Yes, I know, it's long, but it's worth it.
Notice: This tutorial only applies to Windows XP, Vista and 7. If you are running OSX or Linux, this will most likely not work. You can still read if you are interested, though.
Rooting your Kindle Fire
You probably don't know what Android device rooting is. If so, read this excerpt from Wikipedia.
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Android rooting is the process of allowing users of smartphones, tablets, and other devices running the Android mobile operating system to attain privileged control (known as "root access") within Android's subsystem. Rooting is often performed with the goal of overcoming limitations that carriers and hardware manufacturers put on some devices, resulting in the ability to alter or replace system applications and settings, run specialized apps that require administrator-level permissions, or perform other operations that are otherwise inaccessible to a normal Android user. Rooting is analogous to jailbreaking devices running the Apple iOS operating system. On Android, rooting can also facilitate the complete removal and replacement of the device's operating system, usually with a more recent release of its current operating system.
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(Your Kindle is, in fact, an Android device. Just like the Nook Tablet from Barnes & Noble.)
If you didn't read the excerpt, that's okay too, I will just summarize. Rooting is the equivalent of Jailbreaking on an iOS-running device, except Rooting is for Android devices. And, yes, it does void your warranty.
In order to install all these exciting (or not-so-exciting, if you are a pessimist) features on your Kindle, you will need to break the security barriers by allowing root access to the Kindle. (If the security barriers are brick walls, think of rooting as shoving an obscenely large missile into the wall with a truck, then blowing the sh*t out of it.)
Attached to this blog is a file called "KFU.zip". (I lied. Click here to download it.) This stands for Kindle Fire Utility, which will do the rooting stuff for you. No work needed, just observation.
Actually Rooting your Device (after many lectures)
Download the KFU.zip file. It will take anywhere between 10 seconds and 42 days to download, depending on your internet service provider. Put it in its own folder, you wouldn't want to just leave it anywhere, trust me.
Once you download the file, make SURE that you extract the files. Run the file install_drivers.bat. This will ensure that when you connect your kindle to your computer, there will be no issues communicating with the device.
Connect your kindle to your computer. You will either get a notification about connecting to your computer, or your screen will change to a picture of a white USB cord. Do NOT touch any on-screen buttons on your Kindle until I tell you that you can. This is vital to the safety of your device, and your bank account information.
If any queries come up on your computer, do what you think is correct. If you get a "Device Failed to Connect" error, or something like that, leave a comment below describing what happened. (You can also talk to me in Google Talk or mention me in a Google+ post if necessary.)
Run the file run.bat in the folder where you extracted KFU to. You will get red text on a black background, then a menu.
Near the bottom the window should tell you your ADB and Boot Status. If ADB reads 'offline' then there is a driver problem. Leave a comment below.
If ADB reads 'online', however, check your boot status. If Boot status reads '4002' or '5001' then press 1, enter, 1, enter (Otherwise, skip this step). This restarts the Kindle Fire, and this is normal. Afterwards, navigate back to the main menu of the program, then press 2, enter. This begins the Rooting of your Kindle Fire. Make sure to watch your kindle and computer in case any errors pop up. If nothing bad has happened yet, you are golden. Wait for the script to end, then return to the main menu. Do the same procedure for option 3 and option 5. This installs your recovery program.
After that, navigate to the main menu (again) and select option 6. In that menu, select option 1. This adds the Google Play store to your app list. Once this script finishes, close out of the program, eject your kindle, and restart it. You have successfully (after a lot of reading and confusion) rooted your Kindle Fire. Hooray.
(From now on, when you boot up your Kindle, you will get a blue Kindle Fire logo screen before you get the default orange one.)
From here, you can go on to either upgrade to a custom operating system, or leave it as it is.
Installing a custom OS
Yes, finally, we have gotten to installing a custom ROM (OS). My personal favorite as of now is Jandycane ROM, but you can look for your own. In this section I explain how to install Jandycane on your (rooted) Kindle Fire.
Download Links:
Jandycane ROM Zip Archive
GApps Zip Archive
This section will be listed in steps!
- While connected to your computer, drag and drop your downloaded Jandycane and GApps .zip archives into a folder on your Kindle. Remember where you put them.
- Restart your Kindle. Upon restart, you will see a blue Kindle Fire logo. Hold the power button until the bottom of the screen displays three options (Normal Boot, Recovery, and Reset Boot Mode). Press and hold the power button until the moving hyphens are on either side of 'Recovery.'
- Wait for the TeamWin Menu to load. You will have to turn your Kindle to Landscape position, unless you have sideways-pointing eyes.
- TeamWin Menu:
- Tap "Backup."
- Check all of the boxes in the middle of the screen. The "Enable Compression" and "Skip MD5 generation" boxes are optional. Set the backup name if necessary.
- Swipe to backup.
- When finished, press the home button in the top-right of the screen.
- Tap "Wipe."
- Tap "Factory Reset." Confirm it.
- Wait.
- Upon completion, press the home button at the top-right of the screen.
- Tap "Wipe," then tap "Cache." Confirm it.
- Repeat step 9 but tap "Dalvik Cache" instead.
- Press the home button in the top-right of the screen.
- From the main menu, tap "Install."
- On the left, navigate to the sdcard folder. This should be "/sdcard/" (you can check from the location bar in the upper-middle region of the screen)
- Navigate to the folder in which you placed your Jandycane .zip archive. Click on the .zip archive when you find it.
- Swipe to Confirm Flash.
- Wait.
- Upon completion, press the home button at the top-right of the screen.
- Repeat steps 11-16, but look for the GApps.zip archive.
- Restart your system after completing the second step 9.
- Configure your new Kindle Fire!
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, because it took a FRICKIN' LONG TIME TO WRITE.
Just kidding. Thanks for reading!
