How do I keep my Libra 2 on 43.0 firmware?

[fogice]

I'm a new Libra 2 owner. My first day went great, then it auto-updated to 43.1, and I got two lockups and a corrupted database.

I did a factory reset, then found out how to reinstall 43.0. In order to keep it on 43.0, I turned the wifi off, turned the daily sync off, and turned off "check for Kobo firmware updates daily" in the Kobo Utilities plugin in Calibre. Despite all of this, my wifi turned itself back on at some point, and I'm back on 43.1

Please let me know how to keep this reader permanently on 43.0 (or at least until I hear good things about 43.2, whenever that releases). I'm willing to install hacks if necessary. Another factory reset is fine as well, I sideload everything through Calibre.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by fogice

I'm a new Libra 2 owner. My first day went great, then it auto-updated to 43.1, and I got two lockups and a corrupted database.

I did a factory reset, then found out how to reinstall 43.0. In order to keep it on 43.0, I turned the wifi off, turned the daily sync off, and turned off "check for Kobo firmware updates daily" in the Kobo Utilities plugin in Calibre. Despite all of this, my wifi turned itself back on at some point, and I'm back on 43.1

Please let me know how to keep this reader permanently on 43.0 (or at least until I hear good things about 43.2, whenever that releases). I'm willing to install hacks if necessary. Another factory reset is fine as well, I sideload everything through Calibre.

Install 4.30 manually. You can get 4.30 from https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html

Once you've installed it, go the the Kobo Developers forum and find the patches thread for 4.30. Then read that and read this
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...78#post4204678 to read about which patch you need to apply to stop newer firmware from downloading and being installed when you sync or use Pocket.

[fogice]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Once you've installed it, go the the Kobo Developers forum and find the patches thread for 4.30.

Cool, thanks! So for reference for anyone else reading this in the future, the 4.30 patches thread is at
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=342717
and the quote from the other linked thread is

Originally Posted by JSWolf

In the file libnickel.so.1.0.0.yaml you want to change no to yes for...

Block WiFi firmware upgrade:
  - Enabled: no

You also need to download the firmware 4.30 ZIP file.
https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html

[jackie_w]

@fogice,

You may have fallen foul of the Bluetooth gotcha. If Wi-fi is off in Settings and you then select the 'Bluetooth connection' menu item in Settings, Wi-fi will automatically be switched on again, even if you exit the Bluetooth pop-up without switching Bluetooth to ON.

Personally I find the best way to ensure Wi-Fi will never be on is to make sure our Home router only allows Wi-fi to a specific list of named MAC addresses and none of my Kobos are on that list.

[fogice]

I think I was successful. When I want to update, do I need to undo anything, or will the next official firmware simply blow away the patches? I saw some notes in the comments about the riskiness of this specific patch.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by fogice

I think I was successful. When I want to update, do I need to undo anything, or will the next official firmware simply blow away the patches? I saw some notes in the comments about the riskiness of this specific patch.

Yes there is a warning, but others are using it without a problem. It just means when a new firmware is released and you want to update, you'll have to do so manually.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

@fogice,

You may have fallen foul of the Bluetooth gotcha. If Wi-fi is off in Settings and you then select the 'Bluetooth connection' menu item in Settings, Wi-fi will automatically be switched on again, even if you exit the Bluetooth pop-up without switching Bluetooth to ON.

Personally I find the best way to ensure Wi-Fi will never be on is to make sure our Home router only allows Wi-fi to a specific list of named MAC addresses and none of my Kobos are on that list.

Why not just delete the known networks on the device? None of the background syncs will do anything if there is no known network. And starting a manual sync will prompt to connect.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Why not just delete the known networks on the device? None of the background syncs will do anything if there is no known network. And starting a manual sync will prompt to connect.

None of my Kobos have any known networks. Or perhaps you are advising that this would be the simplest way to avoid unwanted firmware upgrades for most users? I've never used/needed either of the upgrade blocker kobopatches myself.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

None of my Kobos have any known networks. Or perhaps you are advising that this would be the simplest way to avoid unwanted firmware upgrades for most users? I've never used/needed either of the upgrade blocker kobopatches myself.

Yes, if there are no known networks, there is no way for the device to connect if WiFi gets turned on. Which means the a firmware update cannot be downloaded. But, it also means that books can't be synced.

[rashkae]

Sideload and install the 4.30 firmware. Replace your .Kobo/KoboReader.sqlite file with the one attached, (Unzip the file first.). Eject the Kobo and power off / Reboot. No regsitration, no forced updates, sideload to your heart's content. I suggest also making a backup copy of the dictionaries in your .kobo/dict folder.

Edit: I was mistaken... kind of... If connected to Wifi, the Kobo will still try to download the update on Sync. So you're back to forgetting the wifi networks regardless. But if starting from a fresh factory reset, this method will still get you there without having to do an upgrade/downgrade.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rashkae

Sideload and install the 4.30 firmware. Replace your .Kobo/KoboReader.sqlite file with the one attached, (Unzip the file first.). Eject the Kobo and power off / Reboot. No regsitration, no forced updates, sideload to your heart's content. I suggest also making a backup copy of the dictionaries in your .kobo/dict folder.

Edit: I was mistaken... kind of... If connected to Wifi, the Kobo will still try to download the update on Sync. So you're back to forgetting the wifi networks regardless. But if starting from a fresh factory reset, this method will still get you there without having to do an upgrade/downgrade.

Do not copy that database to your Kobo. Register your Kobo as normal. After 4.31 is downloaded and installed, you can manually install 4.30 and then have your Kobo forget your WiFi SSID/PW. That's the best solution other then installing some random database that means you won't be properly setup.

[rashkae]

Because being 'poperly' set up is working out so well. pfft.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rashkae

Because being 'poperly' set up is working out so well. pfft.

For those on MR, they can install the patch to no download new firmware. I see no reason that cannot be installed instead of a database with a fake registration. It means that when a new firmware that works properly is released, the data is screwed because to sign out and then register, you lose everything in the database. Plus there is no guarantee that a new firmware won't wipe the database anyway due to the fake registration. It's happened multiple times before.

[fogice]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Why not just delete the known networks on the device? None of the background syncs will do anything if there is no known network. And starting a manual sync will prompt to connect.

I couldn’t find a way to delete the network without being connected to that network, and I feared connecting would download the update again. I’ve installed the patch to prevent an update instead.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by fogice

I couldn’t find a way to delete the network without being connected to that network, and I feared connecting would download the update again. I’ve installed the patch to prevent an update instead.

You are good to go. All that means is that when the next firmware is released, you have to manually install. But that's trivial.