[Q] Rooted hdx 8.9, can't access video - Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 8.9" Q&A, Help & Troubleshoot

Early on I rooted my hdx 8.9 but never installed safestrap, instead preventing updates by modifying ota certs and com.amazon.dcp.apk and running android firewall. I recently factory reset to update (14.3.2.6), re-rooted and renamed above files to protect adaway. However, now back in amazonland I'm finding I cannot access prime videos (everything else seems to work). Thinking ota certs and dcp.apk may be the problem, I unmodified and retried, also rebooting in the process. Still no access. Could I have somehow modified other files, though don't remember doing so? Any ideas highly appreciated.

remove updates
I had a similar issue and could fix it: go to settings, all apps, choose amazon instant video and select “remove updates“. Good luck.
spersich said:
Early on I rooted my hdx 8.9 but never installed safestrap, instead preventing updates by modifying ota certs and com.amazon.dcp.apk and running android firewall. I recently factory reset to update (14.3.2.6), re-rooted and renamed above files to protect adaway. However, now back in amazonland I'm finding I cannot access prime videos (everything else seems to work). Thinking ota certs and dcp.apk may be the problem, I unmodified and retried, also rebooting in the process. Still no access. Could I have somehow modified other files, though don't remember doing so? Any ideas highly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Yes! I had forced closed and cleared data but didn't try to uninstall updates. Many thanks.

Related

[q] 3.2.5 -> 4.5.2

I'm trying to upgrade my system. I originally rooted this HDX 8.9 with Towelroot and used HDXPosed. I've since disabled the HDXPosed module and copied over the 4.5.2 upgrade binary (update-kindle-14.4.5.2_user_452004220.bin) onto the internal storage as indicated here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201390370
However, even after rebooting, when I go into Devices > System Updates, it says that I'm current. If I do a "check now", it switches to "Last update failed." Doing a Retry gives the same result.
What do I need to un-block this update?
stormerider said:
I'm trying to upgrade my system. I originally rooted this HDX 8.9 with Towelroot and used HDXPosed. I've since disabled the HDXPosed module and copied over the 4.5.2 upgrade binary (update-kindle-14.4.5.2_user_452004220.bin) onto the internal storage as indicated here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201390370
However, even after rebooting, when I go into Devices > System Updates, it says that I'm current. If I do a "check now", it switches to "Last update failed." Doing a Retry gives the same result.
What do I need to un-block this update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure you have re-enabled OTAs using the same method used to disable them. Not certain uninstalling HDXposed will do the trick. A stronger approach is to reinstall stock to wipe out any changes that may be blocking OTA.
A couple choices:
- Pure stock 3.2.5. Download and instructions here. If it doesn't take you can force with Flashify. Note you will loose root with this approach (but can get it back if needed). Upgrade to 4.5.2 should happen automatically assuming OTA kicks in.
- Upgrade to a slightly tweaked 3.2.6. Details here. You can either copy to system storage or force with Flashify. Once OTA is reenabled uprade to 4.5.2 should happy automatically.
If you have Safestrap be sure to uninstall before applying any upgrades that may remove root (even temporarily).
Davey126 said:
Make sure you have re-enabled OTAs using the same method used to disable them. Not certain uninstalling HDXposed will do the trick. A stronger approach is to reinstall stock to wipe out any changes that may be blocking OTA.
A couple choices:
- Pure stock 3.2.5. Download and instructions here. If it doesn't take you can force with Flashify. Note you will loose root with this approach (but can get it back if needed). Upgrade to 4.5.2 should happen automatically assuming OTA kicks in.
- Upgrade to a slightly tweaked 3.2.6. Details here. You can either copy to system storage or force with Flashify. Once OTA is reenabled uprade to 4.5.2 should happy automatically.
If you have Safestrap be sure to uninstall before applying any upgrades that may remove root (even temporarily).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I already have the bin on the device. Could I use Flashify to just kick that in? I do worry about OTA as I don't want to get 4.5.3, I specifically want 4.5.2 so that I can reroot it afterwards. I've debated just doing a system reset, but I'm concerned about bricking possibility there... I know under some conditions resetting is not safe and I don't know if Towelroot/HDXposed/Gapps could trigger any of those conditions.
Never touched Safestrap so that isn't a concern, but thanks for the heads up.
stormerider said:
So I already have the bin on the device. Could I use Flashify to just kick that in? I do worry about OTA as I don't want to get 4.5.3, I specifically want 4.5.2 so that I can reroot it afterwards. I've debated just doing a system reset, but I'm concerned about bricking possibility there... I know under some conditions resetting is not safe and I don't know if Towelroot/HDXposed/Gapps could trigger any of those conditions.
Never touched Safestrap so that isn't a concern, but thanks for the heads up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could try but if there is something funky with your device results are unpredictable. Understand your concern about potential for OTA to 4.5.3. You could flashify stock 3.2.5 and then 4.5.2 with wifi off. Use a tether as needed to move bin files around. Once on 4.5.2 you will need to reroot and block OTA. Assume you have secured instruction from other threads.
Regardless of the precautions bricking is always a possibility when flashing without a strong recovery solution. Fire OS seem pickier than most as evidenced by the strong cautions and numerous issues reported in the HDX forums. Amazon's recovery is essentially useless so when things go bad there are relatively few pull out options.
I would not do a system reset under any circumstances unless instructed but someone who can provide assurances that is the best path.
I just finally had some time to spend on this (thanks to another useless meeting at work). I upgraded to 4.5.2 and got it re-rooted with the cve<blah>.apk. I looked at this thread here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/kindle-fire-hdx/general/tut-disable-ota-4-5-2-install-gapps-t3043550 but it's really not clear how to go about this. In the past with 3.2.5 I just had to copy over some APKs and install them. Do I need Safestrap or Flashify or whatnot to install the gapps the way they're referring to, or is there an ADB equivalent of rsync that I can use?
stormerider said:
I just finally had some time to spend on this (thanks to another useless meeting at work). I upgraded to 4.5.2 and got it re-rooted with the cve<blah>.apk. I looked at this thread here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/kindle-fire-hdx/general/tut-disable-ota-4-5-2-install-gapps-t3043550 but it's really not clear how to go about this. In the past with 3.2.5 I just had to copy over some APKs and install them. Do I need Safestrap or Flashify or whatnot to install the gapps the way they're referring to, or is there an ADB equivalent of rsync that I can use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do not install Safestrap (incompatible with 4.x) or use Flashify for this task (fastest path to a brick). Not certain where you are having difficulity with the OP in the thread you referenced. Instructions seem pretty clear. Might be trying to over think it ...
Be aware Google recently updated Play Services which is causing havok with many Kindle devices. You might want to hold off for a few days until the dust settles. If you opt to press forward you'll need to block some Google updates to keep Play Services and other Google components from auto-upgrading. Look through other threads for instructions. Seems like there are a couple different approaches floating around.

[Q] Deleting downloaded update

I was going through the process of rolling back my kindle to 13.3.2.8 from 4.5.3 and then manually updating to 4.5.2 and rooting. In the process I had to enable WiFi to install ES File Explorer. It immediately started to download the update to 4.5.3! In the Device settings for update, it is showing there is an update ready to install. Is there a way to delete this 4.5.3 update? I don't know what to search for to find the .bin file or whatever is there ready to install. I have renamed the OTA file in order to stop the automatic updates. Everything seams to be working fine but I think I'd feel better knowing that file was not there ready to install!
Thanks!
In need of help!
So I had followed the instructions for my KFHDX for rolling back back from 4.5.3 to 3.2.8 and manually updating to 4.5.2 and rooting and installing the gapps. All of this was successful with no problems at all! I was installing a couple of apps and was having some difficulty getting a program to link to dropbox (I don't know if this is relevant or not). I had downloaded this from the Play Store and had to install and re-install it to get things synced up. Eventually I got this all working... Then I believe what might have caused my problem is running an update on the Google Play Store. After that I am now stuck in the settings of the device and unable to get the home or back button to come up. I cannot get out of settings... I can connect to WiFi and change settings, see what applications are installed, etc., but I cannot get to any apps.
I had already changed the name of the OTA update file, but I cannot get to it to change it back to be able to run an update. In the process of this whole deal (which may be another part of the problem) is I tried to restore factory defaults...
So, can anyone help me either get this back to stock or any clue how I can get the Kindle to the home page in order to run File Explorer to rename the OTA file back in order to get it to possibly run the 4.5.2 or 3.2.8 rollback again? Anything really.. I'm in purgatory here!
Thanks
IMNOTL8 said:
So I had followed the instructions for my KFHDX for rolling back back from 4.5.3 to 3.2.8 and manually updating to 4.5.2 and rooting and installing the gapps. All of this was successful with no problems at all! I was installing a couple of apps and was having some difficulty getting a program to link to dropbox (I don't know if this is relevant or not). I had downloaded this from the Play Store and had to install and re-install it to get things synced up. Eventually I got this all working... Then I believe what might have caused my problem is running an update on the Google Play Store. After that I am now stuck in the settings of the device and unable to get the home or back button to come up. I cannot get out of settings... I can connect to WiFi and change settings, see what applications are installed, etc., but I cannot get to any apps.
I had already changed the name of the OTA update file, but I cannot get to it to change it back to be able to run an update. In the process of this whole deal (which may be another part of the problem) is I tried to restore factory defaults...
So, can anyone help me either get this back to stock or any clue how I can get the Kindle to the home page in order to run File Explorer to rename the OTA file back in order to get it to possibly run the 4.5.2 or 3.2.8 rollback again? Anything really.. I'm in purgatory here!
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can open apps with ADB.
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4567904/how-to-start-an-application-using-android-adb-tools
so no-one provided an answer to the question. Where do you look with ES File Explorer (root) to delete a pending update.
Updates are stored in /cache.
is there more than one cache folder? Please be very specific as to where I need to point ES file explorer to delete this update files or files. I'm new to this, and don't want to screw my kindle up. If I would have known how to delete this months ago, I could have had a kindle with an unlocked bootloader, but I got screwed by amazon with their updates.
thanks for you help
EncryptedCurse said:
Updates are stored in /cache.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rlkellyjr said:
is there more than one cache folder? Please be very specific as to where I need to point ES file explorer to delete this update files or files. I'm new to this, and don't want to screw my kindle up. If I would have known how to delete this months ago, I could have had a kindle with an unlocked bootloader, but I got screwed by amazon with their updates.
thanks for you help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In ES (or any file manager) open the "System" or "/" folder. Find "cache" inside of this folder. In "cache" search for the appropriate update file. "cache" usually doesn't contain vital files, so you shouldn't be able to much damage (if any at all) by tinkering with it. You can always save copies of any files you move/delete in cache to be extra safe!
What if an update already occurred? Is there anyway to uninstall it? The most recent update to kindle fire changed the look and layout of the home screen completely and I really don't like it.
ourljfam said:
What if an update already occurred? Is there anyway to uninstall it? The most recent update to kindle fire changed the look and layout of the home screen completely and I really don't like it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming you have a 4th gen 8.9" (Saturn) tablet that was recently updated from FireOS v4 to v5. The look of v5 is closer to 'native' Android but obviously not to everyone's liking. Unfortunately, there is no way back short of contacting Amazon to request a rollback. Not sure they are offering this option. Perhaps a better option is to become familiar with the new interface. FireOS v5 has a lot going for it and is generally a better option vs v4.
ourljfam said:
What if an update already occurred? Is there anyway to uninstall it? The most recent update to kindle fire changed the look and layout of the home screen completely and I really don't like it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=201980430
if im not mistaken (and someone feel free to correct me if necessary) deleting the cache partition from stock recovery (Power+Left Vol) would also delete the downloaded update
jinxt said:
if im not mistaken (and someone feel free to correct me if necessary) deleting the cache partition from stock recovery (Power+Left Vol) would also delete the downloaded update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Accurate - but stock recovery does not offer a cache clear option on 3rd gen HDX. Not sure about 4th gen (Saturn).

How to Restore Amazon Update?

I followed this thread, had everything going well, but then I began having strange issues with my device. I tried to clear VireLauncherPro's cache, but then that screwed up my Google store. I tried to restore it via the tips at the end of the linked guide, but VireLauncherPro began to act erratic, and the Play Store began to cease working again.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-hd/general/root-supersu-stable-appstore-custom-t3113311
Now I want to update back to 5.x and start the process all over again as a factory reset still leaves left over from Google Play and such, preventing me to do the hack from 4.x.
Thanks in advance.
Well, you probably want to specify your current FireOS version, whether you have root, and some other details that might help. There aren't many clairvoyants in here, so no generic answers
bibikalka said:
Well, you probably want to specify your current FireOS version, whether you have root, and some other details that might help. There aren't many clairvoyants in here, so no generic answers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OS v 4.5.3
And I presume I am still rooted. I was before I did the system restore, but when I re-install Titanium Backup, it still acts like the thing is rooted.
My assumption was that factory resets restored everything and undid roots., but as I said, traces of Google Play store and such are still intact, and I can no longer update via Amazon.
It does not sound like you have TWRP installed. If so, you need to install SuperSu, and then with ES explorer take a look at this file :
/system/priv-app/DeviceSoftwareOTA.apk
See if you have it as is, or perhaps it is renamed? Rename it back, reboot, and you should get OTAs back.
I have that and it is named as it should be. I also still have Google Store after resetting to factory defaults, thus preventing me from going through the process again.
How can I just install a custom firmware into this so that the Amazon features don't interfere anymore?

Home/Back button and launcher missing

I have a 4th Gen Kindle HDX which is rooted (Kingroot). I tried install GAPP (minimal) the other day. I overwrote some files (stupid I know) and rebooted the system. Now there is no menubar or launcher. I can't swipe in from the sides or tap to reveal a home/back overlay. I also can't update manual or OTA. When the system boots it boots into the settings window (thankfully), so I'm able to change settings (ADB enabled, wifi) and importantly use the special offers to launch the browser from which I've installed es explorer. I really want to get my Kindle back ideally to the latest Kindle OS WITH functional Google Store. Can anyone help? ideas suggestions.
Thanks
bnbliss said:
I have a 4th Gen Kindle HDX which is rooted (Kingroot). I tried install GAPP (minimal) the other day. I overwrote some files (stupid I know) and rebooted the system. Now there is no menubar or launcher. I can't swipe in from the sides or tap to reveal a home/back overlay. I also can't update manual or OTA. When the system boots it boots into the settings window (thankfully), so I'm able to change settings (ADB enabled, wifi) and importantly use the special offers to launch the browser from which I've installed es explorer. I really want to get my Kindle back ideally to the latest Kindle OS WITH functional Google Store. Can anyone help? ideas suggestions.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Recovery approach is to adb install an alternative launcher (Apex, Nova) that will allow you to regain some control over your device - hopefully enough to restore the damaged files. The solution is not a panacea; if you touch the 'home' button FireOS will revert to the damaged launcher and you will have to repeat the cycle all over. A present there is no way to reload FireOS on 4th gen device so your options are limited. A factory reset will not restore launcher functionality. If you deleted files recovery will be almost impossible.
If the device remains under warranty contact Amazon for a one-time courtesy exchange.
I was able to install an alternate launcher and as you mentioned there is limited functionality. I wish there were a way to be able to force the device to upgrade to the latest FireOS or to reinstall the default framework as I'm pretty sure that's what got messed up during my attempted GAPP upgrade.
Describe step-by-step your steps. Which files exactly you replaced/changed except gapps.
bnbliss said:
I was able to install an alternate launcher and as you mentioned there is limited functionality. I wish there were a way to be able to force the device to upgrade to the latest FireOS or to reinstall the default framework as I'm pretty sure that's what got messed up during my attempted GAPP upgrade
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Might consider contacting Amazon to see if they will manually push FireOS v5. Would be risky as an unstable device might not take the OTA well. You would likely 'own' the problem if out of warranty.
At some point a stock image > 4.5.5.1 should become available. You might be able to use that to force a more controlled upgrade. A Safestrap build for 4th gen devices seems unlikely at this point which is the other method used for reinstalling FireOS.
For future reference GApps and FireOS v4 is like Russian roulette. A few can keep the cylinder from rotating but most suffer some type of wound from the experience. Just a matter of time.
The only files changed were GAPP files.
bnbliss said:
The only files changed were GAPP files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only files changed were GAPP files.
ONYXis said:
Describe step-by-step your steps. Which files exactly you replaced/changed except gapps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks guys. An interesting thing happened when put a launch chooser on the device. Once I chose Nova launcher and then because I had nothing to lose chose Kindle launcher I suddenly had a functional Kindle. I rebooted the Kindle and everything is back to normal with the exception being I still can't update to the latest OS which I'd like to do. Thanks again everyone I appreciate the knowledge shared on these boards.
bnbliss said:
Thanks guys. An interesting thing happened when put a launch chooser on the device. Once I chose Nova launcher and then because I had nothing to lose chose Kindle launcher I suddenly had a functional Kindle. I rebooted the Kindle and everything is back to normal with the exception being I still can't update to the latest OS which I'd like to do. Thanks again everyone I appreciate the knowledge shared on these boards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great! Nice when the HDX gods are in a good mood
Did you make any effort to block OTA? Browse to /system/priv-app/ and search for DeviceSoftwareOTA.apk. If not there or renamed (perhaps with a .bak extension) that is your problem.
Caution: do NOT touch DevicesoftwareOTA Contacts.apk. Alter/rename that file and you'll own a brick
90% there
Davey126 said:
Great! Nice when the HDX gods are in a good mood
Did you make any effort to block OTA? Browse to /system/priv-app/ and search for DeviceSoftwareOTA.apk. If not there or renamed (perhaps with a .bak extension) that is your problem.
Caution: do NOT touch DevicesoftwareOTA Contacts.apk. Alter/rename that file and you'll own a brick
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Davey for all your help. I had renamed the DeviceSoftwareOTA to prevent OTA updates. I renamed it back, restarted and the 4.5.5.1 download downloads but fails on installation. I've manually downloaded and put it on the Kindle. It's recognized but fails to install also. I then tried devices --> reset to Factory Defaults. The Kindle reboots into Fastboot mode. Strange. I'll dig around and see what I can find. I can't even tell you how happy I am that the HDX Gods have smiled on me, perhaps thanks to your intercession. :laugh:
-bnbliss
bnbliss said:
... I had renamed the DeviceSoftwareOTA to prevent OTA updates. I renamed it back, restarted and the 4.5.5.1 download downloads but fails on installation. I've manually downloaded and put it on the Kindle. It's recognized but fails to install also. I then tried devices --> reset to Factory Defaults. The Kindle reboots into Fastboot mode. Strange. I'll dig around and see what I can find.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thoughts:
- there may be an inconsistency in the system partition that is hampering installation
- typically a factory reset from the native recovery menu (<power>+<vol-up> from cold start) allows balky images to progress
- however, you installed GAaps on FireOS v4 which may be a wildcard
- rebooting to fastboot is weird ...
- verifying you executed the 'Factory Reset' from the native Kindle Recovery menu, correct?
- also assume there was no attempt to install Safestrap or any other 'recovery' tool

how to ensure a phone is malware free? especially from screen reading trojans

so I picked up a used pixel from craigslist. seems ok. but I starting thinking... how can I be certain this phone is not booby trapped. it would be awful to have a trojaned device and not really know it.
I searched quite a bit about about malware that can survive factory reset. so it seems that simply resetting is not so great.
then I thought adb sideload an official google factory image to both slot a and slot b would purge any demons. but then again, I cannot find any documentation that make it clear what get overwritten and and what doesn't. (eg do the bootloader or recovery partition remain intact... seems like a great place to hide malware on a booby trapped phone). similarly, it is unclear what /system paritition blocks get replace.. all of them? some of them? can a clever trojan/rat survive an ota?
and then there is the full factory image install via fastboot. the problem is that I cannot enable oem unlocking b/c Verizon locked bootloader. booooooo
final thing. and the trigger that really had me thinking about this. after setting up the phone and connecting to the network, I saw a notification that subtley asked to install a Google screen reader. no idea why. and no google searches return anything useful. was this device hacked already??!
specifically the notification said:
"install app for screen share" and "tap to install from the play store"
so, any security minded android users out there who can help me understand if I need to trash this phone?
Infrequent pop-ups when using a web browser or when running an app can be normal. However, if you are getting pop-ups even when you’re not opening a browser or when using a totally different app, there could be malware in your phone. Malicious pop-ups are often brought about by a bad app that you may have installed in the past. In some cases, legit looking apps may update to a sinister version after some time and cause pop-ups to be displayed.
Run the phone in safe mode and observe it. Safe mode is great tool in detecting a problem app. On this mode, all third party apps will be suspended so if the problem is absent when your Android is running on safe mode, that means there’s a malicious app in the system. While in this mode, you should be able to use preinstalled apps normally as well as use basic networking services without a problem.
My recommendation to have a malware-free phone:
Do a factory reset
Before re-installing any app install an anti-virus app
So will sideloading an official factory OTA image using adb from recovery, completely remove any malware? (I read about malware that can survive a factory reset.)
Also, has anyone else ever seen a notification asking to install a screen reader? This appeared after a factory reset, immediately after connecting to the wifi network. No apps installed.
A factory reset really only deals with the Data and the Cache partitions. System partition isn't affected. This is true regardless device is rooted or not So if malware got installed in System partition it survives a factory reset. A factory reset will also not remove any ROM upgrades or OTA's.
Hopefully by now you have a better understanding of what a factory reset is.
May be the browser - what typically is installed as system app / system-privileged app - is the culprit: Use another browser and see what happens.
I think I understand how the factory reset works. For this discussion, I am do used on Google Pixel line, no modifications, and no root, and only app from the official Play Store.
The adb sideload of a Google factory OTA is the part I don't fully understand.
For example, doe the OTA merely replace files? Or does to do a bitwise blocklevel swap? Does it modify anything in the bootloader, or recovery partitions?
I cannot find clear documentation on this.
The notification requests to install Screen Reader do not come from Chrome or any browser. They appear to come from the system. (Android 10).
So what I am trying to figure out is whether some malicious actor/app installed a persistent malware into the system partition, or the bootloader, or the recovery. Such that a factory reset cannot remove it (like with xHelper malware)
Like for example, can a malware get into the system partition, and a manual adb OTA sideload , or even manual fastboot factory image install, fail to remove the malware from the system partition? That would be. a nightmare for security.
Finally, I cannot find any documentation from Google that Pixel (3) on Android 10 will automatically try to install a screen reader as a native operation.
Basically, is this used, never rooted phone, permanently Trojan-ed junk now?
@thehighhat
Sorry to say this: I'll no longer waste my time with this ...
oops: duplicated post deleted
jwoegerbauer said:
...
My recommendation to have a malware-free phone:
Do a factory reset
Before re-installing any app install an anti-virus app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK. Not sure why you're done with this - if you have insight, sharing it is good for everyone.
anti-virus (13 different ones) all show no malware. shows it is clean.
there are well known malware that can survive a factory reset.
the notification to install "screen reader" occurred immediately after a newly wiped phone connected to internet, even before any of the default apps (chrome, settings, etc.) opened
still looking for answers from someone who knows:
has anyone ever seen a system notification asking to install a "screen reader"?
does anyone know if
Code:
adb sideload official.google.ota.img
on a pixel modifies the boot partition or the recovery partition?
does anyone know if that manual ota install will guarantees the system partition contains only unmodified valid files/blocks?
thehighhat said:
OK. Not sure why you're done with this - if you have insight, sharing it is good for everyone.
anti-virus (13 different ones) all show no malware. shows it is clean.
there are well known malware that can survive a factory reset.
the notification to install "screen reader" occurred immediately after a newly wiped phone connected to internet, even before any of the default apps (chrome, settings, etc.) opened
still looking for answers from someone who knows:
has anyone ever seen a system notification asking to install a "screen reader"?
does anyone know if
Code:
adb sideload official.google.ota.img
on a pixel modifies the boot partition or the recovery partition?
does anyone know if that manual ota install will guarantees the system partition contains only unmodified valid files/blocks?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you fastboot flash an official google system.img partition. From Google. With the correct hash value to insure correct download. It should flash the entire partition. Same goes for any other partition. If you have a certified unmodified image and flash it, the entire partition should be flashed, not just part of it.
With OTA updates. You only get patches. At least that's how the normal process goes. You got the smaller sized ota update and it only modifies the specific files that are being patched for that particular OTA update.
So with normal OTA only pieces of the partitions get updated. Sometimes they all are not touched with every update.
Delgoth said:
If you fastboot flash an official google system.img partition. From Google. With the correct hash value to insure correct download. It should flash the entire partition. Same goes for any other partition. If you have a certified unmodified image and flash it, the entire partition should be flashed, not just part of it.
With OTA updates. You only get patches. At least that's how the normal process goes. You got the smaller sized ota update and it only modifies the specific files that are being patched for that particular OTA update.
So with normal OTA only pieces of the partitions get updated. Sometimes they all are not touched with every update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. This is exactly what I was looking for
So it sounds like file level replacement instead of block level.
Does the ota verify the other files on the system partition that it does not intend to modify?
thehighhat said:
Thank you. This is exactly what I was looking for
So it sounds like file level replacement instead of block level.
Does the ota verify the other files on the system partition that it does not intend to modify?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does in the sense that it verifies before and after the process begins/ends, the correct size of the partition. This is true in the sense of Ssmsung devices and how the typical standard recovery image works.
But it is the update zip that does most if not all of the size/digest verifications after the files have been patched. Because there is no real way for the rom to know how big the updated build(s) is going to be before the update arrives.
Generally I've seen it verify all the hash values are the same as last time it updated when it begins. And the update zip specifies the ending size.

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