Develop Bugs

[Q] Unable to get past update screen on new FireTV

I hope I'm posting this in the right sub section. I purchased a FireTV last week at BB and rooted and blocked the updates via the guid on Aftvnews.
I grabbed another FTV today for a family member and I'm unable to get anywhere. After configuring network it goes on the the checking for updates but instead of just going past it (
amzdigitaldownloads.edgesuite.net
softwareupdates.amazon.com are still blocked in router
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
) I get an "Unable to update your Amazon Fire TV. Try disconnecting the powercable for a few seconds and then plugging it back in.
Is this unit already updated and I'm not going to be able to root? Thanks in advance for the help!

Obviously unblock the update in your router and do the initial setup while making sure to follow the guide's prompts to disconnect your internet when updates might happen.
Leave your internet disconnected (router unplugged/ethernet unhooked) until the network settings are needed.
When you need to configure the Fire TV's internet,connect it until you are done configuring,and quickly disconnect it when the check for updates happens.
Edit:found it!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/general/guide-how-to-setup-fire-tv-blocking-root-t2849790
Leave your internet disconnected through the entire welcome video as well.

I couldn't pass the update screen by blocking the two sites, I went back to the router and used BLOCK KEYWORDS instead of Block sites and entered this to the Blocked Keywords 51.1.2.0_user_512073320 ( I read this stops the update getting through router ) I then unblocked the other two web sites, every Fire TV have done since has updated to the Rootable version 511070220 don't know if its working for sure or just luck I keep getting the version 511070220

Thanks guys, I'll give those a try.

Go it going! I'm rooted. Thanks!

djscrew said:
Go it going! I'm rooted. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what procedure worked for you as it will help others?, did you get it working by blocking Keywords?, I have updated two more today and l am still getting the rootable version by blocking the update through keywords

New url for updates!!!

I just went to setup one of my new units and even with the router blocking the 2 urls which worked fine yesterday my unit tonight did in fact take the update and is now at 51.1.4.0 !
Is anyone aware of a new server that Amazon is using to push updates when first setting up the unit??? This is very upsetting!
I CANNOT CHANGE THE TITLE OF THIS THREAD BUT DISCOVERED MY ROUTER WAS NOT BLOCKING URLS PROPERLY. WITH A NEW ROUTER THAT IS BLOCKING THE CURRENT URLS THE UNIT WILL NOT LOAD SO MY ASSUMPTION WAS INCORRECT AND I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY CONFUSION THAT THIS POST MIGHT HAVE CAUSED!!
(Perhaps a mod can change the title of this thread to a question instead of a statement???)

This is not good news. Hopefully someone has an answer for you as I am curious as well. I still have a couple that I need to set-up and really don't want to lose root.

fxbill said:
I just went to setup one of my new units and even with the router blocking the 2 urls which worked fine yesterday my unit tonight did in fact take the update and is now at 51.1.4.0 !
Is anyone aware of a new server that Amazon is using to push updates when first setting up the unit??? This is very upsetting!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine had something weird happen yesterday too. I was trying to backup my XBMC using adbFire and kept getting disconnected. So I'd connect again, get an error message, connect, then get disconnected. When it finally connected with a solid connection, I noticed that the Amazon Updates went from being turned OFF to ON. I unplugged everything and blocked all traffic through my modem before reconnecting. I've done a few reboots since then and everything is back to normal...on 51.1.1.0 with updates back off.
It felt like Amazon was trying to push an update to my unit, but I have no way to prove that. I'm very interested in seeing what is going on.

Well it is a possibility... Just glad I don't have to worry to much about it with CWM installed on all my FTV's...
Anyway... Guess @AFTVnews.com or some of those experiencing the problems can sniff if anything has changed using the WireShark prog. :cyclops:

Y314K said:
Well it is a possibility... Just glad I don't have to worry to much about it with CWM installed on all my FTV's...
Anyway... Guess @AFTVnews.com or some of those experiencing the problems can sniff if anything has changed using the WireShark prog. :cyclops:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wish people weren't bricking their devices trying to load CWM...

spyder3 said:
Just wish people weren't bricking their devices trying to load CWM...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem I've seen are folks starting from the same info point (guide/order) while their AFTV's are in different device states. It's not hard to do at all once you know from where you are starting. That way you can map out the correct order of steps with the Apps... You do have to choose weather to do it manually thru ADB or with an APP... I trust the APP more then doing it manually... I have seen folks trying to do stuff from the guides like the renaming of FW or Recovery files while trying to use the APP which is not necessary(Not sure if the .zip is being renamed twice, manually & by the app). Also RBox mentioned he is working on trying to stop the possible bricking....
Start at the first post here to get an idea how easy it should be. But the steps order or numbers can change depending what FW you are starting at & if it's a new out of the box or if its one that needs to be FW downgraded or both Recovery & FW downgraded.
Read page 47 just to familiarize yourself with the process. Don't try it right now.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2736774&page=47
If the problem is a new IP address that needs to be blocked. You need to wait for confirmation. If you can't wait then I would try to do the Stock Recovery Downgrade/ReRoot/Disable OTA Updates/FW Downgrade/CWM Installation, etc with only ADB allowed aka Offline. But not sure how some of the changes will require internet... Like to reconnect to your Amazon account. I would wait for confirmation of a new IP or other problem.. Probably offline...

spyder3 said:
Just wish people weren't bricking their devices trying to load CWM...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know of anyone who bricked installing CWM.

rbox said:
I don't know of anyone who bricked installing CWM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Completely Correct... Some folks have run into problems during the downgrading. But even for them the keyboard trick with patience should/have get them back on the road to CWM. Got confirmation on a few threads here of folks getting CWM installed after getting stuck with the white Amazon screen or black screen.

I just tested with a Fire TV running stock 51.1.3.0_user_513011820 and it tried to download 51.1.4.0_user_514006420 from the same domain and URL as it always had. I then factory reset it and it again tried to download 51.1.4.0_user_514006420 during the initial setup form the same domain: amzdigitaldownloads.edgesuite.net
So based on this test, I see no indication the update URL has changed. Of Course, it's possible Amazon is using a new URL for some Fire TVs while others are using the known URLs.
I'll continue checking periodically and report back if the URL changes for this particular FIre TV.

AFTVnews.com said:
I just tested with a Fire TV running stock 51.1.3.0_user_513011820 and it tried to download 51.1.4.0_user_514006420 from the same domain and URL as it always had. I then factory reset it and it again tried to download 51.1.4.0_user_514006420 during the initial setup form the same domain: amzdigitaldownloads.edgesuite.net
So based on this test, I see no indication the update URL has changed. Of Course, it's possible Amazon is using a new URL for some Fire TVs while others are using the known URLs.
I'll continue checking periodically and report back if the URL changes for this particular FIre TV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You didn't indicate whether it took the new firmware or not....did it upgrade to 51.1.4.0 or download the firmware?
I had a thought about this last night, but of course it's too late to try it on my units, but my router has 2 options....One is to block specific URLs which is what I did. The other is to only allow specific urls to be accessed. I'm wondering if you only allowed firs-ta-g7g.amazon.com to be accessed since you need that to register the unit and complete the setup if you could still get through the setup routine. It wouldn't allow any connection except to firs-ta-g7g.amazon.com. Don't have a unit to try it with, but it might just work and if not the worst that would happen is that you wouldn't get through the setup....no harm done.

fxbill said:
You didn't indicate whether it took the new firmware or not....did it upgrade to 51.1.4.0 or download the firmware?
I had a thought about this last night, but of course it's too late to try it on my units, but my router has 2 options....One is to block specific URLs which is what I did. The other is to only allow specific urls to be accessed. I'm wondering if you only allowed firs-ta-g7g.amazon.com to be accessed since you need that to register the unit and complete the setup if you could still get through the setup routine. It wouldn't allow any connection except to firs-ta-g7g.amazon.com. Don't have a unit to try it with, but it might just work and if not the worst that would happen is that you wouldn't get through the setup....no harm done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the download domain blocked so it couldn't download the update. As for your suggestion, I tried it with one of the earlier units that would not proceed past a failed update. I monitored every domain it tried to access and slowly fed it more access one domain at a time. The result was always the same: it gives various error messages because it can't reach certain domains. It never got past the update point in the initial setup.

fxbill said:
I just went to setup one of my new units and even with the router blocking the 2 urls which worked fine yesterday my unit tonight did in fact take the update and is now at 51.1.4.0 !
Is anyone aware of a new server that Amazon is using to push updates when first setting up the unit??? This is very upsetting!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are blocking using a ASUS router that might be the problem. When I loaded the latest ASUS firmware on my RT-AC66U all my blocked URLs stopped being blocked. I had to step back to an old firmware to get the feature working again

krawhitham said:
If you are blocking using a ASUS router that might be the problem. When I loaded the latest ASUS firmware on my RT-AC66U all my blocked URLs stopped being blocked. I had to step back to an old firmware to get the feature working again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly what happened!!! I put facebook and ebay on the block list just to check and it wasn't blocking either of them! I'm off to get a new NetGear tomorrow. They have a "genie" program that is extremely easy to use for blocking sites or words (or update numbers) and it's only $39. I took one of the updated units back to Staples today and told them it had connectivity problems...( it really did....it connected with the darned upgrader!) and asked the girl in this tiny store if she would get one from the back that was way in the back and on the bottom of the pile if she could. She actually did for me! It's the lowest serial number I own now, but I'm not touching it until I get the new router and prove to myself that the sites are being blocked. I need the break and a little sleep anyway....too many hours at this for the last week.
By the way.... I do believe I have a way of downgrading the new firmware to any older firmware that was ever out. I'm going to have to sacrifice a unit to verify, but if they store the firmware on a TSOP I can do it. Clone time coming up!
I'm not a software guy, but am a hellofa hardware tech. Did it with satellite receivers for years..... ( Still love tubes more than any solid state stuff though!)

fxbill said:
That's exactly what happened!!! I put facebook and ebay on the block list just to check and it wasn't blocking either of them! I'm off to get a new NetGear tomorrow. They have a "genie" program that is extremely easy to use for blocking sites or words (or update numbers) and it's only $39. I took one of the updated units back to Staples today and told them it had connectivity problems...( it really did....it connected with the darned upgrader!) and asked the girl in this tiny store if she would get one from the back that was way in the back and on the bottom of the pile if she could. She actually did for me! It's the lowest serial number I own now, but I'm not touching it until I get the new router and prove to myself that the sites are being blocked. I need the break and a little sleep anyway....too many hours at this for the last week.
By the way.... I do believe I have a way of downgrading the new firmware to any older firmware that was ever out. I'm going to have to sacrifice a unit to verify, but if they store the firmware on a TSOP I can do it. Clone time coming up!
I'm not a software guy, but am a hellofa hardware tech. Did it with satellite receivers for years..... ( Still love tubes more than any solid state stuff though!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It just dawned on me....with all of the excellent coders here and knowing that with Backtrack you can spoof a url or an IP. Someone could discover where the units are updating from and where they connect to and spoof the information..( along with the older firmware) and never actually have to connect with Amazon. The unit would think that it is connecting and download whatever it was fed and finish the initial install in order to root it.....just a wild thought, but I think a good programer could come up with a way to do it.

fxbill said:
It just dawned on me....with all of the excellent coders here and knowing that with Backtrack you can spoof a url or an IP. Someone could discover where the units are updating from and where they connect to and spoof the information..( along with the older firmware) and never actually have to connect with Amazon. The unit would think that it is connecting and download whatever it was fed and finish the initial install in order to root it.....just a wild thought, but I think a good programer could come up with a way to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RBox & AFTVNews.com & others have already looked into this. Do a search for spoofing on the full thread & u'll probably find it.. Basically there are parts that are encrypted & we can't give the FTV the right answer to allow the older FW to be flashed.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/help/trick-amazon-update-url-redirect-to-t2900031

Y314K said:
RBox & AFTVNews.com & others have already looked into this. Do a search for spoofing on the full thread & u'll probably find it.. Basically there are parts that are encrypted & we can't give the FTV the right answer to allow the older FW to be flashed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are 2 things to spoof. One is the response from softwareupdates.amazon.com. Aside from the fact that if you spoof it the server has to be using a valid certificate (which you won't get), it's response is signed and encrypted. The second thing to spoof is the actual firmware download. That has to be signed or else it will reject it. It also has to match the version it's expecting to download. So you can't spoof the response that would make the fire tv download an old version, and you can't spoof the update itself because it won't match what it wants.
Furthmore... Backtrack has nothing to do with it. Backtrack is a huge piece of **** that doesn't do anything magical that any SANE Linux dist can't do. And what the... XDA censors? How lame is that...

fxbill said:
That's exactly what happened!!! I put facebook and ebay on the block list just to check and it wasn't blocking either of them! I'm off to get a new NetGear tomorrow. They have a "genie" program that is extremely easy to use for blocking sites or words (or update numbers) and it's only $39. I took one of the updated units back to Staples today and told them it had connectivity problems...( it really did....it connected with the darned upgrader!) and asked the girl in this tiny store if she would get one from the back that was way in the back and on the bottom of the pile if she could. She actually did for me! It's the lowest serial number I own now, but I'm not touching it until I get the new router and prove to myself that the sites are being blocked. I need the break and a little sleep anyway....too many hours at this for the last week.
By the way.... I do believe I have a way of downgrading the new firmware to any older firmware that was ever out. I'm going to have to sacrifice a unit to verify, but if they store the firmware on a TSOP I can do it. Clone time coming up!
I'm not a software guy, but am a hellofa hardware tech. Did it with satellite receivers for years..... ( Still love tubes more than any solid state stuff though!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fxbill said:
I just went to setup one of my new units and even with the router blocking the 2 urls which worked fine yesterday my unit tonight did in fact take the update and is now at 51.1.4.0 !
Is anyone aware of a new server that Amazon is using to push updates when first setting up the unit??? This is very upsetting!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would advice you add a note to the #1 post saying that it's been resolved & it was a Router Software problem (in bold). Maybe change the title of the thread too. Some folks might not read past the tittle or first posts & start to repeat that there is a new IP updating FTV's when that is not the case.
Tip: Tomato FW Routers block IP's like a BOSS!!!

Urls dont work
I have blocked the urls amzdigitaldownloads.edgesuite softwareupdates.amazon.com through router before setting up my firetv and it had updated to the latest firmware uk version so just to let people know they do not work is amazon using new urls for updating

Y314K said:
I would advice you add a note to the #1 post saying that it's been resolved & it was a Router Software problem (in bold). Maybe change the title of the thread too. Some folks might not read past the tittle or first posts & start to repeat that there is a new IP updating FTV's when that is not the case.
Tip: Tomato FW Routers block IP's like a BOSS!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I plan on doing that, but only after I pick up the new router today and verify. Thanks for the tip on the router!
( Just discovered that I can't edit the title of the thread.)

rbox said:
There are 2 things to spoof. One is the response from softwareupdates.amazon.com. Aside from the fact that if you spoof it the server has to be using a valid certificate (which you won't get), it's response is signed and encrypted. The second thing to spoof is the actual firmware download. That has to be signed or else it will reject it. It also has to match the version it's expecting to download. So you can't spoof the response that would make the fire tv download an old version, and you can't spoof the update itself because it won't match what it wants.
Furthmore... Backtrack has nothing to do with it. Backtrack is a huge piece of **** that doesn't do anything magical that any SANE Linux dist can't do. And what the... XDA censors? How lame is that...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only brought up Backtrack as an example. It's merely a collection of programs written by other coders. Say what you will about it. Makes no difference to me, but it has served me pretty well since I am not a coder and have little knowledge in writing my own codes. Kudos to you for being able to. As I stated, I'm a hardware person and a technician. I can design a board, but programming for me is an entirely different story. Years ago satellite TV receivers had a similar issue where a receiver would not accept a card that was not the correct card for the unit. It was called the ZKT...( zero knowledge test) The receiver had some information encoded in the prom... (supposedly some sort of question that it asked of the card). The card also had some info coded into it. Neither had any purpose by itself, but when a card was inserted into the unit the unit sent out the encoded "question". If the card responded with anything other than the correct information the unit would not function. A coder discovered a way to program eproms that did not have this ZKT information in it and after programming an eprom and replacing the prom in the unit with the newly coded eprom the unit would accept any card that was put into it.
I'm only stating this as an example. It might come down to cloning the eprom from one good unit to one that has the newer firmware on it, but I feel very confident that someone can and will do it at some point. I rarely ever say it can't be done....too many times have I been proven wrong by someone knowing much more than I do and no matter how good you might be at something someone a little or a lot better is going to come along and do what you couldn't.

Unable to Root Series 2, ok with Series 3. Change in method from earlier

I got three firetv's from staples local store as I needed for my family. I have done this with other firetv's in the past but already spoilt two by getting them updated to the latest firmware.
1. I had checked the serial numbers before buying and they were original rootable versions.
2. I couldn't get past the forced update and the blocked sites on the router would not let me proceed.
3. I did the timing thing but that too didn't work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzDiViqXdSg. So I let it update hoping it would do the update inclemently but it didn't. It updated to latest.
How are folks doing it now. Are the guides still valid. I have the last one still packed. I feel so bad.
---- My findings from a later post:
In my quest for today, here is what I have found. Note: I've done about 15 or so rooted firetv's but at the moment things aren't the same as it used to be.
1. If you get an old stock for example serial series of 2. They will have a very old firmware which USED to increment but they don't now. They go directly to the latest firmware thus loosing root. I went through 4 of these series today and none of them could be bypassed with the Ethernet trick. (709002XX)
2. Series 3 (70900305/303) is bypassable with the Ethernet trick to boot up. I've seen two versions of series 3. One which requires a downgrade and the other that doesn't before going up. IMO downgrade is a much easier task vs rooting.
Bestbuys have lots of series 3. So if anyone needs a version that should be rooted, head to bestbuy 91303. I'm sure other area's too have the series 3. Staples has a mix of mostly Series 2 and a few Series 3.
Hope this helps.

At this point now you wont ever root this fire tv.
I had same problem on one of the fire tvs i had to block amazon updates in my router to get passed the check for updates screen.
No root for you now.
On your another fire tv make sure to be patient and research first.. Do not at any point update if you have rootable version.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

patt2k said:
At this point now you wont ever root this fire tv.
I had same problem on one of the fire tvs i had to block amazon updates in my router to get passed the check for updates screen.
No root for you now.
On your another fire tv make sure to be patient and research first.. Do not at any point update if you have rootable version.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got to the old firmware on the third one. The other two that updated I returned it. I now have another one with rootable and I'm trying to not let it update. but the removal of the Ethernet cord trick is not working. I've blocked the three sites on my router as well. What to do. I don't want to mess up this one. I don't get the message checking for updates, it straight starts to download it, I didn't let it download. I removed the Ethernet. and rebooted but the same process starts again.
In the instructions it says it may do an incremental update but I don't want to take the risk again, the last time it wasn't incremental. It updated to the latest. I've done so many but this seems harder every day.

I can't get past this screen
Your Amazon Fire TV requires an update.
Please do not disconnect from the network or unplug the power cable while we download the update.

navigates said:
I can't get past this screen
Your Amazon Fire TV requires an update.
Please do not disconnect from the network or unplug the power cable while we download the update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Block amazon updates in your router.
Like I mentioned I had exact same issues I thought I couldn't root this AFTV.
Here is what I did:
I blocked amazon updates in my fios router,connected AFTV to fios router ( I use 2 routers)
when I plugged in back AFTV it tried to update.. it failed after sometime : Make sure it does not if you did it wrong.
I then rebooted AFTV and I got past the update screen.
Try that!

That's unusual. Just 2 weeks ago pulling the Ethernet cord got me to registration page in one shot. I don't get why it's not working? Even if updates weren't blocked via the router, I thought that initial trick of unplugging made aftv think there was no update or it already had been updated.

KLit75 said:
That's unusual. Just 2 weeks ago pulling the Ethernet cord got me to registration page in one shot. I don't get why it's not working? Even if updates weren't blocked via the router, I thought that initial trick of unplugging made aftv think there was no update or it already had been updated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally understand. I've done loads of firetv's and the new ones even with the old firmwares are getting hard. I just made one today. I need to make 2 more. I messed up 2 so returned them and now on the new one, I've blocked the update and can't get past the Ethernet trick.
Does anyone know how to read wireshark which file is it downloading ? that would be helpful.

navigates said:
I got three firetv's from staples local store as I needed for my family. I have done this with other firetv's in the past but already spoilt two by getting them updated to the latest firmware.
1. I had checked the serial numbers before buying and they were original rootable versions.
2. I couldn't get past the forced update and the blocked sites on the router would not let me proceed.
3. I did the timing thing but that too didn't work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzDiViqXdSg. So I let it update hoping it would do the update inclemently but it didn't. It updated to latest.
How are folks doing it now. Are the guides still valid. I have the last one still packed. I feel so bad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just followed the guides all of them still work.

I've never needed to but can't you enable logging on your router? I'd think that would be simpler than wireless shark, which I thought was more for larger business networks.

Agreed the guides still work but it's differnt now. I had total of 4 today and two went to the latest version hoping it would increment update.
This new one is stuck wanting to update and I cannot play the Ethernet trick.
Never faced this much of difficulty. I also tried recovery android and cleared and factory reset but still no luck

Any suggestions I can try.? I don't want to risk the update as I feel it will update to the latest. I cannot figure wire shark. I've tried seeing the traffic on the firetv ip but can't figure out Which file it is pulling down . I'm so tired of family asking for the firetv and I feel if making one then might as well get the rooted ones for google play etc.
One observation here is if you let the software begin to download and then remove the Ethernet, the next time it tries to resume and not restart unless you do the recovery and clean factory.

I removed amzdigitaldownloads.edgesuite.net from the blocked sites to let it start the rom download to see which one it is downloading but still couldn't figure it out form the router logs here. can someone help please. I'm so lost here.
[Site allowed: 74.125.224.78] from source 192.168.1.12, Saturday, Jan 24,2015 16:09:21
[Site allowed: amzdigitaldownloads.edgesuite.net] from source 192.168.1.12, Saturday, Jan 24,2015 16:09:17
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.12)] to MAC address 00:BB:3A:7C:FE:7F, Saturday, Jan 24,2015 16:09:06
[Site allowed: spectrum.s3.amazonaws.com] from source 192.168.1.12, Saturday, Jan 24,2015 16:08:16
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.12)] to MAC address 00:BB:3A:7C:FE:7F, Saturday, Jan 24,2015 16:08:13
[Site allowed: ocsp.digicert.com] from source 192.168.1.5, Saturday, Jan 24,2015 16:07:42
[Site allowed: ocsp.verisign.com] from source 192.168.1.5, Saturday, Jan 24,2015 16:07:36
[Site allowed: 74.125.224.130] from source 192.168.1.12, Saturday, Jan 24,2015 16:06:36
[Site allowed: spectrum.s3.amazonaws.com] from source 192.168.1.12, Saturday, Jan 24,2015 16:06:23
[DHCP IP: (192.168.1.12)] to MAC address 00:BB:3A:7C:FE:7F, Saturday, Jan 24,2015 16:06:23
[Log Cleared] Saturday, Jan 24,2015 16:05:44

I believe it's the timing of when you unplug the ethernet cable. Because it happen to me with my first firetv. I couldn't get to bypass the update. So I let it update and hope it does the increment updated. But that didnt work. After going through thru a few more firetv. I notice that firetv that has older firmware. Is easier to bypass versus those later one that you have to downgrade. What I did was once the light turn white and the update screen pop up. Then I unplug. Before I just unplug very fast once the light turn white without seeing the update screen.
Oh yeah another thing. when u do manage to bypass it and get to the whole intro video. Remember to keep that thing unplug or disconnect from the internet. I had one firetv updated on me after the video was done playing and I had all 3 url block on my router.

phibo said:
I believe it's the timing of when you unplug the ethernet cable. Because it happen to me with my first firetv. I couldn't get to bypass the update. So I let it update and hope it does the increment updated. But that didnt work. After going through thru a few more firetv. I notice that firetv that has older firmware. Is easier to bypass versus those later one that you have to downgrade. What I did was once the light turn white and the update screen pop up. Then I unplug. Before I just unplug very fast once the light turn white without seeing the update screen .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my quest for today, here is what I have found. Note: I've done about 15 or so rooted firetv's but at the moment things aren't the same as it used to be.
1. If you get an old stock for example serial series of 2. They will have a very old firmware which USED to increment but they don't now. They go directly to the latest firmware thus loosing root. I went through 4 of these series today and none of them could be bypassed with the Ethernet trick. (709002XX)
2. Series 3 (70900305/303) is bypassable with the Ethernet trick to boot up. I've seen two versions of series 3. One which requires a downgrade and the other that doesn't before going up. IMO downgrade is a much easier task vs rooting.
Bestbuys have lots of series 3. So if anyone needs a version that should be rooted, head to bestbuy 91303. I'm sure other area's too have the series 3. Staples has a mix of mostly Series 2 and Series 3.
Hope this helps.

phibo said:
I believe it's the timing of when you unplug the ethernet cable. Because it happen to me with my first firetv. I couldn't get to bypass the update. So I let it update and hope it does the increment updated. But that didnt work. After going through thru a few more firetv. I notice that firetv that has older firmware. Is easier to bypass versus those later one that you have to downgrade. What I did was once the light turn white and the update screen pop up. Then I unplug. Before I just unplug very fast once the light turn white without seeing the update screen.
Oh yeah another thing. when u do manage to bypass it and get to the whole intro video. Remember to keep that thing unplug or disconnect from the internet. I had one firetv updated on me after the video was done playing and I had all 3 url block on my router.
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Click to collapse
Yeah I understand, until I disable the amazon updates, I constantly remove the Ethernet just to be safe. As per today's experience, the old series 2x which has the initial firmware cannot be bypassed. I tried for hours but couldn't get it to bypass. I even tried recovery by clearing the cache etc, stopped half way through the download. none worked. I even updated two of them hoping for the incremental update but that failed too and reached the latest.
Thanks for helping out, but in my opinion, the safest rooting is series 3 with unplugging the Ethernet. The Downgrade process is straight forward if you have all the files in place.

Root new Fire TV, but get Update screen first

Hey all, trying to root a fire TV for a friend. I've already done quite a few units so it isn't my first time around the block.
However it's been probably 6months since I've done the last one and now when I power up this brand new unit (which has a low serial number so it should be rootable) I get prompted to start downloading an update right away.
No way to bypass this for now as I know before I was able to get into the home screen before it starts doing any sort of updating..

DHeffernan said:
Hey all, trying to root a fire TV for a friend. I've already done quite a few units so it isn't my first time around the block.
However it's been probably 6months since I've done the last one and now when I power up this brand new unit (which has a low serial number so it should be rootable) I get prompted to start downloading an update right away.
No way to bypass this for now as I know before I was able to get into the home screen before it starts doing any sort of updating..
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Click to collapse
Pull the ethernet out as soon as you see checking for updates. If it fails reboot and try again. DO NOT UPDATE!!. You will loose all chances of root.

navigates said:
Pull the ethernet out as soon as you see checking for updates. If it fails reboot and try again. DO NOT UPDATE!!. You will loose all chances of root.
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Click to collapse
Yah already got it going, applying my Kodi backup on this new Box.
Basically I just went and edited my hosts file on the macbook to block the 3 update domains for the fireTV which in turn just seemed to allowed me to finally bypass it on to sign in using my amazon account.

DHeffernan said:
Yah already got it going, applying my Kodi backup on this new Box.
Basically I just went and edited my hosts file on the macbook to block the 3 update domains for the fireTV which in turn just seemed to allowed me to finally bypass it on to sign in using my amazon account.
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Click to collapse
Interesting. I'll try that next. Great it worked out.

Seriously, use OpenDNS to block those URLs. It's easier to do since all you need to do is update the DNS settings at your router plus OpenDNS filters out spam websites, too.

http://aftvnews.com/ has complete guides for this.
this might be what you need:
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-complete-the-fire-tv-initial-setup-without-updating/

help new update

im on new update when i turn on firetv it asks me to update the firetv i have the domians blocked by open dns if i dont cancel update after 60 seconds it updates how is this getting threw any 1 else have this problem is there another domian that need blocked

Is your Fire TV rooted? If so, you should have disabled the OTA service:
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-block-ota-update-for-amazon-fire-tv-and-keep-root-access/

never had the unit rooted i blocked the domain useing open dns anyone having this problem as i dont want the unit updating itself

Noel30 said:
never had the unit rooted i blocked the domain useing open dns anyone having this problem as i dont want the unit updating itself
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If you re not rooted than why worry about updating? I am not sure why anyone would worry, cause I am beyond positive that if root comes to newer firmwares it will be the latest firmware t the time root is achieved that it will be achieved on. Stop worrying and just let it update. The chances of anyone finding a root exploit while the Fire TV is still running Android 4.2.2 is slim to none, so nobody has to worry about not updating, cause root is not gonna happen on newer firmwares unless Amazon upgrades to a newer version of Android, and even when they do upgrade it may never happen, but without a doubt its not gonna happen on Android 4.2.2 so there is no reason not to update an unrooted device.

Cause iv heard that amazon mite kill third party addons so if that happens in a new firmware il end up with no kodi on my unit that is why i do not want it to update automatically

Noel30 said:
Cause iv heard that amazon mite kill third party addons so if that happens in a new firmware il end up with no kodi on my unit that is why i do not want it to update automatically
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Not likely.

Whats to stop them from not killing third party addons as its affecting there primetime subcribers

Noel30 said:
Cause iv heard that amazon mite kill third party addons so if that happens in a new firmware il end up with no kodi on my unit that is why i do not want it to update automatically
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Click to collapse
Its never gonna happen.Just because you hear something does not mean its true. Its just paranoid people that spread these rumors. You have more of a chance of getting strck by lightning twice than for Amazon to try to take away third party apps. The only reason its even a rumor is because some people experienced problems with XBMC shortly after an update, but it was fixed by Amazon less than a week later, so instead of people seeing howAmazon fixed the problem they assumed that Amzon had did something to mess up XBMC/Kodi, which was not true at all, and since then people have been paranoid.