ADB for 3rd Gen Fire HDX - Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot

I'm a noob to the club here and to many things discussed on the forums. I have a 3rd Gen Fire HDX 13.4.5.2 that I bought for my soon to be wife. I feel horrible that she doesn't like it as is. My bad. ADB is up and running well on my laptop. I even managed to reboot the device using such commands but don't want to brick it. But I realize that I know just enough to be dangerous. I haven't seen any threads on fast boot commands by which I can boot into TWRP and command the device into a custom ROM with Super SU and Gapps. Ibut I am still ignorant as to which .zip files need to be loaded into the device and the cable doesn't appear necessary. I have seen a thread on how to do this but it appears to be on a 1st Gen device when things were much more simple. I would like for he to use it for more than a table coaster! I stopped while I was ahead! A factory fast boot cable may get me directly into Recovery know that this may seem to simple to you, the Developers from which I'm asking but it is a hurdle I can't leap myself. I managed this on my Android phone, however this seems at least, monumentally more challenging. If I'm incorrect that this is possible, by all means, tell me but please be kind, as I'm learning and tell me the best way to achieve the desired results and not stop at making me feel any more stupid than I am feeling. I'm counting on you. She won't marry me until I fix it. Save a marriage! LOL!!!

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Sandman1210 said:
I'm a noob to the club here and to many things discussed on the forums. I have a 3rd Gen Fire HDX 13.4.5.2 that I bought for my soon to be wife. I feel horrible that she doesn't like it as is. My bad. ADB is up and running well on my laptop. I even managed to reboot the device using such commands but don't want to brick it. But I realize that I know just enough to be dangerous. I haven't seen any threads on fast boot commands by which I can boot into TWRP and command the device into a custom ROM with Super SU and Gapps. Ibut I am still ignorant as to which .zip files need to be loaded into the device and the cable doesn't appear necessary. I have seen a thread on how to do this but it appears to be on a 1st Gen device when things were much more simple. I would like for he to use it for more than a table coaster! I stopped while I was ahead! A factory fast boot cable may get me directly into Recovery know that this may seem to simple to you, the Developers from which I'm asking but it is a hurdle I can't leap myself. I managed this on my Android phone, however this seems at least, monumentally more challenging. If I'm incorrect that this is possible, by all means, tell me but please be kind, as I'm learning and tell me the best way to achieve the desired results and not stop at making me feel any more stupid than I am feeling. I'm counting on you. She won't marry me until I fix it. Save a marriage! LOL!!!
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Your best option is to root, install Safestrap v4 and then replace FireOS with either Nexus v4 or CM-11. That will transform the device into something akin to a Nexus 7 which will probably be more appealing to the intended recipient.
You can not install TWRP or a custom ROM on this device without the help of Safestrap as the bootloader is locked with no ability to unlock. Nor do you want to commingle GAaps (Google Play Framework/Service/Store in particular) with FireOS as they don't play well together on v4. FireOS v5 is much more accommodating but that is not an option for 3rd gen devices.
Set aside thoughts of layering on components via ADB and recovering with a factory/fastboot cable if things go bad. HDXs are sensitive devices that are easy to brick and nearly impossible to recover. Factory cables are useless on this device as is the fastboot environment with a locked bootloader.
Hopefully you have stayed of WiFi to prevent an auto-upgrade to FireOS 4.5.5. Device must be on 4.5.2 to run Safestrap v4. Rolling back from 4.5.5 -> 4.5.2 is not straight forward and entails some risk if instructions are not followed.
Path forward:
- as mentioned stay off WiFi until OTA (over-the-air) updates are blocked
- root with Kingroot. You will need to enable WiFi for a brief period. Watch for OTAs when connected. Once rooted immediately reboot tablet to flush the partially downloaded update. If you have a fast internet connection you may want to root from location with pokey public WiFi such as a coffee shop or library. You don't want the full 4.5.5 update to download while you are rooting.
- sideload ES File Explorer via 'adb install' and use it to block OTA by renaming DeviceSoftwareOTA.apk in /system/priv-app/ to something benign. Once complete you can safely reenable WiFi.
- install Safestrap v4. Once Safestrap is installed NEVER perform a factory reset from the native device recovery menu; your device will brick.
- from Safestrap recovery (which looks a lot like twrp) backup your existing FireOS installation
- download and flash either Nexus v4 or CM11
There are several threads and hundreds of posts covering the details associated with each step. Unfortunately, no guides or how-to videos. Suggest reading through the Safestrap v4, CM11 and Nexus v4 threads to get started. You'll also find related posts in the HDX General and Q&A forums. Ask questions as your knowledge evolves. Have a plan, know the expected (and unexpected) outcomes of each action, never assume or guess. The answer to "what could it hurt" is "everything".
Good luck.