Android Alliance

First and foremost, thank you N7A for your epically heroic efforts to rescue our beloved endangered species.

My ATT&T N7 is in a very dire predicament...because of a unique situation. I am praying you might be able to offer some guidance asap.

I THINK I MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE SHIELD v5.8 TO SAVE MY N7...in spite of the big red warning notice...but I seek your opinion first.

Here are the facts of my unique situation.

I obtained my replacement ATT N7 on 9/23/17 BEFORE the second recall. THAT DAY I immediately installed PACKAGE DISABLER PRO (Samsung).

I am an aggressive debloater...thus I disabled AT&T Software Update ( com.ws.dm ) too. That debloat session probably blocked the 60% Charge Update since my N7 didn't get hit with it. But I am not sure if my N7 is protected from the Doomsday Update of 1-6-17.

PACKAGE DISABLER PRO, even that earlier version, didn't list all packages that should be disabled, especially not all of the KNOX junk. ALSO, my PACKAGE DISABLER PRO was updated to the latest version released on 11-23-16....which killed the app's effectiveness to save N7s (correct?). However, the ATT Software Update package still shows as disabled in the app.

On 1-5-16, I turned off mobile data, WiFi, and powered off my N7. (Also, I joined N7A that day.) It has remained off since then. I 'shared' my hubby's N4 since then. But he is leaving town tomorrow for business...taking his N4....leaving me phone-less. There is my urgency.

BASED UPON MY SCENARIO DESCRIBED ABOVE, do you think installing Shield v5.8 will work now? In spite of your RED warning?

IF YOU DON'T THINK INSTALLING V5.8 IS A GOOD IDEA, I have a critical question regarding your alternate block method using Solid Explorer.

I already have Solid Explorer CLASSIC (paid version) installed on my phone. BUT I noticed your article's method employs Solid Explorer FILE MANAGER...which is the new version with the more modern GUI. *** DO YOU KNOW IF SOLID EXPLORER CLASSIC WILL WORK FOR YOUR 'Block Note7 Update' METHOD?

I apologize for the hassle of my 11th Hour rescue.
I thank you very much for your time and advice.

Very best wishes, Tina

The shield won't work BC your phone signature is a Note7. I dunno if your version of solid explorer has access to root folder. You can try and see but for best results use the apk from our site.

@Catwoman -- THANKS for your swift reply. Many tears to learn I can't use Shield v5-8 now. AND HERE IS A STRANGE TWIST.

I tried the Solid Explorer method. AND I had a potentially weird result.

Solid Explorer CLASSIC does allow access to the ROOT folder BY DEFAULT. That is, I didn't have to go into settings to enable access to the Root folder.

I used SEC's Package Installer to open SOAGent.apk. THEN I got a message screen that said "SOFTWARE UPDATE: Do you want to install an update to this built-in application? Yout existing data will not be lost. It does not require any special access." Followed by buttons for 'Cancel' & 'Install'. I clicked Install. Next screen said: "Software Update: App Installed"

Was the above-described result supposed to happen? Did the Solid Explorer method work for me?

NOW since my N7 is an ATT model, should I do the N7 Update Blocker zip now?

LASTLY, please look for my next post that offers a potentially better method than that in the article 'How to Block Note7 Update [Updated 1.16.2017]'. I am not sure where on the forum to post it. But here is a hint -- Debloater by Gatesjunior at XDA Developers. It was what I used to debloat Notes before Package Disablers became available.

THANK YOU AGAIN, Tina

Yes that's supposed to happen. Basically you're installing the update package to prevent the update from being pushed through later. The update will fail.