Firmware Update Updating from Very Old Firmware

BookCat · 11-10-2018, 11:20 PM

I have a Paperwhite 2 which has never been updated. The firmware currently on it is: 5.4.2.

I would like to update the firmware in order to put custom fonts on the PW. I realise that I can't update to the latest firmware so was wondering what I can do.

I don't have wifi, so this will have to be done via usb, but I haven't a clue where to begin.

Please help.

Shad Plante · 11-10-2018, 11:28 PM

You should be able to update to the latest firmware available right now (5.9.7) on Amazon's site via USB:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custo...deId=201307450

It would have the custom fonts and adjustable bold.

BookCat · 11-10-2018, 11:43 PM

Thank you. I was wondering if such a big leap would choke the Kindle.

I've found an Amazon page about how to do this via usb:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/cus...deId=202109170

BookCat · 11-11-2018, 03:51 AM

I've updated the firmware. My kindle looks like a new reader and I'm having so much fun playing with fonts.

DuckieTigger · 11-11-2018, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

I've updated the firmware. My kindle looks like a new reader and I'm having so much fun playing with fonts.

While you do that, please be careful to only load a complete font set that has "regular" "italic" "bold" and "bold italic" (exactly those four, no less, no more variants). It avoids potential display issues and crashes.

BookCat · 11-11-2018, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

While you do that, please be careful to only load a complete font set that has "regular" "italic" "bold" and "bold italic" (exactly those four, no less, no more variants). It avoids potential display issues and crashes.

Oh dear! I've just been loading the regular font!

The first font I loaded was Georgia. After unzipping the file, I put the whole folder into the PW's font folder, but the kindle couldn't see it; so I took the individual bits (for regular, italic etc) out of the folder and into the font folder on the kindle, then deleted the empty folder. Because the reader seemed to see only one folder (regular) and only give the option to use that one, I loaded only the regular bits of other fonts.
It did occur to me that, if an author uses italics in a book, there might be issues if I don't have the italic version of the font.

I've loaded Georgia (the only one with all the files), Constantia, Gentium, Gentium Alt (shows, but looks identical to Gentium), Cambria, Maiandra, (I don't really like sans fonts, but this looked like a more interesting alternative if I fancied one), Palatino, Sylfaen (I use this for Word), Times New Roman and Book Antiqua.

Many of these are copies of system fonts. Should I go back and put other bits in? Some of them only had the regular font on my computer.

The only thing I don't like about the firmware update is the home page. I prefer just to start with a list view, now I have to click to "My Library". Also, search no longer has the drop down list for "All Text" "All Items" or "Search Within This Book".

Thanks.

induna · 11-11-2018, 03:05 PM

You can turn the home page off in the device settings.

BookCat · 11-11-2018, 03:23 PM

induna: Where? I looked in the settings and can't see this option.

JimmyR · 11-11-2018, 03:31 PM

Settings > Device Options > Advanced Options > Home & Library
Disable Home Screen View

It's somewhat buried.

BookCat · 11-11-2018, 03:34 PM

I don't have Advanced Options; just: Device Info, Device Passcode, Device Time, Restart, Reset, and Update Your Kindle (greyed out).

JimmyR · 11-11-2018, 03:49 PM

I'm sorry. Are you running 5.9.7? I was thinking 5.10.1.1.

I could have sworn the new home screen came with 5.10.1.1.

On the home page, under the Store button/Search, open that menu--is Grid or List enabled?

See the attached screenshot.

I'm sure I'm confused about what setting you need to change. Apologies.

DuckieTigger · 11-11-2018, 04:24 PM

It should be there, might need to do the connect to wifi thing just like for collections. I see it on my PW3 with 5.9.7.

DuckieTigger · 11-11-2018, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

Oh dear! I've just been loading the regular font!

The first font I loaded was Georgia. After unzipping the file, I put the whole folder into the PW's font folder, but the kindle couldn't see it; so I took the individual bits (for regular, italic etc) out of the folder and into the font folder on the kindle, then deleted the empty folder. Because the reader seemed to see only one folder (regular) and only give the option to use that one, I loaded only the regular bits of other fonts.
It did occur to me that, if an author uses italics in a book, there might be issues if I don't have the italic version of the font.

I've loaded Georgia (the only one with all the files), Constantia, Gentium, Gentium Alt (shows, but looks identical to Gentium), Cambria, Maiandra, (I don't really like sans fonts, but this looked like a more interesting alternative if I fancied one), Palatino, Sylfaen (I use this for Word), Times New Roman and Book Antiqua.

Many of these are copies of system fonts. Should I go back and put other bits in? Some of them only had the regular font on my computer.

The only thing I don't like about the firmware update is the home page. I prefer just to start with a list view, now I have to click to "My Library". Also, search no longer has the drop down list for "All Text" "All Items" or "Search Within This Book".

Thanks.

Many fonts that you find on your computer don't have all variants. It is up to you. Normally the Kindle picks an alternate font if there is anything missing. And sometimes it crashes. There is a very strong correlation between incomplete font sets and crashes / instability. Not exactly sure why, but it does not happen with any sets of four. One of those unsolved mysteries.

BookCat · 11-11-2018, 04:59 PM

Oh dear! I don't have wifi, all my internet is wired using homeplugs/powerlines. The kindle itself has never been registered. Amazon registered a kindle account for me over the phone many years ago. I've been downloading books and transfering via usb. I did the update in the same way. Until someone mentioned that I could update firmware via usb, I thought I'd need wifi, hence the long gap in firmware updates.

I now have firmware 5.9.7. I think this is the most recent update for the Paperwhite 2 (6th gen). I think the 5.10.1.1. is for the Paperwhite 3 and upwards.

If I try to open the Store menu, I just get told that my Kindle is in aeroplane mode and asked if I would like to connect to wi-fi. All the local wifi networks (about 2) are secured, so I can't piggy-back on them, even if I should.

So I can't disable the horrid home screen that way.

Oh well. I'll just have to put up with it.

Thanks.

HarryT · 11-11-2018, 05:03 PM

You must surely have a friend with WiFi. Visit them and connect to their WiFi network. Register your Kindle. Disconnect again. Problem solved.

11-10-2018, 11:20 PM	#1
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Updating from Very Old Firmware I have a Paperwhite 2 which has never been updated. The firmware currently on it is: 5.4.2. I would like to update the firmware in order to put custom fonts on the PW. I realise that I can't update to the latest firmware so was wondering what I can do. I don't have wifi, so this will have to be done via usb, but I haven't a clue where to begin. Please help.

11-11-2018, 03:49 PM	#11
JimmyR ɴₐɴ Posts: 421 Karma: 2507940 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: 37.2N 93.3W Device: KV PW4 PW3 PW2	I'm sorry. Are you running 5.9.7? I was thinking 5.10.1.1. I could have sworn the new home screen came with 5.10.1.1. On the home page, under the Store button/Search, open that menu--is Grid or List enabled? See the attached screenshot. I'm sure I'm confused about what setting you need to change. Apologies. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by JimmyR; 11-11-2018 at 04:53 PM.

11-11-2018, 04:59 PM	#14
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Oh dear! I don't have wifi, all my internet is wired using homeplugs/powerlines. The kindle itself has never been registered. Amazon registered a kindle account for me over the phone many years ago. I've been downloading books and transfering via usb. I did the update in the same way. Until someone mentioned that I could update firmware via usb, I thought I'd need wifi, hence the long gap in firmware updates. I now have firmware 5.9.7. I think this is the most recent update for the Paperwhite 2 (6th gen). I think the 5.10.1.1. is for the Paperwhite 3 and upwards. If I try to open the Store menu, I just get told that my Kindle is in aeroplane mode and asked if I would like to connect to wi-fi. All the local wifi networks (about 2) are secured, so I can't piggy-back on them, even if I should. So I can't disable the horrid home screen that way. Oh well. I'll just have to put up with it. Thanks. Last edited by BookCat; 11-11-2018 at 05:00 PM. Reason: DuckieTigger addressed my question

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11-10-2018, 11:28 PM	#2
Shad Plante Groupie Posts: 160 Karma: 1822810 Join Date: Oct 2017 Device: 6th Gen Kindle Paperwhite	You should be able to update to the latest firmware available right now (5.9.7) on Amazon's site via USB: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custo...deId=201307450 It would have the custom fonts and adjustable bold.

11-10-2018, 11:43 PM	#3
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Thank you. I was wondering if such a big leap would choke the Kindle. I've found an Amazon page about how to do this via usb: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/cus...deId=202109170

11-11-2018, 03:51 AM	#4
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	I've updated the firmware. My kindle looks like a new reader and I'm having so much fun playing with fonts.

11-11-2018, 03:05 PM	#7
induna Addict Posts: 230 Karma: 1500000 Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Vito de Coto Brus, Costa Rica Device: Sony PRS-500, 505, 600, 350, T1 Amazon Kindle PW1, PW2, Voyage	You can turn the home page off in the device settings.

11-11-2018, 03:23 PM	#8
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	induna: Where? I looked in the settings and can't see this option.

11-11-2018, 03:31 PM	#9
JimmyR ɴₐɴ Posts: 421 Karma: 2507940 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: 37.2N 93.3W Device: KV PW4 PW3 PW2	Settings > Device Options > Advanced Options > Home & Library Disable Home Screen View It's somewhat buried.

11-11-2018, 03:34 PM	#10
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	I don't have Advanced Options; just: Device Info, Device Passcode, Device Time, Restart, Reset, and Update Your Kindle (greyed out).

11-11-2018, 04:24 PM	#12
DuckieTigger Wizard Posts: 4,742 Karma: 246906703 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: USA Device: Oasis 3, Oasis 2, PW3, PW1, KT	It should be there, might need to do the connect to wifi thing just like for collections. I see it on my PW3 with 5.9.7.

11-11-2018, 05:03 PM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You must surely have a friend with WiFi. Visit them and connect to their WiFi network. Register your Kindle. Disconnect again. Problem solved.

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