Develop Bugs

[Q] Bricked Fire TV help

Hi there. I've two fire tv's. One is on FW 51.1.0.2 and rooted. I havent installed anything except kodi.
No partial bootloader, no ClockWorkMod. Nothing.
I've bought the second one 4 days ago. And I've started to follow AFTV news sites guide.
I've succesfully updated it to the fw version 51.1.4.0. When i tried to install Rbox's boot menu to my second fire TV
I've accidentaly installed it to my first fire tv (the one with fw 51.1.0.2). And its bricked. It hangs on white amazon logo.
Any advice?

Do you have a wireless keyboard? If so, while its booting, try this by holding the alt, prt scr and i button. Try hitting those buttons four to five times and the system should boot up in clockwork mod.

I've tried with 3 different USB keyboards. No luck.

Berrybare said:
Do you have a wireless keyboard? If so, while its booting, try this by holding the alt, prt scr and i button. Try hitting those buttons four to five times and the system should boot up in clockwork mod.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He did not have CWM installed on this box, so it is no way getting back in now.

I guess so.
my adb server directly connected to my first FTV.
When i realize I've panicked and restarted.
Stuck at white amazon logo... So there is no hope?

ninefingers_heh said:
I guess so.
my adb server directly connected to my first FTV.
When i realize I've panicked and restarted.
Stuck at white amazon logo... So there is no hope?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry to say, but i dont think theres anything you can do.
You might contact amazon for a replacement. Technically they dont have to replace it because you knowingly tampered with the box but from what ive read about how great customer service is...i have a theory that theyd be willing to take a loss on the hardware in order to keep that amazon store in your house. And the new update really takes a lot of the benefits of rooting away.

I live in Turkey. And also it's a second hand unit.
I bought someone who went to USA for a short time.
I'll put the box away and cross my fingers for a solution. Thanks.

[Q] PLEASE HELP! Update started on rooted FTV them unplugged.

When I got home I turned on the FTV and briefly saw an update prompt, ands then I must of accidentally hit the accept button on the remote and the device started to remote and update but I immediately pulled the power cord to prevent the update.
Now I have no idea what to do next. Is there anyway to stop the update when I plug it in ands if not, will I able to get root again?
Thanks for all the help everyone.

madtork said:
When I got home I turned on the FTV and briefly saw an update prompt, ands then I must of accidentally hit the accept button on the remote and the device started to remote and update but I immediately pulled the power cord to prevent the update.
Now I have no idea what to do next. Is there anyway to stop the update when I plug it in ands if not, will I able to get root again?
Thanks for all the help everyone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have cwm recovery? If so you could boot to it and do a factory reset, then be sure to pm disable updates. For now I'd block amazon domains on your router but that's not a 100% guarantee. Aftvnews should have any info you need.

I don't think I installed CMW. Is there anyway to tell at this point, and if it's installed, how do I boot into it? I blocked Amazon updates with my router but recently connected with my phone's hotspot without thinking and it must of downloaded the update then.

Anyone have any other recommendations at this point? If I don't have CWM am I out of luck?

madtork said:
Anyone have any other recommendations at this point? If I don't have CWM am I out of luck?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do have ClockworkMod, then you're safe because it will prevent the update from installing. A Fire TV with ClockworkMod that gets an OTA update will download the update, then restart the Fire TV in recovery mode. Since stock recovery has been replaced with ClockworkMod, it will just ignore the stock update.
If you don't have ClockworkMod, you can use the ALT+PrintScreen+i method to hopefully get into stock recovery without installing the update. From there, I would clear the cache partition and do a factory reset. More info on how to do that can be found here: http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-unbr...ry-mode-and-factory-reset-the-amazon-fire-tv/
I don not know if that will work, but it's your best bet.

AFTVnews.com said:
If you do have ClockworkMod, then you're safe because it will prevent the update from installing. A Fire TV with ClockworkMod that gets an OTA update will download the update, then restart the Fire TV in recovery mode. Since stock recovery has been replaced with ClockworkMod, it will just ignore the stock update.
If you don't have ClockworkMod, you can use the ALT+PrintScreen+i method to hopefully get into stock recovery without installing the update. From there, I would clear the cache partition and do a factory reset. More info on how to do that can be found here: http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-unbr...ry-mode-and-factory-reset-the-amazon-fire-tv/
I don not know if that will work, but it's your best bet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I was hoping for. Thanks for the information!

So I connected a keyboard and tried for an hour or better to get this thing into recovery but with no success. I tried the ALT+PRT SCRN+I and it just won't work. It keeps going into the update screen and I keep unplugging the box. If someone can help me get this going I will PAYPAL YOU $20!
Otherwise I am giving this thing away.

madtork said:
So I connected a keyboard and tried for an hour or better to get this thing into recovery but with no success. I tried the ALT+PRT SCRN+I and it just won't work. It keeps going into the update screen and I keep unplugging the box. If someone can help me get this going I will PAYPAL YOU $20!
Otherwise I am giving this thing away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's thankfully never happened to me but just from reading here, it can be incredibly hard to get to recovery. They're mostly trying to get to cwm (which I believe you don't have?) But in theory I think it should work with stock...
If possible, try a different keyboard. If using a hub then connect it directly. Change your timing (when you actually press the keys) Alter between holding them down the keys and tapping them. And just for the heck of it, try working in the remote at some point (back button and right arrow for 15 seconds performs reset)
Sorry. It sounds silly but many people have needed to get to recovery and no one can definitively say what works for everyone. At least I don't think anyone can??? Good luck

AFTVnews.com said:
If you do have ClockworkMod, then you're safe because it will prevent the update from installing. A Fire TV with ClockworkMod that gets an OTA update will download the update, then restart the Fire TV in recovery mode. Since stock recovery has been replaced with ClockworkMod, it will just ignore the stock update.
If you don't have ClockworkMod, you can use the ALT+PrintScreen+i method to hopefully get into stock recovery without installing the update. From there, I would clear the cache partition and do a factory reset. More info on how to do that can be found here: http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-unbr...ry-mode-and-factory-reset-the-amazon-fire-tv/
I don not know if that will work, but it's your best bet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
KLit75 said:
It's thankfully never happened to me but just from reading here, it can be incredibly hard to get to recovery. They're mostly trying to get to cwm (which I believe you don't have?) But in theory I think it should work with stock...
If possible, try a different keyboard. If using a hub then connect it directly. Change your timing (when you actually press the keys) Alter between holding them down the keys and tapping them. And just for the heck of it, try working in the remote at some point (back button and right arrow for 15 seconds performs reset)
Sorry. It sounds silly but many people have needed to get to recovery and no one can definitively say what works for everyone. At least I don't think anyone can??? Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the best reply yet. Your correct, I don't have Clock work recovery. I'll try to add in the remote to the equation. Thank you for your input.

Anyone want a free Amazon FTV? I can't get it into recovery.

I'll take it!
madtork said:
Anyone want a free Amazon FTV? I can't get it into recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll take it!!!! I dont know how to fix, but will try my damnedest!
Can you email [email protected]?
---------- Post added at 01:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:00 AM ----------
Lowaek said:
I'll take it!!!! I dont know how to fix, but will try my damnedest!
Can you email [email protected]?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will also pay shipping!

Unbrick a FireTV

So, I've been trying to fix my Netflix playback issue. I uninstalled Netflix before I started this process.
My FireTV was running 51.1.6.0 rooted, the boot loader was unlocked, I had the boot menu installed, etc.
From what I'd read, it looked like I may have installed a pre-rooted version some time back that had an issue with Netflix, that was corrected in the "updated" version of that release. I didn't have Netflix at the time, so I didn't know I had a problem. So, I loaded the 51.1.4.0 rooted+updated and 51.1.6.1-rooted onto my FIreTV /sdcard/ directory, ran the md5sum to make sure the files were transferred right, then loaded 51.1.4.0 via recovery. After it rebooted, things weren't quite right. I couldn't install the Netflix app (when I selected the icon, I think the screen flashed and it was back to the same screen). PlutoTV would load, but Mediaah complained. On the Apps section, it said something to the effect of "Your apps will show up here soon". I could still launch Kodi and it seemed to work fine.
Anyhow, I entered recovery mode via ADB and installed the 51.1.6.1. Now my FireTV is sitting at the animated FireTV screen. It no longer gives me the boot menu as it boots up.
What did I do wrong? Did I need to do some more steps while running 51.1.4.0 before loading 51.1.6.1? Did I need to install another version between 51.1.4.0 and 51.1.6.1?
So far, I've not been able to make any headway recovering. I can't connect to it via ADB to enter recovery mode. I don't have a USB PC keyboard to try the ALT-I-PrintScreen trick on boot. I've just ordered a USB A to USB A cable to try the fast boot recovery, but if loading 51.1.4.0 has broken by bootloader unlock, then that probably won't work either.

Installing 51.1.4.0 wipes out the boot menu. Since 51.1.6.1 requires the boot menu, you soft-bricked when you installed 51.1.6.1 without having a funcitoning boot menu.
The good news is it's a simple fix. You should be able to get into recovery using the ALT+i+PrintScreen if you can get a hold of a USB keyboard. The A-to-A USB cable will also get you back to working order if you prefer to go that route.
Just follow the instructions carefully here: http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-unbrick-and-prevent-bricking-an-amazon-fire-tv/
EDIT: I've added a warning to my ROM page, next to the 51.1.4.0 download, to help people avoid what you unknowingly did. If you used my ROM page, sorry the warning wasn't there earlier. Please feel free to PM or email me if you need any additional help recovering.

Thank you for the explanation. I thought it was something like that.
Is there any specific time during the boot process that I should be trying to hit ALT-i-Print Screen?

Taige said:
Thank you for the explanation. I thought it was something like that.
Is there any specific time during the boot process that I should be trying to hit ALT-i-Print Screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There isn't really any indicator. Just continue to press it repeatedly through the whole boot process. I don't mean hold it down the whole time, but rather, press, release, then repeat. If you can't get it to work, just follow the steps under the "Repair Recovery with Fastboot Mode" section of my guide. With that, there's no guess work, and you'll get into recovery immediately.

Got it with the USB keyboard!
But only after I read this link (http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-unbr...ry-mode-and-factory-reset-the-amazon-fire-tv/)...
Before reading that page, I assumed I just had to hit it at the right point in the boot process, like entering a computers BIOS or something. But that page explained what the system did when you hit ALT-i-PrintScreen, so I knew not to give up.
I have a USB A-to-A cable that will be here tomorrow that I don't need now, but it was cheap insurance.
Thanks again! Your web site is a very valuable resource! Not to take anything away from all the hard work of the guys who frequent these forums, but having everything curated in one place, with instructions for mere-mortals is great.

Cant find valid operating system after during update - please help

My mom's pixel 2 xl all of a sudden wont boot. It said cant find valid operation system. The device will not start. She said it might have updated overnight or something like that. I tried to download the factory image from google to restore the OS but it wont flash without bootloader being unlock. It odd that the phone was working and now it doesnt have an OS.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

sumasage said:
My mom's pixel 2 xl all of a sudden wont boot. It said cant find valid operation system. The device will not start. She said it might have updated overnight or something like that. I tried to download the factory image from google to restore the OS but it wont flash without bootloader being unlock. It odd that the phone was working and now it doesnt have an OS.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you get to stock recovery for a factory reset?

It doesn't even let me get to recover. Picking recovery from the bootloader screen just make the phone restart like it try to go to recovery but then it come back to the same screen saying it can't find valid operating system.

Same happend to me on my first unit when I relocated the bootloader.
Unit resetted and then can no longer find an operating system..
Only option was to call Google and RMA it. I've seen it happen to others on the web as well

trim81 said:
Same happend to me on my first unit when I relocated the bootloader.
Unit resetted and then can no longer find an operating system..
Only option was to call Google and RMA it. I've seen it happen to others on the web as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did you say Google? Did you tell them it happened while re-locking boot loader? I am on same boat....I tried to relock bootloader and getting Can't find valid operating system

I rma the unit as well.

sumasage said:
I rma the unit as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did they accept the RMA? Was the issue after an update or did you try to flash the update using adb or fastboot?

ram4ufriends said:
Did they accept the RMA? Was the issue after an update or did you try to flash the update using adb or fastboot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tell them exactly that. It no longer boots

As soon as I said there was no valid os the rep proceeded to rma. Seem like it a know issue so they didn't bother to transfer me to tech support.

Not sure if you want to try any of these solutions before you RMA, but here's another thread on the same "No OS ....." with several options, might be worth a try?

I ran into the same issue, however I found a solution, perhaps universal perhaps not.
When I enter fastboot mode, my phone shows (until I release the power/vol buttons) the "Start" option that is part of the boot mode. After releasing, I get the "no rom detected." So I used the script at the top of https://forum.xda-developers.com/pi...ol-deuces-bootloop-recovery-flashing-t3704761. I used the script by running it WHILE pressing the Power/Vol keys.
This worked for me.
Note: I let go of power/vol after starting script.

megernic said:
I ran into the same issue, however I found a solution, perhaps universal perhaps not.
When I enter fastboot mode, my phone shows (until I release the power/vol buttons) the "Start" option that is part of the boot mode. After releasing, I get the "no rom detected." So I used the script at the top of https://forum.xda-developers.com/pi...l-deuces-bootloop-recovery-flashing-t3704761. I used the script by running it WHILE pressing the Power/Vol keys.
This worked for me.
Note: I let go of power/vol after starting script.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you check or uncheck OEM unlocking in Developer Options before doing this?

FireTV box 2nd gen in endless boot - Amazon logo then "no signal"

Hello
I have a Fire TV box 2nd gen (not stick).
Yesterday the hdmi signal suddenly showed white noise for 2-3 seconds. Then the menu again. (Then I think it froze, not sure...) I remeber I turned it off, took it from power and tried to boot again. But it did not.
It shows the white amazon logo for a moment, then "no signal" on any TV or HDMI I try.
The white LED is pulsing slowly.
I tried << and UP to change resolution, nothing.
Customer service thinks there is a HDMI-HDCP Problem(?) and white LED means it tries to boot.
Question:
Is there any way to re-set the whole thing, make a clear fresh installation via USB?
Or is this thing a brick now?
(I did many things, turned it off for hours, let it try to boot for 1 hour. Changed HDMI cables and HDMI slots and changed from TV to a beamer ..it just always does the same. I have no idea if the remote really reacts on << [UP] cause there is no light indicator)
What I did not do: Connect via USB to a computer (cant find a old standard USB cable at the moment)
Thanks
Bodo

bodomalo said:
Is there any way to re-set the whole thing, make a clear fresh installation via USB?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look into this thread... Maybe you find in this 'unbrick thread' an answer

Sus_i said:
Take a look into this thread... Maybe you find in this 'unbrick thread' an answer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess that means no....
That thread is too long to read everything, the solution is first from 2016, and the last message 22 pages later from June 2019

bodomalo said:
I guess that means no....
That thread is too long to read everything, the solution is first from 2016, and the last message 22 pages later from June 2019
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess that nobody reads the thread for you
From what I've read, a pulsing light and stuck at amazon logo/black screen is a brick, maybe a hardware failure.
You can place your question in detail in the suggested thread, maybe you get there an answer. Or sell the item on ebay

The exact same thing just happened to me this morning. Worked perfect last night.... then turn it on this morning and nothing... after power cycling just the white Amazon logo then goes black then slow pulsing light. Tried to reset via the remote with the back & forward and held until orange light then it just went back to doing the same thing.
Dominic

I just ran into this issue myself. My 2nd Gen is running a rooted rom and has worked fine for a couple years but tonight we were watching some Hulu and the screen went blank in the middle of a show. I did a power cycle and it boots to the TWRP boot screen, then I get the white amazon logo. After which, the TV loses signal. The device seems to boot for a short while before getting the pulsing white LED.
I can still go into TWRP and access everything so I've performed a full reset which changed nothing. I also downloaded and installed an updated ROM July 4, 2020 - 5.2.7.3_r1 but it responds exactly the same after the update.
Fortunately I have a spare Fire TV 2 (thanks ebay) so I was able to swap things over pretty quick. This also confirmed the power adapter was not the issue as the replacement seems to be working fine with the same adapter. I also tested the original one with a 15.5v, 3.4amp adapter and no change. I feel like maybe the video processor may have burned up at this point.
Still open to any suggestions though.

Hannover2k said:
I just ran into this issue myself. My 2nd Gen is running a rooted rom and has worked fine for a couple years but tonight we were watching some Hulu and the screen went blank in the middle of a show. I did a power cycle and it boots to the TWRP boot screen, then I get the white amazon logo. After which, the TV loses signal. The device seems to boot for a short while before getting the pulsing white LED.
I can still go into TWRP and access everything so I've performed a full reset which changed nothing. I also downloaded and installed an updated ROM July 4, 2020 - 5.2.7.3_r1 but it responds exactly the same after the update.
Fortunately I have a spare Fire TV 2 (thanks ebay) so I was able to swap things over pretty quick. This also confirmed the power adapter was not the issue as the replacement seems to be working fine with the same adapter. I also tested the original one with a 15.5v, 3.4amp adapter and no change. I feel like maybe the video processor may have burned up at this point.
Still open to any suggestions though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Idk if it helps, but I would try a format data in wipe section of TWRP.
Could be that the eMMC died, i.e. at an unknown point, the storage switches to readonly, especially if the eMMC is a samsung chip.
Booting TWRP still works, in that case.
This happend to @Rortiz2 fireTV2 development box, maybe ask him for details.
What kind of errors are in the recovery log?

Sus_i said:
Idk if it helps, but I would try a format data in wipe section of TWRP.
Could be that the eMMC died, i.e. at an unknown point, the storage switches to readonly, especially if the eMMC is a samsung chip.
Booting TWRP still works, in that case.
This happend to @Rortiz2 fireTV2 development box, maybe ask him for details.
What kind of errors are in the recovery log?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know how to get to the logs but happy to post if you can tell me.
On another note, I noticed the replacement device, while just recently connected and has also been rooted, tried to download the 5.2.7.4 update today. Typically my rooted devices never updated so this is a new discovery. I pulled the plug on it before it finished downloading but I'm worried I'll loose root if it updates. There's no pre-rooted ROM for 5.2.7.4 yet so I'm afraid to plug the power back in for fear it will update and unroot/brick like the 1st one.

Hannover2k said:
I don't know how to get to the logs but happy to post if you can tell me. .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Boot into TWRP, click mount and mount system, start the filemanager (in advanced tab), then go to /tmp, in there should be a recovery.log file, copy this file to your ext. sd or adb pull it to your PC.
Edit your serials in the file and upload it on mega, gdrive or so.
Hannover2k said:
On another note, I noticed the replacement device, while just recently connected and has also been rooted, tried to download the 5.2.7.4 update today. Typically my rooted devices never updated so this is a new discovery. I pulled the plug on it before it finished downloading but I'm worried I'll loose root if it updates. There's no pre-rooted ROM for 5.2.7.4 yet so I'm afraid to plug the power back in for fear it will update and unroot/brick like the 1st one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the sloane (aka fireTV second gen box), the prerooted rom installer disables the stock recovery, so nothing should happen if you let the ota updater do its thing...
But its best to disable the ota process with that:
Code:
adb shell
su
pm disable com.amazon.device.software.ota
pm disable com.amazon.device.software.ota.override
pm disable com.amazon.tv.forcedotaupdater.v2
pm clear com.amazon.device.software.ota
exit
exit