Samsung Galaxy S Series

[swarren]

@kdotj

The Hard reset is recomended because during the update process a "soft" reset is performed and it is advised to do the Hard reset so that all traces of Gingerbread are removed, the are some more detailed explanations as to why on this forum, I would look for posts by "Northern DJ" and "TheSoupDragon" as they have a more techincal knowledge and will probably explain it far better than I ever could.

Steve

[kdotj]

Thanks for your reply, I'll have a search around!

[TheFitz]

I've had my S2 since June last year and I'm STILL waiting for ICS.

It may be my fault, I did notice a new alert as I cleared my notifications, which may have been the PUSH message, however, when I try and do a Software Update, I get the message "No Update Available".

Come on VF, please send it to me. . . .

[mgfletcher]

I can confirm the same issue.  Got a push message saying th ICS update was ready for me to download.  I performed the hrd reset, and now there is no update on the server!

[dazzle]

No update showing here either, might wait a few days and let things calm down.

As for the hard reset, I'm with the guy who says Google/samsung should know best. How many, other than folks reading forums, will even know about it let alone try a hard reset. Also, how does it actually remove traces of Gingerbread? Surely it only wipes clean the internal storage, apps etc. If it wiped the OS your phone wouldn't work?

[JSK73]

@dazzle

The first hard wipe takes your phone back to stock Gingerbread settings (whatever version you are on). This way there is nothing else on the phone that can be corrupted or cause an error during the update process.

The second wipe after the update takes off any remaining traces of gingerbread that are left behind after the update and leaves you with a stock ICS phone.

[thesoupdragon]

---

dazzle wrote:
how does it actually remove traces of Gingerbread? Surely it only wipes clean the internal storage, apps etc. If it wiped the OS your phone wouldn't work?

---

Think of it like a "Recovery Partition" on a Laptop or PC.

The Hard Reset runs from a hidden partition on the phones internal storage. This partition is Non writeable and not affected by a reset.

The Hard reset wipes and Formats the Phone, then re-installes the Operating System.

After the Update the new Operating System Saved to this Partition is Now ICS. So doing the second Hard Rest, Wipes the System - Reformats - Installs ICS as a "clean" install.

[kdotj]

Okay, so tell me what differences are noticeable? 

I understand the principle, but installing an operating system from a "recovery partition" is still not the same performing a low-level format of a hard disk and then installing the operating system from some other media. So symlinks etc and probably cleared up, redundant directories and all that... but at the surface what is the difference? Performance? Less bloat?

I'm not being rude by the way, or testing you, I am genuinely asking what the difference would be.

Thanks 

[thesoupdragon]

In my experience on this forum and seeing and being involved in numerous Samsung and Kies updates, the process is far from satisfactory.

Many members after updating their phones were troubled by multiple force close issues. After much trial and error it was eventually tracked down to the fact that Kies does not perform a full wipe installation.

What happens is Kies performs an Update or overlay of Firmware. The advantage is that peoples files and Apps remain in tact. In reality it causes issues and problems.

The answer was eventually found to simply Factory Reset, which as I've explained removes the traces of the previous Firmware and leaves a clean install of the New Firmware.

Have a read of the Galaxy S Board, it is all documented there!

[kdotj]

Thanks for the reply, that helps out.

So I'm guessing OTA is the same thing then, reset is adviced...

[thesoupdragon]

I would consider it "Good Housekeeping" to perform the reset before and after the update.

It's my opinion based on over 18months of Stock and Custom Firmware Flashing, but it's not for me to say, "You must do this", just a recommendation...!

hope that helps!

[dazzle]

@soupdragon

That makes sense, thanks fella.

[craigwood]

I'm running a custom kernel will I have to change back to stock or can I update without changing?

[SimonWilding]

OK, interesting. despite my settings being download the update on wifi only, and with no prompting from me, my phone has downloaded the update, adding 120MB to my data use! it is now telling me to install. is it too late to do the hard reset or should I still do it before installing even though I've already downloaded it?cheers.

[thesoupdragon]

@SimonWilding

NO just do the update... 

It's only an advisory and not carved in stone.

[thesoupdragon]

@craigwood

I'm not sure you will be offered the update with a Custom Kernel? It depends if the naming of the Kernel has been changed?

[laxdale]

I did the factory reset earlier today, in eager anticipation of the ICS update.  Many hours later, still no OTA update.  I then remembered that I did a firmware upgrade a few months ago, and upon further investigation, I now suspect it's a US version and therefore perhaps this is why I'm not getting the OTA upgrade.  

The version is this XXKG1   2.3.4 

Is this likely to cause a problem, and if so, how do I quickly and easily restore this to something that will allow the update.  I'm going on hols tomorrow and really need my phone back to normal instead of its current "out the box" condition.  With our without faceunlock and all the other ICS goodness.

Any help, or pointers, greatly appreciated...

My phone isn't rooted.

Thanks!

[SimonWilding]

right, as explained earlier, I had downloaded the update and just tried to install it. after 5 mins of rebooting I got a message saying it had failed and to try again via kies or at Samsung service centre. any ideas what went wrong?

[JSK73]

@laxdale

You're correct it's not the UK or vodafone version (XEU or VOD)

Before you factory reset your phone did you back it up?

If you did then you should be able to restore it from that.

If you didn't and you had your phone synced with Google you should have your contacts stored there.

[laxdale]

@JSK73

I did back it up today yes, but I did the KKXG1 thing a few months ago and am not sure if I backed it up then, I don't think I did.  Is there a way to restore it to the UK software without rooting?