DISCLAIMER: I'm as always, not responsible for any bricks, damages to your device, or any other "bad" effect this guide may or may not have on your device. Also doing this voids your warranty. ALSO... please read the "common mistakes" section at the bottom of the post. Good luck!
Checked/Updated: November 18th, 2017, all the links check out, I've logged into my old MEGA account to keep them alive. Cheers everyone
NOTE* VERY IMPORTANT! Don't bother installing this without installing android! Why? Every time you reboot with the stock OS, it erases the recovery. At least on 8.5.1. After installing the recovery, IMMEDIATELY power off your device, boot into recovery manually, and install android. Never, I repeat NEVER use fire flash to reboot into recovery, it will soft brick your device, which you need a computer to fix.
NOTE2* I did not create any of these files, I simply put them all in one place and kept them in my mega drive (I never use it so the links should be good for a while
It's rooting time guys!
iroot.apk : https://mega.nz/#!0Z0AFB7b!LgIwouIzy6IYPFEVpKdL7fkWTWdEKJX-gV00mwXXYrE
So, now that you have iroot downloaded, go ahead and install it. Now open it and you should see your device (KFJWI) at the top, and a big button in the center. Tap it, and it will begin rooting your device. (Don't interrupt it!). When it's finished, reboot your kindle, and you should now be rooted! You'll find an app called "King User" in your device apps, it just manages root (like Super SU) and is needed to use root. Now for TWRP!
So here's the VERY STRAIGHT-FORWARD tutorial for people who's kindle fire 8.9s are on Fire OS 8.5.1 and want TWRP and Maybe even Cyanogenmod/Android running on their kindle. Anyway, let's start with fire flash, you've probably heard of this before, but all I'm really doing here is summarizing other guides and my personal experience for others to utilize (no matter what skill level)
1) Anyway, download FireFlash11 apk (it's trustworthy, worked no problem for me)
DOWNLOAD HERE: https://mega.nz/#!MIM1hbQJ!4hCcH3o3w7ZdrQylcMG0Gt-F0Kju_w_IHs8q0Pe44ng
2) Now download ALL these files. (I know one says "freedom-boot-8.4.6" It will work on 8.5.1!)
ES File Explorer (Download from app store, if unable to, download through MEGA and install from silk): https://mega.nz/#!hR1EzbiR!RSEy0wiVBadAaWDF3SGnd5CQAMcaUo8aDQlIvqEGF6U
freedom-boot-8.4.6: https://mega.nz/#!tRlDxYwK!tje6Mfa08YBTYubLvHPtn_kpakc6woBJfUpM70RTsV4
u-boot-prod-8.1.4: https://mega.nz/#!BV0V2TiS!39szFTM57OV9Pby_R88t-xeAL9nu5ouwgXv96NmfsSk
TWRP 2.6.0.0: https://mega.nz/#!ABUiAbrI!IManKhn6prbjBCyThY_33uw7wftvqxpqXXqzDx3qSGA
(TWRP because of stability and ease of use, CWM and newer builds of TWRP are available around the community but 2.6.x.x should work fine for most pre-6.0 roms)
stack: https://mega.nz/#!oBtSDIZL!WnsanHgEieY7JzeOJPRC2XnQOkrN3O7ZyDZU01-Z_eA
3) I know those links looked the same, there different, now bear with me here, here comes the TWRP install.
so, First, make sure you've downloaded and installed ES File Explorer (if through silk, open the downloads tab and install it through there) and open it. now, if you haven't already, make sure you move all the files you downloaded to your kindle. now if you moved them straight to your kindle, then they should be on the sd card, if you downloaded these through silk, they'll be in the downloads folder in your sd card. tap and install fireflash11.apk . now open it, and give it root access. you should be greeted with a somewhat complicated looking wall of text and checkboxes.
!IMPORTANT!
| | |
\/ \/ \/
*So, let me now guide you through this app, first of all, there should be red print informing you that you're not on the 8.1.4 bootloader or something like that, so click on the checkbox. above it (the one that says "install kfhd8uboot-prod-8.1.4.img or something like that)
*Now go down, and you'll see some text that says "Boot Partition Image (boot.img) and a box under it that says "NOT FLASHED" tap it. it should bring up a file manager-like list. scroll down until you see your already downloaded "kfhd8freedom-boot-8.4.6.img" , and tap/select it. (I know it says 8.4.6, IT WORKS ON 8.5.1!).
now go slightly under it and check "apply stack override".
*Next, Go under that to find a line that says "Recover Partition Image (Recovery.img), and slightly under it a box that says "NOT FLASHED" tap that, and again, you'll be greeted with a list-like file manager. scroll down until you see "kfhd8-twrp-2.6.0.0.img" and tap/select it. last part! go slightly under that and tap the check box next to "disable auto recovery update".
*Now that you have all you options in order, verify that you have them in order, and correctly selected (refer back if needed) and scroll down until you see at the bottom, a box that will install/flash all these things, it will say something like "Execute Flash Script" tap it, and your all set. if you want to boot into recovery, go right under that box to find another box that says "reboot into recovery" click it, and wait a sec, your screen will black out, and you will first see the normal kindle fire logo, then a blue one, then some glitchy looking stuff, then it should show a TeamWin logo, and go into recovery.
NOTE: If you don't flash your device with android, the stock Amazon os will erase the recovery, so NEVER REBOOT INTO RECOVERY USING FIREFLASH! Only right after you install/re-install recovery.
Now you have to download a custom firmware file for your kindle. They com in .zip format, and are all over the 8.9 HD android development forum (which is where this thread is!). Download two, one that you want, and one as a backup just in case things go bad! (make sure the backup one is a lower android version and is stable, such as CM11).
4) Now, to install these:
first off, open ES file explorer, go to the tool section (located to the left of the screen) and open it
enable root explorer (a window should pop up choose to allow it to use root)
Next, create a folder on your sd card named "0" just the zero! no quotations, no space, or a period, just ZERO!
Then, move the ROM and gapps from the download folder in your sd card to the new folder named "0" (that should be on your sd card!)
!IMPORTANT!
MAKE SURE TO CHARGE YOUR DEVICE TO AT LEAST 70% BEFORE MOVING FORWARD
(This is just in case you end up needing to fix or unbrick your kindle fire, the more battery life you have, the more time you have to fix things)
!IMPORTANT!
(Question: why are we doing this? TWRP and nonstock (nonamazon os roms) create a subfolder in your sd card labeled "0", which will be used from here on out (or until you go back to amazon os)
Now, boot into TWRP, power down your device RIGHT AFTER installing/re-installing TWRP through fire flash. Now, with your kindle powered off, push the power button for 3 seconds, release it, and hold volume up until it boots into recovery.
*Make a backup of your ROM, should be in the "Backup" section of TWRP.
*Now go back to the main screen select "Wipe"
*Go to "Wipe Data and Factory Reset"
*Now select "wipe" (its a tab you pull, kind of like the gingerbread or iOS6 lockscreen)
*Now go back (don't reboot your device just yet!)
*Now select "Install" on the main menu (It might say "Zip Install" based on your version of TWRP)
*Now select your ROM (if it's not in the scroll menu, check the right side of the screen! )
*Now click "Install" or "Flash" (again, depends on version of TWRP)
*It may show errors, (like: failed to mount dev/boot0/blah blah blah)ignore them, it only matters if it finishes and says FAILED in all red.
*When it's done tap "Reboot Device"
(You forgot to move your rom/gapps and/or you're stuck with a device with no firmware? help with this question and more at the bottom of the page!)
*DONE!!!! remember, all roms/gapps/zips get flashed like this, including the google ones, but only wipe your device when installing A NEW ROM! not gapps, just go straight to installing them.
Okay, common mistakes:
1. Trying to boot into recovery and getting a badi: bad boot image magic error, then trying to use fire flash or an app like it to boot into recovery. THIS WILL BRICK YOUR KINDLE. It'll red screen, then dump you into fast boot.
2. Using kindle fire 7 in images. Please don't make this mistake. needless to say, THIS WILL BRICK YOU DEVICE.
3.Using non-kindle fire 8.9 roms. You'd be surprised, I had a friend try to flash a ROM for the original kindle fire onto his HD 7 (Tate) kindle fire, so don't flash it unless it specifically says: "for kindle fire 8.9". THIS MISTAKE WILL SERIOUSLY BRICK YOU! Obviously.
*disclaimer: I did not make any of these files, the majority of the credit goes the Hashcode and the wonderful devs on the kindle fire community!
Common questions, with helpful answers!
Q: I forgot to make a backup and I can't find the ROM files I downloaded! what do I do!!!
A: Okay, no big deal! lets do this! in recovery open the install menu (big button that says install) now to the left is all the folders in the sd card (the "0" folder in it anyways) select "Up A Level" now, scroll around until you find a folder named "data" (should be third from the top) next, scroll down until you find a folder named "media" open it. congrats! This is where the actual sd card is! (And if you look you'll find the folder named "0")! now just navigate to the downloads folder (or an incorrectly named "0" folder/wherever you put it) select it, and install!
Q: Where did my recovery go?
A: you either deleted it or rebooted into Stock Amazon OS 8.5.1+ after installing this. Just reinstall it using fire flash, and reflash CM or Omni or whatever you use.
Q: What does Badi: Bad boot image (or similar) mean? And why does it happen every time I try to boot into recovery?
A: It means Amazon erased your rec
4. My kindle fire won't stop booting over and over again! Why? Soft brick. No big deal, flash a different custom ROM (preferably of a lower android version like 4.4.x or lower) and see if that helps. If it is still doing this update TWRPovery at boot, this error is SPECIFFICALY because of Amazon OS doing this. reflash recovery, and remember, ONLY boot into recovery manually, never use fire flash to do it.
Q: Dangit! I forgot to download a ROM for my kindle! Now I'm stuck with a firmware-less kindle fire! What do I do?
A: You will need to boot into TWRP, and tap Mount, now mount internal SD and connect it to a computer, and move a rom to it.
Can Not get Root access, Fireflash will close.?
wopspeed said:
Can Not get Root access, Fireflash will close.?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't worry Watson, I'm working on getting iroot apk set up. In the mean time, please, when you are rooted, only boot into recovery using volume key up, NOT fire flash. The system will erase twerp after reboot... Even with disable auto recovery update. Just a quirk of Amazon os. Looking into it. Should have a useable iroot by tomorrow though.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
wopspeed said:
Can Not get Root access, Fireflash will close.?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, here is your solution (should be in the guide now, but here's iroot.apk!
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-JbG8_ys1PGc3ZKTDQtSmtKOHM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
When I open iroot, I do not see my device at the top. There is a circle in the middle that says "No Root Permission" and a button at the bottom that says "Get Root Access." When I press the Get Root Access button, the circle in the middle changes to "Rooting Now." When it's finished, I get a message that says "Root Succeeded" and the circle changes to "Got Root Access," but when I reboot, there is no King User app. When I open iroot again, the circle says "No Root Permission." I've repeated this process several times and cannot gain root access. Any ideas? I have the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 16G with version 8.5.1.
Ok I will DEFINITELY check this out... Worked on my kindle, and I had the 16gb wifi on 8.5.1, so I'll look into this later, but other then that, the only other app said to occasionally work is kingroot, or root with restore by bin4ry for kindle fire hd 8.9 (Google it, its on xda)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
When I go into fire flash the boot partition there is no kind...ect
Cadebonds12 said:
When I go into fire flash the boot partition there is no kind...ect
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats how its supposed to be, itll always say "not flashed" just flash the images like normal. Remember NEVER USE FIREFLASH TI BOOT INTO RECOVERY DO IT MANUALLY.
Sent from my KFJWI using Tapatalk
Delete
Delete
I've tried this method several times, always ending with me having to restore a stock image via fastboot. Everything works fine until I reboot into TWRP for the first time. I can even reboot after installing TWRP (but without booting into it) and it works. Once I enter TWRP the first time, even if I don't do anything except reboot, it never boots past the blue Kindle logo. Flashing the latest nightly CM12.1 says it completes successfully, but it still never boots past the blue Kindle logo. Looks like I'm stuck with the stock Kindle Fire ROM. Any ideas?
chrisaln said:
I've tried this method several times, always ending with me having to restore a stock image via fastboot. Everything works fine until I reboot into TWRP for the first time. I can even reboot after installing TWRP (but without booting into it) and it works. Once I enter TWRP the first time, even if I don't do anything except reboot, it never boots past the blue Kindle logo. Flashing the latest nightly CM12.1 says it completes successfully, but it still never boots past the blue Kindle logo. Looks like I'm stuck with the stock Kindle Fire ROM. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never heard of that problem nor have I run into it, can you please tell me the following info please:
What version of Amazon OS:
What model of Kindle fire hd 8.9: (wifi or lte)?
Perhaps details on EXACTLY what you did(?):
What specific img(s) you flashed (yes it's necessary):
A log saved through twrp(not needed to be honest):
All these details and more would really help me solve your problem! Thanks!
EDIT: If possible you don't have to use the app, have you tried manually flashing through fast boot?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
after step 3, on boot, I see the gold fire, then red screen. What now?
Dnorris55 said:
after step 3, on boot, I see the gold fire, then red screen. What now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have a PC with admin access (Windows preferably)? If so pm me EXAXTLY WHAT YOU DID and these:
Amazon OS version you're on:
Lte or wifi kindle:
Other info:
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
MeowDude said:
Do you have a PC with admin access (Windows preferably)? If so pm me EXAXTLY WHAT YOU DID and these:
Amazon OS version you're on:
Lte or wifi kindle:
Other info:
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I finally got it fixed.
I went from the red screen to a stuck Fire logo screen.
Could not get to fastboot screen using Win 10 PC. Was able to use Linux Mint to boot the Kindle into fastboot. From there, was able to flash recovery, etc.
Now running Resurrection Remix 6.01 on my KF HD 8.9 (jem).
Not sure what happened with fireflash.apk. The iroot.apk worked OK, AFAIK.
Thanks.
Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk
Dnorris55 said:
I finally got it fixed.
I went from the red screen to a stuck Fire logo screen.
Could not get to fastboot screen using Win 10 PC. Was able to use Linux Mint to boot the Kindle into fastboot. From there, was able to flash recovery, etc.
Now running Resurrection Remix 6.01 on my KF HD 8.9 (jem).
Not sure what happened with fireflash.apk. The iroot.apk worked OK, AFAIK.
Thanks.
Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to hear that!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
23-March-2016:
Read through the instructions and decided to use CM 12.1 after getting frustrated with Amazon and repeated "Google Play Services has Stopped" error messages. So far so good.
24-March-2016:
additional information: Installed TWRP 2.8.7.0 instead of 2.7.7.0 before installing CM 12.1 and GApps 5.1
No issues with TWRP 2.8.7.0.
One comment about this procedure. I was confused by the instruction lines that read:
*Now select "Install" on the main menu (It might say "Zip Install" based on your version of TWRP)
*Now select your rom (if its not in the scroll menu, check the right side of the screen!
Didn't know which rom since all previous instructions were clear on this point.
(this 61 y/o former embedded systems engineer wasn't stumped for long though)
Please add an instruction to ensure CM12.1 and Gapps 5.1 are on the Kindle before booting into TWRP.
I realized my error after starting the backup. Had to boot into Amazon one last time and move the roms.
Then I booted into TWRP, backed up the Kindle, wiped and installed CM12.1 and Gapps 5.1.
Other that that one point the upgrade went very smooth. Am impressed with the new OS.
Thank You!
wptyree said:
23-March-2016:
Read through the instructions and decided to use CM 12.1 after getting frustrated with Amazon and repeated "Google Play Services has Stopped" error messages. So far so good.
24-March-2016:
additional information: Installed TWRP 2.8.7.0 instead of 2.7.7.0 before installing CM 12.1 and GApps 5.1
No issues with TWRP 2.8.7.0.
One comment about this procedure. I was confused by the instruction lines that read:
*Now select "Install" on the main menu (It might say "Zip Install" based on your version of TWRP)
*Now select your rom (if its not in the scroll menu, check the right side of the screen!
Didn't know which rom since all previous instructions were clear on this point.
(this 61 y/o former embedded systems engineer wasn't stumped for long though)
Please add an instruction to ensure CM12.1 and Gapps 5.1 are on the Kindle before booting into TWRP.
I realized my error after starting the backup. Had to boot into Amazon one last time and move the roms.
Then I booted into TWRP, backed up the Kindle, wiped and installed CM12.1 and Gapps 5.1.
Other that that one point the upgrade went very smooth. Am impressed with the new OS.
Thank You!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no problem, and thanks for the info, will be sure to add these to the post! :highfive:
Great POST!!!
Successfully updated my Kindle 8.9 with CM12.1.
Thanks.
fireflash11.apx problem
I was able to complete the install previously, but in playing around had to reload my kindle back to the orig. In trying to do the install again when I get to the part where I click the "Not Flashed" it goes into the explorer, but will not show any files at all, only directories. Am I missing something here?
Hello Friends!
Can you flash the Gapps package only without flashing a custon ROM as they usually goo togather.? I have successfuly installed TWRP 7.0.0 and have a rooted KFHD8.9 (v 8.5.1) which is based on android 4.0.3 i understand. Thnaks in advance to anybody who helps me out.
I have an old DINC that I've used over the years primarily for reading Kindle books and for network troubleshooting. I've been through the CyanogenMod ROMs from 9 to 11, and Evervolv KK. I have TWRP 2.0 installed.
I recently got a Google Cardboard VR viewer, and when I tried to install some software for it from the Play store, I got the bogus "Insufficient space" message, even though the only non-ROM app installed was Kindle and ES File Explorer, and there was. That's when the fun began.
I tried reinstalling ev_inc-4.0.0, using my standard procedure of Factory Reset, Flash ROM and GAPPS, clear dalvik cache and reboot. That got stuck in a boot loop, and then I started to work my way backwards through CM 11, 10.2, 10.1, 10.0, still with either a boot loop or a crash as soon as I tried to turn WIFI on. (At this point I am only flashing the ROM, not GAPPS until I'm convinced the ROM will work).
Finally, I got a copy of Stock_inc_4.08.605.16_deodexed.zip and flashed it with TWRP as usual. It actually seemed to work OK for a while, but still would not install the VR program (insufficient space).
Then I began think about how much of a mess I have probably left lying around nooks and crannies of memory, so I took every "erase" option I could find in TWRP and the boot loader, then went into fastboot:
fastboot erase cache
fastboot oem rebootRUU
fastboot flash zip ______
fastboot reboot
That worked once, to get the Stock ROM running, but still could not install any software.
Before this all started I made a backup with TWRP. When I restore from that backup, I get a running ROM, but with an ancient version of PlayStore (actually "Market!), and when I try to run that, I get a very long license agreement, with no "OK" button - no way out!
I think I need to somehow get the DINC back to some known place and start fresh, but I'm out of ideas. Please help, someone!
Walt
Ive seen a fix patch for this issue somewhere around here. I just stumbled across it, so you should be able to find it easy, if you already have not.