Refurb Kindle 4 from Woot can't login to Amazon

[rmnelson]

I just got my first Kindle and attempted several times to login to my Amazon account without success. I even disabled 2FA which didn't help. I assume that Woot, being owned by Amazon, is not selling stolen Kindles, so that leads me to believe that the software is out of date.

The sale page alleged that the Kindles were checked by Amazon techs. I logged in with my Amazon account and just assumed that Amazon would add the Kindle to my account when they shipped.

I can't tell what the current software is, and there is no way to access anything in the menu beyond the Amazon login. Am I cooked, or is there some other way to get this working?

[JimmyR]

See this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custo...deId=202048000

The most recent software update for some Kindle e-readers provides updates needed to continue using some services on your device. This update should automatically download and install when your Kindle is charging and connected to a Wi-Fi network. If it doesn't, you may need to manually install the update to regain access to these features.

Edit: Not sure about your menu access issue. Can you access the usb storage? If so, try downloading the latest firmware, copy it to the root of the usb storage and reboot the kindle (press and hold the power button for 40 seconds if you still can't access the menu).

[WestCactus]

Call or email Amazon Kindle help

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/conta...ndle-help.html

[rmnelson]

Originally Posted by JimmyR

See this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custo...deId=202048000



Edit: Not sure about your menu access issue. Can you access the usb storage? If so, try downloading the latest firmware, copy it to the root of the usb storage and reboot the kindle (press and hold the power button for 40 seconds if you still can't access the menu).

Yes, I can access the USB storage. And after a couple of 40 second resets I also was finally able to access the settings menu. I updated to v. 4.1.3 and was able to sign in. Thanks for pointing me in the correct direction!

[j.p.s]

It's good that everything worked out, but I have to question whether the refurbishment process included, well, refurbishing.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

It's good that everything worked out, but I have to question whether the refurbishment process included, well, refurbishing.

I've bought a couple of refurb Kindles from Woot and they actually had factory firmware (several versions older than what's available on website).

Maybe they never had a factory image of the latest firmware version for the Kindle 4 since it was already discontinued by the time the firmware update was released?

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

I've bought a couple of refurb Kindles from Woot and they actually had factory firmware (several versions older than what's available on website).

Maybe they never had a factory image of the latest firmware version for the Kindle 4 since it was already discontinued by the time the firmware update was released?

Not having the latest customer firmware can be a good thing, but if the device won't talk to the store and there is an update which will enable it to talk to the store, and it is to be sold as refurbished, it should either be updated or there should be a warning that it can not connect to the store.

Just how extensive is refurb testing anyway?

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Not having the latest customer firmware can be a good thing, but if the device won't talk to the store and there is an update which will enable it to talk to the store, and it is to be sold as refurbished, it should either be updated or there should be a warning that it can not connect to the store.

Just how extensive is refurb testing anyway?

Yeah, quite useful. One of the reasons I bought the PW3 manga from Woot was because someone else has reported that it came with jailbreakable firmware.

My guess, not very. Probably just a simple diagnostics check and then a flash of factory image.

[rmnelson]

I've got everything working well now. I've been using a Kobo for years, but this is my first Kindle, so I am not familiar at all with model numbers and names. I've been using Kindle for Mac to load Calibre so I could read books from Amazon on my Kobo, and finally bought the refurb to streamline the conversion process and also as a backup reader for the Kobo.

I think what confused me more than anything else about the process was that Woot sold me a "Kindle 4th Gen" and I kept getting helpful hints for the Kindle Touch; I guess my google fu is just not up to the task. Once I found the serial number I got better results in my searches.

The Kindle was listed on Woot as "scratch & dent" and it is that. But the screen is scratch free, it charged up full in 3 hours, all the buttons work, and the latest firmware fixed my login problem. For $22 I don't feel ripped off, and it does make my Calibre system easier. I assumed that "refurbished" meant "updated", but now I know. Anyway, thanks for the help.