Database Info

Extracting APK's from original branded firmware

Hi All,
I'm still looking for a way to either decrypt or extract an apk from an SEUS signed/encrypted firmware.
I've tried the Sin_Reconstructor and I've tried replacing the JAR file in plugins with the one provided, but this still seems to simply download the same encrypted files it always has.
I tried to use the other plugin that was supposed to do a dump such as dump0.zip and dump1.zip however this didn't work either.
I'm using SEUS and not Pc Companion to try and get this all done.
Is there a guide anywhere out there on the net for decrypting seus firmwares. I've tried and tried and just can't seem to work out how its done.
I want to learn as much as possible, and once I've done the learning I'd love to give back everything I learn, but without understanding the basics it just feels I'm dead in the water.
Any help from anyone would be greatly apreciated.

Just out of curiousity why do you want to extract it from a signed firmware? From what I gather the decrypted roms are no different just without branding. As well I think actually decrypting rom's is for people with some solid experience in the field. If you want to get your feet wet with extracting and modifying apk's go here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=714288 . I am completely new to programming as well and this is what I have learned so far. Good luck and learning android is a blast!
BTW the link only really covers visual mods. For learning android coding this is a great place to start: http://developer.android.com/index.html

the Android's SDK not contain an Android device emulator ?
If yes, you can mount the Fw on this VM and extract the APK to an sdcard emulated (HD) ...
The System's APK is in /system/app
paid APK : /data/app

Thol said:
the Android's SDK not contain an Android device emulator ?
If yes, you can mount the Fw on this VM and extract the APK to an sdcard emulated (HD) ...
The System's APK is in /system/app
paid APK : /data/app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you can mount SEUS encrypted firmware on the VM now? When did that start?

[Q] File Management and Locations

I've searched the forum on this, and unless I'm using the wrong key terms (very possible) I havent found any info contributing to this.
When downloading an app from the Android Market/Amazon Market, where exactly does the *.apk file get saved to? I like to have all my apk's in one area when flashing a new ROM, so I can just install them one after another (apps, widgets, live wallpaper, etc...)
Also, can anyone provide me with any info (preferably some link) in regards to Android's file management system, ie discussing in detail what folders hold what information and what that information pertains to?
One other question, what exactly is the difference between a filepath like:
mnt/sdcard & /sdcard in regards to opening/saving a file to/from those locations??
Apologize for the multiple questions, just thought Id save posts in doing so, and sorry if the information this is readily somewhere in the forum.
Thanks for any info on this!
EDIT: So I stumbled on the Android Developer's Site (feeling like a dumba$$)
http://developer.android.com/index.html
But I'm still unable to find an area pertaining to what I'm exactly looking for (the Directory Structure with explanation for GTablet Froyo) Am I missing something??

Dueces99,
Here is a start:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=12439780&highlight=Memory#post12439780
If you are rooted, use ES File Manager or Root Explorer or the like
to open up the file system.
Go to /sdcard and you will see the file system. Most of the file managers
will let you toggle to / and you can see the file system from the root side.
Literally, that's the basis and if you're a lot more knowledgeable than me
you can work down from there to the various sub-folders relating to the
OS functions.
Hope this helps get you started to where you want to go.
IMO, I don't ever get into the file system like I have done with Unix or Linux
in the past. Most of what I have needed to do under Android I just do using
one of the file managers like free Root Explorer.
Rev
P. S. -- When you hook the tablet to your PC and look at the "G:"
drive or however else it shows up in Explorer -- you are looking at /sdcard.

I understand what you are saying, and I am already familiar (atleast Id like to think so) with the main directories (sdcard, sdcard2, etc..) of the file structure, and what info. they hold. My tab is already rooted, and I have Root Explorer, ES FileExplorer, and Wifi File Explorer installed.
What I am looking for is a detailed description of what each folder (default Android structure) is for, and what information is stored in them.
For Example:
/acct: This folder holds...
/data: ...
/data/data: ...
/sdcard: ...
/mnt/sdcard: ...
Guess you could call it a Definition/Guide for the entire Android Directory Structure/Format?
Like in my initial post, where is the default location that downloaded apk's from the market go?
Sorry if my post was misleading, I'm just trying to gain a better understanding of the Directory structure just so I can better navigate through the various file managers and more efficiently find what I am looking for.
I would think the Android Developer's Site would have exactly what I'm looking for, but I haven't been able to find it. Thanks for your input though!

Dueces99,
I hope you find it.
I have made the statement before and I'll stand behind it, "The hallmark of Android as an operating system is its bad documentation."
Good luck!
Rev

[Q] Chainfire 3D: Can i extract files from apk and install the Gl drivers manually

Hello androidists.
Actually i'm using a Samsung H1 ported at Android through H1Droid project and it works almost good despite some little thing to improve.
It works on a onenand support and it has the system folder not writable so i can't install Chainfire 3d normally
I thought there should be a way to extract the chainfidre 3d files manually and put in in my factory.cramfs , then update some strings on some system file that at the moment i don't know.
Can someone more expert than me describe this procedure step by step describing exact folder and file to modify in order to install chainfire manually?

I did it in a different way installing chainfire in the SDCARD version of my android which has system folder re-writable, thanks anyway all.
The topic can be closed.

[Q] How To Build Gapps Files using UpdatezipCreator

Hi all! Have been having a play with UpdatezipCreator for windows. Put all of the .apk files into a folder called:
“System”
As suggested in the UpdatezipCreator wiki. However, when I run the gapps file in clockwork Mod, it completely ignores what I have done. Also, for some reason, it places all files into a directory, one level down and the directory is called whatever I have named the .zip. is this normal or, am I missing some vital step. Would like to get this working as I would like to add missing accessibility components to the gapps file that I am using in order to get ICS talking out of the box with my Sony Xperia Pro. Am also interested in getting this going so that I can assist other visually impaired users with this. Finally, am open to creating gapps files with other methods in Windows. Thanks in advance for all help with this. It’s really appreciated!

Application FileSystem spy

Greetings !
I want to know if there is a way I could determine if particular app have changed/modified/acess files on FS.
I know about disasm the apk and search for the assets, but a lot apps changing the files, specially the apps who needs su access.
I need to find out how can I determine whitch files has been modified by specific application during install/run procedure.
LogCat doesn't provide much of it.
I know that this is possible on win32 systems to track app/service FS activity, but need to know if this is possible under Android ?
Don't want to make nandroid backups and check for diff's
Thx in advance.