yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
I bought a used Kindle FIre HDX 7, it already has HDX Nexus ROM - v4.0.5@ggow but when i attempt going to recovery it shows an original kindle recovery with options to reset the device or reboot (logo is orange). I want to try another ROM as this one is so glitchy and has tons of bugs and even developer has abandoned it and suggested to upgrade to another.

Can you kindly advise me how to proceed from this one. Should i just install another ROM or unlock bootloader (which i am not aware whether it's locked or not and don't even know its firmware also) or how can i install a custom recovery and which one is better (is it possible to bring it back to fire os? or will that be dangerous?) but i think it is rooted since super su doesn't complain.

Please guide me.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] DB126:
- device is almost certainly rooted if running Nexus ROM

- strongly recommend unlocking bootloader which allows device to run any custom HDX ROM including LinOS 14.1 (Nougat base) released in 2016

- restoring FireOS v4 remains an option albeit not recommended (no benefit)

Bootloader unlocking instructions can be found here. Note step #2 is documented in first post of this thread (aka "OP"). Assume you familar with TWRP for updating ROM once device is unlocked.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] unhappybirthday:
Davey beat me to the response. That guy is quick! He is more experienced with this than I am so if you see any discrepancies, go with what he wrote. I think my response is compatible with his, though.

If the stock kindle recovery is installed, then you probably do not have unlocked bootloader and have safestrap pseudo-recovery installed. Do not do anything from the stock recovery or it is likely you will hard brick the device.

If you don't want to attempt an unlock, I strongly suggest updating to the Fire Nexus ROM. It is rock solid and clean. With safestrap, you also have the option of CM11 . Make sure you are on the right firmware and safestrap 4.0.1. I think there are FireOS ROMs in the development section that are safestrap-friendly if you want to go that direction.

If you want to attempt unlock, read the first post in this forum. Prerequisites and step 2 are necessary. Steps 1 and 3 (creating unlock code and installing unlock code) have been replaced with this much easier (in my opinion) procedure: https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=70881555&postcount=550. Do this after step 2 in the first post. I recommend having a replacement ROM ready to flash (in device storage) after this in case your device does not want to boot back into the safestrap ROM. There are a number of ROMs to choose from but there will be certain issues with ROMs newer than KitKat.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] DB126:
- bootloader must be unlocked to install LinOS 14.1

- see previous post for unlocking guidance

- you are correct - it isn't that hard

- ask for clarifications as needed keeping in mind this thread is your best resource
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] unhappybirthday:
deleted
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
Thank you very much for your response. I do want to unlock bootloader and reading all those related threads (though it's all messed up, someone should consider creating a sticky thread/ guide regarding many such things). Now the question is from where should i start, i don't know the firmware version so how to unlock it? I am using TWRP recovery on samsung galaxy phone but reading to learn how to install it in my kindle fire HDX 7. If you have some suggestions kindly do guide me.

thanks
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] DB126:
- don't need to know firmware version to initiate a bootloader unlock

- follow the link previously provided; ask questions as needed

- not personally interested in writing another 'how to' for the latest newcomer

- as for cleaning up the thread that "someone" could be you! :)
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
thanks, i think i can proceed. I will ask you as i go ahead and as needed. I am reading the thread. I could clean things up but first need to understand things by myself.

---------- Post added at 04:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:14 PM ----------

thanks for your response, i just saw it. I don't know which firmware or bootstrap it is on (if you know a way do tell me). I think i better unlock bootloader and enjoy full rom installation. can you advise a rom that is rock solid and everything works and is butter smooth and not glitchy at all in any android version (mine is wifi only version so don't mind radio/cellular connectivity).

thanks i will further query as needed and i will attempt bootloader unlock. any other relevant information may kindly be mentioned as i am reading thru this and TWRP recovery thread.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] DB126:
Solid guidance; 100% spot on. :)

---------- Post added at 06:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:30 PM ----------

Suggest going with Fire Nexus ROM for now as suggested by [MENTION=3734064]unhappybirthday[/MENTION]. Can unlock later if desired. One step at a time; don't get in over your head.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] Shoog03:
The only difficult part to unlocking my Kindle was in getting Fastboot working on my PC. ADB tends to work easily - but Fastboot drivers are very specific. IF you go back to one of my earlier posts you will find a link to a XDA thread which tells you how to get fastboot working. Until you get a serial number returned from "fastboot devices" you are not going to get an unlock code.

Once I got fastboot working the whole unlock procedure was a piece of cake, though I have to agree that the unlock procedure described at the start of this thread has a few glaring mistakes which will confuse and lead people astray. I am specifically referring to the tool used to generate the unlock code and the fact that it generates a different unlock file to the one described. Could do with a clean up alright, but the fundamental path is sound.

As an aside, my wife is still happily using CM11 on a Safestrap enabled Kindle HDX7 which I set up for her over a year ago. Absolutely stable and very functional.

Shoog
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
With device running, i launched minimal adb and fastboot file as administrator from windows 7 and ran adb shell command which recognized thor device but strangely did not allow su to run, permission denied. I think its not properly rooted, how can i root it (i don't know firmware version),any ideas?
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] DB126:
Well, it's possible to install/run Nexus 4.0.5 w/o root. Snag a freebie root checker from the Play Store to confirm status. Might have to flash an older SuperSU build ... although might not be necessary if Safestrap is installed. Have to give that a think. Post back w/findings.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] draxie:
Just out of curiosity: was this on a Thor or an Apollo? (You only refered to it as "HDX", which could be either. ;))
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] RambaaZambaa:
Thor.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] best.grafix:
Problems with unlocking..

Hi,

iam trying to unlock the bootloader but stuck at some point:

adb shell

cat /sys/block/mmcblk0/device/manfid

0x000015

cat /sys/block/mmcblk0/device/serial

0x5960ba33

Installed python and gmpy2 and the python.exe cuberHDX.py is script is working foritself .

But dont unterstand the composition of 0xmmssssssss.

I know that mm is manfid and ssssssss ist the serial.

but means the mm first 2 numbers after 0x , which where 00.

And the ssssssss looks like the whole serial without 0x , which is 5960ba33

tried

python.exe cuberHDX.py 0x000x5960ba33 and python.exe cuberHDX.py 0x150x5960ba33

creates me a unlock file.

Following also worked.

adb shell
su
dd if=/sdcard/twrp_cubed.img of=/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/recovery
dd if=/sdcard/aboot_vuln.mbn of=/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/aboot

Now iam stucking at fastboot ready on Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 and trying to unlock which doent work

fastboot -i 0x1949 flash unlock 0x005960ba33.unlock

fastboot -i 0x1949 flash unlock 0x155960ba33.unlock

only gaves me < waiting for any device >

tried stuff like that

fastboot -i 0x005960ba33 flash unlock 0x005960ba33.unlock

error: invalid vendor id '0x005960ba33'

hope sombody can help :)

A already uninstalled safestrap , root is still there.

TWRP is working, but what i have to do to get the tablet working, flashing a modified stockimage via TWRP ?

Thanks for reading...
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] Cl4ncy:
You must use the

last

two digits of the manfid, not the first two. ;)

EDIT:

Sorry, I just saw you tried that, too, and now you're stuck with the "waiting for device" issue. That is (using Windows) usually solved by using the PDANet Drivers available here: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=59268023&postcount=8

And btw, the command to create the unlock file must be python.exe cuberHDX.py 0x155960ba33 without the second 0x! ;)

Should give you this unlock file: http://www118.zippyshare.com/v/gR56suoS/file.html
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] ggow:
[MENTION=5594063]ONYXis[/MENTION]

This rocks, well done :highfive:
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] ONYXis:
this is right

no need flash anything before you unlock

correct

this is driver-related

did you install my original drivers? or you can do this on linux without drivers with only fastboot installed.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] best.grafix:
Thanks a lot,

had problems installing the drivers , windows dont like unsigend drivers, after disabling it, i could install them and the unlock was succesfully.

Many thanks for the fast help.

Update: Still stuck at fastboot mode - VLUP/DN dont brings me to recovery, tried to flash with fastboot cm13 recovery, only said waiting for device....
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] ONYXis:
of course

now you need to flash something from list at the bottom of OP - CM12.1 or 13 or repacked stock rom through TWRP 3.0 that already installed on your device.

Press VOLUP + power when device reboot - keep hold volup without power . you should boot into twrp

try to flash twrp cubed for apollo that you already downloaded

fastboot -i 0x1949 flash recovery twrp_cubed.img

or try just boot it

fastboot -i 0x1949 boot twrp_cubed.img
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] vortox:
[MENTION=5594063]ONYXis[/MENTION]

Good discovery, great job :good:
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] FotixChiang:
Hi ONYXis, I read the words again. And here is my question.

I noticed that you suggest do not flash stock firmware. So I just want to know if I flashed, what will happen?

Will the device get bricked? If not, which version could i choose, just like the original one? If yes, what can i do when i want my stock system back with everything just like before?
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] ONYXis:
if you'll flash original stock firmware - you will get original stock firmware =)

with locked bootloader. nothing will happen really.

caution because locking bootloader. and I do not sure about versions , assuming that need to flash version >=4.5.5.2 (or 3.2.8)
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] FotixChiang:
So, if the original version is 3.2.8 or later, could i flash the 3.2.3 or earlier version after bl unlocked?
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] ONYXis:
I do not know really and do not want to check, sorry)

I sure that no risk with last version and "rollback"-version (we say about original, not repacked firmwares).

with other - I think if sbl1 will be earlier version that one in device, you could brick. but it is only my theory.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] Fallingwater:
Does anything change according to what bootloader is currently installed? I have version 3.2.4 right now (FireOS is not installed - I have SafeStrap running an old version of Nexus HDX in the stock slot).

I'm guessing not since if I understand correctly the proper bootloader gets flashed over the one currently on the device during the procedure, but it doesn't hurt to ask...
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] bucketmouth:
great job ONYXis!!!
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] ONYXis:
Only difference is - after step 2 you need to reboot you device in fastboot with "adb reboot bootloader".
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] FidiS:
Thanks a lot ONYXis.

I was on SAFESTRAP with Nexus ROM with Version 4.5.5.1. Now: CM13. :D

FidiS
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] Kokos92:
unlock file

Hi! Please. Can you make me unlock file?

Thanks a lot

0x000015

0x5f86b072

C:\Python27>fastboot -i 0x1949 flash unlock 0x155f86b072.unlock

target reported max download size of 536870912 bytes

sending 'unlock' (0 KB)...

OKAY [ 0.097s]

writing 'unlock'...

FAILED (remote: Unlock code is NOT correct)

finished. total time: 0.172s
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] ONYXis:
in attach

what device you are using? did you follow manual? did you dd'ed aboot_vuln?
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] Kokos92:
Failed :)

My device is Saturn:o

I skip the second number in your instruction
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
used root checker app from play store which says root access is not properly installed for this device.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] DB126:
Determine if Safestrap is installed:

- power off device

- power up. White Amazon logo should display for 10-30 sec

- next up will either be a crude robot (Frankenstein) graphic or orange Kindle Fire logo

Which do you see?
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
i tried to root by using a file available on another thread with a file named like cve20147911.apk but it said the app stopped working and closed it. what should i do now, any idea.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] DB126:
- see prior post

- root method you tried is ineffective on Nexus

- random experimentation can easily yield an unrecoverable brick given the device is not rooted and has *no* native recovery tools; fastboot/factory cables are useless; you have been advised
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
sorry but everytime i attempt to power on and while kindle fire is still grey i press up and it either boots into rom or gets into kindle recovery with 2 options reset or reboot device!

---------- Post added at 07:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:47 PM ----------

your are right, i will be careful, that way i could easily brick it.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] DB126:
Didn't say to press any buttons after initial power on. Refer to previous post for instructions.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
strange that this device is not properly rooted, nor has any recovery installed and yet someone was able to flash a custom rom!!! i have been flashing rom and fiddling with these androids since long (started first ever rom with windows mobile days) but never thought this could be possible this way. Anyway, i am stuck, can you suggest something. What about selecting option of reset to factory default from official recovery and getting into kindle knowing its firmware and before it could update may be i could root it and then proceed further. Or should i use something like kingroot which people have been talking about (seems a malicious program but then i will wipe the device anyway) what are your thoughts?

---------- Post added at 08:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:15 PM ----------

its kindle fire logo in orange with Fire System Recovery.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] Shoog03:
If you go back in this thread to thje beginning it tells you how to load TWRP onto the Kindle without rooting the device. At this point you can flash just about any ROM you like. However the boot.ini file will remain unchanged and so any ROM not specifically designed for this boot.ini wil simply not work at all or will have broken functionality. The whole Safestrap and CM11 process works on the principle that CM11 uses the same boot.ini file as the Kindle and so all hardware features will work.

If you want to get a working ROM which is not built on top of the kindle boot.ini file top work you will have to crack the bootloader in order to Flash a different boot.ini file. So in brief you can load any ROM you like onto the Kindle before cracking the bootloader - but most will simply be broken and there is a potential to break the Kindle beyond repair.

Just to be clear, flashing the TWRP recovery is the first thing you should do as it is the tool you will need to flash ROM's later, but also more importantly it offers you the chance to reflash a stock ROM if you mess things up and recover your Kindle from an otherwise bricked state.

Shoog
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
thanks, that explains how it's possible to flash rom without root. I will try TWRP recovery, let's see if it works.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] DB126:
Root is a prerequisite to gaining su permissions required to flash vulnerable bootloader and/or custom recovery (TWRP). Unless the permissions model is this device is FUBAR.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] Shoog03:
I am referencing the first post in this thread and my own personal experience.

This works and is straighforward, cracked bootloader comes later.

Shoog
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
It doesn't work that way, i already tried that but since my device is not rooted so when i run command su it replied permission denied so i need to root it to get it work anything else.
[MENTION=297200]Davey[/MENTION] kindly suggest a way to root it.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] Shoog03:
It worked for me, so I suggest people try it before moving along to other solutions.

However the first thing I did in the process was to roll back my ROM, so this maybe made a difference.

Shoog
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
I don't know how to proceed since mine won't run su denying permission and that i think is because it's not rooted, do you think there could be any other reason for denying su. waiting for someone to enlighten me further.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] Shoog03:
This seems to be the only pathway to get the bootloader cracked on these devices. If they don't work for you then I can only say that safestrap and CM11 is a very workable solution.

However are you certain that you have a functional adb, what do you get as output from "adb devices"

Shoog
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
i installed minima adb and fastboot and when i use adb shell it responds by something like [MENTION=1626328]thorsh[/MENTION]ell but when i run su it says permission denied. if it worked for you then it should and may be i install full version of adb and then give it a try or try reset to factory default from recovery and assess kindle firmware for further processing.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] Shoog03:
What version of fireOS do you have ?

Shoog
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
I don't know, actually i bought a used kindle fire HDX 7 which already HDX Nexus ROM installed, actually this ROM works well only in portrait mode but in landscape mode it's so glitchy that i want to try out something better. That's why i thought i should reverse back to reset to factory default to get to fire os and know its firmware and then proceed.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] Shoog03:
Have you successfully booted into fastboot ? What does fastboot devices yield ?

Sounds like whoever had it before you buggered things up. Sounds like the symptoms of a buggy ROM are probably due to an incompatible boot.ini which is not initializing all of your hardware for what the Nexus ROM needs. A revert to the original FireOS might be the best course of action if it can be achieved.

A factory reset may help but might be risky depending on the extent of the damage to the system partitions.

I would try to get back to some type of stock ROM. If you have a still functional Kindle Fire recovery partition I would:

-download the rollback ROM

-place it in the root of the SD card

-reboot to recovery

-direct it to the recovery ROM and let it flash.

Hopefully at this point your partitions should all now be OK and you can try flashing TWRP again.

Shoog
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] DB126:
[MENTION=7218819]Shoog03[/MENTION] - FireOS was rooted (somehow) allowing you to flash a custom recovery; this is clearly identified as a prerequisite in the OP

[MENTION=569564]usman3206[/MENTION] - I have some ideas to get past current obsticles; hang tight

Edit: leaning in this direction to test for vulnerable bootloader. Tired now; will flush out with additional detail tomorrow. Sorry for delay ...

---------- Post added at 03:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:21 AM ----------

- fastboot access at this point is irrelevant

- stock 'factory reset' does not touch (or fix problems with) system partition

- unlikely boot.ini integrity has anything to do with symptoms or solution

- reverting back to FireOS (via rollback ROM) may be an option but carries a brick risk that depreciates this choice until other options are exhausted
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
I think i am doing certain things wrong, i am trying to run adb while device is running normally. I have tried going to recovery and into adb mode to run adb shell (i have tried that but all it gets is kindle recovery system where there are only 2 options available reboot system or reset to factory defaults). I think i have to be in adb mode to get it receive commands from adb shell, isn't it? kindly correct me.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] Shoog03:
adb is run when the Kindle is in normal system mode. You need to have developer options enabled and adb debugging enabled with the Kindle settings.

Shoog
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] usman3206:
then i am doing it the correct way, since it's running in normal mode with debugging enabled. i will try different laptop usb ports and any other minor things.

---------- Post added at 09:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:40 AM ----------

nothing works, always permission denied to su. need to properly root it but how? by the way can i flash updated rom? and how? since the recovery only give reboot or reset option but never something like flash something on it? can i try kingroot available on xda, is there a risk of bricking?

---------- Post added at 09:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:46 AM ----------

when i run kingroot's pc version, it offers to root the device, should i give it a go? i won't do it until you guys give feedback. awaiting response.
[Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" General] Shoog03:
Kingroot is the thing to try. It has always worked for me on this device. There is the apk version and the PC version - try both.

If you get it rooted then delete Kingroot as its got snooper software onboard.

My opinion is that there is little risk to using Kingroot, just so long as you delete it afterwards.

Another option, since this device must have been rooted at some point and so should re-root easily, is to load ES file explorer and see if enabling root access in settings does anything.

I still maintain that who ever had this device before you got it rooted, which allowed him to flash the Nexus ROM, but he never unlocked the bootloader which meant that the bootloader was stuck on initializing the hardware for the FireOS. Since the Nexus needs a different bootloader it cannot access the hardware and hence your glitchy Nexus ROM. Until you succeed with the bootloader unlock your only option is to go back to the version of FIreOS the Kindle last had - which is risky since you don't know which one it had.

I had a very similar experience with ROMs until I unlocked the bootloader. The issue I had was getting my PC to recognise my Kindle once it was booted into Fastboot mode. Once I got the PC setup correctly for fastboot everything was plain sailing and I had a new ROM in less than an hours, after thrashing about for days. Be systematic, don't do anything until you get Root back and then you generate your unlock code. You might have to re-read all of this thread to get the right tools for the job, because the first posts do not match with the later tools used.

Shoog