Rooting My Kindle Fire

JustDumbGuy · January 27th, 2013, 08:16 PM

I am working on rooting my Kindle Fire. I have followed the instructions at Android Authority based on a reference from someone that performed a Kindle Fire root successfully.

I followed the instructions, my computer sees my Kindle and I was able to see it from my command prompt.

Once I run SuperOneClick, it runs to "Shell rooting device...-Step #7 and stops. I cannot tell if the SuperOneClick is complete or not.

Any thoughts on this issue?

Thanks,
Steven

JustDumbGuy · January 27th, 2013, 10:16 PM

I should mention a few things:

I am running Windows XP and using SuperOneClick 2.3.3.0

Everything finally worked up to this point, just couldn't finish it.

Drogyn · January 28th, 2013, 12:16 PM

We talking about a 1st gen KF here?
Easiest was to root it is with the Kindle Fire Utility

JustDumbGuy · January 28th, 2013, 03:35 PM

How do I know if my Kindle is first generation?

Drogyn · January 28th, 2013, 09:04 PM

When did you get it? and what OS version is it running?

JustDumbGuy · January 29th, 2013, 08:24 AM

I bought it new in February 2012. I want to say it is 6.3.1, but I will check this evening.

Drogyn · January 30th, 2013, 12:34 PM

it's 1st gen then

JustDumbGuy · January 30th, 2013, 09:32 PM

So I need to try the Kindle Fire Utility. So once I use that tool, how will I know that the Kindle is rooted?

JustDumbGuy · January 31st, 2013, 09:06 AM

Drogyn, I have downloaded, unzipped and followed the YouTube instructions for the Kindle Fire Utility. I unzipped the file, double click install_drivers.bat and it says it finished.

Next I select run.bat and the Kindle Fire Utility runs. However after it initiates, it shows offline rather than online.

I have tried to reboot the kindle and the computer several times, try to reinstall the drivers, and it still shows offline.

Any help on that?

Drogyn · January 31st, 2013, 10:55 AM

Which version of KFU did you get?
The latest one : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1399889
Should install all necessary drivers for you automatically.
If you still have problems, turn off the kindle before you plug it into your computer, and make sure that KFU is running first, in my experience that never fails.

JustDumbGuy · January 31st, 2013, 11:22 AM

Ok, so to be clear on what I will do.

I downloaded the latest version from the above link.
Unzip the file
Double Click and follow install_drivers.bat
Double click Run.bat
Let this startup
Turn off kindle and plug into computer
Then select 0 to check that it sees the Kindle

Then what do I do to root it?

JustDumbGuy · January 31st, 2013, 11:26 AM

Drogyn, it shows online. YEAH!!!

Now what?

JustDumbGuy · January 31st, 2013, 12:23 PM

Ok, I went ahead without instruction...that may not have been a good idea.

It showed online, I selected "Install Permanent Root with Superuser". It ran through, said there was a problem and "The recovery downloaded is not correct"

When I "press any key to continue", it closes the KFU.

And my Kindle is stuck on Kindle Fire screen

I am able to hold the power button for 10+ seconds and it will shutoff, but when I turn it back on it locks up on the kindle fire display. If I leave it powered off and then plug in with the KFU running, it is not recognized (shows offline), but in device manager it sees "android adb interface" under android phone. If I select the eject function, it shows "Eject Kindle".

I am totally lost.

JustDumbGuy · January 31st, 2013, 05:04 PM

Ok, busy day trying to tear this thing up. I did a little reading here in the forum, tried a combination of things that I read, and was able to install latest TWRP and the Kindle is back up.

Now, to root should I "Install permanent root with Superuser"?

Thanks

Drogyn · February 2nd, 2013, 06:54 PM

How has it been 2 days since I was last on here? I'm sure I was on just yesterday...

Yes you want to install permanent root with superuser.

Once it's done if your kindle doesn't seem to want to start up turn it off, start KFU and go to boot mode and select normal boot or system boot which ever it is to start normally.
Plug your kindle in and as it starts KFU will automatically detect it and then set it to boot in it's usual manner

JustDumbGuy · February 4th, 2013, 04:01 PM

Busy weekend away from everything for me. I just followed your directions and it seems to have worked.

I was expecting something with android OS, so I don't know what to do with this.

What has this given me?

Drogyn · February 4th, 2013, 07:57 PM

You should be able to install the google play store now and get apps from there.
Also you can now, should you wish, flash a rom to your kindle and change the OS from Amazon's boxed in gingerbread 2.3 based system to Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean, effectively making your kindle a stock android tablet.
This is what I did with mine and I never looked back.

JustDumbGuy · February 4th, 2013, 09:10 PM

That is what I want to do to it. I will do some reading on how to flash a ROM. The guy I got the idea of rooting the Kindle from put Ice Cream Sandwich on his. I liked the way that worked. It was very slick.

I really appreciate all your help Drogyn.

Drogyn · February 5th, 2013, 08:05 AM

Flashing a rom is super simple, just make sure you start your kindle in recovery mode and make a back up or it BEFORE you flash anything, that way you can get it back to stock if you need to

JustDumbGuy · February 5th, 2013, 08:26 AM

My Kindle is pure stock, no apps or anything on it right now.

Do you have a link for how to flash the ROM? I really like the idea of a Android tablet.

Drogyn · February 6th, 2013, 12:22 PM

Kindle Fire: All Things Root Guide

It's really as simple as finding the rom you want, downloading the zip, putting it on your kindle fire, the CWM folder is a good place to put it.
Then start in recovery mode, select flash rom, it will then bring up an explorer so you can go to where it is. select the zip, click flash or ok which ever it is. then once it's done that you wipe your cache and your dalvic cache and reboot into normal system and it will load in the new OS.

Just remember... back up first!

JustDumbGuy · February 7th, 2013, 08:26 AM

Thanks man! I will do all this. I don't know how to back it up, but I will figure that out. I appreciate all your help.

My screen name says it all when it comes to electronics. I'm a mechanical engineer and work on rotating equipment. Mechanically I can handle anything, electronically I have to learn it.

Drogyn · February 7th, 2013, 09:22 AM

When you start it in recovery mode there is an option in CWM (which will have been installed when you rooted it with KFU) that says "Backup"

JustDumbGuy · February 7th, 2013, 12:30 PM

Ok, so these are my steps?

1. Download zip of ROM such as Jelly Bean on laptop.
2. Start KFU
3. Select 1 for Bootmode Menu
4. Plug in Kindle Fire
5. Select Recovery mode on KFU
6. Select backup
7. Go to recovery mode again
8. Select flash ROM
9. Go to path with saved ROM zip
10. Flash or OK for ROM

And this should make it run through the paces and startup with the new OS?

I've read about a file called gapps, do I need this also?

Drogyn · February 7th, 2013, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustDumbGuy

Ok, so these are my steps?

1. Download zip of ROM such as Jelly Bean on laptop.

1 a)Put .zip file of the rom into a folder like your CWM folder.

2. Start KFU
3. Select 1 for Bootmode Menu
4. Plug in Kindle Fire
5. Select Recovery mode on KFU
6. Select backup

7. once back up is finished

8. Select flash ROM
9. Go to path with saved ROM zip
9. a) select flash and select path for gapps (put it in the same place you put the rom for easy location)

10. Flash or OK for ROM
11. Clear Cache and Dalvik Cache
12. Reboot into normal system mode

And this should make it run through the paces and startup with the new OS?

I've read about a file called gapps, do I need this also?

Yes you should get gapps too, you can tell the kindle to flash both files, together, just make sure that the ROM is flashed first

JustDumbGuy · February 7th, 2013, 03:54 PM

Ok, hopefully last noob question...I can't find CWM folder. Where is this at?

Drogyn · February 8th, 2013, 09:45 AM

have you plugged your kindle into your computer, and used that to explore the files & folders?

CWM should be in the first directory that opens when you explore the Kindle. Going by memory here since mine is dead :/

Drogyn · February 8th, 2013, 09:51 AM

Ohh wait a sec.. does it have TWRP on there?

JustDumbGuy · February 8th, 2013, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drogyn

have you plugged your kindle into your computer, and used that to explore the files & folders?

CWM should be in the first directory that opens when you explore the Kindle. Going by memory here since mine is dead :/

I feel like a real dummy. I think there are times I shouldn't be allowed to play with computers.

I just plugged in the Kindle and went into Explorer. I see the TWRP folder now. It is empty right now.

JustDumbGuy · February 8th, 2013, 11:05 AM

Drogyn, I also want to let you know I wasn't going to others for info with the other thread, I was trying to learn more about CWM. Then they moved it from general android area to Kindle area.

JustDumbGuy · February 8th, 2013, 11:35 AM

Ok, backed up, flashed both ROM and gapps. I selected Reboot, System and now I have some colorful lines floating across my Kindle screen.

I will let you know if it gets past this.

JustDumbGuy · February 8th, 2013, 12:02 PM

It seems to be having trouble installing a driver, and the screen has not changed. It is still plugged into the computer.

JustDumbGuy · February 8th, 2013, 02:36 PM

This seems to be my problem as well, but I can't get it to recognize the device even when I follow the directions you gave here.

Kindle fire stuck on boot screen (bricked)

Drogyn · February 8th, 2013, 03:05 PM

I have no problem with asking other people, i don't claim to know everything so no worries on that score.

Once you have put the zip files for the ROM and for gapps on your kindle, tell KFU to restart it in recovery mode and unhook it from your computer.
Everything from that point on you can do straight from recovery.
Only reason you might have to plug it back in is if it gets stuck in fastboot, then you can use KFU to force it back into system mode (or recovery if that's what you need)

JustDumbGuy · February 8th, 2013, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drogyn

I have no problem with asking other people, i don't claim to know everything so no worries on that score.

Once you have put the zip files for the ROM and for gapps on your kindle, tell KFU to restart it in recovery mode and unhook it from your computer.
Everything from that point on you can do straight from recovery.
Only reason you might have to plug it back in is if it gets stuck in fastboot, then you can use KFU to force it back into system mode (or recovery if that's what you need)

Ok, I can't get it to do anything past the floating triangles, and the KFU isn't recognizing it.

I did the following.

1. Open KFU
2. Select bootmode
3. Select recovery
KFU shows <waiting for device>
4. I plug in KFU
5. Shows Kindle Fire
6. Then the half screen of triangles starts.

At this point, KFU continues to wait and the Kindle continues to play with triangles. And I don't know if my driver is working or not.

Drogyn · February 8th, 2013, 06:14 PM

KFU will have installed all it needs when you first used the program. Definately sounds like your stuck in fastboot, as I was when I first did it.

Is your kindle turned off when you plug it into your computer?

JustDumbGuy · February 9th, 2013, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drogyn

KFU will have installed all it needs when you first used the program. Definately sounds like your stuck in fastboot, as I was when I first did it.

Is your kindle turned off when you plug it into your computer?

Yes, I start KFU, then plug in the kindle with it turned off. All I get is the triangles.

Drogyn · February 9th, 2013, 06:29 PM

And you set KFU to tell the kindle to boot into recovery?
Have you tried telling it to boot into system?

JustDumbGuy · February 9th, 2013, 08:06 PM

I don't see an option to boot into system. I only see the option of Normal, Fastboot and Recovery. I have tried Recovery.

My computer is not seeing the Kindle.

Drogyn · February 10th, 2013, 10:27 AM

Normal sorry, that's what I meant.
So KFU doesn't register the kindle at all and reboot it?

JustDumbGuy · February 11th, 2013, 07:35 AM

Yeah, my computer nor KFU is seeing the Kindle. I just get the triangles.

Drogyn · February 11th, 2013, 09:54 AM

when it first starts do you see a blue kindle fire splash screen that says press power for recovery at the bottom?

JustDumbGuy · February 12th, 2013, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drogyn

when it first starts do you see a blue kindle fire splash screen that says press power for recovery at the bottom?

I don't recall ever seeing that. Right now, when I press the power button, I get the original "kindle fire" screen, then the colored triangles.

Drogyn · February 12th, 2013, 08:07 AM

Ok, I am officially mystified.

Don't worry I don't beleive it to be bricked, these things seem to be very resilient to the abuse hurled at them.

It should though be popping up in KFU when you plug it in turned off and allow KFU to instruct it to boot in a different manner.
It should also briefly show the blue splash screen with the menu option on the bottom, at least mine did.

You might try reinstalling KFU and the drivers to see if something got messed up there.

JustDumbGuy · February 12th, 2013, 08:40 AM

Ok, I will try that and get back to you.

JustDumbGuy · February 13th, 2013, 09:09 AM

Ok, so I reloaded KFU, reinstalled the drivers. It said the drivers installed. I started KFU, selected bootmode, selected recovery. KFU shows "waiting for device", plug in Kindle, shows kindle fire screen, then triangles.

All I can get are triangles.

Drogyn · February 13th, 2013, 11:35 AM

And no blue Kindle Fire splash screen with a recovery message at the bottom?

I don't know then, we've officially gone beyond any of the problems I had if KFU isn't picking it up. Perhaps someone else knows what is going on with it.
Mine always showed up in KFU eventually

JustDumbGuy · February 13th, 2013, 11:45 AM

Ok, I will keep playing with it and hope someone can come up with some ideas here. Thanks for your help.