Root [Virgin Mobile] OTA Update to 4.4.4?

Flipper3 · Dec 11, 2014

I am currently on 4.4.2 with Philz Touch Recovery and rooted with SuperSU.

I just received an OTA update for 4.4.4 and was wondering if I could click the update button and update, or will that brick my phone? Do I need to update through Kies to be able to get 4.4.4?

I do not mind losing root if doing the OTA update will work for me.

What are my options and what can I do?

alexizawesome · Dec 11, 2014

You cannot take an OTA while on a custom recovery. You can flash the stock recovery and unroot but that does not gurrantee itl go flawlessly. Your phone can soft brick if your system is modified. You could return the phone to pure stock by flashing the current firmware through odin and then taking the OTA. Kies should be fine if it has the update for you. What 4.4.4 update is this? It would be great if you could capture it!

jdsingle76 said:
In case you need a refresher

Here's a quick guide on how to snag the OTA tarball from Kies before it flashes itself to your phone. I haven't heard of anyone officially getting it yet, but I'm sure it'll be here soon. Timing is everything, so make sure you're quick before the file deletes itself!
1. Click on Start->Run, enter %temp% and press ENTER. First thing before you go into Kies, clear this folder out.
2. Keep that explorer window open and handy. I also suggest open another to where you want to copy it to(create new folder on desktop and keep it open).
Open Kies, let it download. As soon as it starts flashing, look for a folder with the tarball or search for .tar.md5 in the %temp% folder you have open. Copy/paste it to your new folder. Done. Congrats, you

Madbat · Dec 11, 2014

There is no 4.4.4 update on the virgin mobile s3. Its just a minor update. It's not likely 4.4.4.

Flipper3 · Dec 12, 2014

alexizawesome said:
You cannot take an OTA while on a custom recovery. You can flash the stock recovery and unroot but that does not gurrantee itl go flawlessly. Your phone can soft brick if your system is modified. You could return the phone to pure stock by flashing the current firmware through odin and then taking the OTA. Kies should be fine if it has the update for you. What 4.4.4 update is this? It would be great if you could capture it!

How do I go about capturing it?

hatredg0d · Dec 13, 2014

He quoted instructions in the post you replied to. As he said you will need to revert to complete stock using odin first, then follow the instructions below.

"In case you need a refresher

Here's a quick guide on how to snag the OTA tarball from Kies before it flashes itself to your phone. I haven't heard of anyone officially getting it yet, but I'm sure it'll be here soon. Timing is everything, so make sure you're quick before the file deletes itself!
1. Click on Start->Run, enter %temp% and press ENTER. First thing before you go into Kies, clear this folder out.
2. Keep that explorer window open and handy. I also suggest open another to where you want to copy it to(create new folder on desktop and keep it open).
Open Kies, let it download. As soon as it starts flashing, look for a folder with the tarball or search for .tar.md5 in the %temp% folder you have open. Copy/paste it to your new folder. Done. Congrats, you"

vsanch24 · Dec 21, 2014

NJ3 is not 4.4.4 it is still a version of 4.4.2; Just installed it via OTA. Kies wouldn't apply it. Kept rebooting my phone into download mode and then the software would claim to not be able to see the phone anymore. I did run the Kies program with administrative permissions too.

alexizawesome · Dec 21, 2014

vsanch24 said:
NJ3 is not 4.4.4 it is still a version of 4.4.2; Just installed it via OTA. Kies wouldn't apply it. Kept rebooting my phone into download mode and then the software would claim to not be able to see the phone anymore. I did run the Kies program with administrative permissions too.

Maybe since it is only an incremental update?

vsanch24 · Dec 21, 2014

Yea, I think it is more about bloatware than anything.... maybe a modem tweak but not much more. I am about to go back to CM once their next M build is released.

partyman66 · Dec 29, 2014

I applied this most recent OTA update to my rooted VM S3 with Triangle Away installed just the other day. The update installed but I cant really see any noticeable difference, so it's a minor update... it still shows 4.4.2 and not 4.4.4.

I did notice that when I used google maps for navigation last night that it prompted me differently with google requesting location services and said that my Google Location reporting settings were configured for an older version of Android and that I needed to configure them now for the new version of Android. I also noticed that there is a "Default Messaging Application" option available under the "Settings--> More Networks" menu area. So far, that's the only two differences I've noticed.

I'm not sure what my exact versions were in the ABOUT DEVICE section prior to the latest OTA update (aside from being 4.4.2) so I can't comment on whether or not they changed as a result of installing it.

partyman66 · Dec 30, 2014

What versions are you guys seeing on your S3's after installing the latest OTA?

I haven't found any documentation anywhere that details the exact contents of this latest OTA, but I would love to to know specifically what's in it or what the official version label affixed to it is.

I installed the OTA on my rooted (stock ROM) S3 a few days ago with everything appearing fine and things working great, but I got prompted to install it again today. I believe the ROM upgrade portion is installed but it's prompting for the reinstall due to being on a non-stock recovery and the firmware potentially being outdated. There are definite differences in my ROM now after applying it a few days ago (menu icons/layout, google location settings, Default Messaging App option, etc), but I'm just curious if I have a partial install and am lacking the firmware portion of upgrade.

I may go back to stock recovery and install the full package and then reroot after that. I should be able to go back to CWM recovery using the same CWM recovery install that I did before, correct?... or will this not work with the updated OTA firmware (assuming there is a firmware upgrade included in it)?

Madbat · Dec 30, 2014

partyman66 said:
What versions are you guys seeing on your S3's after installing the latest OTA?

I haven't found any documentation anywhere that details the exact contents of this latest OTA, but I would love to to know specifically what's in it or what the official version label affixed to it is.

I installed the OTA on my rooted (stock ROM) S3 a few days ago with everything appearing fine and things working great, but I got prompted to install it again today. I believe the ROM upgrade portion is installed but it's prompting for the reinstall due to being on a non-stock recovery and the firmware potentially being outdated. There are definite differences in my ROM now after applying it a few days ago (menu icons/layout, google location settings, Default Messaging App option, etc), but I'm just curious if I have a partial install and am lacking the firmware portion of upgrade.

I may go back to stock recovery and install the full package and then reroot after that. I should be able to go back to CWM recovery using the same CWM recovery install that I did before, correct?... or will this not work with the updated OTA firmware (assuming there is a firmware upgrade included in it)?

Default messaging option has always been there. You must have installed another messaging app and now you get to choose a default. Its a feature of KitKat.

BigTinz · Jan 3, 2015

Since we can't install the OTA with a rooted S3, how do I make the damn message go away? It's been bugging me for weeks!

Madbat · Jan 3, 2015

BigTinz said:
Since we can't install the OTA with a rooted S3, how do I make the damn message go away? It's been bugging me for weeks!

Unroot with Odin (stock .tar) then take the update. Then re-root. Easy peasy. You don't lose any data.

sean19661 · Mar 12, 2015

I think the ota update was mostly to screw us over it really stinks because sprint users have a full tar to get back to stock idk if its samsung screwing us or virgin : ((

Madbat · Mar 12, 2015

sean19661 said:
I think the ota update was mostly to screw us over it really stinks because sprint users have a full tar to get back to stock idk if its samsung screwing us or virgin : ((

You can use the sprint nj2. Works just the same. Re root with philz tar then APN fix. Done. Stock.

Madbat · Apr 2, 2015

sean19661 said:
I think the ota update was mostly to screw us over it really stinks because sprint users have a full tar to get back to stock idk if its samsung screwing us or virgin : ((

No one is screwing anyone. You can still Odin NDC.

Root [Virgin Mobile] OTA Update to 4.4.4?

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