So I just acquired a used 4th gen 16gb Fire HD 7"
Im trying to look around, and I keep reading conflicting info on what OS versions can root, do/do not downgrade, use this/that etc.
This is the info i have:
Model: Fire HD 7 (4th gen)
Fire os version: 5.3.1.1
In "noob friendly terms", can someone explain how (or what tutorial to follow) so I can root my tablet, and get TWRP installed so I can load custom roms (plan on replacing this crap fire OS)
ps: If I cant root, is there a way to get the play store, and block all future updates so eventually I can root when the community behind developing those roots catch up?
cheers!
Orvis25 said:
So I just acquired a used 4th gen 16gb Fire HD 7"
Im trying to look around, and I keep reading conflicting info on what OS versions can root, do/do not downgrade, use this/that etc.
This is the info i have:
Model: Fire HD 7 (4th gen)
Fire os version: 5.3.1.1
In "noob friendly terms", can someone explain how (or what tutorial to follow) so I can root my tablet, and get TWRP installed so I can load custom roms (plan on replacing this crap fire OS)
ps: If I cant root, is there a way to get the play store, and block all future updates so eventually I can root when the community behind developing those roots catch up?
cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From latest news, OS 5.3.1 can't be rooted(directly). You'll need to downgrade to 4.5.3, root, and go back to 5.3.1 as explained here
If you want to feel android experience, you can either install custom launcher and Play Store from here or just totally install Cyanogenmod 11 from here
Killa8 said:
From latest news, OS 5.3.1 can't be rooted(directly). You'll need to downgrade to 4.5.3, root, and go back to 5.3.1 as explained here
If you want to feel android experience, you can either install custom launcher and Play Store from here or just totally install Cyanogenmod 11 from here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see the downgrade works with 5.3.1 but does NOT specify if it does for 5.3.1.1. (do not want to brick)
Also, So when/if I risk downgrade to 4.5.3, i can then install TWRP and flash custom roms no problem, correct?
Cheers!
Orvis25 said:
I see the downgrade works with 5.3.1 but does NOT specify if it does for 5.3.1.1. (do not want to brick)
Also, So when/if I risk downgrade to 4.5.3, i can then install TWRP and flash custom roms no problem, correct?
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly
But the worse brick possible for a Fire can be recoverable in most cases (maybe not yours?) Anyway all this is risk ! Try by your own and see
Just to confirm, it does work with 5.3.1.1.
olliebean said:
Just to confirm, it does work with 5.3.1.1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you referring to downgrading to 4.5.3 from 5.3.1.1?
If so, what tutorial/files did you use?
Cheers!
Orvis25 said:
Are you referring to downgrading to 4.5.3 from 5.3.1.1?
If so, what tutorial/files did you use?
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I followed the tutorial here as linked by Killa8 above. Worked perfectly. You can root 4.5.3 with KingRoot, then install TWRP using the .bat script from section 101 of post #2, then following the guide in post #1 use TWRP to flash 5.3.1.1, the 5.3.1 bootloaders, and SuperSU/Xposed/Gapps as required.
@olliebean The tutorial you linked to, in turn seems to link to a tutorial to downgrade to 4.5.3 - however, when I click that link it takes me to a thread on unbricking? I'm a bit confused. I routinely flash HTC, Samsung and Nexus phones with ease and have even rooted and installed CM on the Fire Phones I bought not too long ago, but I'll be honest - the "tutorial" provided here is extremely confusing and unclear, largely due to to all the caveats and changes that have needed to be made as more and more recent OSes have come about. Given your success, could you be so kind as to provide a bit more guidance on how you downgraded to 4.5.3?
I'm confident that once downgraded to 4.5.3, I can root via Kingroot and then run the script to get TWRP on the device and then I'm home free.
Any and all input would be GREATLY appreciated!
@Zwitterion The tutorial here should do the trick - skip step 1 assuming you're currently on v5.x. I didn't bother with JmzFireHDTool either; I just left the temporary OTA block enabled. Not sure what the difference is but it did the job considering I only had 4.5.3 installed temporarily anyway.
olliebean said:
@Zwitterion The tutorial here should do the trick - skip step 1 assuming you're currently on v5.x. I didn't bother with JmzFireHDTool either; I just left the temporary OTA block enabled. Not sure what the difference is but it did the job considering I only had 4.5.3 installed temporarily anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much!! I'll report back if I have any issues but I'm hoping the rest of the tutorial linked by Killa8 is straightforward. Thanks for the tip on the JMZ tool as well. I agree it doesn't make a lot of sense since we are going to upgrade manually again anyway. But perhaps it blocks OTAs even after we arrive back at 5.3.1.1?
Zwitterion said:
Thanks so much!! I'll report back if I have any issues but I'm hoping the rest of the tutorial linked by Killa8 is straightforward. Thanks for the tip on the JMZ tool as well. I agree it doesn't make a lot of sense since we are going to upgrade manually again anyway. But perhaps it blocks OTAs even after we arrive back at 5.3.1.1?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
make_space_v02.zip, which is flashed as part of the tutorial Killa8 linked to, should take care of that.
Ahhh, perfect. Out of curiosity, did you re-upgrade to the current FireOS or go the way of CM? I want something that helps with this atrocious battery life. I'm convinced it's Amazon's OS as I saw a huge increase in battery life when I replaced FireOS with CM on the Fire phones.
Just a note that all went smoothly. I decided to flash CM after downgrading to 4.5.3 and while flashing the CM11 ROM threw a mounting error for /userdata, the flash still worked perfectly. I suspect the error was due to the ROM being built for the HD 6 with a slightly different mount point for that partition.
Thanks for the help @olliebean!
I tried CM but had problems with the headphone volume being too low. Also I didn't want to go back to KitKat after being used to Lollipop. In the end I reinstalled FireOS 5.3.1.1 along with Gapps and Xposed, and changed the default launcher to Nova, which makes it feel pretty much the same as stock Android. As far as battery life goes, I installed Greenify and AppOps and blocked the Keep Awake permissions of Amazon Metrics Service Application, Content Management Service, and Google Play Services (these being the ones that showed up most in Wakelock Detector), and my battery life is fine.
olliebean said:
I tried CM but had problems with the headphone volume being too low. Also I didn't want to go back to KitKat after being used to Lollipop. In the end I reinstalled FireOS 5.3.1.1 along with Gapps and Xposed, and changed the default launcher to Nova, which makes it feel pretty much the same as stock Android. As far as battery life goes, I installed Greenify and AppOps and blocked the Keep Awake permissions of Amazon Metrics Service Application, Content Management Service, and Google Play Services (these being the ones that showed up most in Wakelock Detector), and my battery life is fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know, you hit it on the head. I went on a trip today and both my daughters' complained they couldn't hear the movies playing. I check it out perplexed and, sure enough, finally realized this is a known bug. Pretty catastrophic for my purposes.
Going to do exactly what you did, thanks for the specific guidance! Much appreciated.
I should probably mention, I also used Titanium Backup to freeze all the built-in Amazon apps I wasn't using, which may well have had an effect on the battery life.
can someone recommend a good ROM for my 4th gen HD 7?
Looking for a more "classic" android experience.
Orvis25 said:
can someone recommend a good ROM for my 4th gen HD 7?
Looking for a more "classic" android experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This thread literally discusses your available options.
Related
Rooted my 8.9 on version 14.3.1. In order to get prime music I was considering un-rooting, letting it update to 14.3.2.4 and re-rooting. Has anyone done this?
Any risk or downside? Is there another way to get prime music?
rootnooby said:
Rooted my 8.9 on version 14.3.1. In order to get prime music I was considering un-rooting, letting it update to 14.3.2.4 and re-rooting. Has anyone done this?
Any risk or downside? Is there another way to get prime music?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an 8.9 HDX. I unrooted mine and upgraded to get Prime music and then used towel root to re-root and installed xposed. Had no issues and then I also unrooted and installed the latest update to get better wifi. However there is a rumor going around that a their is an exploit to unlock the bootloader that does not work on the latest update. Since I do not care about a unlocked bootloader I upgraded to latest firmware and re-rooted with towel root and reinstalled xposed and updated su binaries. I have had no issues and all google and amazon services work without a problem. Also, I had to leave mine connected to wifi after the firmware upgrade to get the prime music installed. I believe on mine it installed around 4 hours later.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/kindle-fire-hdx/general/warning-update-to-13-3-2-4-t2802320
BroncoAG said:
I have an 8.9 HDX. I unrooted mine and upgraded to get Prime music and then used towel root to re-root and installed xposed. Had no issues and then I also unrooted and installed the latest update to get better wifi. However there is a rumor going around that a their is an exploit to unlock the bootloader that does not work on the latest update. Since I do not care about a unlocked bootloader I upgraded to latest firmware and re-rooted with towel root and reinstalled xposed and updated su binaries. I have had no issues and all google and amazon services work without a problem. Also, I had to leave mine connected to wifi after the firmware upgrade to get the prime music installed. I believe on mine it installed around 4 hours later.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/kindle-fire-hdx/general/warning-update-to-13-3-2-4-t2802320
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I am in a similar position to you I don't have much interest in custom roms. Can you outline the steps you used to Un-root? Did you Uninstall exposed first and then use super su to clean up and un root? I want to make sure I get the steps correct.
All I did was root, install gapps, xposed, and play store.
rootnooby said:
Thanks. I am in a similar position to you I don't have much interest in custom roms. Can you outline the steps you used to Un-root? Did you Uninstall exposed first and then use super su to clean up and un root? I want to make sure I get the steps correct.
All I did was root, install gapps, xposed, and play store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if this is the correct way but this is what I did. I just ran the system update and installed the latest firmware. After the install the HDX is unrooted. I then ran towel root. After the reboot I ran xposed and reinstalled the framework and modules and then rebooted. After that I ran supersu and updated the binaries. Everything worked for me after that. I did not have to uninstall anything. Hope this helps.
I did not reroot until after I had verified Prime Music was installed. You can either open the music store and will look different and have Prime Music on it or go to manage applications and look at the icon. If the Amazon music icon is green it is the old version if it is orange it is the new version with Prime Music.
BroncoAG said:
I don't know if this is the correct way but this is what I did. I just ran the system update and installed the latest firmware. After the install the HDX is unrooted. I then ran towel root. After the reboot I ran xposed and reinstalled the framework and modules and then rebooted. After that I ran supersu and updated the binaries. Everything worked for me after that. I did not have to uninstall anything. Hope this helps.
I did not reroot until after I had verified Prime Music was installed. You can either open the music store and will look different and have Prime Music on it or go to manage applications and look at the icon. If the Amazon music icon is green it is the old version if it is orange it is the new version with Prime Music.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All worked well for me. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post. All the best to you.
I am thinking of unrooting, what about SafeStrap? Does anything need to be done first for that?
wave_sailor said:
I am thinking of unrooting, what about SafeStrap? Does anything need to be done first for that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why do you want to unroot/upgrade when you could, with a bit of work, install a different ROM which would offer all the goodness of generic Android (think google play store access) along with all prime benefits.
If you still want to 'upgrade' fire OS no need to unroot. Upgrade will handle that nicely. I would dump Safestrap. Just asking for trouble with that in the mix.
It is possible to brick with safestrap, so go back to oem rom, and uninstall it before doing anything or you could be looking for trouble.
Whoa, help me understand. I thought installing a custom rom would cause you to lose all the benefit of having a prime membership. Am I wrong about that? I could still get prime movies and download to my device? I could still download a free book per month through the middle lenders library? What rom would you recommend? I am rooted 14.3.2.6 currently and gapps no longer work since the Google play services upgrade.
rootnooby said:
Whoa, help me understand. I thought installing a custom rom would cause you to lose all the benefit of having a prime membership. Am I wrong about that? I could still get prime movies and download to my device? I could still download a free book per month through the middle lenders library? What rom would you recommend? I am rooted 14.3.2.6 currently and gapps no longer work since the Google play services upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many prime benefits are available on non-FireOS devices including:
- prime video (streaming only; can't download content)
- prime music (full functionality including download)
- Kindle books/magazines (but can't loan/lend; no freebies)
- all non-electronic services (eg: free shipping)
I have great luck with the Nexus variants by @ggow. I also use CM11 on an older Fire tablet; no complaints. However, Nexus remains my favorite.
With 14.3.2.6 you have several paths:
- rollback to 14.3.2.3, unlock bootloader, install TWRP and then flash Nexus or CM (runs natively)
- upgrade to 14.4.5.2, root, install Safestrap v4 and then flash either Nexus or CM. However, once you upgrade you can no longer unlock your bootloader which carries other benefits including the ability to run custom roms natively and more robust recovery capabilities should something go wrong.
- remain on 14.3.2.6, install Safestrap v3 and then flash Nexus v1 to a secondary slot. This option gives you the best of both worlds as you can boot into FireOS (for prime content) or Nexus (for for access to all things Google). However, both roms are Jelly Bean based which is two generations back from Lollipop.
The first path is preferred but more complex. The last is easiest (and least risky) but is an older solution with aging roms. The middle choice is primarily targeted at newer devices that can not roll back or unlock the bootloader (plus reduces your future options). You'll need to decide which is best for you.
Thank you for all the good information. A couple questions. The last option seems like the most interesting to me right now since I will be able to use all the Amazon features and have a better ROM where all the google services will work. However, I'm having a couple issues right now that I'm concerned about. The first is that Amazon music crashes. The second is that I installed GAPPS and the recent update of Google Play services has caused many small issues. Given this, should I factory reset first so I have a clean slate with 14.3.2.6? I want to be sure that a reset won't brick my device. I can root with the toolkit and install safestrap from there.
Also, does the last option work if I were to upgrade to 14.3.2.8? My understanding is that this firmware fixed some bugs in 14.3.2.6.
Thanks again for you input.
Davey126 said:
Many prime benefits are available on non-FireOS devices including:
- prime video (streaming only; can't download content)
- prime music (full functionality including download)
- Kindle books/magazines (but can't loan/lend; no freebies)
- all non-electronic services (eg: free shipping)
I have great luck with the Nexus variants by @ggow. I also use CM11 on an older Fire tablet; no complaints. However, Nexus remains my favorite.
With 14.3.2.6 you have several paths:
- rollback to 14.3.2.3, unlock bootloader, install TWRP and then flash Nexus or CM (runs natively)
- upgrade to 14.4.5.2, root, install Safestrap v4 and then flash either Nexus or CM. However, once you upgrade you can no longer unlock your bootloader which carries other benefits including the ability to run custom roms natively and more robust recovery capabilities should something go wrong.
- remain on 14.3.2.6, install Safestrap v3 and then flash Nexus v1 to a secondary slot. This option gives you the best of both worlds as you can boot into FireOS (for prime content) or Nexus (for for access to all things Google). However, both roms are Jelly Bean based which is two generations back from Lollipop.
The first path is preferred but more complex. The last is easiest (and least risky) but is an older solution with aging roms. The middle choice is primarily targeted at newer devices that can not roll back or unlock the bootloader (plus reduces your future options). You'll need to decide which is best for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rootnooby said:
Thank you for all the good information. A couple questions. The last option seems like the most interesting to me right now since I will be able to use all the Amazon features and have a better ROM where all the google services will work. However, I'm having a couple issues right now that I'm concerned about. The first is that Amazon music crashes. The second is that I installed GAPPS and the recent update of Google Play services has caused many small issues. Given this, should I factory reset first so I have a clean slate with 14.3.2.6? I want to be sure that a reset won't brick my device. I can root with the toolkit and install safestrap from there.
Also, does the last option work if I were to upgrade to 14.3.2.8? My understanding is that this firmware fixed some bugs in 14.3.2.6.
Thanks again for you input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Safestrap v3 does work under 14.3.2.8. However, upgrading beyond 14.3.2.6 eliminates the possibility of unlocking your device's bootloader at a future time. While that may not seem like a big deal now you may ultimately regret the decision.
Factory resets always carry the risk of disabling your device...more so if rooted. You have limited recovery options if that happens with a locked bootloader. Unless the issues with 3.2.6 are severe I wouldn't change anything. Once Safestrap is installed you have some additional options that may prove beneficial in fixing up FireOS.
Cautions:
- make sure you snag the correct version of Safestrap (here). Apollo v3.75.
- ditto for Nexus (here). Safestrap-apollo-nexus-rom-v1.0.1.zip
- get familiar with Safestrap before flashing anything. It is very easy to overwrite the stock slot containing FireOS if you're not careful.
- Nexus goes in slot #1 which you will need to create in advance.
Do you homework (read the relevant threads) before acting. Go slow and know exactly what is expected from each step. Stop and ask questions as needed or if you run into trouble. Don't panic, do a factory reset or take other rash actions. Sounds scary but it only is if you go in blind.
Good luck.
Just to add another small piece to the discussion, the only thing that does not work on nexus or cm, is the prime lending library and some (most?) Kindle comics.
Davey126 said:
Safestrap v3 does work under 14.3.2.8. However, upgrading beyond 14.3.2.6 eliminates the possibility of unlocking your device's bootloader at a future time. While that may not seem like a big deal now you may ultimately regret the decision.
Factory resets always carry the risk of disabling your device...more so if rooted. You have limited recovery options if that happens with a locked bootloader. Unless the issues with 3.2.6 are severe I wouldn't change anything. Once Safestrap is installed you have some additional options that may prove beneficial in fixing up FireOS.
Cautions:
- make sure you snag the correct version of Safestrap (here). Apollo v3.75.
- ditto for Nexus (here). Safestrap-apollo-nexus-rom-v1.0.1.zip
- get familiar with Safestrap before flashing anything. It is very easy to overwrite the stock slot containing FireOS if you're not careful.
- Nexus goes in slot #1 which you will need to create in advance.
Do you homework (read the relevant threads) before acting. Go slow and know exactly what is expected from each step. Stop and ask questions as needed or if you run into trouble. Don't panic, do a factory reset or take other rash actions. Sounds scary but it only is if you go in blind.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The main issue I have with 14.3.2.6 right now is with Amazon music. It constantly crashes. Hopefully that can be fixed because I do use it regularly. I won't upgrade to version 14.3.2.8 for now. I agree that I may regret it later. I'll follow your instructions and let you know how it goes. Thanks for the links to the proper files.
rootnooby said:
The main issue I have with 14.3.2.6 right now is with Amazon music. It constantly crashes. Hopefully that can be fixed because I do use it regularly. I won't upgrade to version 14.3.2.8 for now. I agree that I may regret it later. I'll follow your instructions and let you know how it goes. Thanks for the links to the proper files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you have Safestrap v3 and Nexus installed you can try to 'repair' FireOS in the stock slot. Safestrap v3 has some limited recovery options should something go wrong; you don't have those now making repair attempts risky. I can provide additional detail when ready. That said, you may find Amazon Music works fine in Nexus.
Davey126 said:
Once you have Safestrap v3 and Nexus installed you can try to 'repair' FireOS in the stock slot. Safestrap v3 has some limited recovery options should something go wrong; you don't have those now making repair attempts risky. I can provide additional detail when ready. That said, you may find Amazon Music works fine in Nexus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I now have safestrap and the nexus rom installed in slot 1. Seems to work well. I'd like to try to repair my stock 14.3.2.6 rom. Any insight you can provide slyly be great. Thank you.
rootnooby said:
I now have safestrap and the nexus rom installed in slot 1. Seems to work well. I'd like to try to repair my stock 14.3.2.6 rom. Any insight you can provide slyly be great. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the delayed response. The process is actually quite simple and reasonably safe given you have Nexus to fall back on should something go wrong. See this post for FireOS images that can be Flashed from within Safestrap. Make sure you grab the correct one for your device. Then flash to the stock slot (verify you have toggled back to stock in Safestrap or you will overwrite the currently selected slot which is likely Nexus). The 14.3.2.6 image is rooted with OTA blocked. However, being a belt and suspenders type I would fire up HDX toolkit and block OTA again before enabling WiFi - just to make sure. You definitely do not want to take an update while Safestrap v3 is installed.
Post back if you have any questions.
---------- Post added at 11:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:23 AM ----------
rootnooby said:
I now have safestrap and the nexus rom installed in slot 1. Seems to work well. I'd like to try to repair my stock 14.3.2.6 rom. Any insight you can provide slyly be great. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the delayed response. The process is actually quite simple and reasonably safe given you have Nexus to fall back on should something go wrong. See this post for FireOS images that can be Flashed from within Safestrap. Make sure you grab the correct one for your device. Then flash to the stock slot (verify you have toggled back to stock in Safestrap or you will overwrite the currently selected slot which is likely Nexus). The 14.3.2.6 image is rooted with OTA blocked. However, being a belt and suspenders type I would fire up HDX toolkit and block OTA again before enabling WiFi - just to make sure. You definitely do not want to take an update while Safestrap v3 is installed.
If Amazon Music still crashes after the update then you can try uninstalling/reinstalling the app. You may need some additional tools to accomplish this as FireOS will likely resist attempts to remove preinstalled or 'system' apps.
Post back if you have any questions.
Davey126 said:
Sorry for the delayed response. The process is actually quite simple and reasonably safe given you have Nexus to fall back on should something go wrong. See this post for FireOS images that can be Flashed from within Safestrap. Make sure you grab the correct one for your device. Then flash to the stock slot (verify you have toggled back to stock in Safestrap or you will overwrite the currently selected slot which is likely Nexus). The 14.3.2.6 image is rooted with OTA blocked. However, being a belt and suspenders type I would fire up HDX toolkit and block OTA again before enabling WiFi - just to make sure. You definitely do not want to take an update while Safestrap v3 is installed.
Post back if you have any questions.
---------- Post added at 11:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:23 AM ----------
Sorry for the delayed response. The process is actually quite simple and reasonably safe given you have Nexus to fall back on should something go wrong. See this post for FireOS images that can be Flashed from within Safestrap. Make sure you grab the correct one for your device. Then flash to the stock slot (verify you have toggled back to stock in Safestrap or you will overwrite the currently selected slot which is likely Nexus). The 14.3.2.6 image is rooted with OTA blocked. However, being a belt and suspenders type I would fire up HDX toolkit and block OTA again before enabling WiFi - just to make sure. You definitely do not want to take an update while Safestrap v3 is installed.
If Amazon Music still crashes after the update then you can try uninstalling/reinstalling the app. You may need some additional tools to accomplish this as FireOS will likely resist attempts to remove preinstalled or 'system' apps.
Post back if you have any questions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. I was able to reinstall 14.3.2.6 in the stock partition. Worked well. Also, I uninstalled updates for Amazon music. During the process, the older version was put installed. I was able to open that and play music, however, prime music features were not available. I found the latest APK for amazon music with prime and downloaded it. All it working now, including prime music. Thanks again.
Ha! Spoke too soon! Worked for about 30 minutes. Crashing again
rootnooby said:
Ha! Spoke too soon! Worked for about 30 minutes. Crashing again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rootnooby said:
Thank you. I was able to reinstall 14.3.2.6 in the stock partition. Worked well. Also, I uninstalled updates for Amazon music. During the process, the older version was put installed. I was able to open that and play music, however, prime music features were not available. I found the latest APK for amazon music with prime and downloaded it. All it working now, including prime music. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With root you can attempt a complete uninstall/reinstall which may prove to be more stable. Download/sideload CCleaner which supports this capability in an easy-to-digest UI. There are more advanced tools/techniques if removal proves stubborn.
Q&A for [APOLLO/RECOVERY LOCKED] Safestrap Recovery v3.72/v3.75 [B02 2014-07-03]
Some developers prefer that questions remain separate from their main development thread to help keep things organized. Placing your question within this thread will increase its chances of being answered by a member of the community or by the developer.
Before posting, please use the forum search and read through the discussion thread for [APOLLO/RECOVERY LOCKED] Safestrap Recovery v3.72/v3.75 [B02 2014-07-03]. If you can't find an answer, post it here, being sure to give as much information as possible (firmware version, steps to reproduce, logcat if available) so that you can get help.
Thanks for understanding and for helping to keep XDA neat and tidy!
Fire HDX 8.9 vs Kindle Fire HDX 8.9
Okay, so I have noticed that Hashcode built this for both the 7" and 8.9" versions of the Kindle Fire HDX, but does the 8.9" version here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2612772
Does this support the 3rd generation Fire HDX 8.9" version? I noticed that the download links say it supports systems earlier than 14.3.2.1 and later than 14.3.2.1, but does it support the newer Fire HDX 8.9" system 4.1.1? Judging from what I have researched, I believe that there isn't much difference between 14.3.2.1 and 4.1.1. Has anyone tried to root or install CM on this newest version of the HDX 8.9 yet?
Thanks in advance.
WickdWzrd said:
Okay, so I have noticed that Hashcode built this for both the 7" and 8.9" versions of the Kindle Fire HDX, but does the 8.9" version here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2612772
Does this support the 3rd generation Fire HDX 8.9" version? I noticed that the download links say it supports systems earlier than 14.3.2.1 and later than 14.3.2.1, but does it support the newer Fire HDX 8.9" system 4.1.1? Judging from what I have researched, I believe that there isn't much difference between 14.3.2.1 and 4.1.1. Has anyone tried to root or install CM on this newest version of the HDX 8.9 yet?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's not possible to mod FireOS 4 in any way.
Safestrap apk for Kindle Fire HDX 14.3.2.3.2
Hi I'm trying to install safestrap on my kfhdx, but all the links in the forums seem to be broken. Any suggestions on where I can find this download? Thanks a lot
j1mbo83 said:
Hi I'm trying to install safestrap on my kfhdx, but all the links in the forums seem to be broken. Any suggestions on where I can find this download? Thanks a lot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Available here.
Although I'm not sure why you want to install safestrap as the firmware version you are running (self reported as 14.3.2.3.2) permits flashing 'native' twrp which is far more robust. From there you can flash CM11 or Nexus 2.0.5. With a bit of work you can also unlock your bootloader which opens the door to CM12 and Nexus 4.x. None of these roms work with safestrap.
Safestrap is a primary used by those who cannot flash 'native' twrp (most newer Kindles) and/or if you wish to toggle between Fire OS and Nexus 1.01. Those are the only roms that work with safestrap. Also note you must take steps to block OTA while using Safestrap or risk bricking your device. At present the only method that works reliably is HDX toolkit.
Thanks for the reply, I'm obviously new to this but I've rooted my Kindle, installed Google play, but recently Google has been forcing updates of play services and I'm afraid to mess with anything else until I can either unlock bootloader it install custom recovery, if you could point me in the right direction on how to do this I'd appreciate it. Didn't know I could install twrp. Any directions in layman's terms would help, thanks.
j1mbo83 said:
Thanks for the reply, I'm obviously new to this but I've rooted my Kindle, installed Google play, but recently Google has been forcing updates of play services and I'm afraid to mess with anything else until I can either unlock bootloader it install custom recovery, if you could point me in the right direction on how to do this I'd appreciate it. Didn't know I could install twrp. Any directions in layman's terms would help, thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Installing a custom recovery (twrp) is straight forward given your version of Fire OS. Please confirm you really are on v14.3.2.3.2 and OTA (over-the-air) updates have been blocked and if so, via which method. Did you roll your device back from a higher firmware version? Sorry for all the questions - want to make sure the foundation is solid before taking next steps.
Outline to install custom recovery:
- side load Flashify (here). You can also find/install this from Play Store if working on your device.
- download custom twrp (here); you want Apollo v2.8.6.0
- use Flashify to backup your current recovery (don't skip this step)
- use Flashify to flash (install) the twrp recovery image previously downloaded. You must use this image; don't go downloading/flashing a generic version!
When complete you device will reboot back into Fire OS as if nothing changed. You can verify twrp was correctly installed by powering down and then restarting by pressing power + vol-up. Release the power button when the grey Kindle logo appears; release the vol-up button a few seconds alter. After a few moments a blue logo should appear and you will enter twrp recovery. Have a look around but don't change anything. Reboot you device and post back for further instructions (actually information on next steps; where the fun begins!) .
Be aware that any type of flashing can render your device unusable. The steps outlined above are relatively safe if you follow directions carefully and double check each action before executing. Ask questions in advance; don't panic and start doing unscripted stuff if something goes wrong.
I am running v14.3.2.3.2, I rooted the kindle and blocked OTA updates using hdx toolkit. I did this maybe about 7 months ago and never rolled back. Will these directions still work for me?
j1mbo83 said:
I am running v14.3.2.3.2, I rooted the kindle and blocked OTA updates using hdx toolkit. I did this maybe about 7 months ago and never rolled back. Will these directions still work for me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks good. Just go slow and double check each step. Once twrp is installed and confirmed working you can then flash either the Nexus or CM11 rom which will give you unfettered access to the Play store and all the goodness of a 'generic' android device. Effectively your Kindle looses its identity as an Amazon tablet. Nexus (what I use) has proven rock solid but is getting a bit long in the tooth. CM11 is based on KitKat and only has a minor issues with bluetooth, LTE and occasionally wifi. Most users of this rom are quite happy and can easily work around the issues.
Prior to flashing a new rom you should make a complete backup of your current system in twrp and then store that image on another device. Also keep in mind that once you flash twrp it is very difficult to restore your device to full 'stock'. Assume a one way trip.
Edit: Forgot to mention LTE. At present none of the roms support LTE but that will likely change in the near future. If you have an LTE enabled tablet you'll have to decide if that or play store access is more important.
Thanks. Ok I installed flashify, then followed your link to download and install twrp and it has a note at the top that says to unlock boot loader. I don't think it is unlocked. How do I check this? And if it isn't, how would I go about unlocking it?
---------- Post added at 09:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:11 PM ----------
Ok I successfully installed twrp, created a backup, and saved it to another device. Ready for the next step. Thanks for all your help.
Congrats. If you are asking how to know if you are unlocked, chances are good it is locked. You do not need to unlock the bootloader, but it is highly recommended as once successfully unlocked it is another failsafe, and opens up other roms (like cm 12). To unlock it, I suggest grabbing Draxie's automated (slightly) script from the original dev section. Know that the act of unlocking the bootloader is difficult, and will require you to learn more about your device, but it does pay off in the end.
j1mbo83 said:
Thanks. Ok I installed flashify, then followed your link to download and install twrp and it has a note at the top that says to unlock boot loader. I don't think it is unlocked. How do I check this? And if it isn't, how would I go about unlocking it?
---------- Post added at 09:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:11 PM ----------
Ok I successfully installed twrp, created a backup, and saved it to another device. Ready for the next step. Thanks for all your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Congrats!! See post from lekofraggle (here) which I fully agree with. However, I think you can defer the bootloader unlock for a little while recognizing that it provides an important failsafe should you bork your device and is a prerequisite for some roms (eg: CM12).
Next step involves flashing a rom of your choice. Recognize all aps/data will be wiped; you'll be starting clean. However, anything previously purchased in the play store can be downloaded again assuming you use the same credentials when setting up accounts on the 'new' rom.
Choices:
- Nexus 2.0.5: JellyBean based, rock solid, near AOSP (unmodified Android). Info/links here.
- CM11: KitKat based, popular across numerous Android devices with useful extensions baked in. Some minor BT/WiFi flakiness on HDX devices. Info/links here.
Both roms can also be downloaded using the ROMs tab at the top of this page. Don't go trying anything else. You want HDX Nexus or CM11-Apollo. Magic Beans will also work but carries no significant advantage over the other two and hasn't see much development in recent months.
All ROMs can be flashed from twrp. Be sure to make a backup of your current environment first. Use caution in twrp if you are new to the tool; it's easy to mess things up including a full brick of your device.
I recommend you start with Nexus. It's a great rom that will serve you well; an upgrade (KitKat) is in the works and should be released in the not-too-distant future. CM11 is also a fine choice and offers greater compatibility with some of the more recent app releases. Both are further customizable via Xposed Framework but that's another discussion.
Ok thanks, I downloaded the zips, now I have just one more question (I know, I have a lot...). Do I need to wipe my system before installing new Rom?
j1mbo83 said:
Ok thanks, I downloaded the zips, now I have just one more question (I know, I have a lot...). Do I need to wipe my system before installing new Rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep asking! Lots of devices have died in the hands of ignorant users (not intended to be an insult...were are all ignorant until educated).
In theory you do not need to wipe the device but there have been scattered reports of strange behaviors after performing a 'dirty' flash. My recommendation is to perform a factory reset (under wipe) from within twrp. This will clear data, cache and dalvik while leaving system and internal storage intact. If you opt for an "advanced wipe" select the previous 3 plus system; leave internal storage alone. Do not format or repair; just asking for trouble.
As always make a backup before proceeding and store a copy of that off-device. Short term keep a copy on the device along with the rom image just in case you have to redo something and can't connect via tether. Rare but it does happen.
From many many different threads and frankly confusing instructions I think I have puzzled together the following solid guideline for my kindle fire hdx from basic root to custom rom. Currently my firmware is 13.3.1.0.
Could someone take a look at this and tell me if I got this right or if I need to do stuff differently (or could do them better)? Don't assume that something is obvious, if it isn't written down, don't be shy to mention it. I would be ever so grateful .
Edit: I'm updating my experience as I move along the list and get more info just in case this might be useful to someone who is just as lost as I was in the beginning
Obligatory disclaimer: this is just a step-by-step guideline that worked for me. I'm not responsible if you chose to follow any of these steps and damage or brick your device.
Guideline:
-Download firmware version 3.2.3.2 and upgrade directly from any of the previous version by putting the file into the internal storage of the kindle, going to settings>device>system update on the kindle and installing the update from there.
-Root with Towelroot in the HDX toolkit downloaded from here (Edit: I got various error messages at this step but got it to work in the end. The 3rd post here shows what I did to get it working after getting error message 2 and 3 at various times)
-block OTA also with the tool in the HDX toolkit (is there a way to safely check that this worked? Edit: It worked )
-connect to wifi and install Flashify from the playstore (Edit: I ended up installing File Expert and flashify on another android device, backing up the flashify apk and sideloading it with ES File Explorer from the amazon app store to the kindle, I guess I could have also download the apk somewhere but I have trust issues.)
-download the img of TWRP 2.8.5.0. and put it in internal storage of kindle (had no problems)
-use flashify to save original stock recovery (had no problems)
-Use flashify to flash TWRP (had no problems)
- Boot into recovery mode via flashify to see if it worked (had no problems)
Now either A)
-download CM11 image and gapps and put the zip files on internal storage
-Edit: disconnect Kindle from USB afterwards
- go into TWRP recovery mode (by powering off kindle and then pressing power and volume at the same time)
- make backup of original stockrom under backups and save copy on your Computer
- wipe system, data, cache and dalvik cache under wipe/advanced (all except internal)
- flash cm11 image and gapps (under install and then find them in the files)
- reboot
-Edit: I had the wifi not connecting problem that some people have with CM11 but a reboot took care of it.
-Edit 2: I couldn't get the kindle app to work on CM11 (it wouldn't synch my books, the device wasn't recognized by amazon and it would crash every time I logged in.) so I ended up replacing it with the Nexus rom. If the chance of this happening doesn't bother you then CM11 seems to still be a good choice.
or B)
- download HDX thor nexus rom and gapps and put the zip files on internal storage
- go into TWRP recovery mode (by powering off kindle and then pressing power and volume at the same time)
- make backup of original stockrom under backups and save copy on your Computer
- wipe system, data, cache and dalvik cache under wipe/advanced (all except internal)
- Edit: disconnect Kindle from USB afterwards
- flash nexus rom and gapps (under install and then find them in the files)
- reboot
- Edit: I'm very happy with it, it works flawlessly. Since it's based on Jelly Bean I may try replacing it with another rom sometime in the future, but I'm in no hurry
Mostly correct, you can update directly to 3.2.3.2 no need for incremental steps. The only way to know if ota blocker worked is to check for update but there's really no need, as soon as you've run towel root just disable WiFi as it won't be needed anymore.
Where is unlock bootloader? As I know, you cannot flash TWRP without unlocking bootloader?!
uhraman said:
Where is unlock bootloader? As I know, you cannot flash TWRP without unlocking bootloader?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can flash a cuber signed TWRP on a locked bootloader, as long as you're below 3.2.4.
derpadoodle said:
You can flash a cuber signed TWRP on a locked bootloader, as long as you're below 3.2.4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your replies! Is the method uhraman hinted at the better one?
snorklm said:
Thanks for your replies! Is the method uhraman hinted at the better one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fully unlocking your bootloader is definitely worthwhile but it's quite a complicated endeavour and not required for running the current custom recoveries and ROMs. I'd recommend you stick with your current method and read up on the unlocking process once you're more conformable working with this device.
derpadoodle said:
Fully unlocking your bootloader is definitely worthwhile but it's quite a complicated endeavour and not required for running the current custom recoveries and ROMs. I'd recommend you stick with your current method and read up on the unlocking process once you're more conformable working with this device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could I bother you to give me a few examples on *why* it is worthwhile? Thanks!
snorklm said:
Could I bother you to give me a few examples on *why* it is worthwhile? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- more robust recovery options when recovery (TWRP) is damaged/inaccessible; better chance of reviving a bricked device
- some custom roms install/operate better with unlocked BL (technically should not be needed but sometimes seen in early builds)
- some DRM aware apps on custom roms work better with unlocked BL(eg: playstore, prime)
Guidance form derpadoodle is sound. Enjoy what you have achieved thus far; revisit BL unlock when you are more comfortable with device/technique.
Davey126 said:
- more robust recovery options when recovery (TWRP) is damaged/inaccessible; better chance of reviving a bricked device
- some custom roms install/operate better with unlocked BL (technically should not be needed but sometimes seen in early builds)
- some DRM aware apps on custom roms work better with unlocked BL(eg: playstore, prime)
Guidance form derpadoodle is sound. Enjoy what you have achieved thus far; revisit BL unlock when you are more comfortable with device/technique.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the sound advice, I will probably never feel comfortable enough for that , especially because I haven't achieved much at all yet. I haven't even flashed TWPR yet.
Yay, I did it. CM11 seems to be working as intended! Thanks again for everyone who replied and also to everyone who put so much work into making and improving all the tools and software necessary to make this kind of thing even possible, I appreciate it!
What firmware were you on to begin your process mate... ?
B3NJY said:
What firmware were you on to begin your process mate... ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was on 3.0.5 when I got the device. Amazon didn't upgrade the firmware at all before sending it out, then I upgraded to 13.3.2.3. Why do you ask?
Hmm, I have now noticed that the kindle app is not working properly. I can sign in (though every time I sign in or deregister my account the app crashes) but it's not synching any of my books. They don't show up at all. The device (named android device 2 in the kindle app settings) does also not show up under my devices on amazon. Anyone know what the problem could be because this is a bit frustrating. Is this a bug with CM11 or with the amazon app?
snorklm said:
Hmm, I have now noticed that the kindle app is not working properly. I can sign in (though every time I sign in or deregister my account the app crashes) but it's not synching any of my books. They don't show up at all. The device (named android device 2 in the kindle app settings) does also not show up under my devices on amazon. Anyone know what the problem could be because this is a bit frustrating. Is this a bug with CM11 or with the amazon app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't say definitively but I would lean towards CM11 as all Amazon apps (kindle/prime/shopping/video) work fine with the Nexus ROM (v2.0.5) which is layered on the same hw/fw base as CM11. Don't get me wrong; CM11 (and the devs who adapted to the HDX) are great! But there may still be a few hiccups with native Amazon apps.
Davey126 said:
Can't say definitively but I would lean towards CM11 as all Amazon apps (kindle/prime/shopping/video) work fine with the Nexus ROM (v2.0.5) which is layered on the same hw/fw base as CM11. Don't get me wrong; CM11 (and the devs who adapted to the HDX) are great! But there may still be a few hiccups with native Amazon apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the opinion! I couldn't find any solution to the problem anywhere online and therefore just finished replacing CM11 with the Nexus rom, now the kindle app works perfectly fine and I'm very satisfied with what I've got. I will keep an eye out on rom development but for now I'm resting on my laurels :victory:. Considering that I was helplessly lost when I first came to the board I'm very happy with how smoothly everything went. But I really needed that step-by-step list I made and the assurance from the pros that it was correct, otherwise I would have probably made a careless mistake :silly:. Maybe it will be useful to a few other newbies as well. Not sure I will ever dare to fully unlock the bootloader like some suggested I might want to do at a later point in time, but we will see . Thanks again for the help!
snorklm said:
Thanks for the opinion! I couldn't find any solution to the problem anywhere online and therefore just finished replacing CM11 with the Nexus rom, now the kindle app works perfectly fine and I'm very satisfied with what I've got. I will keep an eye out on rom development but for now I'm resting on my laurels :victory:. Considering that I was helplessly lost when I first came to the board I'm very happy with how smoothly everything went. But I really needed that step-by-step list I made and the assurance from the pros that it was correct, otherwise I would have probably made a careless mistake :silly:. Maybe it will be useful to a few other newbies as well. Not sure I will ever dare to fully unlock the bootloader like some suggested I might want to do at a later point in time, but we will see . Thanks again for the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to hear everything is working well! My daily driver is on Nexus and I could not be happier. Everything works as it should. No need to unlock the bootloader unless you plan to do more modding. Enjoy your device!
Nice. I think everybody needs this kind of guide. Whenever a question is asked it just kind of trails off most of the time.
I'm still working on the downgrade piece.
johnwaters said:
Nice. I think everybody needs this kind of guide. Whenever a question is asked it just kind of trails off most of the time.
I'm still working on the downgrade piece.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, I was overwhelmed by all the different threads and possibilities at first. I ended up approaching it like any other research project for a paper or presentation and dumped every solid (and recent) piece of good advice into Evernote and sorting it out there. But writing and updating guides (especially with the fast development I have observed) would be a lot of work, I understand completely why no one would volunteer to do it and everybody would rather answer questions on a case by case basis.
First of all thank you very much! I was looking for something like this, since i am also new to rooting devices and this stuff...
I got a new fire hdx 7 with 13.3.02
I haven't tried anything yet, I am still reading threads and i got some questions here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/kindle-fire-hdx/general/update-1314-4-1-1-probably-sangria-t2901813
-> I can only find 3.2.3.2 here, which is the firmware u used? Or did you mean another one?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2665683
-> the second link for hdx toolkit isnt working
How do i get the playstore on my device?
are there anywhere more informations regarding flashify? since i have no idea what this is...
thank you!
dynein said:
First of all thank you very much! I was looking for something like this, since i am also new to rooting devices and this stuff...
I got a new fire hdx 7 with 13.3.02
I haven't tried anything yet, I am still reading threads and i got some questions here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/kindle-fire-hdx/general/update-1314-4-1-1-probably-sangria-t2901813
-> I can only find 3.2.3.2 here, which is the firmware u used? Or did you mean another one?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2665683
-> the second link for hdx toolkit isnt working
How do i get the playstore on my device?
are there anywhere more informations regarding flashify? since i have no idea what this is...
thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First thing you want to do is block OTA (over the air updates) or your device may be upgraded by Amazon to a level that gives you less options. Suggest using HDX Toolkit (here) to both root and block OTA. Then install twrp (here). From there you can opt to replace Fire OS will several different roms including Nexus, CM11 or CM12.
Flashify is an app that allows flashing recovery and roms from from within Android vs adb or a recovery environment. You can grab it from the Play store or another market. It's a dangerous tool; use with extreme caution.
Be aware that any of the above actions, if executed incorrectly, can permanently brick your device with little/no hope of recovery (guess that's the definition of permanent). Read, read and read some more before taking any action. Be sure to keep WiFi off on your device until OTA is blocked to prevent auto-updates.
tldr;
So Optimal solution would be to get Gapps working on Stock 13.3.0.5, and from there I'll install and android launcher. But to do this, the Xposed problem will need to be fixed.
Has anyone else had a problem with Xposed where every menu leads to just a blank white screen?
Not-so-optimal would be to do all the upgrading, OTA blocking, flashing, and backing up to get it on like CM11 or something.
Hey all,
I just made my XDA account, I've been kinda lurking on the forums for a little while though.
I won a Kindle Fire HDX 7" (idk What gen or how to determine what gen it is. Its got 2gb RAM and 32gb Internal) that says its running 13.3.0.5 and so I decided to do a little research about custom roms and rooting and found this wonderful forum. I've had a bit of experience with custom roms, I loaded CM9 onto an LG Thrive (look that one up, its a bit of a pain to flash as well) And I'd love to see about flashing this brand new FHDX.
Now, I didn't purchase this tablet, so it is of no expense to me, however, I would rather not be reckless in my attempts to mess with it.
What I want:
Google Apps -- Play/Music/Gmail/Calendar/etc
Root
Android JB or KK OS or Android-like Launcher or Ubuntu Touch (idk about this one, it seems really cool, I've heard about it for a long time and never got the chance to play with it)
I'd love to stay away from bricks, but I'm not afraid of them enough to not flash it. I'm a computer engineer and kinda have some experience with android and flashing.
Now, as to my progress so far:
I've rooted it with towelroot and installed ES FileManager, SuperSU, and I've tried to install Xposed/HDXposed multiple times but it simply will not work correctly. Xposed gives me a white screen when I go into any of the menus and doesn't allow me to install after clicking "Framework". I've tried many different renditions of Gapps packages, but almost all of them result in a process failing or stopping.
Thanks and if you need more information or I've left something out, feel free to ask away!
b1nary
UPDATE:
I turned wifi on for a little bit and my Kindle decided it wanted to update, so now its running 13.3.2.5 :/
I've put it in airplane mode, and I'm thinking about doing this to downgrade it.
b1nary.v01d said:
UPDATE:
I turned wifi on for a little bit and my Kindle decided it wanted to update, so now its running 13.3.2.5 :/
I've put it in airplane mode, and I'm thinking about doing this to downgrade it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure what you're up to, but I'd suggest to downgrade to 3.1.0 using the procedure in the thread you linked to (be sure to scroll down for the procedure for 3.2.5/3.2.6 because you can NOT use the edited build number anymore!), then install TWRP, unlock the bootloader and flash a ROM of your choice.
You're up to that? Or what's on your mind?
Yea, sounds great! I'll post my progress as I get things going.
btw I love your name if its a play on Tom Clancy. Love those books and the games inspired by them!
b1nary.v01d said:
Yea, sounds great! I'll post my progress as I get things going.
btw I love your name if its a play on Tom Clancy. Love those books and the games inspired by them!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, basic approach is here. Lots of info to read, so any questions just ask, before you brick your HDX.
I'm now Rooted running on 13.3.1.0
I've disabled OTA updates as well. From here I'll pick the rom I want to d/l, get TWRP installed, unlock bootloader with python/.unlock file, and flash the rom.
(I'll edit this post as I finish things)
Thanks!
b1nary.v01d said:
I'm now Rooted running on 13.3.1.0
I've disabled OTA updates as well. From here I'll pick the rom I want to d/l, get TWRP installed, unlock bootloader with python/.unlock file, and flash the rom.
(I'll edit this post as I finish things)
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, don't forget to make a backup of Fire OS in TWRP (and move it to your PC) before you flash any custom ROM. Might be useful one day.
Alright!!
I'm backed up, unlocked, custom recovery'd, and flashed to the new Nexus KitKat 4.4.4!
Thanks so much for the help Cl4ncy both in this thread and all the others.
And thanks to the XDA community for hosting all these awesome tools!
Now to have some fun with my new psuedo-nexus 7" tablet >
b1nary
Warning: Potentially long post ahead with mini-intro/rant
Hi XDA! I'm a noob new user/newbie when it comes to rooting. I have some (little) experience with jailbreaking my iPhone previously (It turned out very well), when the guy I paid to do so practically bricked my old one (SHEESH, you can't count on other people to do these things, better do them yourself) but have not tackled rooting Android devices yet.
I have a 3rd gen Kindle Fire HDX 7" (Thor).
Don't get me wrong, I love my Kindle. It's been an awesome pal for the past two years, aside from the loose charging port, the lack of interesting stuff on the Amazon appstore, and the inability to change or customize YOUR device, I decided it was time to "get my feet wet". I've been coming back to these forums over the past few months, in hopes of finding a root for 4.5.5.2 but I'd always chicken out in fear of bricking it. Eventually, I learned that to root, I need to rollback to a certain firmware.
OKAY, so I've done a little reading here and there in the past two hours (or more) and have gathered the following information so far (if there's something worth clarifying or expounding, please do!):
Point 1: The steps are, in order: Rollback to 3.2.8, upgrade to 4.5.2, root, block OTA, install Safestrap v4, and (optional) flash custom ROM.
My options are CM11 and Nexus 4 as of the moment (from what I've seen on these forums, but CM11 has been discontinued[????] and there's a newer version of HDX Nexus ROM v4 called Fire Nexus ROM somewhere if I'm not mistaken)
Question: Which do you suggest? CM11 or Nexus 4? What are the pros and cons of each?
Point 2: I understand that I need to download everything in advance and store them in a unique folder so that it'd be easier for me later on.
Question: Do you recommend that I factory reset my Kindle before anything else and THEN download everything I need in preparation? Won't these downloads be deleted/removed if I rollback my device to 3.2.8? I'm planning on creating a backup of these files on my PC in case something goes wrong or missing.
Point 3: I saw something that said
It was only tested with 14.4.5.2, but should also work with 13.4.5.2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Question: What's the difference between 14.4.5.2 and 13.4.5.2? I haven't dug deep enough in the forums to know if there's an answer to the question, but I made this thread to clear up everything I'm unsure of.
Point 4: Before anything, I know I've got to understand the basics of ADB before even attempting any of this (like commands and such). In one of the threads, I saw this:
"Install minimal adb + fastboot......"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Question: What's the difference between minimal adb versus the whole package/thing? Shouldn't it be better to just download or install the full thing (no matter how big the file/program/application is)? What are the pros and cons?
YES, I know I have to understand what USB debug means and/or how to enable it. (I bookmarked an article for further reading soon, but already have enabled the setting within my device).
Other things I've gathered so far:
-Always have a copy of ES File Explorer along with other important files.
Never perform a factory reset unless specifically advised to do so by someone experienced with HDX devices....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-Use a Windows PC/laptop. I'm using a mac, which is basically useless for games and the like not ideal when rooting. (Tiny question. Do I really need to install Linux/Ubuntu even if I can use someone's Windows PC/lappy to root?
-To root successfully, I've got to enable mock locations from developer options (already did).
-Before installing/flashing custom ROMS, I need to make a backup of the stock ROM.
CONCERNS:
Known issues regarding safestrap include secondary slots which boot but the WiFi module doesn't load (Which means I have to flash Nexus v4 to the STOCK SLOT for now [?????] is there any workaround for this? Because from what I've read so far, tampering with the stock is a big NO-NO unless you know what you're doing or in this case, "...unless I know what I'm doing.".) Or at least any reassurance? A safe, fool-proof way of doing this without at least bricking my device (likely)?
That's all I've got so far. I've compiled everything the basic things I need to know in a notepad, from steps and instructions, to tuts and download links.
Apologies for my english, this is not my native language
Thanks to whoever can answer some of my questions! Cheers and good day :laugh:
Don't even think about using safestrap, it might as well be a death trap if u brick ur device ur screwed. The best thing u could do is downgrade to 3.2.8 https://forum.xda-developers.com/kindle-fire-hdx/general/rollback-13-3-2-8-rollback-ota-captured-t3046204 unlock your bootloader https://forum.xda-developers.com/kindle-fire-hdx/general/thor-unlocking-bootloader-firmware-t3463982 (maybe get a tech savvy friend to help u with that one) it looks hard but it's actually very simple the way he explains it makes it more difficult than it really is. And if you want a stable rom with good user customization I'd get cm11. Also u don't really have to upgrade to 4.5.2 everything works great starting out from 3.2.8
CocoBun said:
Don't even think about using safestrap, it might as well be a death trap if u brick ur device ur screwed. The best thing u could do is downgrade to 3.2.8 https://forum.xda-developers.com/ki...lback-13-3-2-8-rollback-ota-captured-t3046204 unlock your bootloader https://forum.xda-developers.com/kindle-fire-hdx/general/thor-unlocking-bootloader-firmware-t3463982 (maybe get a tech savvy friend to help u with that one) it looks hard but it's actually very simple the way he explains it makes it more difficult than it really is. And if you want a stable rom with good user customization I'd get cm11. Also u don't really have to upgrade to 4.5.2 everything works great starting out from 3.2.8
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Agreed. Be sure to stay off the network while on 3.2.8; if the device takes an OTA update it WILL brick with no possible recovey. Use TowelRoot to root; quick/reliable on FireOS v3. No need to update to 4.5.2; doing so adds risk/complexity with no corresponding benefit.
KingOroot PC edition (yes KingORoot not Kingroot) will root 4.5.5.2 in less than a minute, used it very recently having previously rooted 4.5.5.1 with Kingroot. In both case unlock the bootloader flashed twrp and put nexus ROM on without issue
Mr McBoatface said:
KingOroot PC edition (yes KingORoot not Kingroot) will root 4.5.5.2 in less than a minute, used it very recently having previously rooted 4.5.5.1 with Kingroot. In both case unlock the bootloader flashed twrp and put nexus ROM on without issue
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Yes, kingOroot was previously identified as a potential root solution for 4.5.5.2. Sometimes it works...other times not. Kinda like KingRoot on the 5th gen Fire. When it fails the leftovers can be onerous to deal with on unrooted device. If root is secured I recommend immediately unlocking the bootloader following by a comprehensive wipe before flashing a custom ROM. KingOroot does not enjoy a stellar reputation.