[Q] Which files to remove to block future updates from VZW? - G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I'd like to block OTA updates - my very old Incredible had a way to do it either via a mod on a ROM or by removing some .apk file I believe.
Is there an .apk responsible for checking for new OTA updates that I can rename or remove?
Ideally it'd be reversible once it's known how the update affects a rooted phone. Really wish VZW would just allow you to pass on updates instead of forcing them on phones.
Also, not interested in going beyond adb root on this phone so ROMs aren't really an option, I actually think stock is fine. I'd be happy with the phone as is for the next two years until my next phone even.

I try not to delete or remove files but rather just rename them.
Disable OTA Update Notification
/system/etc/security/otacerts.zip
rename to otacerts.zip.bak and reboot.

Related

[Q] Any way to restore uninstalled Skype app?

Rooted Droid 2 with Froyo 2.2 and 2.3.20 system update and am trying to recover a Verizon bloatware app I removed with Titanium Backup. Installing it from Amazon Marketplace won't do the trick.
I rooted my Droid 2 using Doroot, installed Titanium Backup and proceeded to stupidly uninstall the Skype bloatware that Verizon and Motorola so thoughtfully put on all our Droids.
Only later on did I learn that in order to receive OTA system and OS updates, one must have all bloatware present and accounted for in the /system/apps folder.
Can I use the skype_mobile.live.apk file that I downloaded in a Droid X backup file, or does the Droid 2 use a different version? If I can't use the Droid X Skype file, does anyone know where I can get the Droid 2 Skype file?
I'd like to be able to restore it without wiping the phone and reinstalling everything if possible.
And yes, I have learned my lesson about impulsively uninstalling apps that come with phones, even annoying ones.
Thank you for any help.
the droid x one is probably the same, but here's the droid 2 one. http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-2-hacks/86628-source-droid-2-apks.html#post885381
or
you can use this one http://www.droidforums.net/forum/xeudoxus/78843-apks-unlocked-apps.html
next time you want to uninstall a system app, just open Root Explorer and rename the file to *.bak. Changing the file extension like that will make it unrecognized so it will be uninstalled. Then, if you ever want it back, just change it back to *.apk
Thanks for the link and advice. I still need to get my hands on Root Explorer so I can restore Skype to the /system/apps folder and set its file properties to default.
Then I can get Gingerbread OTA.
silverfang77 said:
Thanks for the link and advice. I still need to get my hands on Root Explorer so I can restore Skype to the /system/apps folder and set its file properties to default.
Then I can get Gingerbread OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gingerbread ota? who, what, when, where, how? lol. you know something we dont?
Whenever it comes out. I'm just thinking ahead. It could come out any day and I want to be able to get it right away.
How do you get your phone carrier and nation flag under your user name? I nosed around in my User CP and couldn't find any options to add those.
Just click on your user name in the top right corner. Then put in your carrier and pick your home country
Sent from my DROID X using XDA App

host file not re-created on 4.3 OTA update?

I've been using AdFree on 4.2.2 and just did the OTA 4.3 update this morning, I've noticed that my host file which was written by AdFree still exists, mind you I have no way of reverting to the default host file due to no longer having root on 4.3...
the hosts file isnt checked during ota as it doesnt change between them.
TheManii said:
the hosts file isnt checked during ota as it doesnt change between them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the question now is - am I stuck with this modified host file unless I root on 4.3.... because it's protected isn't it.
Yup, you are. An alternative would be to wipe your phone after a backup (for instance with Helium), and restore afterwards.

How do I stop new Firmware from downloading?

Just read that the new version of kitkat will be out soon. For Note3 Verizon.
I have a rooted phone. My main concern is not to let the firmware automatically download. How do I stop it from downloading
Do you have a link to the article?
Galaxy Note 3
susieq29 said:
Just read that the new version of kitkat will be out today or tomorrow. For Note3 Verizon.
I have a rooted phone. If I want the Verzion version do I need to unroot to download it when it comes out?
Do I need to stop it from automatically downloading on my phone so nothings happens?
Can I go into Kies and get the new software and install it manually?
What do you suggest. My main concern is not to let it download automatically and do any damage to my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IS this a trusted source? Its hard to believe Verizon will be pushing out an update anytime soon for this device.
I guess it remains to be seen!
Sent from my SM-P600 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
susieq29 said:
Just read that the new version of kitkat will be out today or tomorrow. For Note3 Verizon.
I have a rooted phone. If I want the Verzion version do I need to unroot to download it when it comes out?
Do I need to stop it from automatically downloading on my phone so nothings happens?
Can I go into Kies and get the new software and install it manually?
What do you suggest. My main concern is not to let it download automatically and do any damage to my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can't install automatically without your permission (shouldn't).
My suggestion to get the update is Odin back to 100% full stock image. Then you can take whatever OTA is at your hearts desire. Then you know everything is so fresh, so clean :good:
Then we just wait for word on root ?
Sent from my SM-N900V using xda app-developers app
kickenwing13 said:
Then we just wait for word on root ?
Sent from my SM-N900V using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I'm going to do. I hear a lot of interesting things about 4.4.2 - how it breaks SD Card access etc... I am VERY happy with 4.3 with the rom I've chosen and will happily await a Clean Rom 4.4 before I even think about 4.4.
I have 4.4.2 on my Nexus 7 2013 tablet and it's good - hopefully it'll mean even better battery life. Pretty happy with the 2x battery life increase after I've rooted. Here's to hoping for more in 4.4.2.
Fyi - googled and I can't find anything about 4.4 coming to Note 3 via Verizon. Back when I had Droid 1 and HTC Thunderbolt us rooters got ICS way before it came out to the carriers. lol.
OP, do you have a link?
I disabled both Knox and the OTA update in MJE by using a root file explorer (Solid Explorer) and changing file permissions to 0000 ("---------") of a couple .apk/.odex files in /system/app (followed by rebooting) :
ContainerAgent{.apk,.odex}
ContainerEventsRelayManager{.apk,.odex}
KLMSAgent{.apk,.odex}
KnoxAgent{.apk,.odex}
KnoxAttestationAgent{.apk,.odex}
KnoxStore{.apk,.odex}
SDM{.apk,.odex}
FWUpgrade{.apk,.odex}
LocalFOTA.apk
This allows them to be restored at any time by chmod'ing them back to mode 0644 ("-rw-r--r--"). I suppose this is similar to "freezing" in TiBu. The first group are Knox-related and last three are involved in the OTA, but it might be sufficient to only disable the SDM{.apk,.odex} files.
cheers
how do I disable SDM{.apk,.odex} files. using root file explorer. I found the files I do not see anyway to disable them?
susieq29 said:
how do I disable SDM{.apk,.odex} files. using root file explorer. I found the files I do not see anyway to disable them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rename them to .bak files.
If I move the file to my sd card would that do the same thing as disabling them? Would it mess up my OS not to have it in my system file.
I do not see how to rename any file? Please explain the process of renaming.
susieq29 said:
how do I disable SDM{.apk,.odex} files. using root file explorer. I found the files I do not see anyway to disable them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't used root explorer, but I know that both Solid Explorer and ES File Manager have a way to change the file permissions mode - usually by press-and-hold on the file name, and then select "Properties" or some such from the pop-up menu.
You can also rename them if you want as suggested above (but obviously don't delete the {.apk | .odex} suffix so you won't get the two of them confused) - for instance Foo.apk -> Foo.apk.bak and Foo.odex -> Foo.odex.bak
[Edit] Also: Some root-aware file explorers make you manually remount /system in rw mode before you do anything, and some take care of it for you. If your permission changes / renaming operations fail, it's because of that. (Solid explorer just does it for you).
susieq29 said:
If I move the file to my sd card would that do the same thing as disabling them? Would it mess up my OS not to have it in my system file.
I do not see how to rename any file? Please explain the process of renaming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Usually there is a menu in your file explorer which is brought up by long-pressing on an individual file name. I would recommend you leave the files in place and either rename them or make them unreadable (mode 0000) - moving them to the SD card and back will destroy the SElinux extended attributes of the files (if any). Then a couple months from now you won't need to remember where they are. They won't do any harm just sitting there.
Do I take out work apk and put in bak instead?
Got it thanks
susieq29 said:
If I move the file to my sd card would that do the same thing as disabling them? Would it mess up my OS not to have it in my system file.
I do not see how to rename any file? Please explain the process of renaming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have root you can download fx file manager and the root add on from the play store or a similar root file manager. This will allow you to rename the files you need. You can move or delete them if you want. All the custom ROMs remove them without issue. Another option would be to purchase Titanium Backup Pro and freeze the apps with that. That is my preferred method with a stock rooted rom because all you have to do is unfreeze them and then unroot to take the OTA. With that in mind I would heed the advice of others and stay away from KitKat until a root method is confirmed if you value having root access.
Edit @bftb0 beat me to the answer when I was typing...
Just changed it and the app became a blank. When I put back the app and took away the bak the app did not appear again it is still a blank what do I do to get it back in system tray. Right now it is a blank page?
Misterxtc said:
With that in mind I would heed the advice of others and stay away from KitKat until a root method is confirmed if you value having root access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
There will be plenty of lemmings that rush to the sea, afraid that they are going to miss something by not downloading an update on day one.
So, wait a week or two to see if any of them make it back to shore with their root privileges still intact. Their pain will be your gain. You'll also have the benefit of reading review articles on-line that will tell you if there is anything compelling in the update; my guess is that your phone already works quite well.
.
---------- Post added at 02:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:31 PM ----------
susieq29 said:
Just changed it and the app became a blank. When I put back the app and took away the bak the app did not appear again it is still a blank what do I do to get it back in system tray. Right now it is a blank page?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Extremely confusing and vague language "changed it", "the app became a blank". also "system tray" and "put back". Huh?
Don't use pronouns such as "it". Nobody knows which "it" you are talking about.
It is possible that your file browser needs to "refresh" it's listing after a file name change. Sometimes file managers have an explicit "refresh" in their menu, or in other cases, you just visit a different folder in the file manger and then return back to (e.g.) /system/app folder to get the refresh to occur.
Hopefully all you are doing is manipulating file names.
Titanium will not work with Note 3. It actually semi bricked my phone. I was told not to Install it. The app whose name I changed then changed back is still there the original icon is just not there. I think everything is OK but got nervous not seeing the icom
I think the icon just disappeared. I first changed the name as you suggested adding bak. The icon disappeared but it showed a blank page icon.Then I wanted to make sure I could put it back so I removed the bak. After I removed the bak then rebooted. The icon never appeared again? When I open file manager and look at it the symbol is a question mark.
bftb0 said:
+1
There will be plenty of lemmings that rush to the sea, afraid that they are going to miss something by not downloading an update on day one.
So, wait a week or two to see if any of them make it back to shore with their root privileges still intact. Their pain will be your gain. You'll also have the benefit of reading review articles on-line that will tell you if there is anything compelling in the update; my guess is that your phone already works quite well.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I learned my lesson on my last phone. It was a S3 with an unlocked bootloader. I HAD to get the update despite the warnings not to. Within 10 minutes after that I tripped knox trying to get root and the wifi stopped working. That mistake cost me $400.00 for the phone N3 I have now. Verizon was "kind" enough to give me $300.00 off any new phone despite my mistake. No more going down that road for me. Yes, I am quite happy with this phone, even with the locked bootloader.
---------- Post added at 05:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:43 PM ----------
susieq29 said:
Titanium will not work with Note 3. It actually semi bricked my phone. I was told not to Install it. The app whose name I changed then changed back is still there the original icon is just not there. I think everything is OK but got nervous not seeing the icom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trust me it works fine and won't brick your phone if you use it properly. At worst you would have to Odin back to stock if you deleted important files by mistake.
I don't think anything is wrong with the system. It is OK to have a ? mark instead of the icon right?

[Q] help with disabling OTA update

I'm with T-Mobile if that helps or changes anything, running 4.2.2. Now, I've gotten my phone to stop bugging me to install the OTA update. But the problem is the OTA update is still downloading in the background, it's just that I'm not being bugged by my phone to update it (i.e. there's no icon showing up in the notification bar). It becomes a sort of "silent update." So why is this a problem for me?
Because I'm on T-Mobile's cheapest plan which is the 500mb data plan. Each time the OTA downloads it eats up 155mb. And twice already this billing cycle it's done it, so that's 310mb of data wasted.
There are posts saying to use Titanium Backup Pro and freezing an app called Software Update MUC, and another post referring to the file as Software Update 2.3.0.5, but on my phone (using TB Pro) there's no file starting with "Software" anything.
So how do I stop my phone from downloading the OTA all together? Please help. Thanks.
Just install the update, that will make it stop for good
Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk
Sorry, forgot to mention doing that won't work. For some reason my phone doesn't properly install OTA updates. I don't mind being stuck on 4.2.2. I just want the OTA downloads to stop in the first place.
Give this a try...
If rooted, use a file manager like Root Explorer, go to System/Etc/Security, (mount R/W) and rename otacerts.zip to otacerts.zip.bak
Reboot phone.
LordLugard said:
Give this a try...
If rooted, use a file manager like Root Explorer, go to System/Etc/Security, (mount R/W) and rename otacerts.zip to otacerts.zip.bak
Reboot phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've done that already. I renamed the file to otacerts.zip.back (instead of .bak). I assume that doesn't make any difference. I believe renaming the file is what is causing my phone to not show the OTA icon in the notification bar. But as I said, the issue for me is that my phone is still downloading the update itself.
Any other ideas?
hydra1 said:
I've done that already. I renamed the file to otacerts.zip.back (instead of .bak). I assume that doesn't make any difference. I believe renaming the file is what is causing my phone to not show the OTA icon in the notification bar. But as I said, the issue for me is that my phone is still downloading the update itself.
Any other ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what I've done is in system/app look for lgfota.apk/odex and renamed them to .bak and reboot and no more updates
XxZombiePikachu said:
what I've done is in system/app look for lgfota.apk/odex and renamed them to .bak and reboot and no more updates
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have that file in my system/app folder. What's wrong with my phone?????
On my phone, the file listed that comes before where lgfota.apk/odex should appear is LGEIME_THEME_BLACK.odex, and the file after that file is LGGallery.apk.
hydra1 said:
I don't have that file in my system/app folder. What's wrong with my phone?????
On my phone, the file listed that comes before where lgfota.apk/odex should appear is LGEIME_THEME_BLACK.odex, and the file after that file is LGGallery.apk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can check in the system/priv-app; that's very odd for it not to be in system/app are you on stock rom/have you removed any bloat
XxZombiePikachu said:
you can check in the system/priv-app; that's very odd for it not to be in system/app are you on stock rom/have you removed any bloat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have a system/priv-app folder, either. I'm on stock rom, but I removed as much bloat as I can, including certain apps I find no use for (e.g. double-tap, voice command, etc). Maybe this will help: I used Root Explorer's search feature and searched for "fota", and here's what I think are the most "relevant" results:
/lgdms.fota.rc
/lgdms.fota_update.rc
/etc/fota
/etc/permissions/com.lge.fota.xml
/system/framework/com.lge.fota.jar
/system/framework/com.lge.fota.odex
Does this help? Anyone?
hydra1 said:
I don't have a system/priv-app folder, either. I'm on stock rom, but I removed as much bloat as I can, including certain apps I find no use for (e.g. double-tap, voice command, etc). Maybe this will help: I used Root Explorer's search feature and searched for "fota", and here's what I think are the most "relevant" results:
/lgdms.fota.rc
/lgdms.fota_update.rc
/etc/fota
/etc/permissions/com.lge.fota.xml
/system/framework/com.lge.fota.jar
/system/framework/com.lge.fota.odex
Does this help? Anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you got any solution ?
I also got the same issue. Sprint here. I have renamed all files like otacerts.zip & lgfota.apk/odex, still it downloads the damn update.

Editing the hosts file

Hi all,
I want to edit the hosts file on my (exynos) s10+.
I am aware that I need to root the device in order to do that. My question is: once I root and edit the file, will I be able to revert back to non root and do the OTA updates without losing those changes to the hosts file? Or will I need to keep the root (patching every update) till the end of time?
Thanks
trajektorijus said:
Hi all,
I want to edit the hosts file on my (exynos) s10+.
I am aware that I need to root the device in order to do that. My question is: once I root and edit the file, will I be able to revert back to non root and do the OTA updates without losing those changes to the hosts file? Or will I need to keep the root (patching every update) till the end of time?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know its content gets deleted every update (at least on LineageOS).
I postet a question about how to keep those entries after doing an OTA, but it seems that nobody knows the answer. But you can watch it and wait until someone answers.
User699 said:
As far as I know its content gets deleted every update (at least on LineageOS).
I postet a question about how to keep those entries after doing an OTA, but it seems that nobody knows the answer. But you can watch it and wait until someone answers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks
If you are going to root use https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/app-root-nonroot-official-adaway-v5-5-1.2190753/
If you are installing TWRP you can backup your data.

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