[Q] Blacklisted FireTV 4K - Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I bought one on Amazon Warehouse and it's apparently locked to a previous owner's account. They refunded and told me to throw it away. Can this be rooted, custom firmware'd and used? Will it ever get Amazon content or just other apps?

el_smurfo said:
I bought one on Amazon Warehouse and it's apparently locked to a previous owner's account. They refunded and told me to throw it away. Can this be rooted, custom firmware'd and used? Will it ever get Amazon content or just other apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just other apps unless you sideload Amazon apps.

I wouldn't throw it away. Save it for its power supply or other parts in case you buy another one and need parts.

carpenter940 said:
I wouldn't throw it away. Save it for its power supply or other parts in case you buy another one and need parts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The power supply is already off doing something else...just wondering if it's worth it to try and root this one. If I could make it an Android TV box and have it all work in spite of the blacklisting, I'd be all over that.

el_smurfo said:
The power supply is already off doing something else...just wondering if it's worth it to try and root this one. If I could make it an Android TV box and have it all work in spite of the blacklisting, I'd be all over that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea if it's running the older firmware try the older rooting methods and then using twrp flash a pre-rooted image. Does it contain the new ui on the set-up page with new icons or the old blocky square design? If it's with the new icons, then it will be running a newer firmware.
Then run a debloat script which would remove everything Amazon wise and install an 3rd party launcher such as Appstarter with adb.
I am stuck with a Fire TV which is on the newer system which cannot be rooted. I have tried many different known CVE lollipop exploits but these fail so I'll guess I will just wait for some newer exploits as I can't be asked to hardware root this by cloning another emmc dump with an older version. I am also stuck with Fire HD8 which is a similar position for rooting where only hardware eMMC rooting is possible. This Amazon ecosystem is not developer friendly, but they never were anyway.
I believe this blacklisting must be a new feature from 5.6.3.2! Don't remember seeing this on older firmware versions.

Related

Rooted With Kindle Fire Utility - Purple Line On Screen?

I was just trying to root my friend's mom's kindle fire and install a new rom and now there is a purple line on the screen. Honestly I didn't check beforehand if there was anything wrong with the screen and his mom is asleep so we don't know if it might've already been there or not.
Couldn't some part of rooting,installing twrp, installing jb, gapps etc have messed up the screen? If so, is there a fix? I tried restoring to stock but the line is still there.
Did I screw up her kindle?! :crying:
I hope you checked with her before modifying her device as its not cool to modify someone's device if they don't wish it to be done. If I was her I would be much more perturbed at that than a purple line, its called respect for other people's property... so I hope you guys had permission.
That being said, I don't see how flashing dev apps or custom Rom to it could possibly cause something like this. Have you tried holding down the power button for 20 seconds to do a hard reboot? You could also try doing a factory reset through the stock os to ensure that it is indeed not a software issue. If all else fails return it to stock as it may still be under warranty to ship it back.
Also you did check to make sure it was a first gen before flashing right?
This post should be in q&a section as well...
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using xda app-developers app
Never heard of such problem. Maybe hardware problems.
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2
Let me preface by saying I'm not a 12 year old who stole my friend's mom's kindle.
I have rooted 2 other kindles and never had an issue and I of course was asked to do this.
I did a hard reboot didn't help anything.
I restored the stock os and it is still there.
I did a search and someone posted about this problem once in the Kindle Fire Utility thread but it doesn't look like anyone ever responded to it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1399889&page=105
My friend says his mom has bad vision so it's possible she never noticed it but I dunno, I honestly didn't even turn look at the screen I just went right to rooting it.
Any more help would be greatly appreciated.
If I can't fix it I will just try and get amazon to replace it. Question: I own a kindle fire as well. If I tell them this one is mine and send it back to them will they replace it or notice it's not the one I bought? I could ask my friend's mom to do it but I'd rather do it to save her the trouble.
Did you just restore the stock os or did you flash stock? Where is the purple line located?
Thepooch said:
Did you just restore the stock os or did you flash stock? Where is the purple line located?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I restored to stock following the instructions in the restore stock thread using the file from amazon. The line is about 25% down from the top of the screen.
So no more fff and twrp? Sounds more hardware related than software. Is it still in warranty? Rather than a dead pixel it seems more like a string of bad pixels. Pretty good chance it was already there. Do a factory reset if it is to be returned.
Thepooch said:
So no more fff and twrp? Sounds more hardware related than software. Is it still in warranty? Rather than a dead pixel it seems more like a string of bad pixels. Pretty good chance it was already there. Do a factory reset if it is to be returned.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks that makes me feel better. There might have been something wrong with how I rooted it but I don't see why that would mess up the screen.
I am going to find out tomorrow if I can return it.
Do you think that if I've bought a kindle but I try and return a different one that amazon will notice?
Amazon is only selling 2nd gen. devices from now on. I think they would notice. If you send back a 1st gen. device they will try to replace it with a 1st gen. till they run out.
Thepooch said:
Amazon is only selling 2nd gen. devices from now on. I think they would notice. If you send back a 1st gen. device they will try to replace it with a 1st gen. till they run out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that would be fine. I bought and have a first gen that works fine. Got it back in march. Although I bought it refurbed from amazon.
If I could return this one and tell them it was mine that would be perfect. Not sure what the return policy on a refurb is though.
I think you still have the issue of a serial number.
So they know the serial number of the kindle they sold me and they will check it? Damn, I was hoping I could get away with it.
I'll check with my friend's mom to see if she can try getting it replaced.
I believe they do and they will 200$ is 200$.
The serial number in the device is listed on your account at Amazon.com, no chance of slipping it past them
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using xda app-developers app

[Q] Fastboot cable for Kindle Fire HDX 7"?

Hey guys, I need to know where I can get a working fastboot cable for the Kindle Fire HDX 3rd gen 7" (THOR). On amazon I don't know which one to buy. Can someone send me a link to a cheap one I can buy?
MinerBoy004 said:
Hey guys, I need to know where I can get a working fastboot cable for the Kindle Fire HDX 3rd gen 7" (THOR). On amazon I don't know which one to buy. Can someone send me a link to a cheap one I can buy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think a fastboot cable by itself (or at all) is going to help. You will need to read up on recovering a bricked HDX. A Google search turned up several extensive threads. Skimming quickly I wasn't able to determine if a satisfactory resolution was obtained. Anyhow - I can't answer your specific question as the two cables on Amazon both state they do not work with newer generation Kindles including HDX (even though at least one title suggests it does...deceptive).
Davey126 said:
I don't think a fastboot cable by itself (or at all) is going to help. You will need to read up on recovering a bricked HDX. A Google search turned up several extensive threads. Skimming quickly I wasn't able to determine if a satisfactory resolution was obtained. Anyhow - I can't answer your specific question as the two cables on Amazon both state they do not work with newer generation Kindles including HDX (even though at least one title suggests it does...deceptive).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did, I need a fastboot cable to restore my stock rom because I deleted my stock rom. So can someone please help me? I'm starting to get pissed of because people keep saying the same thing...
MinerBoy004 said:
So can someone please help me? I'm starting to get pissed of because people keep saying the same thing...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the consensus is you are hosed or haven't provided enough information for anyone to help. A HDX isn't like most Android devices; hard to unbrick using conventional methods. I understand your frustration but everyone here is just like you. No one gets paid to answer your questions.
My humble suggestion is you contact Amazon to seek a replacement. Tell them it stopped working. While most companies would have you pound sand Amazon is exceptionally customer focused and will often replace a device even if it is out of warranty.
Beyond that, if anyone else wants to jump have at it.
MinerBoy004 said:
I did, I need a fastboot cable to restore my stock rom because I deleted my stock rom. So can someone please help me? I'm starting to get pissed of because people keep saying the same thing...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In case you dont get it, your only valid option for now is ask to Amazon for replacement as Davey126 suggested:
1. On FW x.3.2.8 you cant unlock bootloader
2. On locked HW fastboot mode is severely crippled = unusable for anything regarding system recovery
3. Trying to use fastboot cable to restore system on locked HW will fail
I own an 8.9 HDX 3rd generation kindle fire, and have been doing ALOT of reading on xda as to what I can or cant do with my kindle. I read that if you intend to do any work adapting the khdx, it is advised to use a factory cable. I'm having the same problem as MinerBoy004 in that I cant find anywhere to buy said factory cable..the ones from hong kong suit the kindle HD, but theres no mention of the hdx. Any links, or advise (I cant solder lol) would be gratefully recieved...as my hdx up dated to 4.5.5.2 at the beginning of the week, I'm holding off doing anything atm so its not urgent.
thanks
Pusspaws said:
I own an 8.9 HDX 3rd generation kindle fire, and have been doing ALOT of reading on xda as to what I can or cant do with my kindle. I read that if you intend to do any work adapting the khdx, it is advised to use a factory cable. I'm having the same problem as MinerBoy004 in that I cant find anywhere to buy said factory cable..the ones from hong kong suit the kindle HD, but theres no mention of the hdx. Any links, or advise (I cant solder lol) would be gratefully recieved...as my hdx up dated to 4.5.5.2 at the beginning of the week, I'm holding off doing anything atm so its not urgent.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any post/thread that suggests a factory/fastboot cable works on a Fire HDX is misinformed (with one notable exception that does NOT apply to your device). Fastboot cables do work with with some Fire models but definitely NOT 3rd gen HDX. If you are currently on 4.5.5.2 the device is not rootable at present which is a prerequisite to any meaningful mods. Hopefully a vulnerability and related exploit can be identified soon. Best way to find out is by monitoring threads in this forum or just try Kingroot from time to time.
QHSUSB_BULK 05c6:9008
Davey126 said:
Any post/thread that suggests a factory/fastboot cable works on a Fire HDX is misinformed (with one notable exception that does NOT apply to your device). Fastboot cables do work with with some Fire models but definitely NOT 3rd gen HDX. If you are currently on 4.5.5.2 the device is not rootable at present which is a prerequisite to any meaningful mods. Hopefully a vulnerability and related exploit can be identified soon. Best way to find out is by monitoring threads in this forum or just try Kingroot from time to time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can positively confirm that a fastboot cable (doesn't matter which one,
they are all the same; you can even make one yourself) does make a major
difference: my bricked device shows up as QHSUSB_BULK with a fastboot
cable, but doesn't register at all with the factory cable.
Depending on firmware version, this could even make unbricking possible.
Chances are that this is that notable exception... (-;
draxie said:
I can positively confirm that a fastboot cable (doesn't matter which one,
they are all the same; you can even make one yourself) does make a major
difference: my bricked device shows up as QHSUSB_BULK with a fastboot
cable, but doesn't register at all with the factory cable.
Depending on firmware version, this could even make unbricking possible.
Chances are that this is that notable exception... (-;
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup - that's the "notable exception" referenced in my post. If working from QHSUSB_BULK similar low level environment fastboot cables can be indispensable. Until recently that was the purview of a few hard core geeks.

Bricked Firestick

Ok, so I'll try and make this story short. We sold our *like new* Firestick TV on Ebay, the buyer then forced us to refund it by opening a case with Ebay lying about not receiving one of the cables. Ebay froze our money in Paypal and then force refunded it (we had no control) when tracking showed we got the package. The item was not the one we sent, it was a well used unit with a scratched up remote and damaged box. Amusingly, the cable the thief/buyer stated he never received was sent back as well. Ebay didn't care. Guessing the buyer ruined the one he "returned" trying to root it and then kept our good one, working the system and forcing the refund with Ebay's BS "Buyer Protection" policy.
Anyways, I have this Firestick now that when powered up will only display the white Amazon logo but will not advance past that. No firey splash screen like the good one we had and no other activity no matter how long you leave it. I have successfully hooked this stick up to my laptop with the USB power cable (from the micro port on stick to usb port on computer) and I can get adb to recognize the device. Before I proceeded I wanted to know what you guys thought about recovering this device, as I can use it on one of the kid's TVs. I was thinking forcing it into recovery mode and trying a full factory reset? Is there a way to flash the stock firmware back onto the stick sideloaded through adb like I did my android phones if reset doesn't work? Should I just trash it?
SmilingBob said:
Ok, so I'll try and make this story short. We sold our *like new* Firestick TV on Ebay, the buyer then forced us to refund it by opening a case with Ebay lying about not receiving one of the cables. Ebay froze our money in Paypal and then force refunded it (we had no control) when tracking showed we got the package. The item was not the one we sent, it was a well used unit with a scratched up remote and damaged box. Amusingly, the cable the thief/buyer stated he never received was sent back as well. Ebay didn't care. Guessing the buyer ruined the one he "returned" trying to root it and then kept our good one, working the system and forcing the refund with Ebay's BS "Buyer Protection" policy.
Anyways, I have this Firestick now that when powered up will only display the white Amazon logo but will not advance past that. No firey splash screen like the good one we had and no other activity no matter how long you leave it. I have successfully hooked this stick up to my laptop with the USB power cable (from the micro port on stick to usb port on computer) and I can get adb to recognize the device. Before I proceeded I wanted to know what you guys thought about recovering this device, as I can use it on one of the kid's TVs. I was thinking forcing it into recovery mode and trying a full factory reset? Is there a way to flash the stock firmware back onto the stick sideloaded through adb like I did my android phones if reset doesn't work? Should I just trash it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did/was there ever a resolution to your issue. I have the same problem with the same question. Thanks
xboxmodifier said:
Did/was there ever a resolution to your issue. I have the same problem with the same question. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know what firmware version was on before it dis not boot?
If its on any rootable version you could try the windows version of Kingroot and or Kingo root.
Ive had success with both bringing back a few fire sticks.
Its worth a try if nothing else.
Sorry, I never was able to fix this issue and I finally gave up and threw it out. Helped my OCD and Anger Management issues since it pissed me off every time I thought about it, heh.

Stock 1. Gen Fire TV bricked with Update?

Hello,
I have an unmodified, unrooted 1. Gen Fire TV which today wanted to update to the newest Firmware. After Reboot the Device shows "Optimizing storage and apllications" forever (waited about 2 Hours). There were just a handfull of Apps installed.
Is there any way of unbricking the Device? I only found Infos about rooted Devices with Custom-Recovery, but mine is Stock.
Unfortunately the Device is out of Warranaty
Regards
Daniel
cyablo said:
Hello,
I have an unmodified, unrooted 1. Gen Fire TV which today wanted to update to the newest Firmware. After Reboot the Device shows "Optimizing storage and apllications" forever (waited about 2 Hours). There were just a handfull of Apps installed.
Is there any way of unbricking the Device? I only found Infos about rooted Devices with Custom-Recovery, but mine is Stock.
Unfortunately the Device is out of Warranaty
Regards
Daniel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Daniel, you get anywhere with your fire tv? i have one with the exact same issue as yours.
Thanks
wickywicky said:
Daniel, you get anywhere with your fire tv? i have one with the exact same issue as yours.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's still bricked, but after hard Conversations with Amazon and a lot of patience, I've got it replaced by Amazon.
cyablo said:
No, it's still bricked, but after hard Conversations with Amazon and a lot of patience, I've got it replaced by Amazon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My issue is i bought this in the USA when it was first released. Amazon.co.uk are unwilling to help and amazon.com just go round in circles. Its like they have never seen this issue before and dont know what to do.
Il keep trying, hopefully get somewhere.
Thanks
wickywicky said:
My issue is i bought this in the USA when it was first released. Amazon.co.uk are unwilling to help and amazon.com just go round in circles. Its like they have never seen this issue before and dont know what to do.
Il keep trying, hopefully get somewhere.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They told me for about 2 Weeks they are investigating, then they told me they have more Customers with the same Problem but cannot solve it and offered me a 15 EUR Discount on a new Fire TV, because mine is out of Warranty. As I refused their noble Offer and made clear, that this is their fault, not mine and demanded on a replacement, they finaly send me a new 1. Gen Box.

Fire TV Stick blocked by Amazon - Any use for Android?

I bought a used 'New' Fire TV Stick on eBay. I found it wouldn't register to my account, and amazon told me the device was replaced by them (hence the seller had it spare) and is now blocked by their servers and won't be able to be registered to an account ever again. I got a refund through paypal, so all is well.
It still powers on, but it won't let me even get to the homescreen without a problem message...
Is there any way this can be flashed to just run android? I'd love it to just be a kodi stick. Can I avoid Amazon's servers at all?
It seems a shame for a neat piece of working tech to be thrown away if it is still technically working.
Any way I can make this work?
Thanks
Ben-B said:
I bought a used 'New' Fire TV Stick on eBay. I found it wouldn't register to my account, and amazon told me the device was replaced by them (hence the seller had it spare) and is now blocked by their servers and won't be able to be registered to an account ever again. I got a refund through paypal, so all is well.
It still powers on, but it won't let me even get to the homescreen without a problem message...
Is there any way this can be flashed to just run android? I'd love it to just be a kodi stick. Can I avoid Amazon's servers at all?
It seems a shame for a neat piece of working tech to be thrown away if it is still technically working.
Any way I can make this work?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes,
You can unlock and install lineage
Unlock-
https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/unlock-fire-tv-stick-2nd-gen-tank-t3907002
Lineage 12.1-
https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/tank-lineageos-12-1-t3961110
I have seen a few people get work around to get some apps to work in fireOS after unlocking, but i would have to search wider to find it.
Michajin said:
Yes,
You can unlock and install lineage
Unlock-
https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/unlock-fire-tv-stick-2nd-gen-tank-t3907002
Lineage 12.1-
https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/tank-lineageos-12-1-t3961110
I have seen a few people get work around to get some apps to work in fireOS after unlocking, but i would have to search wider to find it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes sorry if this is slightly off topic, I had a blacklisted kindle Jem, and got it unlocked rooted and custom rom flashed. There is actually a slight advantage also (in my case with the kindle) this being the fact that you don't need to worry about Ota updates if running rooted stock.

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