[Q] Clean Install OTA Updates? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

As a desktop user, I always do a clean install when upgrading to a new version of an OS (ex. Windows 7 - Windows 8) since the update process can cause a few kinks in performance and compatibility and a clean install will keep the system operating optimally. I do this by formatting my drive and reinstalling a fresh new version of the OS. With the upcoming Android L update, I was wondering if there was a way for owners of Nexus, GPE, or Motorola devices to do something equivalent to a clean install since they will most likely be getting the update first. Does an Android OTA update run as a Delta update or does it essentially reinstall the entire OS? Would simply running the OTA update and doing a factory reset be equivalent to a clean install?

My nexus 7 2012 is running so slow on kitkat that I'm going to try for as clean an ota lollipop upgrade as possible.
If I do a factory restore before upgrade, will I need to sign in to do the upgrade? If so, I'll want to turn off auto-restore.
Thinking of either thinning out installed apps and letting auto-backup restore then after, or turning off auto restore and reinstalling just the needed ones manually.
What are the steps for the cleanest minimalist ota install?

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[Q] 2.4.3 Update

I have a D2G. I rooted it.
But it now wants to do a 2.4.3 update. of course the update fails when it reboots
So my question is, could i apply the update using the bootstrap. has anyone tried doing this, would it brick my phone if i tried.
jbroderick said:
I have a D2G. I rooted it.
But it now wants to do a 2.4.3 update. of course the update fails when it reboots
So my question is, could i apply the update using the bootstrap. has anyone tried doing this, would it brick my phone if i tried.
Click to expand...
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You probably could if you remember to wipe data and cache, and you should probably get the Team Black Hat app and download the SBF/driver/RSD Lite files just in case.
Edit: Oh, the update file. If it's failing to install, you should probably just try the full install. I'm not sure why it wouldn't go through unless you're on stock, in which case, you HAVE to use full install.
I think he is talking about the official Verizon update. Not FRM...
When you rooted did you stop or remove any of the Blur apps? That will cause the update to fail. All of the Blurr must be there for the update to work.
If you used Z4Root to root your device, try to unroot the device with zroot and then try the update again.
You may have to re-install Zroot after it is completed to re-root the phone. But I did the update before I rooted almost the day I got the phone so I had not really done enough to notice if it wipes the device and data. My guess would be no!
Since I did this from the stock rom I did not bother to look but if the file is a zip file then chances are likely you can run it from the clockwork recovery.
But best bet is to unroot and then try it again before you go that route.
I would however get RSDLite and the stock SBF to have handy in case you run into problems.
You cannot apply the OTA update (I assume you are talking about 2.4.330 Verizon official OTA update) from the custom recovery. It must be instaled via stock recovery. But due to the way update is made (patch based) it will fail if there are alternations (missing files) in any of the system areas. You must restore all changes you made in /system/app (assuming you froze/delete some stock apps), if you are rooted it is ok, update will not bother (extra files in system do not break the checksum - update only checks original files. But if there is even a single file missing (deleted/renamed) in system area, update will fail to install. If you can't figure it out (what is missing) and update keeps failing, simply flash full SBF to return to stock, apply the OTA update then reroot and freeze/remove all apps that you don't want in system area.

Upgrading Android without doing a full wipe every time

So, Google will be pushing out monthly OTA updates and sicnce i have rooted my Nexus 5 (using Android 5.1.1) i'm wondering if there's any way i can install OTA-s (when i get notification in the status bar) without doing a full wipe on my phone (i was using Nexus Root Toolkit for this, but it wipes everything). Obviously, i don't wanna be doing that every month, since it takes time to install all the programs back on the phone and copy everything (pictures, music, ....) back on the phone.
Is there any way i can maybe unroot the device, install OTA and root it again? Without losing any data? Or even better, install OTA and keep root? Or is it possible to flash a .zip file that will do that (update Android to the latest one without wiping everything)?
What is the best way and easiest to update my phone every month? Obviously i want to have Root.
Interesting question. Would like to know too.

How to update without losing data

I am not new to flashing but I think I am missing something.
I see that there is the new kdz file with Version v10i. Since I am on v10e, I would like to have the latest version on my device. But if I Flash the kdz, it will wipe everything, right?
With my Nexus, I was able to just flash the system partition, which would leave my data intact. Later, when I was on a custom rom, I had flashable zip files which would also only update the system partition.
My questions are:
Do I really have to backup everything, install the kdz and then restore everything?
Is there any way to just update the system partition or do I have to wait for a flashable zip or the OTA file?
You can use LG Up and update only which does what you are asking however, in my experience, this can often lead to future issues.
I always do a clean install and even if I update over ota, I perform a factory reset and subsequently I experience very few of issues that people report on here.
Sent from my LG-H850 using XDA-Developers mobile app
I'm in the same boat as you, want to update from V10e -> V10i but no luck with OTA or LG Bridge so tryed LG Flash tool but it doesent recognize my Phone ! YES LG FLASH TOOL WILL WIPE YOUR PHONE !
Go here and do what alexander did, i did it and it worked.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=69122610&postcount=229
bobsie41 said:
You can use LG Up and update only which does what you are asking however, in my experience, this can often lead to future issues.
I always do a clean install and even if I update over ota, I perform a factory reset and subsequently I experience very few of issues that people report on here.
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Click to collapse
Thank you. It worked perfectly. Since this update does not contain a new version of Android, I think updating the existing Android is not that bad. When Android 7 comes out, I will definitely start from zero.

Rooted Moto X4 System Updates

Hi, I have a rooted Moto X4 (either 9.0 or 9.1) with Magisk (either 18.0 or 18.1). I've been holding back on updating for a while because I didn't want to mess anything up, but some of my super user apps are malfunctioning, I think its time to update it. When I update the android OS, do I just update it normally on the phone? I have TWRP installed and I'd like to flash Magisk manually to avoid any problems. I feel like it would be a good idea to save a copy of the phones current state before updating so I can restore if there are any issues. Any thoughts or advice? Thanks!

How do I halt install of OTA update that my phone downloaded but hasnt installed yet?

I picked up a second hand Galaxy S8 over the summer with plans to root it and install a custom ROM. I haven't activated it yet, but I was using it on my home WiFi and was notified that it downloaded an OTA update and it would be installed on the next boot. Since then I haven't touched it because I know that some updates can complicate or nullify the ability to root or install a custom bootloader, ROM, etc. I've done some searches on how to prevent the install, but haven't found anything except for how to disable your phone from downloading it to begin with. Now that the update is downloaded to my phone, is there a way to halt it's installation before I move forward with activation and customization?
I think you can let the OTA install, this because an OTA only affects Android OS and not device's bootloader .
jwoegerbauer said:
I think you can let the OTA install, this because an OTA only affects Android OS and not device's bootloader .
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Click to collapse
Thanks, I've heard different in the past. That OTA updates can lock you out of being able to run certain bootloaders for multiboot and such.
bump for input from others
Downloaded one S8 ota zip and checked. According to install-recovery.sh the command and path to fota package is on cache.
So going into recovery and wiping cache should do it.
edit: then again it might write it back on boot... but does it install it right away? IDK. Factory reset?

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