The main reasons to root the kindle is to gain access to the Google Android Market and or flash a Rom. The the act of rooting the stock software is very near obsolete in most cases. For one reason or another this appears to be an arduous task for the kindle, the computer, the utility and for the inexperienced user. There`s a better way, not a new way but far less talked about. My hope is to create a better safety net for the average user. A few simple steps and you`re well on the way. The process involves getting drivers installed correctly, putting a custom recovery in place as well as a bootloader, managing your first backup and installing a modified stock Rom with root. It`s a good idea to first understand some basic things about what your device will need to make all this possible. I do not believe it could be anymore clearly laid out for you than FSM Kinfauns wrote here [GUIDE] Kindle Fire For Beginners. If you`re new to rooting or just to the Kindle Fire this is a must see.
Well I`m sorry the first part is difficult at least for some users it requires getting drivers in order. I`m not going to go into great detail on this it`s very well highlighted in the second post of the above thread. Some things that may help installation.
Hopefully now the risky part is over and you`re booted back to the stock OS of the kindle.
When the Kindle reboots it will have root and have the Google Android Market in your applications.Take note that this is the only Rom that you flash without doing the proper wipes. To increase your safety net it is recommended to perform an MD5 check on fff-u-boot_ v1.4a.zip and Gr9 (6.3.1) - MoDaCo Custom ROM for the Kindle Fire using this application WinMD5Free. You may ask" Why so many steps?" or "Why not flash everything at once?" This is to insure everything works throughout the process and prevent mishaps. The entire point of this thread to avoid having to use a factory cable or firekit to rescue your device because something went wrong. I hope that some of my tips and tricks will make your rooting experience safer and easier. Good luck and have fun.
Drivers
Well I`m sorry the first part is difficult at least for some users it requires getting drivers in order. I`m not going to go into great detail on this it`s very well highlighted in the second post of the above thread. Some things that may help installation.
- Avoid using 3.0 USB ports users have had trouble with them not reacting well to fastboot causing serious problems.
- Make sure your using the proper cable.
- Run the Install_driver bat file first. Any errors during this may indicate the need for a manual installation. Windows XP requires manual installation.
- Plug in the Kindle. Watch to see if windows shows installation of drivers and which one. Windows 7 usually shows a popup balloon of the driver it`s installing, click on it to view progress and type.
- Open device manager. In device manager you should see "Android phone" click to view driver it should read "Android Composite ADB Interface".
- If it reads "Android ADB Interface" more work is needed.
- Right click then select update driver.
- Click "browse my computer for driver software", and point it to the kindle drivers. On my Windows 7 machine, for instance, it's C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\Desktop\Kindle_Fire_Util ity_v0.9.6\Kindle Fire Utility\drivers\kindle.
- Include subfolders and click next. Disregard any warnings update driver software anyway, preferably it will then read "Android Composite ADB Interface".
Driver flex test
There`s a way to test the driver before ever attempting to send anything to your device. The Kindle Fire driver is in and of itself multifaceted and Windows has only met with the first half of it. A mild introduction to the second half could very well prevent Windows from being confused when you need it function correctly for the technical part of this process. I would consider this "the lesser of two evils" with the only risk being stuck in fastboot. This far less under weighs actually physically breaking something if it were to fail.- Plug your kindle in.
- Unlock the screen.
- Tap disconnect at the bottom of the screen to stop the USB file transfer application if it auto launches.
- Open device manager.
- Launch Kindle Fire Utility.
- Confirm driver indicates "Android Composite ADB Interface" in device manager and Kindle Fire Utility indicates ADB Status: Online / Boot Status: 4000.
- In KFU select # 1 Bootmode Menu then select # 2 Fastboot <4002> the Kindle will be told to reboot in fastboot mode. Setting bootmodes with KFU takes a bit be patient.
- Check device manager see that the driver reads "Android ADB Interface" without errors such as an exclamation point or a question mark.
- Powering the device off and back on again while attached can prompt new hardware found for updating driver on XP and proper installation of the driver in Windows 7.
- If it does have an error or Windows does not recognize the device you must once again right click then select update driver to make it read "Android ADB Interface".
- Press any key to continue
- If it says ADB status offline Boot Status: Unknown disregard and select # 1 Normal <4000> this will tell the Kindle to reboot in Normal mode.
- After booted press any key to continue.
- Press 0 to recheck device status.
- Confirm driver indicates "Android Composite ADB Interface" in device manager and Kindle Fire Utility indicates ADB Status: Online / Boot Status: 4000. This completes the driver flex test. If you get stuck in fastboot don`t panic there`s no damage, just an altered bootmode. Keep working with your drivers, powering the device off and back on again while attached seems to work pretty well.
Device preparation
- Start with a fully charged battery.
- This step is very important under settings/device turn on allow installation of applications from unknown sources.
- Plug your kindle in.
- Unlock the screen.
- Tap disconnect at the bottom of the screen to stop the USB file transfer application if it auto launches.
Status verification
- Open device manager.
- Launch Kindle Fire Utility.
- Confirm driver indicates "Android Composite ADB Interface" in device manager and Kindle Fire Utility indicates ADB Status: Online / Boot Status: 4000.
TWRP installation
- Select # 3 Install Latest TWRP Recovery. The Kindle will be told to reboot in fastboot mode. If all goes smooth it will reboot, in the terminal it will download the recovery, send it, write it. Then return your kindle to normal bootmode.
- If nothing happens after 3 or 4 minutes and it just sits there <waiting for device> simply hold down the power button while connected till it turns off then turn it back on again. This could even take a few times always wait the 3 or 4 minutes in between.
Bootloader installation
Hopefully now the risky part is over and you`re booted back to the stock OS of the kindle.
- Swipe to unlock the screen.
- Do not disconnect the USB file transfer application. If it fails to auto launch touch upper left of screen, tap USB is connected select to copy files to/from your computer. This will show the contents of your sdcard on your computer.
- Download bootloader only from here [bootloader][05-26] FFF 1.4A bugfixes + new look + recovery boot [.zip file size]. All files to be flashed in recovery must be in zip form. DO NOT EXTRACT. Do not use the bin file from KFU it`s not intended for flashing in recovery and will break the bootloader.
- Drag and drop fff-u-boot_ v1.4a.zip on to your sdcard but do not place it inside of a folder.
- Then disconnect the file transfer application when finished transferring.
- In KFU select # 1 Bootmode Menu then select # 3 recovery <5001> this will tell your kindle to enter recovery.
- In TWRP select install then locate fff-u-boot_ v1.4a.zip tap on it and flash it, leave the boxes unchecked.
- When finished hit the home button upper right to return to TWRP home screen.
- Select reboot.
- Select system if prompted.
First backup and flashing rooted stock
- After reboot Swipe to unlock screen.
- Do not disconnect the file transfer application.If it fails to auto launch touch upper left of screen, tap USB is connected select to copy files to/from your computer.
- Drag and drop this Rom zip onto your sdcard [ROM] 14 Jun Gr9 (6.3.1) - MoDaCo Custom ROM for the Kindle Fire. Use the standard version not the altrom but do not put it inside of any folder. I`m not trying to highlight just one developers work but this is needed for this method.
- Disconnect the file transfer application after the transfer has finished.
- Unplug kindle from pc.
- Power the kindle off , then back on again. When you see the white Kindle blue Fire logo quickly depress the power button a few times till you get a boot menu select --Recovery--.
- In recovery select backup the default selections are fine, swipe to backup. This backup you will later rename noroot631 without spaces. Adding spaces will cause it to fail if you need to restore it.
- When finished hit the home button upper right.
- Select install.
- Tap on GR9 Modaco zip and flash it. Do not enable force MD5 check or zip file verification or it will fail.
- When done select reboot.
- Select system if prompted.
Final result
When the Kindle reboots it will have root and have the Google Android Market in your applications.Take note that this is the only Rom that you flash without doing the proper wipes. To increase your safety net it is recommended to perform an MD5 check on fff-u-boot_ v1.4a.zip and Gr9 (6.3.1) - MoDaCo Custom ROM for the Kindle Fire using this application WinMD5Free. You may ask" Why so many steps?" or "Why not flash everything at once?" This is to insure everything works throughout the process and prevent mishaps. The entire point of this thread to avoid having to use a factory cable or firekit to rescue your device because something went wrong. I hope that some of my tips and tricks will make your rooting experience safer and easier. Good luck and have fun.
How to flash another Rom
- 1. Transfer Rom zip and matching gapps zip to sdcard.
- 2. Enter recovery.
- 3. Create a backup.
- 4. Wipe factory reset.
- 5. Wipe cache.
- 6. Wipe dalvik.
- 7. Wipe system.( unless same Rom, same system, same developer)
- 8. Flash Rom zip.
- 9. Flash gapps zip.
- 10. Select reboot, then system if prompted.
- 11. Enjoy!
A very special thanks for all they continue to teach me and coaxing me to strive for more.
Kinfauns for Kindle Fire For Beginners
Soupmagnet for All the fun
Thanks to Vashypooh for Kindle Fire Utility
Thanks to Paulobrien for Gr9 (6.3.1) - MoDaCo Custom ROM for the Kindle Fire
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