rename .apk to prevent OTA - Galaxy S III Q&A, (US Carriers)

I searched the forum but was not able to find this answer. Is there an .apk that can be renamed once rooted that will prevent OTAs from being downloaded?
I came from a Droid X and this is something that we had to do when we were rooted. On Verizon-Samsung devices.... does the OTA auto download and install? or do you have to accept it?

If you have Titanium Backup , you can just freeze "AT&T Software update" if I'm not mistaken that would do it.

That didn't work for me, at least on sprint. What DID work was letting it try to update and once it fails, it doesn't reappear for a long time (assuming you're on a custom recovery).
Sent from Sprint's 3rd Blazed ICS Galaxy

I'd like to know this as well...

I guess the biggest concern I have is being able to decline the OTA. Is this possible? I have rooted, loaded CWM, and I have removed some system .apk files that I had no use for (i backed them up to sdcard though).
If the OTA is automatically accepted... it would fail due to CWM, correct?

Related

[Q] Question on bloatware and updates

Hi ... first time android user with a vibrant here. Been reading on rooting and stuff.. not really interested in flashing custom roms. I just want to remove the bloatware that came with my phone. My question is... When rooted... If i make a backup of the bloatware on my sd card and delete the ones located in the system app folder ... Would i still be able to recieve OTA updates or updates from the mini kies if I move them back to the system folder when the time comes for the update? Ive read that you need the bloatware in order for it to update .. which is stupid haha. If anyone can answer I would highly appreciate it. Thanks!
Just delete them, you don't even need to save them...
a OTA?
So far, there's a 2% chance of there being a official update from 2.2 to 2.3 from Samsung themselves for us, so... OTA is out of the question.
Flash a rom, get it over with and you'll make your self and your phone alot happier.
Removing the bloat won't stop an OTA or a Kies update.
You won't need to replace them - new versions will come with the newer ROM. Thus, you'll have to remove them again.
-bZj
Root and install Bloater and add/remove whatever you want. No need to back anything up. OTA doesn't look for the apps on your phone.
down8 said:
Removing the bloat won't stop an OTA or a Kies update.
You won't need to replace them - new versions will come with the newer ROM. Thus, you'll have to remove them again.
-bZj
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure? I read on various forums from people who removed the bloat and updated to JI6, but resulted in a bricked phone. Would this happen for the future updates? To be on the safe side, should i reinstall the bloat with titanium
backup and unroot?
(Sorry if these are stupid questions but im kinda new to androids)

[Q] Want to root my lovely XT910 Razr. overwhelming...

Hi guys. been a while since I rooted my legend..
After jumping from htc`s -> lg(crap) -> samsung`s to motorola razr I`ve decided to stay. I love this phone, been a while since I got this feeling. It seems the manufacturers are releasing new models every week now.
But I want to root my Razr so I can freeze some bloatware. Hate all that crap the manufacturers keep shoving down our throats.
But when reading page up and page down in these forums I get confused about all the abbrivations and terms. Could somebody point me where to look or explain a little?
I`ve visited the faq, wiki, android general and couldnt find any "low level" answers..
-root, will i be able to receive OTA (ICS when it arrives)
-bootloaders, safestrap, bootstrap etc.. what does these mean?
-what do i have to do to keep it safe and "toy around a little" without bricking it? cwm/titanium/nandroid backup, do i need all these? what is the way to go, can i do a complete backup with all apps and settings even in widgets?
sorry for all the questions, but the search functions and threads are quite overwhelming..
and thumbs up for all devs and people that make XDA so great.. i am happy to donate via paypal to these people! keep up the good work..
(if i posted this in the worng forum, i apologize in advance)
buljo said:
Hi guys. been a while since I rooted my legend..
After jumping from htc`s -> lg(crap) -> samsung`s to motorola razr I`ve decided to stay. I love this phone, been a while since I got this feeling. It seems the manufacturers are releasing new models every week now.
But I want to root my Razr so I can freeze some bloatware. Hate all that crap the manufacturers keep shoving down our throats.
But when reading page up and page down in these forums I get confused about all the abbrivations and terms. Could somebody point me where to look or explain a little?
I`ve visited the faq, wiki, android general and couldnt find any "low level" answers..
-root, will i be able to receive OTA (ICS when it arrives)
-bootloaders, safestrap, bootstrap etc.. what does these mean?
-what do i have to do to keep it safe and "toy around a little" without bricking it? cwm/titanium/nandroid backup, do i need all these? what is the way to go, can i do a complete backup with all apps and settings even in widgets?
sorry for all the questions, but the search functions and threads are quite overwhelming..
and thumbs up for all devs and people that make XDA so great.. i am happy to donate via paypal to these people! keep up the good work..
(if i posted this in the worng forum, i apologize in advance)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should post un Q&A forum.
But i'll answer to you anyway.
so if you're still in 2.3.5 it's really easy to root just head to this thread:
Windows :::
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1341578
Linux:::
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1342567
1) Root wont break OTA (it will if you install custom ROM)
2) With this root method you have BOOTSTRAP, wich install custom recovery(cwm) i dont really know the difference between this and safestrap, i used only bootstrap.
3) The better way (in my opinion) is to use this root method, install bootstrap and reboot to recovery and do a backup. After this you can play around with titanium backup freeze bloatware etc...
Have fun with your razr it's a master piece!
Thread moved to General Forums.
It is simple, If your Thread title can be written in form of a question, it does not belong to development section.
Have a nice day.
thanks for answer.
good about receiving OTA`s..
what is bootstrap exactly?
on the rooting you provided the link to, the OP mentions it is adviced to an adb pull/system?
also, is the backup stored on the SD or internal? should i make a "goldcard" or is that only for model specific phones?
thanks..
buljo said:
thanks for answer.
good about receiving OTA`s..
what is bootstrap exactly?
on the rooting you provided the link to, the OP mentions it is adviced to an adb pull/system?
also, is the backup stored on the SD or internal? should i make a "goldcard" or is that only for model specific phones?
thanks..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Boot strap is a way of running new firmwares, without actually installing it to the system folders/partitions. A little like running two OS:es on the same computer.
Pulling adb system is doing a backup of your system folder, since there are almost no .sbf files out, recovering can be difficult if you delete the wrong things.
(an .sbf is essentially a "recovery cd" for your phone.)
Safest way to do it, is simply:
Don't delete apps in system folder. Only use "freeze" in whatever root uninstaller you decide to use.
Yahoo and blur apps must not be altered, you can't make calls without them as it is now.
The most important tweak is IMO, killing Google maps, as it runs in the background.
A Goldcard is unnecessary on this phone, since it has the "app to sd" partition built in.
ed: No automatic backup is done, it's up to you. (I didn't do one and had to reinstall with a .sbf) >_<
thanks for the excellent explanation..
so bootstrap makes the system files avaiable and untouched as long as i dont delete them?
also killing google maps, then i would not have actual google maps or navigation on my phone? i use this application now and then..
Am I right in saying that once you have rooted and have CWM recovery that you could do a NANDroid backup as soon as you have rooted, and copy this comewhere safe on your pc in order that if you make a boo boo and it won't OTA update, you can then do a TB of all your current apps / data, boot into CWM, restore your NANDroid backup which should take your phone "back in time" to the point just after you rooted, and restore your apps / data after installing TB from the market, THEN receive the OTA?
edit:
ok, i`ve rooted the Razr, installed bootstrap and adb pull / system.
but one thing i think i might have done wrong..?
i`ve enabled safe system in the recovery menu. and it took a backup of my system to the emmc..
then i rebooted and nothing happened. held down power and volume down for 6 seconds. a little flicker came and was able to go back to safe menu and disable the safe mode.
booted up normal.
im guessing i am missing something here. a partition to boot or something?
edit 2. okay, i obviously need a rom.. can i use my original rom?
CheesySeb said:
Am I right in saying that once you have rooted and have CWM recovery that you could do a NANDroid backup as soon as you have rooted, and copy this comewhere safe on your pc in order that if you make a boo boo and it won't OTA update, you can then do a TB of all your current apps / data, boot into CWM, restore your NANDroid backup which should take your phone "back in time" to the point just after you rooted, and restore your apps / data after installing TB from the market, THEN receive the OTA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds about right, yep. =)
is it possible to get my 2.3.5 stock android out of the phone as an update.zip so i can use it as my 2nd system with bootstrap?
got the bootstrap succesfully, but got no rom to play with..

Failed OTA - Determining which system apps are missing?

OK, I'm a noob and made the noob mistake of deleting (rather than freezing) some system apps after rooting. Won't make that mistake again.
I do not have backups nor am I completely sure which apps are missing. As a result of these missing apps I cannot complete the latest OTA update.
I downloaded a system dump and noted a few apk files in it that were not on my system though I believe that there are other apk files missing which are not in the system dump (MyLibrary, WebStorage etc) so I am not sure the particular system dump I got is up to date.
Copying the apk files to my system\app folder did not help, the update still fails.
I seem to recall seeing instructions somewhere for manual installation via power/down volume which would allow you to see a text dump of the update with reports of missing files or mismatched CRC's. I cannot find this again but such a thing would help me determine what is missing so that I can then attempt to find replacement apk files.
Sorry for being such a noob. Can anyone help?
Thanks
Made the same mistake when upgrading to ICS from Honeycomb...
If you get the previous update (the one your running now) from the Asus website, extract the update file and place it in one of the folders on the tablet, (I forgot which folder, sorry...) reboot and the tab will recognize it and prompt you to update. Once that update is finished installing, you should have all your bloat back. Delete the update file from the tab since you don't need it anymore, and then try to update to the most recent OTA Update.
Just do a search in the TFP forums and you should find complete instructions on how to do this.
I'm just assuming this will work for ICS to ICS... because it worked for me when I updated to ICS to Honeycomb...
Hope this method works for you.
I had the same issue.
Download:
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/EeePAD/TF201/US_epaduser9_4_2_11UpdateLauncher.zip
Once downloaded, extract the contents of the zip file (yes, its another zip file of the same name inside) to your MICRO SD. put your micro SD in your TF201 (or eject and re-insert if you copied via cable)
Once the card is mounted you will see a triangle with an "!" in the notification area. Touch the notification and it will open a dialogue to install the manual update.
You will lose root, even with OTA Rootkeeper.
Re-root your device. Install OTA Rootkeeper if you have not already. Run Voodoo OTA Rootkeeper. Protect your su.
Check for updates. Install .13 OTA.
$$$
Should be a lesson learned. Stop messing with system apps. Always causes problems one way or another. The apps included are nothing to even be considered bloat. I still have everything installed n prime super fast. If anything just freeze the apps, never delete them unless u always want to have failed OTA.
demandarin said:
Should be a lesson learned. Stop messing with system apps. Always causes problems one way or another. The apps included are nothing to even be considered bloat. I still have everything installed n prime super fast. If anything just freeze the apps, never delete them unless u always want to have failed OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree completely, and my lesson is learned. But why on earth would a freaking E-reader app be a system app?
That was my hangup. AsusReader a/k/a the My Library app.
And mine was backed up with Titanium, which obviously bungled it since it would not restore.
phree1 said:
I agree completely, and my lesson is learned. But why on earth would a freaking E-reader app be a system app?
That was my hangup. AsusReader a/k/a the My Library app.
And mine was backed up with Titanium, which obviously bungled it since it would not restore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went through the same thing on my Atrix phone. Rooted n went messing around deleting at&t bloatware. It killed my OTA updating. That's why now I'm still on froyo on it. Never bothered to manually update it. Still works great on froyo though. But I learned my lesson from that.
demandarin said:
I went through the same thing on my Atrix phone. Rooted n went messing around deleting at&t bloatware. It killed my OTA updating. That's why now I'm still on froyo on it. Never bothered to manually update it. Still works great on froyo though. But I learned my lesson from that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your still on froyo... why not just flash a sbf file to return to stock? Or better yet, unlock the boot loader and get yourself CM7 already.
Messing with system files isn't a big deal, as long as you have a backup.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
Yep, this did the trick. Thanks very much.
Lesson learned, don't mess with the system apps.

DONT FORGET! Rootkeeper before update! .28 update thread

With the coming update to .28 dont make the same mistake many of us did with .21. Use rootkeeper, takes a minute and saves a hassle. I've read that .28 fixed the workaround to downgrade so you really dont want to forget to use rootkeeper unless you want to go without root or unlock for a while.
nyijedi said:
Another important reminder before applying the update: If you manually removed or renamed any stock .apks to disable them, be sure to put them back before doing the update, or your Prime could be screwed up
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, forgot that!
Just a general shoutout, dont say you werent warned!
(If you have experiences with the .28 update why not keep it in this thread? no use having a dozen threads about the same thing like we do most updates )
EDIT
felisen said:
So I have been meaning to factory reset my prime to get rid of some of the bugs from the HC to ICS update. My plan was to do it after this next update, but your post just reminded me that I would lose root when I reset. Is that correct? Any way to keep it?
Can we root the current update? I'm wondering if I should reset now and root before this upcoming update?
Any info is welcome, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to revert to stock and KEEP ROOT do the following (worked for me, ymmv)
Download the firmware you are CURRENTLY ON (for me its .21)
Put that firmware in the ROOT DIRECTORY of your prime (not the removable SD card)
Restart your prime, it should detect that there is an update available and update you to .21 (the same FW you are on)
NOW that you are stock (all stock apps are there) you can go about reverting back to .15 (or your favorite pre-.21 update), use wolf's guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1622628
Get blob file for firmware (download firmware, extract, find blob file. I used .15) MAKE SURE ITS FOR YOUR AREA (Mine is WW)
copy blob file to root dir of the prime
In shell execute: ADB Reboot
let it reboot, dont touch anything
In shell execute: dd if=/sdcard/blob of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p4
it will appear nothing is happening for 3 to 10 minutes. Mine took closer to 15 minutes. BE PATIENT THIS BIT TAKES A WHILE
when you see records in/out in how many seconds you know its done.
in shell execute: ADB Reboot
you should now have a clean, freshly installed prime on .15 Root with your flavor of root tools, use OTA rootkeeper and OTA to .21, then when the OTA to .28 is ready in your area your good to go!
Credit to wolf, go to his thread, hit the thanks button.
Hit my thanks button if i helped! Good luck and i will try to bring forward important info as it happens.
Unless of course Asus do a **** move and completely overwrite /system or rm the voodoo rootkeeper backup specifically in the update script.
Thanks for the reminder.
Maybe Demandarin tells us how he lost his root. Clumbsyness or override by Asus?
Tell us the story bro.
131313 said:
Thanks for the reminder.
Maybe Demandarin tells us how he lost his root. Clumbsyness or override by Asus?
Tell us the story bro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I had to guess it would be because he had to manually install the update from his micro-SD card. OTA Rootkeeper won't work that way.
Hi everyone
I rooted .15 and use OTA Rootkeeper and then OTA to .21.
When the .28 will be released do I have to do something with Rootkeeper or I just OTA to .28...then open Rootkeeper and recover root from .15?
Thx for answer and sorry for my english
phree1 said:
If I had to guess it would be because he had to manually install the update from his micro-SD card. OTA Rootkeeper won't work that way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ouch !!
Edit:
Let's see; I am on my forth prime since early april now. Three of them on .21 and I had to update all the three via an update.zip from the micro-sd. Do I remember this? Or is it wishful thinking??
... Yeah, I did it from the micro-sd card.... Pure speculation: otarootkeeper will work... Also Demandarin mentioned that GK asked him to do whatever test on his formerly rooted device, so this implies it should still work...but then GK probably doesn't even know how to power on the prime..........................................hell.................
@
lukcinek said:
Hi everyone
I rooted .15 and use OTA Rootkeeper and then OTA to .21.
When the .28 will be released do I have to do something with Rootkeeper or I just OTA to .28...then open Rootkeeper and recover root from .15?
Thx for answer and sorry for my english
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You shouldn't have to do anything, but to be safe, open the app and ensure that it says something along the lines of "Root backed up/protected."
Another important reminder before applying the update: If you manually removed or renamed any stock .apks to disable them, be sure to put them back before doing the update, or your Prime could be screwed up
nyijedi said:
Another important reminder before applying the update: If you manually removed or renamed any stock .apks to disable them, be sure to put them back before doing the update, or your Prime could be screwed up
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Say what? This is true?
cam30era said:
Say what? This is true?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your prime won't be screwed up, but you will be unable to load the update.
I speak from personal experience.
I have heard it looks at the 'preinstall' folder.
Where else I do not know? Help
razr maxx - stock rom
cam30era said:
Say what? This is true?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
phree1 said:
Your prime won't be screwed up, but you will be unable to load the update.
I speak from personal experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never made this mistake, so I can't speak from personal experience, but I thought I remember people having problems as a result of this. However, I very well may have just been thinking of being unable to load the latest update.
Regardless, you don't want to experience either of these issues
phree1 said:
Your prime won't be screwed up, but you will be unable to load the update.
I speak from personal experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which .apk's have to be "in place" for the update load? All of the Google and Asus ones?
So I have been meaning to factory reset my prime to get rid of some of the bugs from the HC to ICS update. My plan was to do it after this next update, but your post just reminded me that I would lose root when I reset. Is that correct? Any way to keep it?
Can we root the current update? I'm wondering if I should reset now and root before this upcoming update?
Any info is welcome, thanks!
cam30era said:
Which .apk's have to be "in place" for the update load? All of the Google and Asus ones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the simple rule of thumb is that anything that cannot be uninstalled the normal way (e.g., through the settings menu without rooting and deleting/renaming .apks) must be present.
Where is the backup file made by Root Keeper saved?
Mine is rooted and su file is saved, but will the OTA delete the restore file when installing the new fw?
Should the Ota RK file be saved on the SD Card instead?
bimbobo said:
Where is the backup file made by Root Keeper saved?
Mine is rooted and su file is saved, but will the OTA delete the restore file when installing the new fw?
Should the Ota RK file be saved on the SD Card instead?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will be fine unless you choose to factory data wipe.
I saved a copy on the SD, just in case.
Appreciate the reminder. Rootkeeper looks to be in order and I think all I changed was the build.prop mod and the gps mod. I just put them back to stock so hopefully I'll be okay. Now comes the wait.
For those who forget how to revert to stock i wrote up a quick guide and posted it to OP.
Basically:
Download current FW
Install current FW
Use Wolf's guide to revert
Root
Use OTA rootkeeper
OTA to current version.
Good luck!
If I disabled some apps in app info will that be OK when updating
Or do I have to enable them all again
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk 2

How I got my rooted RAZR to install ICS OTA successfully

If you have safestrap go into the app, select the uninstall feature and re try the install. No need to download anyones utility or no need to factory reset.
do you happen to know the download path of the ota? Due to safestrap mine failed.. hate to download it again..
Should be in setting/ about phone/ updates
yeah thats to download it again.. i was hoping it would just install it if the system saw the file there. oh well at 55% i can wait a little longer..
After the phone reboots, if the install takes really really slow then ur on the right path
What if I have installed BootStrap recovery????
kanagadeepan said:
What if I have installed BootStrap recovery????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont have bootstrap but from what im gathering unistall that as well
then uninstall it.. my install failed with it. That is what the OP is saying you will need to uninstall them for the update to install
mine failed for a second time :/
Did you use voodoo ota and temp unroot? You need to do that as well i just figured that was a given by now
cheatthepocket said:
Did you use voodoo ota and temp unroot? You need to do that as well i just figured that was a given by now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Arrgh i swear i did.. While i was doing tb backups it slipped my mine i reckon.. really wish i could find the dl path for the update... hopefully third time will work!
Whether uninstalling the "Razr BootStrap" using "Managa Applications" is enough... Or I have to do some extra steps too????
Please help me... I don't care much about root, as the update usually unroots it and I can root again easily...
Bootstrap may be a dif problem. Like i said i used safestrap. I dunno what else you have done to urvphone. You might need the dev team to help you. I never used roms so i was stock i also never froze any bloatware.
Ummm. You're welcome....
Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX via XDA Premium
I think i thanked you last night lol.
arrgh 3rd time failed no bloat removed just stock rooted.. temp unrooted safestrap uninstalled.. any ideas? guess i might need to restore back to stock..
Sounds like you have something breaking the install. I know ive done very little to my phone. Factory reset may be your option but i would get hold of a tech here b4 u do anything
kanagadeepan said:
Whether uninstalling the "Razr BootStrap" using "Managa Applications" is enough... Or I have to do some extra steps too????
Please help me... I don't care much about root, as the update usually unroots it and I can root again easily...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to first uninstall the razr bootstrap app through "manage apps" (look under the all apps tab - clear data first while you're there).
Then, with root explorer or such, go to the /system/bin folder, mount r/w, and delete the following files:
hijack
logwrapper
Then, rename logwrapper.bin to simply logwrapper (just remove the .bin)...
Reboot, and it should be all cleaned out.
I would also recommend using voodoo ota rootkeeper to backup your root, then temporarily un-root (hide root) before doing the OTA install.
If you still get ota install errors, then you probably removed some system apps that are verified before installation... check /cache/recovery/last_log for errors.. then either replace those apk/odex files, or flash the fxz..
Sent from my phone's mind
alteredlikeness said:
You need to first uninstall the razr bootstrap app through "manage apps" (look under the all apps tab - clear data first while you're there).
Then, with root explorer or such, go to the /system/bin folder, mount r/w, and delete the following files:
hijack
logwrapper
Then, rename logwrapper.bin to simply logwrapper (just remove the .bin)...
Reboot, and it should be all cleaned out.
I would also recommend using voodoo ota rootkeeper to backup your root, then temporarily un-root (hide root) before doing the OTA install.
If you still get ota install errors, then you probably removed some system apps that are verified before installation... check /cache/recovery/last_log for errors.. then either replace those apk/odex files, or flash the fxz..
Sent from my phone's mind
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much for the info. That logwrapper file was withholding me from updating.
I tried deleting and renaming the files with no success updating. I eventually just ended up doing a factory wipe and using Matt's Utility and flashing back to stock. It was a little frustrating, but the Verizon backup utility combined with Google services saved me. I guess i need to learn how to use Titanium backups. lol
this thread should be titled "How I got my Safestrapped RAZR to install ICS OTA successfully", as your issue was more to do with safestrap then specifically just being rooted.

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