Hello,
I have removed one of the pre-installed apps from a Sharp Docomo SH-12C (Android 2.3.3). It is nothing vital, and does not affect system performance - an E-book reader app: jp.co.sharp.exapps.
First I updated the app, then integrated the update in /system/app - but it would crash on reboot, so I decided to get rid of it.
Unistalling didn't seem to wipe all data. I tried reinstalling but got a "Failed" message. Then I manually deleted the .apk and the .odex from /system/app.
The app name (jp.co.sharp.exapps), however, would still appear in the list of installed apps when viewed from Settings > Manage Applications. Eventually, I managed to "completely" remove it using ES File Manager's app manager.
But now I notice that some app info still exists in /data/system/packages.xml:
I tried manually editing these off the file but the file gets restored on reboot.
I have deleted the folder and its contents from /data/data.
How does this info get written to packages.xml? Can I find the source and delete the app info from there?
I suspect that Sharp have implemented some extra security mechanism to their phones so that people can't simply freeze or delete system apps but have no idea what it might be. For example, if you freeze even one built-in app, and do a factory reset, the phone will go into a boot loop. I believe the same happens if you uninstall a system/app.
Ideas appreciated!
I have removed one of the pre-installed apps from a Sharp Docomo SH-12C (Android 2.3.3). It is nothing vital, and does not affect system performance - an E-book reader app: jp.co.sharp.exapps.
First I updated the app, then integrated the update in /system/app - but it would crash on reboot, so I decided to get rid of it.
Unistalling didn't seem to wipe all data. I tried reinstalling but got a "Failed" message. Then I manually deleted the .apk and the .odex from /system/app.
The app name (jp.co.sharp.exapps), however, would still appear in the list of installed apps when viewed from Settings > Manage Applications. Eventually, I managed to "completely" remove it using ES File Manager's app manager.
But now I notice that some app info still exists in /data/system/packages.xml:
Code:
<updated-package name="jp.co.sharp.exapps" codePath="/system/app/EBook.apk" ft="14011d59a10" it="14011d59a10" ut="14011d59a10" version="2500" nativeLibraryPath="/data/data/jp.co.sharp.exapps/lib" userId="10062">
<perms />
</updated-package>
.....
<shared-user name="jp.co.sharp.exapps" userId="10062">
<perms />
</shared-user>I have deleted the folder and its contents from /data/data.
How does this info get written to packages.xml? Can I find the source and delete the app info from there?
I suspect that Sharp have implemented some extra security mechanism to their phones so that people can't simply freeze or delete system apps but have no idea what it might be. For example, if you freeze even one built-in app, and do a factory reset, the phone will go into a boot loop. I believe the same happens if you uninstall a system/app.
Ideas appreciated!