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[Q] OTA update Fails to update 2.3.6 firmware

A few months ago, I loaded 2.3.6 firmware on phone. It is stock gingerbread with root from oden file all_in_one_odin_ep4d. Last week I received an OTA update. The update fails to load and leaves me at the screen with the white triangle with yellow exclamation point. I pulled the battery and rebooted. Today, the update came back. Still no go. I think the update is incompatible with the software on the phone.
Can someone tell me:
1. What is in the update? Is it going to remove root and allow Verizon to see that I 3rd party tether? Are they suddenly going to slap a tether package on my bill? Is it even worth installing?
2. If it’s not worth installing, can I tell my phone that I don’t want it by making it think that the update is already installed?
3. If the update is worth installing, should I wait for an oden install that contains the update or do I do something to the phone to allow it to receive the OTA update? If I do opt for the OTA what must I do to allow it to load?
Being somewhat novice when it comes to loading software on phones, is there a good FAQ out there that lists all the different loads, with what they contain and explanations of those components. Right now, voodoo, Peanut butter and jelly… buzzwords.

beavermjr said:
A few months ago, I loaded 2.3.6 firmware on phone. It is stock gingerbread with root from oden file all_in_one_odin_ep4d. Last week I received an OTA update. The update fails to load and leaves me at the screen with the white triangle with yellow exclamation point. I pulled the battery and rebooted. Today, the update came back. Still no go. I think the update is incompatible with the software on the phone.
Can someone tell me:
1. What is in the update? Is it going to remove root and allow Verizon to see that I 3rd party tether? Are they suddenly going to slap a tether package on my bill? Is it even worth installing?
2. If it’s not worth installing, can I tell my phone that I don’t want it by making it think that the update is already installed?
3. If the update is worth installing, should I wait for an oden install that contains the update or do I do something to the phone to allow it to receive the OTA update? If I do opt for the OTA what must I do to allow it to load?
Being somewhat novice when it comes to loading software on phones, is there a good FAQ out there that lists all the different loads, with what they contain and explanations of those components. Right now, voodoo, Peanut butter and jelly… buzzwords.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All in one package that you installed came with custom kernel. You need to flash a FP1 debloated/bloated/rooted rom and the FP1 kernel. Since you have the custom rom+kernel you can not use OTA update. Some people (like me) prefer to do it clean by go back to stock EP4d rom, then do the full update to FP1, then flash what ever custom rom out there, like Eclipse or debloated etc...More on how to do it here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1560117
Sooner or later you should be on the latest version any way specially for support from XDA.

Thanks for setting me straight. Let’s see if I understand your info.
1. I have a custom ROM and need to use the stock one to be able to get the update to install.
2. Once I install the stock ROM and get the update, I could reinstall the same custom ROM I have now.
3. Returning my phone to stock will remove root access so I can get the update
How do I get back to stock everything, update the phone and then add only root access. I don’t know enough about stock ROMs to know why I’d want or need one.

beavermjr said:
Thanks for setting me straight. Let’s see if I understand your info.
1. I have a custom ROM and need to use the stock one to be able to get the update to install.
2. Once I install the stock ROM and get the update, I could reinstall the same custom ROM I have now.
3. Returning my phone to stock will remove root access so I can get the update
How do I get back to stock everything, update the phone and then add only root access. I don’t know enough about stock ROMs to know why I’d want or need one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Yes, you need EP4D stock rom to get OTA update.
2. Yes, once you on stock FP1, you can use flash eclipse 2.0 (which build from FP1 rom). Once done you will have FP1 eclipse with FP1 stock kernel.
3. If you have pure stock EP4D and rooted, you can take the OTA, but yours is not.
You have 2 Options to upgrade:
1. Flash back to pure stock EP4D, OTA upgrade to FP1 then flash pre-rooted FP1 eclipse 2.0 rom. Then flash cwm.
2. Flash FP1 pre-rooted eclipse 2.0 rom, flash cwm, flash FP1 kernel, flash FP1 radio.
Hope this help, don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions.

Ok. That makes sense, sort of…
I’m going to give #1 a try since I found the stock EP4D load on the page you recommended. I will then be able to get the OTA update and have a stock phone with FP1.
I will then follow #5 on that page to root my pure stock FP1 and make CWM stick after reboot. Do you know if there is a free program that will let me change the file permissions of “install-recovery.sh” like root explorer?

beavermjr said:
Ok. That makes sense, sort of…
I’m going to give #1 a try since I found the stock EP4D load on the page you recommended. I will then be able to get the OTA update and have a stock phone with FP1.
I will then follow #5 on that page to root my pure stock FP1 and make CWM stick after reboot. Do you know if there is a free program that will let me change the file permissions of “install-recovery.sh” like root explorer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
root browser lite or ES file explorer. Both you can get from the Market (google play).

Thanks for the help. I got the phone updated successfully. I ended up having to load eclipse ROM on the phone after the OTA update as the other method with superuser update and superuser fixer failed to deliver root access.
couple of questions:
1. I can no longer set multi-screen wallpaper. How do I restore this functionality?
2. I can't answer my phone using the puzzle pieces. what am I missing?
Mike
PS thanks again for all the help. Sometimes I just need a push in the right direction.

Now that i've had a chance to play with the phone... The market keeps crashing. Anyone know what to do?
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA
FIX: settings/applications/market/clear data Reboot

[Q] Multiple GSIII's fail to install OTA

Hi, my family has multiple Verizon Galaxy SIIIs that were supposed to receive OTA updates about a week ago, but for whatever reason, as I cannot pinpoint the exact cause, none of them will install the update.
Each phone has:
Been rooted, by means of flashing a custom stock ROM through Odin
Had numerous stock applications frozen with Titanium, but we've tried unfreezing all of them prior to trying again with no effect
So I'm assuming it's that the phone's rooted. Is there any way to apply the update manually without unlocking the bootloader (ie. using the stock recovery or Odin to flash the update) and still have the possibility of keeping root?

Yes, the entire updated rom's are available in the development section. The latest being the vrlhd.
Sent from my VZW GS3 running Synergy/Trinity/Dark Horse Rises

AvataroftheSun said:
Hi, my family has multiple Verizon Galaxy SIIIs that were supposed to receive OTA updates about a week ago, but for whatever reason, as I cannot pinpoint the exact cause, none of them will install the update.
Each phone has:
Been rooted, by means of flashing a custom stock ROM through Odin
Had numerous stock applications frozen with Titanium, but we've tried unfreezing all of them prior to trying again with no effect
So I'm assuming it's that the phone's rooted. Is there any way to apply the update manually without unlocking the bootloader (ie. using the stock recovery or Odin to flash the update) and still have the possibility of keeping root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had to Odin back to stock and go get a new SIM card from Verizon... Got the OTA instantly after the new sim was put in... It's a known issue
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

annoyingduck said:
Yes, the entire updated rom's are available in the development section. The latest being the vrlhd.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mm, checked those out, and scrosler says that the bootloader needs to be unlocked, and doesn't provide any other information on how to flash it properly (Odin vs. custom recovery). Though if it's stock, it shouldn't matter...

I odin'd back to root66 and it took the update as soon as i checked for it. (and I dont even live in Verizon coverage)

[Q] ROOT / Upgrade Assistance

I've gone through the root process on a dozen phones and tablets, but this is the first time I've gone through the process on a new device (to me) so long after its release, and therefore I'm finding the information I need to be a little... hard to pin down. I'm really just trying to be extra cautious with this one since I need it next week.
What I have: Android 4.0.3 ICS, ASUS Build v9.4.3.26
What I want: Android 4.1.? JB, ASUS Build v10.4.2.?? w/ Root/Recovery/Etc
With the above outdated firmware, I'm not sure if I should upgrade to Jellybean using ASUS OTA updates and then root/flash, or if I should use an older root method and upgrade to Jellybean by flashing a custom ROM, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.
Edit: I should note that I was planning to follow this thread, but it was written under the assumption your tablet is already rooted with a custom recovery.

brennen.exe said:
I've gone through the root process on a dozen phones and tablets, but this is the first time I've gone through the process on a new device (to me) so long after its release, and therefore I'm finding the information I need to be a little... hard to pin down. I'm really just trying to be extra cautious with this one since I need it next week.
What I have: Android 4.0.3 ICS, ASUS Build v9.4.3.26
What I want: Android 4.1.? JB, ASUS Build v10.4.2.?? w/ Root/Recovery/Etc
With the above outdated firmware, I'm not sure if I should upgrade to Jellybean using ASUS OTA updates and then root/flash, or if I should use an older root method and upgrade to Jellybean by flashing a custom ROM, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.
Edit: I should note that I was planning to follow this thread, but it was written under the assumption your tablet is already rooted with a custom recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is how I did it this afternoon on my new TF300T:
Rooted ICS with this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1704209
Installed supersu: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.supersu
Updated su binary using supersu
Installed OTA rootkeeper: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.projectvoodoo.otarootkeeper
Backed up su with OTA rootkeeper
Installed ES File Explorer(you really don't have to do this but I wanted to make sure some other app had root access before I upgraded to JB)
Made sure supersu authorized all these root apps by running them at least once.
Upgraded to Jelly Bean
Restored root access with OTA rootkeeper
Wiped the sweat from my brow afterwards!
I am staying with stock JB locked to keep getting OTA updates. If you want a custom rom, you need to unlock:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2055886&highlight=unlock
Unlock APK is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1949758
NOTE: If you upgrade to Jelly Bean without OTA rootkeeper in place, you will not be able to root it without unlocking it first. There is no root exploit yet for the TF300 Locked Jelly Bean.

Yep. This will do the trick.
Still Charged Up

bads3ctor said:
This is how I did it this afternoon on my new TF300T.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks badsector, I'll give it a go today and report back how it went.
Alright, thanks for the help in getting started, but I forgot to mention I had unlocked the tablet beforehand as a first step to another guide, so OTA updates were a no-go for me with this approach. What I ended up doing was, after performing 1-7 from your list, install TWRP using fastboot, manually install the JB update from ASUS, install TWRP for JB (again w/ fastboot), and then load a custom ROM. I'm all up to date and running fine, and had I intended to stay on the stock ROM I could have just left it at that when I flashed the ASUS firmware.
Thanks again!

Stock OTA Update and Checking the Status of your Phone

I'm using the default ROM for my One X and I'd like to update it (I haven't since I got it 6 month ago); do I need to re-lock the bootloader and unroot it before I can use the OTA update? Also it's been a while since I even fiddled with my phones software so I forgot anything else I may have done, is there a way I can check to see what else has been done and if it's safe to update it?
Currently I have:
Android Version: 4.0.3
HTC Sense Version: 4.0
Software Number: 1.73.631.1
HTC SDK API Level: 4.11
HTC Extension Version: HTCExtension_403_1_HA_4

What firmware are u on currently for starters
Sent from my HTC One XL using xda app-developers app

I added the info to the original post

bman3k said:
do I need to re-lock the bootloader and unroot it before I can use the OTA update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your phone should be factory default before performing OTA updates or results may be unexpected.
Most OTA updates are patch file based and require the files to be exactly what is expected.
There have been known issues with root being detected and the OTA failing.
Rooted phones progressing with an update but root lost after the update.
System files being modified and the OTA failing.
Recovery must be factory; not TWRP or CWM.
CID and MID must suit OTA.
The only modification I would consider safe through all OTA's so far has been SuperCID.

If you have any interest in rooting and flashing custom ROMs, I would suggest rooting and unlocking the bootloader now, while you are on 1.73, and not updating via OTA. The latest 2.20 update will also update your hboot, which plugs the holes by which kernels and radios can be flashed from recovery.

Since you're with att you can expect the jelly bean update any time from now till the end of the world which isn't fun waiting for .. I'd suggest if you were rooted download goo manager flash twrp....than flash a solid ics Rom if your prefer ice sense or you can go venture into the jb realms

omario8484 said:
Since you're with att you can expect the jelly bean update any time from now till the end of the world which isn't fun waiting for .. I'd suggest if you were rooted download goo manager flash twrp....than flash a solid ics Rom if your prefer ice sense or you can go venture into the jb realms
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree. If you are already BL unlocked and rooted, why go through the hassle of relocking the BL and returning to stock, just to wait for the OTA?
Just flash a JB ROM, as there are already stock and custom JB ROMs posted in Development.
Plus, until the OTA actually hits, we don't know if it will even be rootable. They have plugged the existing root exploits with every successive AT&T OTA for this phone so far. No reason to think any different for the JB update.
Just flash a JB ROM and stay rooted.

Ya I really like viper xl v3 . Just apply fix listed on op and you should be good to go
Sent from my HTC One XL using xda premium

Stock OTA is not WORTH IT IMO, been there
Reselling the phone is probably the only reason i'd revert to stock.

Ok, so I tried to flash Android Revolution HD 18.0 instead of going back to stock. I used TWRP, but it said "unable to read zip file" and the flash failed, now my phone won't start up it just shows the HTC screen with "this build is for development purposes..." and continuously turns on and off.

bman3k said:
Ok, so I tried to flash Android Revolution HD 18.0 instead of going back to stock. I used TWRP, but it said "unable to read zip file" and the flash failed, now my phone won't start up it just shows the HTC screen with "this build is for development purposes..." and continuously turns on and off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok you're really lucky you didn't just brick your phone.... You want to stay in the att one x forums.... Notice theres a title diff. You're lucky it didn't succesfully flash or your phone would be dead... That's an international one x rom

bman3k said:
Ok, so I tried to flash Android Revolution HD 18.0 instead of going back to stock. I used TWRP, but it said "unable to read zip file" and the flash failed, now my phone won't start up it just shows the HTC screen with "this build is for development purposes..." and continuously turns on and off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stick to the ROM's in our forum, I never heard of anything like that ROM for our phone sorry. Lucky you didn't brick it

O damn I feel very stupid now...
Can someone recommend me a JB ROM?
Also how would I even install one now? The AR HD one was the only ROM I had on my SD card
Edit: I figured out the Mount function in TWRP, so I know how to add new ROMs now

bman3k said:
O damn I feel very stupid now...
Can someone recommend me a JB ROM? Also how would I even install one now? The AR HD one was the only ROM I had on my SD card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try them all, they are all good, the time it takes to ask for other peoples opinions you could have test driven them all yourself.

Are you looking for jb sense?

omario8484 said:
Are you looking for jb sense?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm just going to try a couple like wrecker suggested now that I've figured out how to flash ROM's properly
Thanks for your guys' helps
Is there a way to back up my apps/texts and stuff when flashing ROM's? I totally forgot about that and lost all of it, I didn't have anything particularly important, but it'd be a hassle to redownload everything everytime. I had Titanium Backup, but that's not a recovery for if you reflash right?

bman3k said:
I'm just going to try a couple like wrecker suggested now that I've figured out how to flash ROM's properly
Thanks for your guys' helps
Is there a way to back up my apps/texts and stuff when flashing ROM's? I totally forgot about that and lost all of it, I didn't have anything particularly important, but it'd be a hassle to redownload everything everytime. I had Titanium Backup, but that's not a recovery for if you reflash right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny that you bring titanium up...titanium helps you back up apps it also backs up your app data...and for sms just download something from the market here's one download the app super backup and you can backup your sms

So I installed Cyanogen 10.0.0 but it didn't come with Google Play so I installed Gapps as well; now I keep getting the "Android Keyboard ASOP has stopped working" and I can't do anything. I've tried multiple versions of Gapps but they all give the error. I've also tried installing a keyboard apk on it's own but I am still unable to type anything.
Edit: Also when I downloaded Google Play as an apk separately it would crash immediately, but when I installed it from Gapps it was ok.

bman3k said:
So I installed Cyanogen 10.0.0 but it didn't come with Google Play so I installed Gapps as well; now I keep getting the "Android Keyboard ASOP has stopped working" and I can't do anything. I've tried multiple versions of Gapps but they all give the error. I've also tried installing a keyboard apk on it's own but I am still unable to type anything.
Edit: Also when I downloaded Google Play as an apk separately it would crash immediately, but when I installed it from Gapps it was ok.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You did a full wipe before hand right?

I did the factory, system, cache and dalvik cache wipes
Edit: I got it to work, not really sure what I did different =/

[Q] Help a noob make a safe upgrade...

Hello Everyone,
New member, longtime lurker here. I have a I535 Verizon GS3, and am rooted. It has been quite a while since I did that, and I just wanted to make sure I knew what I was getting into before I tried to upgrade to a newer rom. The reason I want to upgrade is I currently have a Sony Smartwatch 2, that I love but I shattered the screen. In preparation to buy one of the new Android wearables, I need to be on a newer version of android as far as I can see.
Right now I am on: 4.1.2/ Baseband version, I535VRBMB1/ Kernel Version 3.031-86103/Build number JZO54K.I535VRBMB1
I am not sure what of that info is important so I posted it all. I don't remember the exact name of the rom I flashed before, but I think it was created by member Dalep, and it was something like "Stock Rooted". It was basically just a rooted version of the stock rom. My only reason for rooting was to use a wifi tethering app which has been working well for me. I was nervous with the initial rooting and flash process, so once I got what I needed I stopped working on it and used my phone as is until now. Now I would like some guidance on how to get my phone safely up to date.
1. I am running Clockwork Mod Recovery v6.0.2.3. Is this still usable or do I need to update it?
2. What rom would you all recommend for someone who wants a fairly stable phone and does not care so much about tinkering/customizing?
3. What does a nandroid backup do and what can I do with the backup (I did one before I installed this current rom)
4. What is the best way to get my phone back with the apps I have installed? (i.e. reinstall from Playstore, etc) I don't have many apps.
I am sure there will be more questions, but thank you for reading my long first post, I just want to make sure I am clear about my current state, skill level and intentions.
Thanks,
Victor

Update recovery to latest version of whichever recovery you prefer. I use TWRP. Flash the MF1 firmware and ML1 modem in that order. This will bring you as far up to date as possible without locking down the phone. Then you can flash any rom currently available. I run stock deodexed ML1 4.3 base and then mod it the way I want it. Scott has one in the rom threads. As far as nandroid it will make an image of your current setup in case you need to return due to problems or trying some other rom. There are several options for backing up apps such as TIBU, My Backup or even Google can restore your apps. Here is firmware and modem. Flash MF1 first and ML1 second. ML1 will replace the MF1 modem but leave rest of firmware (bootchain) at MF1 level and will retain root and unlock status.
Flash in recovery in order posted:
#1- MF1 Firmware -- http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23329332407591785
#2- ML1 Modem -- http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23329332407591786

Thanks for the response, I will flash those and check out that rom