PW4 Disk looks RAW for Windows, PW4 stuck while rebooting

Neposeda · 01-02-2025, 03:07 PM

Hi! I need a help.

My PW4 have firmware 5.16.2.1.1 and already was jailbroken. It had KUAL, KoReader and other extensions.
Today I try Winterbreak and got it. Then I just try to start KUAL and… watching white screen. After rebooting I try MRPI but got a "not installed" message.
My thoughts — it's not a problem, just need to reinstall it. BUT! When I connected device to computer, windows showed a sign: "you need to format disk before using"
Kindle's disk usage show me strange digits about free space — looks like disk near full while it's not true.
I decide to reset Kindle but it stuck on splash screen "splash jb".
Disk is also not accessible — "you need to format… etc."

Can anyone give me advice how to fix this issue?

JSWolf · 01-02-2025, 04:10 PM

Why jailbreak a jailbroken Kindle? That sounds to me like a recipe for disaster.

SoNiKi · 01-02-2025, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neposeda

Hi! I need a help.

My PW4 have firmware 5.16.2.1.1 and already was jailbroken. It had KUAL, KoReader and other extensions.
Today I try Winterbreak and got it. Then I just try to start KUAL and… watching white screen. After rebooting I try MRPI but got a "not installed" message.
My thoughts — it's not a problem, just need to reinstall it. BUT! When I connected device to computer, windows showed a sign: "you need to format disk before using"
Kindle's disk usage show me strange digits about free space — looks like disk near full while it's not true.
I decide to reset Kindle but it stuck on splash screen "splash jb".
Disk is also not accessible — "you need to format… etc."

Can anyone give me advice how to fix this issue?

I have the exact same problem on a PW5 Signature Edition, that was on 5.13.6 (if I recall correctly) that was not jailbroken previously.
After a reset, it is now stuck during boot with a "*** SQUASH JB ***" message on screen, won't advance and is soft bricked.
There is also no way to put recovery files since the drive is not available when plugging the kindle to a computer.
I've tried to force a reboot via a power button hold, but same story.

Anyone would have an idea on how to fix it?

Neposeda · 01-02-2025, 04:45 PM

I know it's not ordinary way.

(I just forgot to unjail reader.

)

But main question is why user' space file system is broken and how to repair it…

HackerDude · 01-02-2025, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neposeda

Hi! I need a help.

My PW4 have firmware 5.16.2.1.1 and already was jailbroken. It had KUAL, KoReader and other extensions.
Today I try Winterbreak and got it. Then I just try to start KUAL and… watching white screen. After rebooting I try MRPI but got a "not installed" message.
My thoughts — it's not a problem, just need to reinstall it. BUT! When I connected device to computer, windows showed a sign: "you need to format disk before using"
Kindle's disk usage show me strange digits about free space — looks like disk near full while it's not true.
I decide to reset Kindle but it stuck on splash screen "splash jb".
Disk is also not accessible — "you need to format… etc."

Can anyone give me advice how to fix this issue?

This is a recurring problem, I have no idea what is causing it

Do not try to format your Kindle
Hold down the power button to force a reboot and then reset again

SoNiKi · 01-02-2025, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HackerDude

This is a recurring problem, I have no idea what is causing it

Do not try to format your Kindle
Hold down the power button to force a reboot and then reset again

I've tried forcing a reboot as mentioned but the kindle doesn't complete its boot sequence and is stuck with the message "*** SQUASH JB ***".

Anything else I could try?

HackerDude · 01-02-2025, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoNiKi

I've tried forcing a reboot as mentioned but the kindle doesn't complete its boot sequence and is stuck with the message "*** SQUASH JB ***".

Anything else I could try?

I'm actively investigating this issue
Anything if you plug it in?

Worst case scenario get a replacement from Amazon I suppose...

SoNiKi · 01-02-2025, 05:05 PM

Unfortunately, I'm not sure I have any warranty since it wasn't bought with my account. Also, that "*** SQUASH JB ***" at boot might cancel any warranty if they receive it and try to boot it.

Nothing happens if I plug it in, it shows a raw disk drive of 4KB on Windows.
Just plugged it on Linux and I could see this USB IDs:

Bus 003 Device 004: ID 1949:0324 Lab126, Inc. Internal Storage

And also a pseudo drive of 4KB.

SoNiKi · 01-02-2025, 05:11 PM

Actually, this is not a pseudo drive but likely a hidden partition that's not the main one.
On it there are the dev keys likely loaded by the jailbreak, such as:

total 6
drwxr-xr-x 2 1001 saned 86 Jan 2 16:24 ./
drwxr-x---+ 4 root root 4096 Jan 2 23:04 ../
-rw-r--r-- 1 1001 saned 272 Jan 2 16:24 pubdevkey01.pem
-rw-r--r-- 1 1001 saned 272 Jan 2 16:24 pubprodkey01.pem
-rw-r--r-- 1 1001 saned 451 Jan 2 16:24 pubprodkey02.pem

SoNiKi · 01-02-2025, 05:32 PM

Drive is read only for info:

/dev/sdc on /media/user/disk type squashfs (ro,relatime,errors=continue,uhelper=udisks2)

It's recognized as a 4KB drive and can't be mounted in read write even when forcing it.

I wonder what else can be done via this interface.

HackerDude · 01-02-2025, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoNiKi

Actually, this is not a pseudo drive but likely a hidden partition that's not the main one.
On it there are the dev keys likely loaded by the jailbreak, such as:

total 6
drwxr-xr-x 2 1001 saned 86 Jan 2 16:24 ./
drwxr-x---+ 4 root root 4096 Jan 2 23:04 ../
-rw-r--r-- 1 1001 saned 272 Jan 2 16:24 pubdevkey01.pem
-rw-r--r-- 1 1001 saned 272 Jan 2 16:24 pubprodkey01.pem
-rw-r--r-- 1 1001 saned 451 Jan 2 16:24 pubprodkey02.pem

wait
WHAT

HackerDude · 01-02-2025, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoNiKi

Actually, this is not a pseudo drive but likely a hidden partition that's not the main one.
On it there are the dev keys likely loaded by the jailbreak, such as:

total 6
drwxr-xr-x 2 1001 saned 86 Jan 2 16:24 ./
drwxr-x---+ 4 root root 4096 Jan 2 23:04 ../
-rw-r--r-- 1 1001 saned 272 Jan 2 16:24 pubdevkey01.pem
-rw-r--r-- 1 1001 saned 272 Jan 2 16:24 pubprodkey01.pem
-rw-r--r-- 1 1001 saned 451 Jan 2 16:24 pubprodkey02.pem

What Kindle model is this?

SoNiKi · 01-02-2025, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HackerDude

What Kindle model is this?

Paperwhite 5 Signature Edition with the 32GB flash memory.

For info, the pem files are only public keys.

Would you have any idea on how to fix?
Also feel free to reach out if you have any question or things you'd like me to check.

For info, I've opened the kindle, disconnected the battery for around 10 minutes and same story, so I would something went wrong with the flash partitioning during the reset after the Winterbreak jailbreak.
For info, the only reason I decided to reset was that the kindle memory was already inaccessible after applying Winterbreak, but the Kindle was still booting/rebooting without problem and seeing files on memory, it was just not accessible to the computer.

HackerDude · 01-02-2025, 06:10 PM

Update to the bricking situation
GOOD LUCK
If you reboot enough times your Kindle MAY fix itself
I believe I have identified the cause of the issue and fixed it in the latest hotfix version

I am very sorry for any issues caused by this

SoNiKi · 01-02-2025, 06:13 PM

Thanks HackerDude.

At the moment my device is still a brick unfortunately.

I hope the "enough reboots" technique will work.
Would you have any insights on how I could make it better? Is there any specific way to reboot I might not be aware of (I'm using the power button and maintain until the lights flashes orange)?

01-02-2025, 03:07 PM	#1
Neposeda Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2025 Location: Latvia Device: Kindle PW4, PW5	Disk looks RAW for Windows, PW4 stuck while rebooting Hi! I need a help. My PW4 have firmware 5.16.2.1.1 and already was jailbroken. It had KUAL, KoReader and other extensions. Today I try Winterbreak and got it. Then I just try to start KUAL and… watching white screen. After rebooting I try MRPI but got a "not installed" message. My thoughts — it's not a problem, just need to reinstall it. BUT! When I connected device to computer, windows showed a sign: "you need to format disk before using" Kindle's disk usage show me strange digits about free space — looks like disk near full while it's not true. I decide to reset Kindle but it stuck on splash screen "splash jb". Disk is also not accessible — "you need to format… etc." Can anyone give me advice how to fix this issue?

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01-02-2025, 04:10 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,933 Karma: 144284074 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Why jailbreak a jailbroken Kindle? That sounds to me like a recipe for disaster.

01-02-2025, 04:45 PM	#4
Neposeda Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2025 Location: Latvia Device: Kindle PW4, PW5	I know it's not ordinary way. (I just forgot to unjail reader. ) But main question is why user' space file system is broken and how to repair it…

01-02-2025, 05:05 PM	#8
SoNiKi Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2025 Device: Kindle PW5 SE	Unfortunately, I'm not sure I have any warranty since it wasn't bought with my account. Also, that "* SQUASH JB *" at boot might cancel any warranty if they receive it and try to boot it. Nothing happens if I plug it in, it shows a raw disk drive of 4KB on Windows. Just plugged it on Linux and I could see this USB IDs: Bus 003 Device 004: ID 1949:0324 Lab126, Inc. Internal Storage And also a pseudo drive of 4KB.

01-02-2025, 05:11 PM	#9
SoNiKi Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2025 Device: Kindle PW5 SE	Actually, this is not a pseudo drive but likely a hidden partition that's not the main one. On it there are the dev keys likely loaded by the jailbreak, such as: total 6 drwxr-xr-x 2 1001 saned 86 Jan 2 16:24 ./ drwxr-x---+ 4 root root 4096 Jan 2 23:04 ../ -rw-r--r-- 1 1001 saned 272 Jan 2 16:24 pubdevkey01.pem -rw-r--r-- 1 1001 saned 272 Jan 2 16:24 pubprodkey01.pem -rw-r--r-- 1 1001 saned 451 Jan 2 16:24 pubprodkey02.pem

01-02-2025, 05:32 PM	#10
SoNiKi Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2025 Device: Kindle PW5 SE	Drive is read only for info: /dev/sdc on /media/user/disk type squashfs (ro,relatime,errors=continue,uhelper=udisks2) It's recognized as a 4KB drive and can't be mounted in read write even when forcing it. I wonder what else can be done via this interface.

01-02-2025, 06:10 PM	#14
HackerDude Kindle Bricker Posts: 119 Karma: 862606 Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: Why do you want to know? Device: PW6, PW6(dead), PW5 (brick), PW5 (brick), PW4 (brick)	Update to the bricking situation GOOD LUCK If you reboot enough times your Kindle MAY fix itself I believe I have identified the cause of the issue and fixed it in the latest hotfix version I am very sorry for any issues caused by this

01-02-2025, 06:13 PM	#15
SoNiKi Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2025 Device: Kindle PW5 SE	Thanks HackerDude. At the moment my device is still a brick unfortunately. I hope the "enough reboots" technique will work. Would you have any insights on how I could make it better? Is there any specific way to reboot I might not be aware of (I'm using the power button and maintain until the lights flashes orange)?

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