Firmware Update Forced autoupdates even on older firmware?

3QVKwyNT9hR849t7 · 01-08-2020, 09:45 PM

Today I connected my PW4 5.11.2 with the update.bin.tmp.partial folder to the wifi(usually I am in permanent airplane mode), did my usual round of package updates, used "Sync your Kindle", rebooted the kindle and to my surprise I was now running 5.12.3.

I had the update blocking folder since I bought the reader on release. I do not believe I managed to delete the folder on accident. Maybe flashing 5.11.x removes the blocking folder? Unsure.

So it seems that Amazon's automatic updates might now be even more aggressive even to those running older firmware.

Thanks to the fact that I kept my packages up to date, the jailbreak has survived, but I am still annoyed and confused as to how this happened.

Junket · 01-09-2020, 12:41 AM

That's Amazon for you. At least three or four people have noted that 5.11.x upgraded with update.bin.tmp.partial in place. And 5.12.x is not your friend.

This is of course frustrating but the blocking folder was never a guarantee that fw would never be upgraded. It worked for quite a while but there has been discussion at length that Amazon did have ways of forcing upgrades if they wanted to be more aggressive so it was unlikely to last forever. Which we can now confirm.

There are various ways to try to prevent upgrades. Airplane mode is by far the best. But there are a lot of other possible approaches and it's perhaps best to employ multiple obstacles to unwanted upgrades.

It's good that you kept the jb packages up to date. You may also find this post useful.

3QVKwyNT9hR849t7 · 01-09-2020, 05:18 AM

>At least three or four people have noted that 5.11.x upgraded with update.bin.tmp.partial in place.

Well that's just great, shame I didn't notice this before.

>there are lots of other approaches and it's perhaps best to employ multiple obstacles to unwanted upgrades.

Guess I'll firewall it off next time I'll need to connect it to the internet.

>You may also find this post useful.

Thanks for the link, I already have working JB but it's good to know there may be an option even if I do eventually screw up bad enough to lose it.

JimmyR · 01-09-2020, 05:28 AM

The 5.11.x series requires /var/local/system/SKIP_UPDATE_CHECK to be present. The OTA blocker included with the KUAL helper extension will put that empty file in place. The folder block doesn't work on 5.11.x. Neither method works on 5.12.x.

01-08-2020, 09:45 PM	#1
3QVKwyNT9hR849t7 Connoisseur Posts: 56 Karma: 4000 Join Date: Mar 2018 Device: PW4 32GB (G000 T607) 5.12.3	Forced autoupdates even on older firmware? Today I connected my PW4 5.11.2 with the update.bin.tmp.partial folder to the wifi(usually I am in permanent airplane mode), did my usual round of package updates, used "Sync your Kindle", rebooted the kindle and to my surprise I was now running 5.12.3. I had the update blocking folder since I bought the reader on release. I do not believe I managed to delete the folder on accident. Maybe flashing 5.11.x removes the blocking folder? Unsure. So it seems that Amazon's automatic updates might now be even more aggressive even to those running older firmware. Thanks to the fact that I kept my packages up to date, the jailbreak has survived, but I am still annoyed and confused as to how this happened. Last edited by 3QVKwyNT9hR849t7; 01-08-2020 at 09:58 PM.

01-09-2020, 12:41 AM	#2
Junket Nil adsuetudine maius Posts: 278 Karma: 500000 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: US Device: PW4	That's Amazon for you. At least three or four people have noted that 5.11.x upgraded with update.bin.tmp.partial in place. And 5.12.x is not your friend. This is of course frustrating but the blocking folder was never a guarantee that fw would never be upgraded. It worked for quite a while but there has been discussion at length that Amazon did have ways of forcing upgrades if they wanted to be more aggressive so it was unlikely to last forever. Which we can now confirm. There are various ways to try to prevent upgrades. Airplane mode is by far the best. But there are a lot of other possible approaches and it's perhaps best to employ multiple obstacles to unwanted upgrades. It's good that you kept the jb packages up to date. You may also find this post useful. Last edited by Junket; 01-09-2020 at 05:17 AM. Reason: missing quote close

01-09-2020, 05:28 AM	#4
JimmyR ɴₐɴ Posts: 421 Karma: 2507940 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: 37.2N 93.3W Device: KV PW4 PW3 PW2	The 5.11.x series requires /var/local/system/SKIP_UPDATE_CHECK to be present. The OTA blocker included with the KUAL helper extension will put that empty file in place. The folder block doesn't work on 5.11.x. Neither method works on 5.12.x. Last edited by JimmyR; 01-09-2020 at 05:52 AM.

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01-09-2020, 05:18 AM	#3
3QVKwyNT9hR849t7 Connoisseur Posts: 56 Karma: 4000 Join Date: Mar 2018 Device: PW4 32GB (G000 T607) 5.12.3	>At least three or four people have noted that 5.11.x upgraded with update.bin.tmp.partial in place. Well that's just great, shame I didn't notice this before. >there are lots of other approaches and it's perhaps best to employ multiple obstacles to unwanted upgrades. Guess I'll firewall it off next time I'll need to connect it to the internet. >You may also find this post useful. Thanks for the link, I already have working JB but it's good to know there may be an option even if I do eventually screw up bad enough to lose it.

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