UPDATED for 2.3 ~ K2 Screensaver Hack Instructions as easy as I can get them...

[NogDog]

David, are you sure you don't have the "Global" K2, which is all they've been selling since late last year? If you aren't sure, click the "[How?]" link at http://www.charles-reace.com/Kindle_Hacks/install/. If it's the global (international) version, then you need the file with "k2i" in the name instead of "k2". Here's hoping that's all it is.

[David "Half-Orc" Dalglish]

Considering I bought the Kindle 3 months ago.....

Yeah. Trying out the k2i version. Call me stupid, I saw international and just assumed it was some fancy-shmancy European version. I'll swing by after I've tried that out.

David Dalglish

*edit*

Updated correctly. Thanks!

[Saphire089]

In Windows 7, in the Kindle window click the "Organize" button near the top left and select the "Folder and search options" selection. In the pop-up, click the "View" tab, then find the "show hidden files" radio button and click it on. Older versions of Windows might require finding a different menu/button (I don't remember).

ok so after that, do I paste the update_kindle2i..... on to  the folder? And Do I have to post the screens somewhere?

[NogDog]

ok so after that, do I paste the update_kindle2i..... on to  the folder? And Do I have to post the screens somewhere?

The update ".bin" file goes in the top level (root) of the Kindle, not in any of the folders you see there*. Then you do the update. After it is done, there should be a screensaver folder within the "system" folder. That is where you put any actual image files you want to use as screensavers. (Initially it will have all the "dead author" images there.) Any time you change the contents of that screensaver folder, you will need to restart your Kindle before the changes take effect.

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* See http://www.charles-reace.com/Kindle_Hacks/install/.

[Saphire089]

The update ".bin" file goes in the top level (root) of the Kindle, not in any of the folders you see there*. Then you do the update. After it is done, there should be a screensaver folder within the "system" folder. That is where you put any actual image files you want to use as screensavers. (Initially it will have all the "dead author" images there.) Any time you change the contents of that screensaver folder, you will need to restart your Kindle before the changes take effect.

___________
* See http://www.charles-reace.com/Kindle_Hacks/install/.

I don't see a folder that says "system" does it have another name?

[NogDog]

I don't see a folder that says "system" does it have another name?

You need to enable the display of "hidden" files/folders for it to show up, as I described in this reply.

[drenfrow]

Finally got up the courage to do the hack.  Carefully followed the instructions in the first post and it worked perfectly.  Thank you so much!  Now to upload some cool pictures (in addition to pictures of my dogs)!

[lulucello]

With practice, I've been able to load my own pics as screensavers.  Thanks!  However, now, no matter how many times I've tried to follow the directions, I can't seem to uninstall the screensaver hack in order to get the new Kindle updates.  I keep getting a message about not being able to open a file with a .bin  extension.  HELP, please!

[lulucello]

Nevermind!  I switched from Mozilla Firefox to Internet Explorer and for some reason it worked.  Thanks for all the support to be found on this forum.  You're all so patient. 
Judith

[Saphire089]

With practice, I've been able to load my own pics as screensavers.  Thanks!  However, now, no matter how many times I've tried to follow the directions, I can't seem to uninstall the screensaver hack in order to get the new Kindle updates.  I keep getting a message about not being able to open a file with a .bin  extension.  HELP, please!

so you have to use the uninstall hack part in the folders as well to get the screen savers to work?  I still haven't gotten it.  I put it off for a few days.

[911jason]

The install.bin and the uninstall.bin files will both be in the zip file that you download. If you want to install the hack, you copy that one over to your Kindle and update. Keep the uninstall file for when you're ready to remove the hack (for a firmware upgrade, etc.).

P.S. They aren't called exactly install.bin or uninstall.bin... but you'll see .bin files with install in its name and one with uninstall in its name.

[loca]

I think a video instruction would really help some people for the hacks and stuff.  Any techies here want to undertake that?

[PeachyKeen]

I've been lurking here for about a month and finally got my kindle 2 about a week ago.  Just want to say thank you so much for the easy to understand instructions.  I was able to do the screensaver and font hacks with no problem the first time around!  I have learned so much from this board.  Thanks, again!

[Roninjinn]

I'm using WIN7, and have Hidden files viewable. (I can see my own hidden files on C drive, etc. So I know it's active), Yet the System folder doesn't show up on my Kindle. It's a Kindle 2, brand new, just received.

I already copied the install file and did the update. Still nothing :/

[NogDog]

I'm using WIN7, and have Hidden files viewable. (I can see my own hidden files on C drive, etc. So I know it's active), Yet the System folder doesn't show up on my Kindle. It's a Kindle 2, brand new, just received.

I already copied the install file and did the update. Still nothing :/

Only thing I can think of is to make sure that when you connect the Kindle to the PC, in the Autoplay pop-up window select the "Open folder to view files using Windows Explorer" option -- in the case that any other options are provided.

[Roninjinn]

Only thing I can think of is to make sure that when you connect the Kindle to the PC, in the Autoplay pop-up window select the "Open folder to view files using Windows Explorer" option -- in the case that any other options are provided.

Figured it out. I had to uncheck the "Hide system files" option. Sheesh, to think I missed that, lol.

Thanks for the reply!

[TwiMommy]

I am very computer literate and have done everything necessary but  i still cannot "update Kindle" it never highlights itself. I can see all the folders and I have pasted the .bin file but it will not seem to work ( i can see the file in the folder when I hook the K2 to the computer.) Kindle is brand new. Tired of looking at Virginia Wolf!!!! Please help me....

[pidgeon92]

I am very computer literate and have done everything necessary but  i still cannot "update Kindle" it never highlights itself. I can see all the folders and I have pasted the .bin file but it will not seem to work ( i can see the file in the folder when I hook the K2 to the computer.) Kindle is brand new.

Since your Kindle is brand new, it is undoubtably an international Kindle. Make sure you are using the correct hack file. This is the name of the file you should be putting on your Kindle:

update_screensaverhack-install-k2i.bin

If your hack is does NOT say k2i, it is the wrong one.

[TwiMommy]

Thank you! That worked!

[Linjeakel]

OK, I used these intructions to successfully hack the screensavers on both my K2i and KDXi - thank you! I also downloaded the appropriate uninstall files, as I know I have to uninstall it to get future software updates. But I can't seem to find the instructions for using the uninstall file. Is it just a case of putting it in the root directory and and them choosing the 'update your Kindle' option? Should I remove the previously used 'install' file from the root directory before I do it?

[911jason]

Once you update your Kindle, the install bin file won't be there anymore. There may be some residual files left in the root folder and you can either leave them or delete them. When it's time to uninstall the hack, you just copy the uninstall bin file to the root folder just like you did for the install bin file. Then update your Kindle as before.

[Linjeakel]

Once you update your Kindle, the install bin file won't be there anymore. There may be some residual files left in the root folder and you can either leave them or delete them. When it's time to uninstall the hack, you just copy the uninstall bin file to the root folder just like you did for the install bin file. Then update your Kindle as before.

Thank you - I figured that was probably the case, but I thought better safe than sorry!

[angelad]

Once you update your Kindle, the install bin file won't be there anymore. There may be some residual files left in the root folder and you can either leave them or delete them. When it's time to uninstall the hack, you just copy the uninstall bin file to the root folder just like you did for the install bin file. Then update your Kindle as before.

Yea,  I remember looking for install bin when doing my hack

[Vicki G.]

So, after you copy the hack file to your Kindle, when viewing the Kindle on your PC, you should see the file in the top-level directory something like this. If it's not there, then there will be nothing detected by the Kindle to indicate that there is an update to be run. If it is there but you are not getting that option enabled, then I would suspect something is wrong with the Kindle.



PS: I believe that the Kindle OS is Linux, which is case-sensitive with regard to file names, so make sure that the file name ends in a lower-case ".bin".

I just deleted most of those extra files.. the "restored", "prerestored", "netfront".  Did I mess up?  Kindle seems to be working fine. 

[NogDog]

I just deleted most of those extra files.. the "restored", "prerestored", "netfront".  Did I mess up?  Kindle seems to be working fine. 

As far as I know, once any update is complete, any such files floating around in the root (top) directory of the Kindle is superfluous and can be deleted.