5 x Jailbreak

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.Software Jailbreak for Kindle PW2, PW3(B), PW3W, KT2, KT3(B), KT3W, KV, and KOA


Software jail break for the 9th generation device (KOA2) still requires some work.
The KOA2 "hotfix" package does not auto-reinstall the jail break. No ETA on a resolution.

Step #1 below describes how to learn what nickname your device has here based on its serial number.

Contents

[edit] Will this jail break work on my current firmware?


If the third field of your firmware version number: 5.8.7.0.1 is larger than 7 this jail break will not work on your device.
That means it will not work on: 5.8.8, 5.8.9, 5.8.10, ..., 5.8.99999999. (It's NOT possible at this time to downgrade and use this jailbreak)
Of course, this also means that it will not work on anything newer than the 5.8.x branch itself (i.e., 5.9.x, and whatever might come next ;)).
Please do not even think of asking if this message still means what is written. The message is kept current.

Special Cases
PW3 running 5.9.6.1 firmware or earlier can be jailbroken. Please see this thread for instructions.
PW4 running 5.10.1.3 firmware or earlier can be jailbroken. It might also be possible to jailbreak PW4 with later firmware. Please see this post for more information.
KT4 running 5.11.0 firmware can be jailbroken. Please see this thread for instructions.


It should be noted that there are reports of people who have been able to downgrade a kindle with a firmware more recent than 5.8.7.x but many / most people report bricked devices. It is not recommended to try to downgrade your kindle if your firmware is more recent than 5.8.7 - your best bet is to block updates (empty directory named 'update.bin.tmp.partial' at the root of your user partition) and check back here or the forums regularly to see if a jailbreak for your firmware is available. The only other solution is to use the serial port method; using the serial port would be the only way for you to unbrick your device if you tried to downgrade a kindle running on a unsupported firmware and had it bricked as a result, you'd have to be ready to use that if you decide to try to downgrade an unsupported device (again, doing so is very risky and not recommended).

If jailbroken on an earlier firmware version, the jailbreak is known to survive the update to either 5.8.8, 5.8.9, 5.8.9.2, 5.8.10, 5.8.11. From reports on the forums, seems to survive updates to 5.9.2 and 5.9.4.

It should survive an update to any firmware version. It is designed to be viral.

None of our add-ins are protected across updates, you must always re-install them.

The G090LK, G090LL (Black and White, PW-3, 32GB, Wifi only) models along with the corresponding two Wifi+3G versions are partially supported.
See: Thread 291336

[edit] Testing (touchscreen devices listed in title):

Attached below is a "Dummy" installation package which will test the jail break installed on your device.
If it runs, your JB is complete. If it fails to run, your JB is missing or damaged.
This dummy install package will not install anything, only write a report document in the top level of visible USB storage (dummy_updatetest.log, example attached below).
If this test package fails to write its report, follow these directions exactly and completely Step #0 to and including Step #8.
Spoiler:

  1. Download the attached archive.
  2. Open the archive.
    The archive contains a single directory, "Dummy", all contents are in that directory.
  3. From the archive contents in the "Dummy" directory, move the file: Update_dummy_0.0.N.bin to the /mrpackages directory of your Kindle.
    If you do not have a /mrpackages on the visible root of your kindle, you either have a damaged JB or the JB was never installed.
  4. Trigger the test package installation either from KUAL or from the main search bar: Code: 
    ;log mrpi
    command. Only expect the search bar command version of triggering MrPI to work on the devices it was intended to work on, the 8th. generation devices.

[edit] PW-2 users running firmware 5.4.4.2 or older:

Go directly to:
Thread 186645

[edit] For prior (grayscale) Kindle models:

See:
Thread 275881

[edit] Credits:

  • NiLuJe - for discovering the initial factory update could be recovered. PW-2
  • knc1 - for posting the 'HowTo' and recovering the KT-2 and PW-3 initial updates.
  • Forum members - several members who recovered and provided initial update images for the KV.
  • knc1 - recognition that the factory initial update could be re-installed on any (matching) customer model.
  • Branch Delay - the original software jb for version 5.6.5 and the generic jb for initial factory images.
  • Branch Delay, NiLuJe, Geekmaster - initial testing of the method.
  • Geekmaster - archivist of the off-site Kindle recovery resources.
  • knc1, Geekmaster, NiLuJe, kindlefere - server resources.
  • NiLuJe, Ryccardo, eschwartz - recognizing and testing of the source of the hung Kindles problem.
  • Forum member - who recovered the image required to create Oasis support.
  • eeeee - who recovered the image required to create updated, PW-3 and PW-3W support.
  • ktwombley - who recovered the image required to create KT3 support.
  • eschwartz - now the maintainer of Branch Delay's factory image jail break.
  • eschwartz, NiLuJe, others - New menu launcher for Oasis (KOA) and other models.
  • The first public announcement was made by Hackaday, see:
    Hackaday Link
    Which can take credit for many of this thread's views.

A long list of a lot of work done over a period of more than a year. Work that is continuing.
This downgrade attack did not happen over-night nor was it the work of any one person.

[edit] Release Policy:

It is our policy to use a 'single point of maintenance' model for our released items, with one exception:

  • NiLuJe's snapshots, use: (filter prefix: tools, show threads).
    Users should always check the snapshot thread for the most recent build of our after-market add-ins.

[edit] Make Ready:

Consider the following bullet list a "Step #0" that can be done in any order.

  • For some firmware versions, your Kindle must be registered with Amazon to access the required menus.
    • The general rule to cover all versions, is: If not yet registered, do that now.
      Read the rest of this specific section before connecting to the Internet.
    • Some of the more recent firmware versions are very aggressive about doing an OTA (Over The Air) update.
      Which will currently update to a version that can not be jail broken.
    • Currently the best way to avoid OTA updates is to add the OTA blocker directory (folder) name to the top level of visible USB storage.
      The blocker directory is named: update.bin.tmp.partial
      Use that exact name, no additional extension, no contents.
  • Remove any device passcode or parental control passcode you may have set.
  • If you have an ad supported (Special Offers) model consider unsubscribing it at your Kindle account.
    If you do unsubscribe from special offers, be sure to give your Kindle enough time on-line for Amazon's servers to update its local status files.
  • Is your Kindle fully charged?
    Get started with that now, put it on a wall charger to be certain.
  • Only do one step at a time.
    They are intended and designed to be done one at a time.
    At the completion of a step, if the file you previously put at the top level of visible USB storage is still there, remove it.
  • Your Kindle should remain off-line (in airplane mode) during this procedure.

[edit] Step-by-Step:

[edit] 1. Identify nickname

Positively identify the nickname of your Kindle model from the serial number.
Use four of the first six characters, older Kindles: xxxx xx, newer Kindles: xx xxxx in this table:
Serial Number Nicknames
The factory images **are not** model locked, your care taken with this step is your Kindle's only protection! If not found in the table, STOP HERE and tell us.

[edit] 2. Prepare for earlier version of firmware

Prepare your Kindle for running an earlier version of the firmware.

The Kindles have two user storage areas, the one seen over the USB cable and a hidden one.

The process that wipes the hidden one will also wipe what can be seen over the USB cable.

  • Make backup copies of the contents of /documents

You are about to wipe them all out, if you have them pushed to your Kindle's cloud, you should be covered.

You should not need copies of the contents of /system - the 'system' should re-build them for you.

Do not copy the contents of /documents back to the Kindle until after you have returned to the same firmware version that you copied them from.

The indexer might go crazy if you try anything else than 'back to same place, with same version running.

You are about to lose all personalization of your kindle.

You can't reach that hidden directory they are stored in and it is this database that causes most of the problems, so it MUST go. * Home -> Menu -> Settings -> Menu -> Reset

Or whatever the path is on your current firmware version.

This is the infamous "Reset (to factory defaults)" menu choice, but in this case it is a requirement, a must use entry.

This is the ONLY TIME you should ever use the Reset menu entry in the lifetime of the device because it wipes out the jail break survival code that is about to be added in step 6 below.

NEVER AGAIN USE THE "Reset" MENU ENTRY.

Never, ever, unless you intended to wipe out the jailbreak survival code. Which you really, really, need.

If you should happen to trigger the "Reset" action by accident (nobody does it intentionally after reading the above), you can find a package on coplate's snapshots thread that will restore the jailbreak survival code you just destroyed.

The special purpose package linked above is placed in the root of visible USB storage and run using UYK menu entry.

It is intended to install without MrPI even on customer firmware builds as recent as the 5.8.10 version.

[edit] 3. Download initial factory firmware to computer

Download your model's initial factory firmware image to your computer from one of these (IPv4 only) links.

The *.md5 validation file may be used to confirm that the download was complete and correct.

The forum member who was hosting these has decided that the files are widespread enough that they no longer want to pay for hosting. The download '.bin' links now point to google.


[edit] 4. Validate image and transfer to Kindle

After validating the downloaded file (check md5sum!), transfer the initial factory image from your computer to your Kindle.

If you are coming here from the this thread: PW3-4, PW3-32, fw-5.8.9.0.1 software jailbreak, use the 'update_pw3_factory_5.8.9.0.1.bin' for this step: part 1 part 2 After extracting the multi-part ZIP, the .bin has the file size 776814880 bytes and MD5: 5d38744bd01f4cbf457dae4499c3c32a

Do not panic if the update is not immediate, it usually takes 10 minutes or longer.

If there is not a very noticeable delay and when you check USB storage the file has disappeared, that means this method will not work on the firmware version currently installed on your Kindle.

  1. Connect Kindle to PC with the USB cable.
  2. Place the downloaded update_*.bin file in the topmost, visible level of USB storage (alongside of /documents).
  3. Eject and/or Safely Remove (term depends on OS) the Kindle, USB storage.
  4. Remove the USB cable.
  5. Home -> Menu -> Settings -> Menu -> Update Your Kindle
  6. Confirm
  7. Wait


** The PW-2 is a special case at this point in the directions **

    1. Use the prior 'universal jailbreak' from this post:
      Old Universal Jail Break
    2. After completing those directions, skip the next two steps here and continue with Steps #7 and #8 below.

[edit] 5. Download and install firmware jailbreak

Download and install the current version of Branch Delay's factory firmware jail break.This step installs two files, our signature certificate and a 'Jail Broken' document.

If the 'Jail Broken' document is not on your Kindle in the /documents folder after the completion of this step, then the certificate is not on it either!

If this happens to you, stop here and post about the problem, there is no reason to continue if the JB is now missing.

The current version is attached to its release post, see: Factory Image Jail Break

  1. Connect Kindle to PC with the USB cable.
  2. Place the downloaded file (an archive - as is) in the topmost, visible level of USB storage (alongside of /documents).
  3. Eject and/or Safely Remove (term depends on OS) the Kindle, USB storage.
  4. Remove the USB cable.
  5. Home
  6. Search bar, enter code: 
    ;installHtml
    Press 'return'. Yes, the semi-colon is part of the search bar command string.

[edit] 6 Download and install hotfix

Download and install the current 'hotfix'

The current version is attached to its release post, see: Jail Break Survival Code

If you are coming here from the this thread: PW3-4, PW3-32, fw-5.8.9.0.1 software jailbreak, use this one instead.

  1. Unarchive the release archive package.
  2. Connect Kindle to PC with the USB cable.
  3. Place the Update_jailbreak_hotfix_*_install.bin in the topmost, visible level of USB storage (alongside of /documents).
  4. Eject and/or Safely Remove (term depends on OS) the Kindle, USB storage.
  5. Remove the USB cable.
  6. Home -> Menu -> Settings -> Menu -> Update Your Kindle
  7. Confirm
  8. Wait

[edit] 7 Update Kindle to newer firmware version

You can now update your Kindle to a newer firmware version, the jailbreak will survive.

[edit] 8 update_*.bin

All of the models covered in this thread must use one of the two following installation methods for update_*.bin name format packages.

The KOA and KT3 owners must use the new installation methods.
The other device models may use either the old or the new installation methods.

Any of our after-market add-ins, with an update_*.bin format filename requires the use of the Mobileread Package Installer (MrPI).

Get the MR Package Installer from the KUAL and KUAL extensions section of: Thred 225030

This is an "un-archive to top level of visible USB storage" package.

Be sure that the un-archive tool you use has options set to create directories.

KOA and KT3 owners: You must run the installer with your new, search bar command: ;log mrpi

Other models covered in this thread may do the same or may run it from KUAL.

Nearly all of our after-market add-ins require an application launcher.

Get the KUAL package from the KUAL and KUAL extensions section of: Thread 225030

Beginning with version 2.6.40 of the release, the archive contains three (3) different builds of KUAL.

The 'keyboard' version, the '(old) touchscreen' version, and the new 'KOA, KT3' version.

This is not a substitute for reading the README.txt file included in the archive bundle, but ...

KOA and KT3 owners:

You must use the update_*.bin format package of KUAL and you must use the MrPi installer to install it.

Other devices:

The archive still contains the previous 'document' style of KUAL, used by just placing the (correct) KUAL document into the /documents folder of USB storage.

Note: The new (update_*.bin format KUAL) will run on all touchscreen devices running firmware 5.1.2 or newer.

"Nearly all applications require an application launcher" - I was expecting someone to ask . . . .

KUAL is one of the applications that does not required an application launcher.

It has a mime type associated with it that tells the system how to run it, when it is selected.

These update_*.bin package name format packages must be re-installed after each firmware update.

The MrPI application can handle multiple update_*.bin packages at the same time, just put them all in /mrpackages and trigger MrPI.

[edit] Attached Files

File Type: zip install_test_dummy.zip (11.9 KB, 3573 views)
File Type: txt dummy_testupdate.txt (13.5 KB, 2457 views)
File Type: zip adrive_md5_all.zip (1.6 KB, 91 views)
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