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Help I'm not getting newer update than 2.3.3!?

Templar112

Lurker
Dec 12, 2011
9
3
I'm trying to use Kies to update my Galaxy S but it's saying I got the latest, last time Kies gave me an update it was 2.3.3. I sent samsung an e-mail and they just said I should be able to update to 2.3.5 now either through Kies or update on the phone itself - but it's not giving my any update!

What can I do? Samsungs crappy support system won't let me reply but only create a new support issue which will take forever to answer and I'll probably just get same useless answer.

I have not done anything out of the ordinary to the phone. It has not been to a workshop or repair. I think I did a hard reset to get 2.3.3 working properly after Kies update a long time ago, but that's it.

Please advise.
 
I ended up taking matters into my own hands learning all about Odin3 and the different files included in firmware releases and got a much better grasp on which one to pick and from where. I now got 2.3.6 successfully installed using the latest official open europe build from the XDA forums.

Uninstalled Kies altogether.
 
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I wrote a reference article to myself about how I did it, it's pretty easy when you just know what to do. Maybe it can help some of you out:

Android Update for Galaxy S I9000
A couple of examples of reasons for my reluctance:
...spent a few hours learning how to do it myself...
and the linked thread at XDA being a mere 51 pages long!

Thanks though. I guess I'll end up doing it this way eventually.

Why did you choose OXA instead of SER, AUT, etc.? There's just so much unexplained stuff out there.

What is PIT? On the XDA site there are no fewer than four separate lists of Jargon and PIT doesn't appear in any or them. Neither does XDA. :rolleyes:

Technical Terms and Jargon
FAQ - XDA-Developers

Acronyms
Acronyms - XDA-Developers

Glossary
Glossary - XDA-Developers

Jargon list
Jargon list - XDA-Developers
 
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That's why I wrote the article, so I wouldn't spend hours next time doing it :) And only the first page on the posted XDA thread link is relevant.

PIT is Partition Information Table, only used for re-partitioning your phone, which isn't necessary from 2.3.3 to 2.3.6.

XDA is just an acronym for Phone and PDA I think.

I picked OXA because it's the CSC file that has the most country/carrier customizations like APN settings etc in Europe. It's not really important which CSC you pick, as long as your phone is not locked to a specific network which you can check with *#7465625#.

I was really looking for XB, since I'm from Norway, but it only means I had to set up the MMS and Internet APN afterwards myself which only took 1 min extra to do.
 
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Not everyone is comfortable flashing their devices. My phone is insured, surely this'll void it?

Thanks, so "officially Samsung" my Galaxy S is at the end of its upgrade-able life? 2.3.3 is the last version upgrade I'll ever get through Kies?

The thing that I don't understand, in one of Google's recent conferences, they said every Android device released will receive TWO firmware upgrades before they stop. Granted, the SGS has upgraded from Eclair, to Froyo and to Gingerbread, but WHY can't we receive the rest of 'Gingerbread'? Android 2.3.3 is flawed in so many ways and I'm slightly disappointed I'm forced to manipulate my device for it to work to an acceptable level...
 
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Not everyone is comfortable flashing their devices. My phone is insured, surely this'll void it?



The thing that I don't understand, in one of Google's recent conferences, they said every Android device released will receive TWO firmware upgrades before they stop. Granted, the SGS has upgraded from Eclair, to Froyo and to Gingerbread, but WHY can't we receive the rest of 'Gingerbread'? Android 2.3.3 is flawed in so many ways and I'm slightly disappointed I'm forced to manipulate my device for it to work to an acceptable level...
I agree, the bugs in 2.3.3 mean the device seems "unfinished" to me. I am disappointed in Samsung over this, to be honest.
 
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I've been in contact with Samsung 3 times now, on phone as well. Just to try get a better picture of the official upgrades that should be available through Kies for the SGS I9000. I began by sending 2 separate mails - since you can't reply on answers.

Support correspondence #1 (mail)
First time I asked in general if 2.3.5 was supposed to be available through Kies - yes it should they said, unless I had invalid software installed from e.g. workshop.

Support correspondence #2 (mail)
Second time I asked specifically if 2.3.3 was the last version to be available for the I9000 (based on RyanLupin's statement in this thread) - and it was true, 2.3.3 is the last one to be released for the I9000 through Kies.

Support correspondence #1 (PHONE)
Third time was through the phone, I was tired of short and rather meaningless replies on e-mail. I asked over the phone if I9000 was only going to receive 2.3.3 and no higher version through Kies - she replied that she was not sure, and was going to check with someone else and put me on hold ... When she got back she said:

"If Kies does not give you a higher version, it's not meant to be upgraded anymore. Other than that we can't really tell you, because it depends on the network provider, exact model, and other things."

So I asked her: "What exactly do you mean? What should I look for specifically?"

She replied: "All we know is that if you don't get a newer version through Kies, you're not supposed to".

Summary
I was left speechless and overwhelmed by the superior level of support I just had received, so I thanked her for her time and said good bye. Of course this COULD have been 1 specific bad case of support buuuut... It's still rather crap and at least they could have written something official about it or explained it better. :eek:

One specific thing I don't understand yet is, why do official firmwares even exist over at the XDA forums if they don't publish them through Kies to everyone. The last version worked on my phone in my country, so they could have released it. And my phone has never been locked to any network provider, so that's no excuse either.
 
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Do other Android handset makers (HTC etc...) treat customers this way too? My next phone may not be a Samsung at this rate.

"Treat customers" customers this way? Man phones get older and every company will eventually not support an older device, yes galaxy s is considered old now. There are a few STOCK updates you can flash on easily with Odin
 
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