my great surprise there was no voltage whatsoever between the + and - terminals. Surely that can't be normal? (I've started a thread in the Dev Corner, which seems more suitable for that level of detail.)

[KTamas]

My first Kindle Keyboard died this way. Froze up, out of the blue, middle of the reading. Rebooted, started reading, froze up after a few pages. Reboot, Almost insta-freeze. Lather, rinse, repeat. After a rather lengthy and multiple rounds of talking to the support, they exchanged it (it was still under warranty).

(yeah, first. the second and the third died by the usual broken screen.)