[How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

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08-17-2012, 05:18 AM
jaj6503

[How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

Some words of advice; to block Verizon OTAs install Root Explorer (or a similar file explorer app with root access) and navigate to system > app, than edit the following:

Change the extension of 'FWUpgrade.apk' to '.bak' (FWUpgrade.bak), locate the corresponding '.odex' and add '.bak' to the end of the title. Do the same for SDM.apk /.odex.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hovik818 [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

FWUpgrade.apk = FWUpgrade.bak
FWUpgrade.odex = FWUpgrade.odex.bak

SDM.apk = SDM.bak
SDM.odex = SDM.odex.bak

This simply 'freezes' them, re-enable by reapplying the .apk extension and removing the .bak extension.

Thanks appreciated!

Sent from my unlocked/modded Samsung Galaxy S3 using Android Central Forums
08-17-2012, 06:55 AM
Cyber Warrior

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

Good advice.. this is a problem that plagues members every time there's on OTA. If you're rooted.. Never except an OTA... It will most likely soft brick your device. Wait for the devs to come out with a version of the OTA that will work with a rooted phone.

Ways to stop an OTA from being auto pushed to phone:
-follow the steps from the OP, just keep in mind that this is not guaranteed fool proof and sometimes still will not protect you.
-flash a custom ROM, this is the only way an OTA will not get pushed to your phone. If you don't like the fancy custom ROMs.. then flash one of the stock debloated, zip aligned, deoxed ROMs.
08-17-2012, 04:40 PM
jaj6503

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyber Warrior [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Good advice.. this is a problem that plagues members every time there's on OTA. If you're rooted.. Never except an OTA... It will most likely soft brick your device. Wait for the devs to come out with a version of the OTA that will work with a rooted phone.

Ways to stop an OTA from being auto pushed to phone:
-follow the steps from the OP, just keep in mind that this is not guaranteed fool proof and sometimes still will not protect you.
-flash a custom ROM, this is the only way an OTA will not get pushed to your phone. If you don't like the fancy custom ROMs.. then flash one of the stock debloated, zip aligned, deoxed ROMs.

The process in OP is what these ROMs with OTA blocks do. The only difference is that some ROMs delete these files instead of rendering them useless.

Sent from my unlocked/modded Samsung Galaxy S3 using Android Central Forums
08-17-2012, 05:01 PM
Cyber Warrior

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaj6503 [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

The process in OP is what these ROMs with OTA blocks do. The only difference is that some ROMs delete these files instead of rendering them useless.

Sent from my unlocked/modded Samsung Galaxy S3 using Android Central Forums

Not always the case... Only time will tell but I remember the HTC Thunderbolt days when we tried the same process by renaming the otacerts.zip to otacerts.zip.bak and members were still getting the official OTA from Verizon pushed to their phones.. I can't even count the number of soft bricks members were complaining about.. I spent weeks helping members getting their phones back to a usable state. Now maybe this is an HTC only problem because I remember using this method on Motorola devices and it worked perfectly... So just be prepared, it may work but there's always the slight chance that it may not... even with declining the pushed update, eventually Bolt users were forced to accept the update because every time they rebooted their phone trying to flash a custom ROM last minute, they couldn't get passed the start menu... the update took over. The only guaranteed method that I've seen work is by using a custom ROM.
Again, hopefully this was just an HTC issue and we won't see this problem.
08-17-2012, 06:52 PM
jaj6503

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyber Warrior [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Not always the case... Only time will tell but I remember the HTC Thunderbolt days when we tried the same process by renaming the otacerts.zip to otacerts.zip.bak and members were still getting the official OTA from Verizon pushed to their phones.. I can't even count the number of soft bricks members were complaining about.. I spent weeks helping members getting their phones back to a usable state. Now maybe this is an HTC only problem because I remember using this method on Motorola devices and it worked perfectly... So just be prepared, it may work but there's always the slight chance that it may not... even with declining the pushed update, eventually Bolt users were forced to accept the update because every time they rebooted their phone trying to flash a custom ROM last minute, they couldn't get passed the start menu... the update took over. The only guaranteed method that I've seen work is by using a custom ROM.
Again, hopefully this was just an HTC issue and we won't see this problem.

eschelon over at XDA is the one who sharing this method with devs. Regardless if you're using a custom ROM or stock image, if you're attempting to block OTAs on a SGSIII you're using the "same" technique.

You're right that only time will tell, but right now this is the only known first step of protection.

Sent from my unlocked/modded Samsung Galaxy S3 using Android Central Forums
08-17-2012, 07:56 PM
davidnc

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

I am hoping that along with the mentioned programs in the OP froze and or with .bak added to them along with all the vzw/samsung bloatware froze thats not used any update will fail even if it makes it to the phone.I remember about the HTC saga, although I didnt have a Tbolt
Regardless the days are numbered when I will be flashing a custom Rom,probably long before any OTA is released anyhoo Ha.:)
08-20-2012, 08:55 AM
oper8or

When I try to edit the file name it says that the system files cannot be edited because they are read only. What am I doing wrong?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums
08-20-2012, 09:08 AM
Cyber Warrior

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

Quote:

Originally Posted by oper8or [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

When I try to edit the file name it says that the system files cannot be edited because they are read only. What am I doing wrong?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums

If you're using Root Explorer.. when you first open the app, there's a tab/button up top for switching Read/Only Read/Write (R/O, R/W).... Change it to read/write before renaming the file.. when done switch it back to read only.
08-20-2012, 06:46 PM
wilk489

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

Changed the extension on FWUpgrade.apk and SDM.apk to .bak, but it won't let me change FWUpgrade.odex and SDM.odex to .bak because it says it already exists. Anything I'm doing wrong?
08-20-2012, 08:14 PM
Hovik818

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilk489 [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Changed the extension on FWUpgrade.apk and SDM.apk to .bak, but it won't let me change FWUpgrade.odex and SDM.odex to .bak because it says it already exists. Anything I'm doing wrong?

FWUpgrade.apk = FWUpgrade.bak
FWUpgrade.odex = FWUpgrade.odex.back

SDM.apk = SDM.bak
SDM.odex = SDM.odex.bak
08-25-2012, 04:47 PM
Ratbastrd

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

Can someone point me to a stock, debloated, zip aligned, deoxed ROM for the Verizon S3? Until the custom ROMs get cleaned up, stock still appears to be the best, suspect performance and battery life would dramatically improve just by removing bloat and unwanted services running.
08-29-2012, 01:08 PM
jaj6503

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratbastrd [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Can someone point me to a stock, debloated, zip aligned, deoxed ROM for the Verizon S3? Until the custom ROMs get cleaned up, stock still appears to be the best, suspect performance and battery life would dramatically improve just by removing bloat and unwanted services running.

Here - [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Or choose something else - [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Sent from my rooted/modded/stock Samsung Galaxy S3 using Android Central Forums
08-29-2012, 01:49 PM
OWybPPgO

I rooted without Odin and haven't flashed anything - just ran the script that copied su in. Do I have to worry about an OTA update?

Couldn't I just delete the su executable and then it would be back to stock? Or are there more issues?
08-29-2012, 05:10 PM
jaj6503

Quote:

Originally Posted by OWybPPgO [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

I rooted without Odin and haven't flashed anything - just ran the script that copied su in. Do I have to worry about an OTA update?

Couldn't I just delete the su executable and then it would be back to stock? Or are there more issues?

If you didn't follow the instructions in the OP post rooting than yes, you haven't done anything to prevent an OTA. Rooting alone does not prevent anything.

If I were going to unroot completely I would just Odin my device to a pure unrooted stock build. This is the norm. You could manually remove root bits and pieces but it would be rather redundant. Better to wipe everything and start fresh than "tidy up," although I don't see why anyone wouldn't want root access in general.

PS: rooting, blocking OTAs, than Odin-ing back to stock will put you back to square one. An Odin flash rewrites the entire system.

Sent from my rooted/modded/stock Samsung Galaxy S3 using Android Central Forums
08-29-2012, 06:13 PM
OWybPPgO

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaj6503 [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

If you didn't follow the instructions in the OP post rooting than yes, you haven't done anything to prevent an OTA. Rooting alone does not prevent anything.

If I were going to unroot completely I would just Odin my device to a pure unrooted stock build. This is the norm. You could manually remove root bits and pieces but it would be rather redundant. Better to wipe everything and start fresh than "tidy up," although I don't see why anyone wouldn't want root access in general.

PS: rooting, blocking OTAs, than Odin-ing back to stock will put you back to square one. An Odin flash rewrites the entire system.

Sent from my rooted/modded/stock Samsung Galaxy S3 using Android Central Forums

thanks. I do like being rooted, I'm just paranoid about having voided my warranty.
08-29-2012, 10:18 PM
jaj6503

Quote:

Originally Posted by OWybPPgO [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

thanks. I do like being rooted, I'm just paranoid about having voided my warranty.

I've rooted/returned phones many times (mostly Motorola devices because those things like to randomly fall apart), as long as you restore to stock (Odin back to a factory ROM in this phone's case), you're golden ;)

Sent from my rooted/modded/stock Samsung Galaxy S3 using Android Central Forums
08-30-2012, 07:16 AM
PJnc284

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

Quote:

Originally Posted by OWybPPgO [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

thanks. I do like being rooted, I'm just paranoid about having voided my warranty.

You didn't void your warranty. That's just something people like to say to scare others out of rooting. Assuming you don't brick it by being dumb, your warranty is perfectly fine in the event that you have a legit issue.
09-29-2012, 04:00 PM
BitRifle

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

edited by moderator.. app devs, please use the application forum to advertise apps.
09-29-2012, 06:56 PM
jaj6503

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BitRifle [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

edited by moderator.. app devs, please use the application forum to advertise apps.

The method in OP worked 100% fine for me. Please don't try and frighten these good people into buying your app (if anything, offer a discount or something).

At this point there is no real reason to fear the OTA anyways. It's completely rootable/unlockable.

Future OTAs perhaps, but I wouldn't hold my breath. We probably won't see one for quite sometime.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums
12-12-2012, 08:25 PM
CypherMax

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

So I'm rooted running clean rom 5.0. I went through every system app in root explorer and cannot find the upgrade apk is it possible this rom doesn't have it as a safety measure? I definitely don't want this JB update forced to my phone.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums
12-12-2012, 09:58 PM
rvhighway

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

Since you're running a dev's ROM like CleanRom, there shouldn't be an issue with OTAs. They have usually already taken care of it for you. Although I don't know the ins and outs of CleanRom, I expect it's already been handled.

Changing the apk to bak for the files in this thread is something for folks who have rooted but haven't installed a ROM. They're still running the stock ROM, so they're vulnerable to OTAs.
12-12-2012, 10:00 PM
piizzadude

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

If it is like his others, it is gone already. Scott is good with that.

Sent from my X-Band Modem... TY Genesis
12-13-2012, 04:42 PM
Moebius Street

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)
Sorry if this is dumb, but I'm a newbie to GS3 and to rooting in general...

It seems as if there's some confusion because of the difference between simply rooting, and flashing different ROMs. From what I'm reading here, it seems that I'm probably OK if
1. All I've done as root is to elevate my privileges in order to run things like AdBlock, and specifically *not* to freeze apps and stuff.
2. Before the OTA comes, I turn off the settings in various apps that tried to use root privileges, and then uninstall the superuser app itself.
Is that correct?
12-14-2012, 07:39 PM
jaj6503

Re: [How To][ROOT] Block Verizon OTAs (post bootloader/ROM flash)

Quote:

Originally Posted by CypherMax [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

So I'm rooted running clean rom 5.0. I went through every system app in root explorer and cannot find the upgrade apk is it possible this rom doesn't have it as a safety measure? I definitely don't want this JB update forced to my phone.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Android Central Forums

The ROM dev removed them as bloat. On any custom ROM you won't get an official OTA unless you revert back to stock.

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