Can you work this one out?

[myotai]

Hi all,

Putting it briefly....

Factory reset of hdx 7" on 4.5.2
Stuck at Kindle Fire logo
Shows in PC as Internal Storage but just empty folders Music, DCIM etc...
Can get ADB connection (good news?)
That's it....now here's the interesting bit.....

If I use Kindle Fire Utility and try to root using Towelroot the device goes straight go lock screen. I slide to open and am confronted with Towelroot app. Click on Make It Rain but nothing happens.

If I try other things like installing SU it returns with permission errors.

I can also get to the devices settings too. No other apps installed just HDXPOSED and TOWELROOT.

Got me baffled... Any ideas how to fix?

 

[Cl4ncy]

You can NOT use Towelroot for 4.5.2! You must use Kingroot. Read about this, I've no experience with it. From what I've read it's possible it requires internet connection, I also read this could be for optional download of some browser or whatever, so try to disable such options, if available. You should avoid internet connection, or have it as short as possible, to avoid OTA upate from Amazon to 4.5.4.

 

[myotai]

Yep I get that I can't use TOWELROOT. I'm just pointing out that installing it gets me past the stuck Kindle Logo into the devices settings. Just no other apps or home scree though. Can't lock screen and if I restart the device it sticks at logo again....

 

[DB126]

Yep I get that I can't use TOWELROOT. I'm just pointing out that installing it gets me past the stuck Kindle Logo into the devices settings. Just no other apps or home scree though. Can't lock screen and if I restart the device it sticks at logo again....

Nothing comes to mind. Generally being stuck at the grey Kindle logo is terminal on a device with stock recovery and a locked bootloader. For future reference HDXPOSED is obsolete and may have contributed to your woes. It was never designed for FireOS v4 and doesn't work well on later versions of FireOS v3.

 

[myotai]

Thanks,

Yet I can get as far as 'Settings'. Isn't there a way I can push an update via ADB and flash....I guess I'd need to install root first? Is either possible?

P.s its not the grey logo its the coloured orange animated one.

 

[DB126]

Thanks,

Yet I can get as far as 'Settings'. Isn't there a way I can push an update via ADB and flash....I guess I'd need to install root first? Is either possible?

P.s its not the grey logo its the coloured orange animated one.

Assume you tried another factory reset. Being stuck at the orange logo offers some hope but there is no Rx that I know of.

Obtaining root is obviously desirable. You can try installing Kingroot via adb install and hope it executes (like towelroot apparently does) and continues to completion. If successfully you could try to repair the damage that is preventing FireOS from fully booting.

I recall someone saying installing a different launcher (eg: Nova) allowed their Kindle to boot.

Another path is to place the 3.2.8 rollback file into the root of sdcard and hope it takes.

 

[myotai]

Thanks - I have had a look but can't see a specific guide to installing Kingroot via adb. There are generic tips and pointers but I want to salvage what I have and not completely brick it - does anyone know where the thread is?

Thanks...

 

[DB126]

Thanks - I have had a look but can't see a specific guide to installing Kingroot via adb. There are generic tips and pointers but I want to salvage what I have and not completely brick it - does anyone know where the thread is?

Thanks...

You probably won't find that (not aware of any forum postings). Here's the deal. You are operating in uncharted waters trying to revive an unlocked/unrooted device that got borked for unknown reasons. You are going to have to a bunch of research and take some chances. FireOS can be a bxxch to repair. If the device is under warranty your best course of action is to engage Amazon for an exchange.

Kingroot is a longshot idea which I would not have mentioned if not for your experience with Towelroot. I have no idea if it will work.

Google (or another search engine) is your friend. A couple representative links below that popped up on the first attempt. I have no experience with either site an can not vouch for the content. Just a starting point ...
- Kingroot
- ADB Info

 

[myotai]

Thanks for your feedback!

I guess nothing ventured n all that!

Its a paper-weight at the moment so can't get much worse.....I'll wander around those un-charted lands and see what I come up with!

 

[myotai]

Ok, so I've managed to root using Kingroot. Installed Su too. But that's as far as I've got - I'm hoping that there is some way of salvaging this machine now I have root enabled and can get as far as the settings menu?

Thanks...

 

[Cl4ncy]

Ok, so I've managed to root using Kingroot. Installed Su too. But that's as far as I've got - I'm hoping that there is some way of salvaging this machine now I have root enabled and can get as far as the settings menu?

Thanks...

So you're on 4.5.2 rooted & OTA disabled now? Then try to install Safestrap v4. If it works, backup your stock slot (even if it doesn't work, who knows what it'll be good for), and move it to your PC. As the secondary slots won't work with WLAN atm anyway, you can install one of the Safestrap v4 compatible ROMs, e.g. Nexus, or CM11 in the stock slot, don't create any secondary Slots (yet).

 

[DB126]

Ok, so I've managed to root using Kingroot. Installed Su too. But that's as far as I've got - I'm hoping that there is some way of salvaging this machine now I have root enabled and can get as far as the settings menu?

Thanks...

To confirm you are now on rooted 4.5.2 but can get beyond the FireOS settings menu. If you install an apk via adb can you retain enough control to launch the app UI? You can do this via an adb shell command; unfortunately, the specifics are beyond my knowledge. Hopefully someone else can jump in or you can research on your own (if needed).

There is no safe way to repair FireOS directly with a locked bootloader. On many Android devices you would simply reflash/reinstall the ROM. Unfortunately, Amazon neutered the stock recovery environment as you discovered. If something goes wrong you are in a world of hurt. I think there is a very good chance your device can be revived. Just need to proceed carefully and not bork things to the point were you don't get past the grey logo. That generally means you own a door stop.

Thoughts (sorry if these are obvious):
- Keep in mind OTA is probably enabled on your device. Stay off wifi if you get that far; best to use a tether for file transfer, etc. until the problem is fixed. You can also rename the OTA apk via adb ... but your focus should be elsewhere at this point.
- It appears the FireOS launcher is hanging during initial setup (as you did a factory reset). You may find joy by installing another launcher (eg: Nova via adb) which often set themselves as the default when installed. Once you regain some control you can then install Safestrap v4 which is the pathway to other roms or repairing 4.5.2. Be aware FireOS will try to reset the default launcher on reboot. If this method works don't mess around trying to fix stuff. Install Safestrap v4 immediately (you also need to open the app and install Safestrap recovery) so you retain some control over your device during further troubleshooting.
- If a different launcher does not work try going for Safestrap v4. You will probably need to get smart around adb shell commands as you have to launch the UI to install the Safestrap recovery environment.

 

[myotai]

Thanks all taken in - my knowledge of ADB and its various commands are being added to as the hours go by - never really used it before.

Determind though........!

 

[myotai]

So, its looking better. Managed to get Safestrap installed and using a VERY convoluted method got into Recovery. After four attempts installed CM11 and have a working tablet now.

What I want to do now is somehow get a stock Kindle ROM running....any ideas?

Thanks again for your help everyone!

 

[DB126]

So, its looking better. Managed to get Safestrap installed and using a VERY convoluted method got into Recovery. After four attempts installed CM11 and have a working tablet now.

What I want to do now is somehow get a stock Kindle ROM running....any ideas?

Thanks again for your help everyone!

Yep - just flash 4.5.2 rom from here (don't use any other - you'll be rewarded with a brick). I strongly suggest you backup your existing stock slot (containing CM11) and reflash that to a secondary slot that you'll need to create. You won't be able to use wifi on the secondary slot but it will give you a rom to boot into in the event something goes wrong with the FireOS flash. Once you get FireOS working in the stock slot you should be able uninstall Safestrap. The operative word is 'should' as the system and recovery partitions need to be consistent for FireOS to boot properly. From what you have shared there is no reason to believe this is not the case - but the risk can not be dismissed. The other option is to leave Safestrap installed which only adds an annoying splash screen on boot but otherwise does not impact performance. What it does do is give you a pseudo-recovery environment which can be quite handy as you have discovered! It's also the vehicle for installing other roms such as CM11, Nexus v4, etc.

Take note of the cautions in the linked OP, in particular OTA. After flashing 4.5.2 you'll need to root and rename the OTA apk before enabling wifi. Amazon is aggressively pushing 4.5.4 which can not be rooted. Don't ruin your day - block OTA (yea - that was stupid).

 

[myotai]

Thanks so much. Its worth listing the procedures that got me this far...

I think installing TOWELROOT via ADB despite the fact I knew it wouldn't work was oddly the only thing that got me as far as 'settings' from a stuck Kindle logo. Then I had to resgiter the device in order to go to 'new offers' in the books setting to access the browser.....emails......Kingroot......finally Safestrap....boom!