yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Shield Tablet General] JuStAdsor:
EU. And the update was triggered even if I removed Tegraota from both tablets. The new one never booted with tegraota.

Trimis de pe al meu ZenFone 2 folosind Tapatalk
[Shield Tablet General] Alfonso87:
What do you mean? o.O

The nomoreota.zip doesn't work anymore? o.O
[Shield Tablet General] P00r:
IF you want to destroy the tablet, you can simply use a hammer instead of installing the ST YY Update !

You can also put a 6 inch nail thru it and pull it out, this will be a lot more fun than charging and updating the tablet yourself with a killswitch...
[Shield Tablet General] topcat36:
Sure it does. I mean there is no fix after the killer update.

Sent from my old SHIELD Tablet.
[Shield Tablet General] topcat36:
If you don't have root access, you can't delete by hand TegraOTA.apk.

I would suggest either way to use nomoreota.zip file and check if the update option is missing from Settings -> About tablet menu. Then you can turn on your new tablet.

Sent from my old SHIELD Tablet.
[Shield Tablet General] xonix240719mu:
Anyone who had the TegraOTA apk, updated to 5.1.1 via OTA.zip and still got the tablet killed remotely ?
[Shield Tablet General] alexxandrepeixoto:
My shield tablet was stuck in black screen asking to install APX, someone can helps ?
[Shield Tablet General] DreadApex:
root is required to access the system partition... it's kinda the whole point.
[Shield Tablet General] DreadApex:
No, you will need to follow the instructions in the first post to stop the killswitch.

Either by rooting and removing the OTA file(s), or flashing a custom recovery to remove them, or by flashing a different ROM.
[Shield Tablet General] iammasonp:
I really appreciate all the information that I've learned by reading through all these killswitch threads.

I just want to confirm some details as my situation seems unique:

-My replacement tablet has not yet shipped from Nvidia (10+ weeks now, I'm very annoyed but oh well)

-My tablet has mostly been off since applying for the recall, it's telling me to download the 3.1.1 system update now which I've paused just to be safe

My understanding is that the 3.1.1 update is what allows Nvidia to remotely force updates without notifying the user. Would I be safe updating to 3.1.1 and then deleting the OTA.apk? And would this be a permanent solution assuming I don't care about cutting the old unit off from new updates?

Thanks.
[Shield Tablet General] DreadApex:
Yes. You got it!
[Shield Tablet General] iammasonp:
Thanks! I appreciate the fast response.

For those reading this who are not very familiar with Android like myself, I installed a program to my PC called "Minimal ADB Fastboot" to flash the files (specific instructions for flashing found everywhere). Worked perfectly. Much better experience than when I almost bricked my Galaxy Nexus trying to get an update a couple weeks ahead of schedule.

I'm open to help others who are struggling to figure this out now.
[Shield Tablet General] d-style:
Thank you for taking the time to do the research to flash your tablet before asking questions. If more people had done what you did then this thread wouldn't be nearly as long as it is.:thumbup:
[Shield Tablet General] evil04:
The ADB fastboot is easy to use.. Just get the right files and removing the OTA is easy

From palm Tree
[Shield Tablet General] jaynv:
DO NOT DOWNLOAD THE ATTACHMENT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THIS IS THE XX OTA, NOT THE ZIP THAT REMOVES TEGRAOTA!

I adapted this file in accident. Is there the way to un-brick the tablet? :rolleyes:
[Shield Tablet General] JuStAdsor:
No

Trimis de pe al meu ZenFone 2 folosind Tapatalk
[Shield Tablet General] JackCheck:
But i really dont understand how can be a Update kill the Tablet. I mean i cant put it on. And i dont understand why and how. I dont install the Update by myself. I have not touch the Button to install the Update but the Tablet installed it by itself.

Hope there will be a Possibility to get the Tablet on. ^^
[Shield Tablet General] topcat36:
Lets say it works stopping the service. Once your tablet restarts the next time, service is back on, updates without asking you anything and finishes off the tablet.

The idea is to stop it for good.

Sent from my old SHIELD Tablet.
[Shield Tablet General] wwphil:
found a way to interface with APX of bricked tablet

Guys,

Don't know if this was figured out already, but I looked and couldn't find that info myself so, I have a bricked tablet that received all Nvidia updates and won't power on at all anymore.

I figured that the USB part should still be working, and indeed it does, but it won't work with all USB controllers (doesn't work in certain ports of my laptop, comes up as "unrecognized device" but other ports will say "APX".

While connected to a port that shows the tablet as "APX", I forced Windows to use the Universal naked driver 0.73, fetching manually the driver labeled as "Nvidia Shield", not the fastboot or adb one, and that worked (Windows claims the driver is right fit with the device), so I guess that gives us a way to inject stuff in the "bricked" tablet ?

Universal driver I used: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2386956

I found this command in a Nvidia forum, that seems to be able to write to APX device... hopefully this can help: nvflash.exe --bct bct.cfg --setbct --odmdata [OFFSET REMOVED] --configfile flash.cfg --create --bl bootloader.bin --go

Nvidia forum thread: https://devtalk.nvidia.com/default/...h-shield-tablets-bootloader-via-apx-nvflash-/

Hope this helps in providing more answers.
[Shield Tablet General] DreadApex:
No, because the whole point of the kill switch is that it can do it WITHOUT any warning and WITHOUT your permission.

it must be removed so it is unable to flash your tablet without warning.

simply deactivating it will not stop it because once it is restarted for any reason (random reboot for example), the tablet is toast.
[Shield Tablet General] topcat36:
Man, do what you want. In the end the OP found a solution here to save your tablet, have full functionality, use the latest firmware and not close each restart WiFi, services, etc. I you want to follow other course of action, you are free to do. Is your tablet in the end :)

Sent from my old SHIELD Tablet.
[Shield Tablet General] deltagreen88:
All this won't work, you could keep you device offline forever to not get the deadly OTA downloaded and installed automatically, but tell me, you want to use a Shield tablet without ever having access to the internet anymore..? i don't think so.. If you really don't want your device to be rooted, you can prevent it, but you will have to unlock your bootloader which will delete all your data, even what's on your internal sd (so do not save files there for backup but on your extsd or usb or wherever off your device, same counts for zips you want to flash immediately after unlocking the bootloader, they will be gone) .. After unlocking bootloader you could just boot the recovery without installing it (option in fastboot are 'flash recovery xyz' or 'boot recovery xyz', using the file manager inside the recovery and delete the tegraota.apk and its parent folder, reboot your device and it should boot as after a factory reset.. Setup everything and go check if the 'software update' option has well disappeared from you 'about device' menu.. If you don't have permissions to delete the necessary file/folder inside your one-time recovery, you'd even need to flash supersu app via recovery (still don't need to keep it) and reboot again to recovery (if you just want it one-time again you'd need to use fastboot boot recovery again) delete the file/folder and unroot your device afterwards.. Which is a pain..

Doing all this i propose unlocking bootloader via fastboot - flashing the recovery for good (not just boot into it once) - flash supersu - flash the nomoreota.zip - reboot and you're done for good, should take you about 5 minutes to do everything..

I can confirm having received my new tablet 1x mont ago, i did all this procedure to my old tablet and it is still running, i even installed multirom and Blisspop rom as secondary, which i used for the first 2x weeks just to be sure, than changed back to my stock rom and still no issues at all, even the Nvidia apps are still working and active.. Hallelujah xD
[Shield Tablet General] DreadApex:
Go for it man, good luck.
[Shield Tablet General] icase81:
Just did this after flashing back to the official ROM + TWRP after using CM12 for a while. Works beautifully. Thanks!
[Shield Tablet General] P00r:
You can also solder a small zig-bee interface inside the tabled so that when you press the power button the signal is sent to your home automation controller, the controller would then turn on a a relay to boot up a custom made filtering proxy server, using the crc of the OTA files you could block the actual files when the tablet try to download it, sound complicated enough ?

You also have the option to follow the OP¨instruction that seem to have worked for the majority of the people in this thread! Give or take a few lost soul who mistakenly flashed the actual kill switch...

As for your suggestion of turning off the wi-fi... We have not heard of any senior member doing timing test with the OTA to see if they can turn off the wi-fi fast enough so that the silent OTA doesn't happen, but frankly you could also simply switch the tablet to airplane mode and pray that it stick at each reboot... or if you are hardware savy remove the wi-fi chips from your tabs!

lot's of great plan coming out of a single question :)
[Shield Tablet General] Thranx:
Just echoing the thanks for all the leg work on this.
[Shield Tablet General] peskovice:
Sup guyz 

Firstly, true newbie here and I am gonna to kill killswitch from old table. I try to read all information sources but I have still few questions.

I will be glad if some1 will help.

If I go on shield.bogdacutu dot me and check my SN it tell no update. If I am checking my current ROM via table it is 3.10.33….

So my question is do I need to downgrade on older ROM(3.1. for example) and then use nomoreota.zip and do all other stuff which is need?

Or I can use nomoreota.zip on current ROM.

I realize, that in both cases I need root etc….But I am curious if I need to downgrade to lower ROM or just use nomoreota.zip on actual ROM.

Thanks in advance
[Shield Tablet General] frenziedfemale:
You can use the procedure on the latest ROM. No need to downgrade
[Shield Tablet General] JuStAdsor:
Hi,

Can someone please share the tegraota apk?

I want to restore it on my new tablet.

Thank you!
[Shield Tablet General] Curn:
Hi all, So looking for some help, I am completely new to anything Android and mobile, for example my current phone can ring and text oh and it has a wee flashlight on top:o The last thing I flashed was my girlfriend when I got out of the shower yesterday. :p. I'm not completely tech illiterate and used to work in a computer repair shop, I just never got on the mobile bandwagon. So have little experience with them

But I got a 32gb Shield Tablet LTE for Christmas and turns out it was a recalled one so I just got my replacement Shield a few days ago and have yet to open the box, never-mind activate it If possible I want to keep the old tablet. The old tablet is working normally and has a OTA ROM Update Available "Shield Tablet Software Upgrade 3.1.1 -- LTE" That I have been avoiding for the past month nearly in case my tablet died before my replacement came.

In order for me to keep the old one whats my best plan of action, Do I preform a factory reset then can I just use a file manager app to delete that folder OP mentioned in the first post or delete it first then reset it? Do I need that Zip file linked if so do I download it on my shield or PC, put in on a SD or what, as I mentioned I am new to anything Android, bar everyday use. Do I need to Root my shield before doing anything, do you recommenced I use a custom ROM for the old tablet. Any help at all would be apprenticed. I'm looking for the simplest thing to keep the old tablet going.

Sorry for being a pain, but I really would appreciate the help
[Shield Tablet General] thecypher:
Thanks for the guide OP.

I've rooted my Shield and used a file manager to delete TegraOTA, but could someone explain what it means to delete it "before booting into Android, then reboot", as quoted from the original post below?

Do I just restart the tablet after deleting TegraOTA or something? Apologies if I'm asking the obvious, just not really sure about these things.
[Shield Tablet General] Bogdacutu:
yes, restart the tablet after deleting it. (iirc someone got his tablet bricked by not rebooting, since TegraOTA kept running)
[Shield Tablet General] thecypher:
I see, thanks!

Just to be absolutely clear (sorry!), you're referring to just a simple restart via the power button right? Not a full factory reboot or anything like that?
[Shield Tablet General] Bogdacutu:
yes, that's what I'm referring to
[Shield Tablet General] pinchez:
Thanks OP for all your time and effort you've put in to this thread:good:

I've kept my old 32GB LTE tablet (5.1.1) and would like to still use it in the same way as my replacement tablet (including access to play store) but obviously without OTA updates!

My first problem is my tablet isn't rooted and doesn't have a file manager on it, it's completely at stock with Wifi disabled. I've tried copying the APK file over USB via PC to Downloads on the tablet but it's not visible through the downloads icon on the tablet :(

I'm not even that bothered about being rooted, I just need a way of deleting the OTA folder on a fresh tablet without Internet or file manager

Can anyone help please?
[Shield Tablet General] Sir_Brizz:
Your best option is to flash a new recovery (like TWRP) and delete the file from there.
[Shield Tablet General] s187375:
1st of all a great THANK YOU for finding out how to ''save'' our tablets (it'd be a petty to have all those tablets lost)

i finally flashed the zip and got the ota folder and apk removed (and 1st option in settings> about tablet is the ''send feedback to nvidia''):D

BUT...

while i was browsing in settings>apps>all to disable few that i don't need, i noticed that there's a ''config updater''. could that be dangerous? (i'm now afraid of everything that says update :p

AND...

when i tried to disable ''google play services'', after skipping the ''your device may misbehave'' and similar, and entering ''manage device administrators'' there appeared the ''android device manager'' option checked by default. as it says there, it allows android device manager to LOCK or erase a lost device. should we be worried? :rolleyes:

once again thank you for what you've done, to all: the OP and all those who have explained to total noobs (like me) what and how to do it :D:D:D
[Shield Tablet General] pinchez:
I finally manage to Root and install TWRP which I used to install the nomoreota.zip, disabled reporting back to nvidia option and did a search for OTA which brought up a dodgey looking TegraOTA file which I deleted to be on the safe side!

I'm guessing I can use this tablet like my newer one I.e. Shield Hub etc.?

Once again a big thank you to the OP and all the contributors :)
[Shield Tablet General] Konstrictus:
You can't simply delete the folder because it's a system folder. You need root access for that.

To install the zip file you need a custom recovery.

So repeating what have been said before: The easiest way for you to get rid of TEGRAOTA is

1. Unlock bootloader (This will wipe your personal data).

2. Flash a custom recovery (I prefer twrp).

3. Load recovery and from there install zip file (the NOMOREOTA.ZIP, wich you can copy on an SD card or on the tablet, through USB).

4. In twrp you will have the option to install superuser, to get root acess if you want (but that's optional).

5. Reboot.

These are the steps... Just google it to find out HOW to do it.
[Shield Tablet General] wun_fiish:
1. OLD tablet update to newest OTA battery confirmed and sent code for replacement to NVIDIA. Nvidia ships new tablet.

2. OLD tablet completely wiped and installed BlissPOP ROM and used it while waiting for my new tablet.

3. New tablet came in today the 12th of Oct.

my old tablet is still on a custom rom (BlissPOP) since it is on a custom rom can i just turn on my new tablet not having to worry about a kill switch? my old tablet is NOT stock and im having difficulty finding a thread for custom rom recall tablets info.

any insight would be greatly appreciated thanks!
[Shield Tablet General] Curn:
Cheers, I'll hopefully get this sorted this weekend. Since you said unlocking bootloader will wipe my personal data there is no need to preform a factory reset before starting? Once I get this done the shield should work as normal and it'll be like a new tablet bar it wont be able to update? So things like google play and the Nvidia hub should be OK to use? Thanks again
[Shield Tablet General] pinchez:
Just a quick one, is there any risk in updating NVidia Hub and Dabbler through the Store?
[Shield Tablet General] Nitun89:
help to recover my dead tablet

hey, i got new tablet but my old one not turning on. its got killed from nvidia. how can make it alive again. i never done root before on my tablet.

---------- Post added at 07:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:28 PM ----------

could u make a video on it plz.
[Shield Tablet General] topcat36:
Not even a video helps you now. Your tablet is paperweight. You had to follow this procedure BEFORE your tablet was deactivated.

Sent from my old SHIELD Tablet.
[Shield Tablet General] jigar7:
I have removed the tegraOTA from my old tablet. The settings tab doesnt show Software Update/upgrade anymore :D

Can anyone tell me if it would be wise to do the same procedure on the replacement tablet as well. Or should I leave it be after unlocking and rooting it.

I haven't yet booted my new tablet ever since I got it in mail over the last weekend.
[Shield Tablet General] Frankenscript:
This thread is full of opinions on the matter, but my view is I don't want ANYONE to be able to force my tablet to take an update/upgrade, so I have removed TegraOTA from my new tablet. My old one is wiped / boxed up and goes to the collection center later this week.

Marc
[Shield Tablet General] pinchez:
Guys, is it safe to update Nvidia Hub and Dabbler through the play store without the Killswitch being sneaked back in?
[Shield Tablet General] topcat36:
Update without worries. System apps cannot be restored unless you reflash the firmware.

Sent from my old SHIELD Tablet.
[Shield Tablet General] Konstrictus:
Yeah, no need to reset...

Without TegraOTA your tablet will not receive system updates through OTA... But you'll be able to update manually (using a custom recovery to flash the update file). Just be aware that after any system update you'll have to delete TegraOTA again.

Everything else should work normally (apps updates are not affected).
[Shield Tablet General] giobbe314:
my new tablet is coming.

summarized ... to save the old tablet from kill switch.

Have I to format the tablet and install a rom alternative?
[Shield Tablet General] d-style:
:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
[Shield Tablet General] topcat36:
My thought exactly !

Sent from my old SHIELD Tablet.
[Shield Tablet General] RainerJ:
factory settings

Hi,

I rooted the old one (unsing Kingroot), flashed the nomoreota.zip (using CWM). --> /system/app/tegraOTA is gone now. - Thanks a lot so far!

Now to the question:

I intend to use this one for another user and need a blank one therefore.

Is it safe now to perform a "restore factory setting" to wipe all data or will TegraOTA re-appear in this case?

Thanks for letting me know in advance!
[Shield Tablet General] topcat36:
Is safe. Factory settings clears the internal memory. The system partition remains untouched.

Sent from my old SHIELD Tablet.
[Shield Tablet General] pinchez:
Was going to ask the same question so thanks for that :good:

So if I download future OTA updates is it a case of installing the OTA update then immediately while still in TWRP installing the nomoreota.zip?

Is there any chance NVidia could put the Killswitch inside the actual OTA updates?

Thanks for your help :)
[Shield Tablet General] RainerJ:
As soon as my son has confirmed all his game data is on his new one, I'll try it like this.

Thanks!:)
[Shield Tablet General] topcat36:
I wouldn't update OTAs immediately after release, just to be sure.

Sent from my old SHIELD Tablet.
[Shield Tablet General] bamtan2:
I had a tablet that was off since all this happened, so as a precaution I wanted to take care of this. I did Volume down + power, fastboot oem unlock, fastboot flash recovery twrp-2.8.7.1-shieldtablet.img, and within twrp I deleted the tegraota from /system.

My problem: TWRP says "unable to mount /data". What does that mean? Is this part of the bricking? Did something unrelated happen and it needs to be manually fixed via mke2fs -T ext4 /dev/block/whatever? Is it a TWRP bug?

Edit: Very weird. I did "fastboot -w" and it seems to have cleared up that problem by recreating the file systems. The testing continues...
[Shield Tablet General] P00r:
Nah, simply read post number one and read it again, then after reading it a third time simply follow the instruction

If you wonder why you need to read them three time it simply because reading it the first time didn't "stick" so hopefully three time will be enough!

installing a rom alternative is not what post one is about...
[Shield Tablet General] triggerftu:
it's funny you should say this "The story might be slightly different if your recovery doesn't enforce signature verification (such as TWRP and CWM by default)." because i had installed TWRP onto my tablet and it still downloaded and installed the st-yy update and ran via twrp. it kinda scared me now looking to use apx mode to install everything again. (use to do this all the time with other nvidia tablets. will let you know if successful)
[Shield Tablet General] topcat36:
I doubt someone here said that putting a custom recovery would protect the tablet from the killswitch. Maybe removing it completely would mess the updating, but is not the solution discussed here.

The recovery is a means to the solution (flashing nomoreota.zip, rooting, etc) not the actual solution.

Hope you manage installing through APX all firmware and share with us your results because we all "killed" tablet owners here are looking forward having out tablets alive again.

Sent from my old SHIELD Tablet.
[Shield Tablet General] TobiGaara:
apologies if this is a repeated question but i was getting very confused from all the posts and threads that i read,

so basically atm i have a custom rom on both the old and new tablet,

i wanted to have one of them back on stock so i can use the nvidia apps (like the handwriting app and shield controller etc)

would it be better to flash it to the old / new one?

and by doing that (and flashing the nomoreota.zip)

would i still be at risk of the killswitch??

much thanks

Tobi

(if theres a custom rom that i can use with the nvidia apps still running please leme know)
[Shield Tablet General] topcat36:
100% safe to flash to the new one.

The old one, flash the latest OTA but keep it off internet until you are sure TegraOTA.apk is gone (update option disappears from About tablet area). Remove it by nomoreota.zip in a custom recovery.

If your old tablet s/n is already having the killswitch waiting (check Bogdacutu-s page) be extra careful about the internet connection (remove sim card/shut your WiFi ap down) while TegraOTA is (or u are not sure if is not) active.

Sent from my old SHIELD Tablet.