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Factory reset without restoring carrier bloatware

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I am running stock rooted 4.1.1 on samsung galaxy s3 i747m (bell). I have taken a lot of time and care to remove (uninstall) all the carrier bloatware w Titatnium Backup. Why is it that when I factory reset, all the carrier bloatware is restored (no other uninstalled system apps are restored, only the carrier crap)? What process is restoring these? Is it possible to prevent this from occuring on factory reset?
 
As I understand it, a factory reset only wipes/restores your /data partition and does not touch the /system partition.

I would assume that the stuff that is being restored is on the /data partition and the stuff that's not being restored is on /system.

There's not a way (that I know of) to stop this from happening because those apps are included in the current rom.

You'd need a custom rom without the bloat. Even if you just got a hold of the stock rom you could remove the bloat yourself from the zip before flashing, or it's possible that someone already offers a stock rom with the bloat removed. Then when you do a factory reset through your custom recovery, it will factory reset to the rom's default settings which in your current case includes bloat.
 
I don't really have an answer for that. I could only guess.

I still think, though, that the way to stop this would be to remove the specific apps from the packaged rom itself. When you do a factory reset, it's looking at the packaged rom and re-installing apps that are there. If you have a customized stock rom with the apps removed from the rom, they will not be there to restore on a factory reset.

I'll see if I can find someone that can offer any more information.
 
Can you tell us exactly what apps (and .apk file names if you can) you're removing?

Perhaps their being treated like your own personal apps and being auto-downloaded from the Play Store, etc.? :eek: :dontknow:

I don't think this should be happening, either...:confused:
 
ALFoR said:
For example Bell's "GPS Navigator" /system/app/BellMob2.2-6201044-ProdSigned.apk

Delete it, factory restore, it's back.... :(
Click to expand...

Exactly how are you deleting it?

I'm only a casual TiBu user, so I can only see "Backup!", "Freeze!", "Un-install!" as app-related options.

There are "Restore" and "Delete" options that I believe belong to the TiBu backup itself and not the app (can anyone confirm this?).

I can see you doing a freeze (disabling) the system apps and have them being thawed (re-enabled) after a factory reset or if the "Delete" option actually does belong to the backup and not the .apk, then that might explain what you are seeing.
 
scary alien said:
Which utility are you using to delete the .apk file?

Root Explorer, ES File Explorer, other file manager, adb shell (rm command), Android Terminal Emulator shell (rm command)?
Click to expand...

Excellent question, I know that I switched from ES to Root Browser for that same issue...........
 
Doc said:
Excellent question, I know that I switched from ES to Root Browser for that same issue...........
Click to expand...

I actually didn't purchase Root Explorer until last year (I'm an adb shell guy :p) and ES File Explorer has a nice root-mode and was free. I decided to go-ahead and try it (Root Explorer) and see what it provides vs. it's competitors and to finally support the dev.

I wanted to ask ALFoR just in case he was using TiBu to attempt the delete which I'm still not sure wouldn't just delete the backup instead of the .apk file.

My theory is that either the .apk files in question are not actually being deleted or the .apk files are being re-downloaded after the factory reset.

There's nothing in a factory reset process that could/would/should re-install an .apk file (if it were so, all of the failed OTAs that people used to get for having previously deleted system apps would not have happened).

Turning off 3G/4G and/or wi-fi access before the factory reset to ensure the .apk files cannot be re-downloaded and not enabling it until you've checked to see if the system .apk files were indeed no longer present (and/or watch the process unfold via an adb shell) would be a good debugging step towards solving this mystery.
 
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Thanks for the info. I delete them via ADB shell in recovery mode. They must be redownloaded on factory reset. :( Can I do a verbose factory reset via ADB and watch what is happening?
 
ALFoR said:
Thanks for the info. I delete them via ADB shell in recovery mode. They must be redownloaded on factory reset. :( Can I do a verbose factory reset via ADB and watch what is happening?
Click to expand...

Ah, thanks--that is indeed useful information! :) :thumbup:

Since I now know you're adb-savvy (a very good thing! :)), if this were me, I would try to isolate my device from network access (3G/4G and wi-fi), delete the/a file(s) and verify and record the deletion with a directory listing (I'm guessing you had to manually mount /system in custom recovery before attempting the deletion), and then re-do the factory reset and restart of your device.

I don't know if a factory reset is going to reset USB debugging (I kind of suspect it might), but see if you can use an adb shell while the device is rebooting from the factory reset to watch the /system/app directory for the absence and possible re-population of the .apk file(s) in question.

Try to make sure you don't enable network access after the factory reset until you're able to get an adb shell in place to begin watching to see when and if the files are being auto-restored on you.

I'm still pretty sure it's not the factory reset per se since that is a delete/format/wiping operation and there are no files stored or available or squirreled-away for it to restore.

An auto-restore after a reboot is possible I guess, but I'm still surprised that system apps would be auto-restored somehow. I did do a cursory Google search about this the other day, but haven't yet found anything regarding this.

Let us know how this goes...I'm very curious about it.

Cheers!

:)
 
How can I keep mobile data disabled across a factory reset? Doesn't factory reset reenable the mobile data setting?
 
UPDATE!

With SIM card removed:

Boot into recovery, delete carrier crap via ADB.
APKs are deleted.
While still in recovery, do a factory reset.
APKs are still deleted.

Reboot phone into normal mode.

APKs are still deleted.

Reboot again into normal mode.

APKs are still deleted.

Reboot into recovery mode.

APKs are BACK!!!! AHHHHH!

For some reason, entering recovery someone causes the carrier crapware to be restored?!?!?!??!!? WHAT THE $#%$#%$#!

When I boot into recovery, the screen shows:
#Manual Mode#
-- Appling Multi-CSC...
Applied the CSC-code: BMC
Successfully applied applied multi-CSC.

Could this have something to do with it? Is BMC "Bell Mobility..."???
 
Hmm, this site, Multi CSC Explained | CheckROM (which ironically enough links back here to AF), says (in part):

Multi CSC stands for Consumer Software Customization and it is specific to your geographical region and service provider.

CSC contains the software packages specific to your region, it handles all your service providers information, APN settings, your data connections, and it also handles your Multi Media Settings for your service provider.
Click to expand...

which implies to me that either it is indeed re-downloading the region-specific software packages for your device or there's a partition on your device where they're getting re-sourced from.

Had you re-inserted you SIM just before the system .apk files showed back up?

If not, them maybe they are already are on your device...? :dontknow:
 
ALFoR said:
FOUND THEM!!!!! /system/csc/BMC/system/app
Click to expand...

Wow, that's pretty wild and I'm glad you found them! :thumbup:

(sorry for delayed reply--got called in to work for a bit :()

Not sure what will happen if you make them go bye-bye from that source directory (other than them not being copied into /system/app), so hopefully it's not something that will adversely affect your device.
 
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