In the other thread I thought you were telling me to install a stock recovery. I don't want to install a custom rom right now unless it can be done without wiping my data, is there any other way?
what other thread? i prolly was telling you to install a stock recovery,as its my opinion that its the best way to deal with OTAs.
however,you may have misunderstood the reasons.
when your running a stock rom,you will recieve notifications when OTAs are available. in some cases,the OTAs will apply themselves wether youve agreed to them or not
there are basically 3 ways(that i know of) to deal with this:
1)install a rom. even a stock rooted rom should have had the files that trigger an OTA removed. this will wipe your data(you can try to "dirty flash" or "update" by flashing the rom overtop of your stock one with no factory reset/data wipe but that is
NOT the reccomended method,and more often than not causes prollems). if you backup all your user apps with titanium backup,re-set up on a fresh new rom install is fairly painless,plus making a nandroid backup prior to flashing allows you to go back to your current setup if you get too fustrated or change your mind about the new rom.
2) there is a file that lives in system/etc/security that you can rename with root explorer or the equivalent. this will cause the OTA to not install. however,the phone will periodically relaize there is an OTA,download it,and the install will fail. a minor PITA but it will keep you from accidentally installing OTAs wile running a custom recovery. directions and description in post #34
here
3)install the stock recoveries and
let the OTAs install. IMO this is better ,as the OTAs do bring benefits and improvements that you may not ever get with options 1 or 2. it does require you to have rooted with revolutionary,or be running shadowmites permanent hboot,if you rooted old school. that way your s-off hboot is not overwritten during an OTA.
number 3 technically will lose your root after the ota is applied. however this is not a big deal. all you need to do,after every OTA is applied is the following:
-install a custom recovery(like clockwork)
-relfash the superuser .zip file(like when you originally rooted with revolutionary)
-reinstall your stock recovery in preparation for the next OTA.
hopefully that clears up some things for you