[WINDOWS][TOOL]Fire Toolbox V30.2

[blaacksheep]

I have a Fire 7 bought in 2021. Can I root it from Linux without using a Virtualbox?

Alright, a Fire 7 bought in 2021 is probably an HD 7 (2019). If this is the case, then I had a search around XDA and found you this thread. It is a guide to rooting the HD 7 (2019) and installing Lineage OS. If you don't want to actually root and replace, then Toolbox is much simpler but will still require a Windows environment to run.

Toolbox does not "root" your device, so if you want root you'll be better off starting in the link I gave. Toolbox only issues non-root ADB commands to your tablet to accomplish what it does.

 

[martytoo]

Before I change the subject, what is the best way to search for anything in Woot? Do you need to first create an account to gain access to a search function?

My morning routine includes checking a few things including Woot. I will go months without buying anything and then....
I bought refurbished Wyze cameras a week or so before the FIresticks. They are the V3 cameras which are the last models to include some basic cloud storage for free. I like them so much I may by the newer version and bite the $20/year bullet for the enhanced cloud storage.

Anyway, to answer your question, if you have the Woot app installed on your phone or tablet when you open it up the first thing you will see is the deal of the day. If you then click on any of the 9 categories you will see the newest offerings in areas such as "Electronics" or "Computers". Both the Wyze cameras and the Firesticks sold out quickly. The good news is that they are likely to show up again.

During the day if you allow it Woot will send notifications concerning deals. Some of these also sell out quickly. The quickest to sell out are the equivalent of the proverbial "Bag of Crap" though Woot will use novel names for these random offerings.

 

[martytoo]

Alright, a Fire 7 bought in 2021 is probably an HD 7 (2019). If this is the case, then I had a search around XDA and found you this thread. It is a guide to rooting the HD 7 (2019) and installing Lineage OS. If you don't want to actually root and replace, then Toolbox is much simpler but will still require a Windows environment to run.

Toolbox does not "root" your device, so if you want root you'll be better off starting in the link I gave. Toolbox only issues non-root ADB commands to your tablet to accomplish what it does.

I'll add that you may or may not like the result you get with rooting.

I had put off rooting my 2016 8 inch Samsung S2 tablet for a good long while. It is a pain but I decided to do it because Android 9 is getting long in the tooth. After much consternation and jumping through some bizarre hoops due to only certain files working with the recovery loading process I installed two versions of Lineage. 17 didn't allow for all of the camera functions so I tried 16. Random crashes and other frustrations caused me to reinstall the stock Samsung firmware.

The Android OS is getting more and more complicated. Have fun if you root but go into it with eyes wide open.

 

[martytoo]

I bought 2 4K Firesticks from Woot early Saturday morning (in bed on my "Open Box" but new Samsung Verizon LTE tablet that I grabbed on eBay). The one that came Monday was used in like new condition and had an old firmware but not so old that I could hijack the Home button. Otherwise fine and I have the update servers blocked on my router.

The one that came yesterday was new in the box and a bit older than Monday's Firestick. I was able to hijack the Home button and block further updates with a debloating tool.

$40 for both! And the newer Firesticks will likely have less and less functionality.

I'm talking to myself again...

I wanted to post what I think it bad news for those trying to block updates by blocking router access to the Amazon update servers. I bought 2 Firesticks as mentioned above. The newer one was used in great condition. It had a slightly newer firmware that than the older of the two. The one with the older firmware took 3 different commands used to block updates. The newer only allowed one of the three commands to run. I assumed I could stop he newer one from updating by blocking the Amazon update servers. I blocked six or so that were listed online in my Orbi router. Tonight when I started to use the Firestick that was in question it had updated to the latest firmware (6.2.9.4).

When I first booted it and thought I had stopped the updates it was 6.2.8.9 if my memory is correct.

So I am wondering if Amazon started to use another server or if maybe the servers used for the Firestick are different than those used for tablets.

 

[blaacksheep]

I'm talking to myself again...

I wanted to post what I think it bad news for those trying to block updates by blocking router access to the Amazon update servers. I bought 2 Firesticks as mentioned above. The newer one was used in great condition. It had a slightly newer firmware that than the older of the two. The one with the older firmware took 3 different commands used to block updates. The newer only allowed one of the three commands to run. I assumed I could stop he newer one from updating by blocking the Amazon update servers. I blocked six or so that were listed online in my Orbi router. Tonight when I started to use the Firestick that was in question it had updated to the latest firmware (6.2.9.4).

When I first booted it and thought I had stopped the updates it was 6.2.8.9 if my memory is correct.

So I am wondering if Amazon started to use another server or if maybe the servers used for the Firestick are different than those used for tablets.

I would guess it's different servers. I have a blocklist in my signature that includes 6 addresses used in the US. They probably have other servers for other countries. You could use RethinkDNS to block the update app itself so that the app is blocked, regardless of the server.

 

[martytoo]

I would guess it's different servers. I have a blocklist in my signature that includes 6 addresses used in the US. They probably have other servers for other countries. You could use RethinkDNS to block the update app itself so that the app is blocked, regardless of the server.

But since I need to use a VPN to get all I want out of the Firestick I think that RethinkDNS is out for me. Am I wrong?

And I am wondering if when I used a VPN for a bit last night if that allowed the update.

 

[blaacksheep]

But since I need to use a VPN to get all I want out of the Firestick I think that RethinkDNS is out for me. Am I wrong?

And I am wondering if when I used a VPN for a bit last night if that allowed the update.

That would explain it. Once you connected to a VPN, all your requests went to the VPN, not to the Amazon servers. Your VPN then made the request to the Amazon servers and sent it back to you but from the VPN address, thereby bypassing any blacklisting in your router.

I don't think you can run a VPN AND RethinkDNS but I could be wrong. I think RethinkDNS uses the VPN feature of Android itself and you can only run 1 VPN. For a better understanding of what you can do about this you should probably check out one of the Firestick threads where they focus on those issues. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[Jumbo100]

I would guess it's different servers. I have a blocklist in my signature that includes 6 addresses used in the US. They probably have other servers for other countries. You could use RethinkDNS to block the update app itself so that the app is blocked, regardless of the server.

List of AWS data center regional codes from Summer, 2022 :

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Data Center Locations: Regions and Availability Zones

Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides compute, storage, and database services through its data centers in 20+ countries and 100+ locations around the world.

dgtlinfra.com

Would Amazon OTA Updates originate from any/all of these server sites?

 

[Jumbo100]

@blaacksheep

BTW, I can't see the OTA blockllist or FireOS 8.3.1.3 Update files under your sig. Hidden in listings?

 

[blaacksheep]

@blaacksheep

BTW, I can't see the OTA blockllist or FireOS 8.3.1.3 Update files under your sig. Hidden in listings?

View attachment 5826569

The list I have works for me. I live in NY state so the appropriate servers are the east coast servers. I've also included the west coast server for the other half of the country. If you live overseas from the US, then you may need additional servers to block. I don't have any specific addresses to block.

I only have the addy's to block that are important. It doesn't seem to matter what OS version you're on. They all call home to the same servers.

edit for last question/post:

The archived .bin files for updating an Amazon Fire HD 7 or HD 8 (FireOS 8.3.1.x to FireOS 8.3.1.3) are in the 3rd link in my sig. They're the last 2 files. They're pretty big.

edit 2:

BTW, Jumbo. Where do you live?

 

[Unipac]

I really have some issues with my new Fire HD 8 Plus with FireOS Version: 8.3.1.1. I only want to get rid of the ads (which worked fine) and install Google Play Store so I can use my Apps that I already paid for instead of paying again at the Amazon App Store.
After Play Store ist installed and I start it, it asked my to sign in - which I did. I also did 2FA on my phone to grant access. However, Play Store then shows me that I need to authenticate and login with my google account and a "retry" button. If I click on it, the "wait donut" is shown for a split second and the same screen with the retry button again.
If I start Toolbox, it shows me "Google Services (Manage)" and when I hit "Add", the screen is shown but crashes. When I hit "Manage" it tells me that it failed launching Account Activity and that I have to factory reset the tablet in order to remove accounts. So I did, went through all again - same result.

Anyone else with this issue?

 

[Jumbo100]

The list I have works for me. I live in NY state so the appropriate servers are the east coast servers. I've also included the west coast server for the other half of the country. If you live overseas from the US, then you may need additional servers to block. I don't have any specific addresses to block.

I only have the addy's to block that are important. It doesn't seem to matter what OS version you're on. They all call home to the same servers.

Thanks for your insight on AWS servers ... something I really never thought much about before.

I think I may have to do a major "rethink" on my approach to the Amazon/FireOS infrastructure.

Get back to you soon, after I think this through.

 

[Jumbo100]

I really have some issues with my new Fire HD 8 Plus with FireOS Version: 8.3.1.1.
...
Anyone else with this issue?

I think it's an issue for every new Gen 12 Fire tablet user !

Short story: Google Play infrastructure and FTB mods seem to more stable with f/w 8.3.1.3 , so you may need a f/w update to get things sorted out.

Check out some recent posts on the thread to get a scope of the problem and the various solutions offered.

A complicating factor is the recent roll out of f/w 8.3.1.4 OTA ... unknown effects .. for better or worse.

Suggest doing the additional research and pinging us again to see how you would like to proceed.

Goggle Account Authentication is a common problem but may be related to the above. FWIW try the following:
- clearing the data/user caches from the 4 Google Play apps
- signing-out of your google account from your computer or a browser
- rebooting your device
- signing-in again from your Fire tablet.

The Fire Toolbox problem with Google Play installation is unclear. Did you "side load" the 4 Google Play apps before using Fire Toolbox?

 

[Jumbo100]

Hey , a shout-out to Gen 12 Fire tablet users in the Community !

Amazon is now "pushing" FireOS 8.3.1.4 updates via OTA.

If you have recently updated to f/w 8.3.1.4 ( intentionally or unintentionally ! ) , we could really use some feedback on how it's affecting the Google Play infrastructure and any FTB mods ... for better or worse.

Currently, f/w 8.3.1.3 seems to be working reasonable well, but f/w 8.3.1.4 is an unknown quantity ... hoping that f/w 8.3.1.4 is okay.

Your help is keenly anticipated and appreciated. Thanks.

 

[LordUnderling]

FireOS 8.3.1.3 can still be manually downloaded at https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G2JXLC4L34GX73TE
but that can change at any moment. You've been warned.

Does anyone know of any tool that can extract apk files from an OpenGApps zip download?

I've been spelunking around XDA trying to find any such tool but with no luck.

I found one of questionable charactor (i.e. malware) for editing ROMs such as for LineageOS but but doesn't seem to work with an OpenGApps zip file.

 

[Unipac]

so you may need a f/w update to get things sorted out.

Thank you. So first i will update to 8.3.1.3.
I went to the Amazon page but I only find the Update for the Fire HD 8 12th Gen and Fire HD 8 Plus 10th Gen - but not for the Fire HD 8 Plus 12th Gen I have. Can I just use the one for the non-Plus 12th gen?

EDIT: And does it make any difference as I am not from the US and bought the Fire HD 8 in Germany or can I just use the bin files?

 

[grtgbln]

Gotta say, I haven't actually seen any lockscreen ads even prior to using Toolkit (just got a 11th Gen HD 10 yesterday, already on 7.3.2.4 unfortunately, but not registered with my Amazon account). Still, the "disable ads" option in Toolkit didn't throw any errors...
Plus, for people using this as a kiosk tablet like I am, it seems like just disabling the lockscreen altogether is a roundabout way of avoiding locksreen ads...

 

[Jumbo100]

Thank you. So first i will update to 8.3.1.3.
I went to the Amazon page but I only find the Update for the Fire HD 8 12th Gen and Fire HD 8 Plus 10th Gen - but not for the Fire HD 8 Plus 12th Gen I have. Can I just use the one for the non-Plus 12th gen?

EDIT: And does it make any difference as I am not from the US and bought the Fire HD 8 in Germany or can I just use the bin files?

Here is the specific Amazon Germany site for software update downloads:

Fire Tablet Software Updates - Amazon Customer Service

Fire tablet devices automatically download software updates when connected to the internet. These free software updates include general improvements and performance enhancements.

www.amazon.de

Not sure why Amazon has not listed a specific f/w for 12th Gen HD8 Plus.

HD Plus tablets are not marketed in my region, so I hadn't noticed they previously had a different f/w variant signature. Maybe that has changed with FireOS 8. Check with amazon.de Customer Support to ensure the HD8 8.3.1.3 f/w compatability with HD8 Plus.

 

[Jumbo100]

Gotta say, I haven't actually seen any lockscreen ads even prior to using Toolkit (just got a 11th Gen HD 10 yesterday, already on 7.3.2.4 unfortunately, but not registered with my Amazon account). Still, the "disable ads" option in Toolkit didn't throw any errors...
Plus, for people using this as a kiosk tablet like I am, it seems like just disabling the lockscreen altogether is a roundabout way of avoiding locksreen ads...

OOTB, Fire tablets (in most regions) come with "Special Offers" ( aka lockscreen ads) , unless you pay an additional Amazon $15-20 fee for the privilege of purchasing a device "Without Special Offers".

Removing lockscreen ads has been one of the most popular features of Fire Toolbox since V1.0 ... for free.

 

[blaacksheep]

FireOS 8.3.1.3 can still be manually downloaded at https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G2JXLC4L34GX73TE
but that can change at any moment. You've been warned.

Does anyone know of any tool that can extract apk files from an OpenGApps zip download?

I've been spelunking around XDA trying to find any such tool but with no luck.

I found one of questionable charactor (i.e. malware) for editing ROMs such as for LineageOS but but doesn't seem to work with an OpenGApps zip file.

Not necessarily a "tool", but you could rename the .apk files to .zip and open them with an archiver program like Winzip or Winrar. Then have a look around for any .apk files within.

It's been a while since I've flashed Gapps. I forgot that it's probably a .bin file. Sorry. Nevermind.