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Pre-Planning Steps, things you should do before major OTA updates.

SamsungVibrant

Android Expert
Jul 23, 2010
1,613
165
Thought it would be useful to have a thread about Pre-planning for major OTA updates. Since we are on the cusp of a major(or some would argue, not so major) OTA update, I thought pre-planning and getting your device prepared would be a good idea.

I just have a couple suggestions.

First, make sure your phone has a full charge when you do your update. Or make sure it is plugged in. Never apply any update on your phone, if the battery is low. If the battery dies during the update process, there could be a possibility of bricking your phone.

Next, have patience during the update. Sometimes updates can take hours, sometimes the phone appears to be frozen, stuck on the same screen, doing nothing. Don't panic, stay calm, and allow the update to finish. If you panic and pull the battery out, trying to reboot your phone, you may again possibly brick your phone.

Next suggestion, I personally like to apply updates, only on factory reset phones, it just gives me piece of mind that a 3rd party app will not be conflicting with the update process. Once the update is available, I will be doing a factory reset on my phone, then applying the update. This way if something goes haywire, I will know a 3rd party app wasn't to blame.

If anyone can provide any other suggestions that would be awesome.

Maybe someone can provide a suggestion on how to backup all your programs, for those of us who want to do factory resets prior to updating. For me, Android Market has a tendency to forget what programs I had downloaded.

I'd also love to hear how to completely backup your current firmware. If you want to downgrade, and go back to your old firmware, how would you do this, and how would you backup your current firmware?

Oh one more thing I forgot. Does anyone know how to download and extract the update as a backup copy. This will be handy for those who want a backup of the update, or for those who do not want to apply the update just yet. Also, for those of our friends who are using an At&t Sim card, most likely will not receive the update. It would be beneficial to them, if one of us can extract the download, and provide it to them to manually update their phone. If anyone is an expert at extracting this update, backing it up for a later time manual update, please let us know the details!

Thank You.


*OTA = Over The Air
*MR = Maintenance Release
 
To do a full backup of your current kernel, you can either make a ROM backup using ROM Manager or if you want -only- the kernel, you can download the 2.1 OS from your carrier's website.

To download a standalone installer for the update, for backup purposes or other, you can download it from your carrier's website when the OTA is available.

Just an FYI: 2.2 is not a major update (technically speaking...2.1 to 2.2 is minor), so we shouldn't notice a whole lot of issues with 3rd party incompatibility. It's similar to a service pack for Windows. The biggest thing I can think of considering the new kernel is if 3'rd party apps don't know how to handle the option to install on SD card or your app partition, but knowing how apps are developed and that most apps store everything inside their own apk's, it shouldn't be an issue.
 
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To do a full backup of your current kernel, you can either make a ROM backup using ROM Manager or if you want -only- the kernel, you can download the 2.1 OS from your carrier's website.

To download a standalone installer for the update, for backup purposes or other, you can download it from your carrier's website when the OTA is available.

Just an FYI: 2.2 is not a major update (technically speaking...2.1 to 2.2 is minor), so we shouldn't notice a whole lot of issues with 3rd party incompatibility. It's similar to a service pack for Windows. The biggest thing I can think of considering the new kernel is if 3'rd party apps don't know how to handle the option to install on SD card or your app partition, but knowing how apps are developed and that most apps store everything inside their own apk's, it shouldn't be an issue.

Hey, I know you just came over to android from blackberry, as far as the 2.1 OS download from T-Mobile you mentioned, I think you are confusing that with Blackberry. Yes, for Blackberry customers, you can easily get all the downloads from T-mobile.com, but as far as I know, Android downloads are not handled the same way. T-Mobile does not post the Android OS on their website, the way they do with Blackberry. I could always be wrong though.

Also, as far as 2.1 to 2.2 not being a major update, I beg to differ. I wont pretend to know a lot about how operating systems work, but from what i've read, going to 2.2 is a pretty major update, in fact so major that Samsung was supposedly having problems with some compiler working correctly with the hummingbird. Anyways, I don't think the purpose of the thread was to get stuck on terminology.

ps...I did an edit above just for you :)
 
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Hey, I know you just came over to android from blackberry, as far as the 2.1 OS download from T-Mobile you mentioned, I think you are confusing that with Blackberry. Yes, for Blackberry customers, you can easily get all the downloads from T-mobile.com, but as far as I know, Android downloads are not handled the same way. T-Mobile does not post the Android OS on their website, the way they do with Blackberry. I could always be wrong though.

Also, as far as 2.1 to 2.2 not being a major update, I beg to differ. I wont pretend to know a lot about how operating systems work, but from what i've read, going to 2.2 is a pretty major update, in fact so major that Samsung was supposedly having problems with some compiler working correctly with the hummingbird. Anyways, I don't think the purpose of the thread was to get stuck on terminology.

ps...I did an edit above just for you :)

Yeah, you may be right. I'm just going off of what I heard on an AndroidCentral.com podcast about downloading the manual ROM's on carrier sites, but that may not apply to T-Mobile. As far as the update itself, how I know it's not considered a "major" update is because that's the standard for any software development. I think the term "major" is what's being misunderstood here. To the consumer, it may seem pretty major as some really cool things (and a fix or two) is coming. However as a company, 2.1 to 2.2 is minor. 2.1 to 3.0 would be major, as would 2.9 to 3.0. It's just part of the standard version numbering that us software developers go by, and I could see how a non software engineer could think of it completely different from somebody who does this line of work (that goes for any profession-to-consumer relationship).
 
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Samsung, you forgot the quintessential 'Get all excited on rumors about the OTA date and watch your excitement hit the toilet one too many times' step in the Pre Planning for OTA updates LOL

I'll tell you what. If TMo an Samsung finally puts out that bloody update, my phone battery will be charged and ready to go 100%. Now...where are those damn updates?
 
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wait a minute, you are running froyo 2.2 on your MyTouch Slide, straight official from T-Mobile?

Are you sure about that, T-Mobile released Froyo 2.2 for the MyTouch Slide 3G?


Oops...Sorry about that. Been running a 102* fever for the last 2 days. In retrospect, I used a rom (beta) that is based off of 2.2 somehow. I have since put it back to OOTB mode for the lady to use. I flashed so much crap back and forth when I had it I forgot most of what I did while experimenting. Did get an OTA update, but NOT Froyo 2.2.

My bad--need medication to start working :/
 
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As I have owned 2 g1s since release, a click, vibrant, and nexus 1. This is my experience.....
The Battery advice is great advice.
Wipe phone.... sounds like a lot of work, only have done that once for an install by necessity and it was due to a revert. With the running service option and application manager available, you can easily see rouge app causing issues. Most of them causing problems due to compatibility issues just stop working.

Google takes some time to "remember and sync" your previous free apps although that happens even without updating. I am usually impatient and find most of them before I wait for Google to catch up.

I have yet to see an update that has not been extracted and posted on some share site. Most of my G1 and nexus one updates I have processed manually due to a leak of the update.zip file I think cupcake was my only OTA I waited for. Oh ya, a few security patch versions I waited for OTA as well. .

There are currently already 2.1 stock roms available if you prefer to downgrade? Why I wouldn’t know but, hey to each his own...

I stress to you all. If you have done this with Windows or Blackberry or Symbian please leave all of your reservations behind as this is near painless compared to all of those. (I have done both windows and blackberry a lot but not Symbian)
 
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WOW, I thought we were on the cusp of an OTA, but it seems like T-Mobile isn't, but everyone else is.

The Fascinate was the last US carrier to receive the Galaxy S phone, while T-Mobile was the first, and guess what, Fascinate is already getting an OTA MR!

Here is what the Fascinate OTA MR will improve:
http://support.vzw.com/pdf/system_update/samsung_fascinate.pdf


We all know Epic also got their own OTA MR, very shortly after release!

Now, Captivate is already rolling out the GPS Optimization.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/22/samsung-captivate-gets-gps-fix-other-galaxy-s-versions-wait-pat/

T-Mobile, ya still nothing.

Almost 3 months this phone has been out, T-Mobile could have released a MR by now. I'm not talking about the GPS, but a maintenance release to fix minor bugs. It took Sprint and Verizon like 2 weeks to release a MR, T-Mobile? Over 2 months and NOTHING!

I'm getting annoyed, and yes I'm complaining and ranting. Support your damn phones T-Mobile, you should be a leader in Android devices, you delivered the first Android phone in the US, stop falling behind. Verizon is only 15 bucks more, more coverage, more consistent 3G in more areas, and they actually release updates consistently too.

End of rant.
 
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WOW, I thought we were on the cusp of an OTA, but it seems like T-Mobile isn't, but everyone else is.

The Fascinate was the last US carrier to receive the Galaxy S phone, while T-Mobile was the first, and guess what, Fascinate is already getting an OTA MR!

Here is what the Fascinate OTA MR will improve:
http://support.vzw.com/pdf/system_update/samsung_fascinate.pdf


We all know Epic also got their own OTA MR, very shortly after release!

Now, Captivate is already rolling out the GPS Optimization.

T-Mobile, ya still nothing.

Over 2 months this phone was out, T-Mobile could have released a MR by now. I'm not talking about the GPS, but a maintenance release to fix minor bugs. It took Sprint and Verizon like 2 weeks to release a MR, T-Mobile? Over 2 months and NOTHING!

I'm getting annoyed, and yes I'm complaining and ranting. Support your damn phones T-Mobile, you should be a leader in Android devices, you delivered the first Android phone in the US, stop falling behind. Verizon is only 15 bucks more, more coverage, more consistent 3G in more areas, and they actually release updates consistently too.

End of rant.

That was a rant? C'mon, I know you can do better than that! :D
 
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To do a full backup of your current kernel, you can either make a ROM backup using ROM Manager or if you want -only- the kernel, you can download the 2.1 OS from your carrier's website.

To download a standalone installer for the update, for backup purposes or other, you can download it from your carrier's website when the OTA is available.

Just an FYI: 2.2 is not a major update (technically speaking...2.1 to 2.2 is minor), so we shouldn't notice a whole lot of issues with 3rd party incompatibility. It's similar to a service pack for Windows. The biggest thing I can think of considering the new kernel is if 3'rd party apps don't know how to handle the option to install on SD card or your app partition, but knowing how apps are developed and that most apps store everything inside their own apk's, it shouldn't be an issue.
thank you! ;)..
 
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I rooted my vibrant and did the lag fix. Should I do a factory reset and then install the updates once it come out? thanks

I'm currently in your situation. Rooted and Lagfix but still running stock. I'm fairly sure that we don't need to do a factory reset but I'm thinking I might do it anyways to be safe. I'm also wondering if I should remove the lagfix and unroot it before the factory reset though, not sure if it will make a difference- as always I just don't wanna end up bricking my phone. If anyone has any information on this, please enlighten us!
 
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I'm currently in your situation. Rooted and Lagfix but still running stock. I'm fairly sure that we don't need to do a factory reset but I'm thinking I might do it anyways to be safe. I'm also wondering if I should remove the lagfix and unroot it before the factory reset though, not sure if it will make a difference- as always I just don't wanna end up bricking my phone. If anyone has any information on this, please enlighten us!

You shouldn't have to do anything before doing a factory reset, far as I know, nor even have to do a factory reset when we finally see 2. 2. I'm not planning on doing it anyway. Installing the update will take root and the lag fix away, but someone will have rooted 2.2 for the Vibrant by the time we hear about it and supposedly there will be no need for a lag fix with 2.2.
 
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I rooted my vibrant and did the lag fix. Should I do a factory reset and then install the updates once it come out? thanks

Correct me if I'm wrong, but factory reset doesn't unroot your phone. I recently reset my phone, and didn't have to re-root it. Same with lag fix, I use OneClickLagFix. I re-downloaded OCLF after I reset my phone and it indicated that my phone was already rooted, and the lag fix was already applied.

Do I need to un-root my phone for the OTA update? Does it make a difference?
 
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I think I will do a factory reset too just to be safe and start 100% clean.
I Dont mind having to re d/l apps and set up again.
Esp since I installed JI5 via Kies which big pink is now saying I should not have.
How do you do the factory reset ?

Hold the volume button down and power the phone on at the same time. As soon as the phone turns on, release both buttons. Use the volume button to scroll down to Factory Reset, and then press the power button to select Factory Reset.
 
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