AT&T Software Update V44_1_1402_3_2 - Galaxy S 4 Active Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I have rooted Kit Kat using the original method, and today while on wifi I saw the dreaded Software Update Downloading in my tasks. I quickly disabled my wifi and have had it off all day and it has kept the software update from downloading, since I'm paranoid to lose root. I have two Galaxy S4 Actives, both running the same exact Kit Kat exploit and they both had the same software update come up today. I've tried to disable the OTA but FOTA.apk isn't on the phone when I used a root file explorer to look in the System/App folder.
I can't seem to find anything on this update, it just came up on 7/2/14 around 1:00pm EST.
Is there a way to block OTA's on Kit Kat? I imagine it's different as no method I've found has worked.
I did find an APK to kill KNOX, which was popping up at least a dozen times a day to tell me about the "new security policies".
The phones work great as they are, I love having Kit Kat & Root, and don't want to lose it. Anyone have any ideas or anyone know anything about this update?

SebringTech said:
I have rooted Kit Kat using the original method, and today while on wifi I saw the dreaded Software Update Downloading in my tasks. I quickly disabled my wifi and have had it off all day and it has kept the software update from downloading, since I'm paranoid to lose root. I have two Galaxy S4 Actives, both running the same exact Kit Kat exploit and they both had the same software update come up today. I've tried to disable the OTA but FOTA.apk isn't on the phone when I used a root file explorer to look in the System/App folder.
I can't seem to find anything on this update, it just came up on 7/2/14 around 1:00pm EST.
Is there a way to block OTA's on Kit Kat? I imagine it's different as no method I've found has worked.
I did find an APK to kill KNOX, which was popping up at least a dozen times a day to tell me about the "new security policies".
The phones work great as they are, I love having Kit Kat & Root, and don't want to lose it. Anyone have any ideas or anyone know anything about this update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What firmware are you on? If you're on NC9, then it's probably the NE3 update which fixes the bugs in NC9. You can root NE3 very easily with towelroot. I suggest trying to take the update with one of your phones. Odds are that the update will fail to install anyways because you're rooted.
If you're already on NE3 and receiving an update, then I have no idea what it is. Either way the update will fail to install because you've modified system files, so you have nothing to worry about.

Okay I am on NC9. Would there be a noticeable benefit to go stock, take the NE3 update, then acquire root with towel root? I don't have any problems with my phone but my wife seems to have some issues with hers. Not sure what all the update addressed.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

SebringTech said:
Okay I am on NC9. Would there be a noticeable benefit to go stock, take the NE3 update, then acquire root with towel root? I don't have any problems with my phone but my wife seems to have some issues with hers. Not sure what all the update addressed.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately you can't just unroot and take the update. You have to go all the way back to stock by flashing the ML2 Odin package and then flash the OTA update. Flashing the Odin package will completely wipe the phone so I suggest backing up anything you want to save with Titanium Backup.
As for benefits, the NE3 update will probably fix some of the issues with your wife's phone and put her on the latest version, but functionally it should be the same as NC9. Samsung didn't add any additional features or functionality to the NE3 update, they just fixed all the bugs they created with the NC9 OTA. Rooting is super simple now with towelroot so you shouldn't consider that a deterrent.
If you want to try to fix some bugs then update to NE3, if you're perfectly happy with the way your phone is running now then you're not missing out on anything.
If you ever have questions about firmware and updates again, check the Firmware Thread first. I try to keep that updated as soon as I hear about new firmware.

Related

[Q] Can I update? Confused by so many unclear posts.

Background information:
Bought the AT&T version when it came out right away
Got root the first time it was released
Updated root when next update came out ( Didn't know if I need to )
OTA has been Frozen since I got the phone
Is it safe for me? Should I go back to the first version and then update?
Trust me I've read the posts and since I know there have been some issues on the Verizon side I wasn't sure if that was something that was effecting AT&T too. If some one could please give me an explain of that to it would be extremely helpful as I like to know my **** so I can help others.
Thanks
Icon000 said:
Background information:
Bought the AT&T version when it came out right away
Got root the first time it was released
Updated root when next update came out ( Didn't know if I need to )
OTA has been Frozen since I got the phone
Is it safe for me? Should I go back to the first version and then update?
Trust me I've read the posts and since I know there have been some issues on the Verizon side I wasn't sure if that was something that was effecting AT&T too. If some one could please give me an explain of that to it would be extremely helpful as I like to know my **** so I can help others.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash back to stock via RSDLite. Let it boot up. Get your gmail setup.
When the prompt comes up, DL the .54 update. Install.
Root with jcase's new root method.
Or you could just install safestrap. Install a ROM with the camera update and not worry about it until kitkat comes around.
Sent from non rooted motoX :'(
I'm not really interested in updating to another Rom unless it has the touchless controls or something really interesting. Touchless Controls is one of the main reasons I got this phone next to battery life.
Is Safestrap finally settled down? I feel like last time I check there were still messages about bugs and other issues?
matt99017d said:
Flash back to stock via RSDLite. Let it boot up. Get your gmail setup.
When the prompt comes up, DL the .54 update. Install.
Root with jcase's new root method.
Or you could just install safestrap. Install a ROM with the camera update and not worry about it until kitkat comes around.
Sent from non rooted motoX :'(
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Icon000 said:
I'm not really interested in updating to another Rom unless it has the touchless controls or something really interesting. Touchless Controls is one of the main reasons I got this phone next to battery life.
Is Safestrap finally settled down? I feel like last time I check there were still messages about bugs and other issues?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the only rom out for SS that i am aware of is just a ported tmobile rom for vzw phones that has the update built in. Basically it is just the OTA stock rom running on SS. This is what I am using currently. Not sure if it flashable for ATT phones, but I'm sure there is some workaround there. Or maybe the OP on that thread can make a ATT one if you asked him. SS is stable as of now. Haven't had any new updates to it because no one is having any problems currently (at least with moto x devices).
For your question pertaining to options for taking the OTA. There are 4 methods now.
1. SS method described above
2. use the thread called something like "keep root through the OTA." It basically takes the ota without updating the BL so you can still downgrade to your stock original FW that you are on now. It's the same thing as the SS method because SS also does not udpate the BL, but you won't be using SS for this method obviously.
3. you can flash recovery.img (and system.img if you need to) or just RSD, then install pwnmymoto without running it, then take the ota and pwnmymoto will root the phone automatically after the ota is taken. you won't be able to downgrade your FW anymore with this method.
4. you can just take the ota (also must flash or use rsd to take it obviously) and then use jcase's rockmymoto root exploit. This uses adb commands and telnet stuff. Not too difficult but if you are unfamiliar with all of that then it will take at least some reading. There is also a thread out there for windows users that simplifies it pretty well.
For future Kit kat root. it is still up in the air what will happen with that. I chose to use SS because it was easy. quick. and allows me to make nandroids. I also like knowing that I can still flash to original stock FW in case that might be necessarry for getting root on kit kat. This seems less likely now that jcase created a root method for the OTA that is out, but I'm still just playing it safe personally, even if it might be pointless now.

[Q] How do you take an OTA after Root?

Ok so many of us have successfully rooted our devices and frozen update and renamed security files to avoid losing our root.
What are the proper steps for Dummies like me to accept the Lollipop OTA in December without losing my data?
Also now 4.4.4 is anounced with Bluetooth fixes that I have noticed while streaming
(My gut tells me keep update frozen until a flashable rooted 5.0.)
It was said in another thread NOT to take the 5.0 update until a root method for it has been established. If you wanna keep root, I'd wait. I'm still running stock rooted AND3 firmware/kernel. I'm looking to get the newest update up to today (I think ANG3 or something of that nature.) I'm just not taking updates yet so I can keep my root. I'm having problems with the phone freezing and restarting though so I'd like an update.
Sent from my "ROOTED" SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
NG3 is smooth
PS4AndroidHacker said:
It was said in another thread NOT to take the 5.0 update until a root method for it has been established. If you wanna keep root, I'd wait. I'm still running stock rooted AND3 firmware/kernel. I'm looking to get the newest update up to today (I think ANG3 or something of that nature.) I'm just not taking updates yet so I can keep my root. I'm having problems with the phone freezing and restarting though so I'd like an update.
Sent from my "ROOTED" SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am stock rooted with ANG3 pre-installed on my purchased S5. It runs smooth as silk if you use the method posted by muniz_ri in general. All I've done is turned off or frozen some bloatware and installed Chainfire SU 2.16.
My question was more geared towards the person who might want to go from rooted to the lastest OTA without losing data etc. I have been diving in pretty deep to the AT&T side of XDA since leaving sprint a week ago and I think the answer might have been posted by shortydoggg with the soft-bricked thread.
I was hoping someone might be able to tell me a non odin 3.09+ way to remove the freeze on my apps in the correct order to take the OTA without tripping KNOX if I wanted to do that knowing I might loose root.
I thought we might be able to follow muniz_ri and odin the one file back towelroot again after.
Basically I like stock always have, but I want root also for AdAway Titanium Backup Etc. and being a truck driver I wanted the 4.4.4 Bluetooth fix for Iheart radio.
UltraCon79 said:
I am stock rooted with ANG3 pre-installed on my purchased S5. It runs smooth as silk if you use the method posted by muniz_ri in general. All I've done is turned off or frozen some bloatware and installed Chainfire SU 2.16.
My question was more geared towards the person who might want to go from rooted to the lastest OTA without losing data etc. I have been diving in pretty deep to the AT&T side of XDA since leaving sprint a week ago and I think the answer might have been posted by shortydoggg with the soft-bricked thread.
I was hoping someone might be able to tell me a non odin 3.09+ way to remove the freeze on my apps in the correct order to take the OTA without tripping KNOX if I wanted to do that knowing I might loose root.
I thought we might be able to follow muniz_ri and odin the one file back towelroot again after.
Basically I like stock always have, but I want root also for AdAway Titanium Backup Etc. and being a truck driver I wanted the 4.4.4 Bluetooth fix for Iheart radio.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's hard to say what the best approach will be until the update arrives. In the case of 4.4.4, I'm rather confident that a somewhat simple method can be developed to take the update while keeping root. As for 5.0, I have some ideas none ideal but we'll see.
Is Android 4.4.4 for the AT&T version of the Galaxy S5 out? I have a Galaxy S5 AT&T phone but I don't have AT&T service. I am running Android 4.4.2 with build version ND3 is there something newer than this?
Updating to NG3
Het guys, so today I got ahold of Odin 3.09 and the NG3 update, I applied it through Odin in the AP slot and it DID NOT update my phone to NG3. My Baseband still says AND3 and kernel is 3.4.0-2178781
Tue Jul 22 13:58:46 KST 2014. Anybody have any options i can use without having to downgrade to NCE just to upgrade? LOL...Im kinda at a loss,Ive tried it in download mode twice now and no fu go.
Plz disregard my message. I'm good now and running rooted NG3.

[Q] Lollipop OTA question

I recently upgraded my phone to an AT&T S5 (I decided I didn't like the S6 specs). Currently, the phone is 100% stock, unrooted. I know that previous Samsung phones had problems with OTA updates when they were rooted. Now, with the possibility that the Lollipop OTA is coming soon, I'm hesitant to root until the OTA comes out. Here are my questions:
1. Should I wait to root until after the OTA hits the streets, or is there a strategy to root and still safely apply the OTA?
2. I don't want to be one of the first to get the OTA since it may be buggy. Is there a way to delay the OTA if I'm not rooted?
So, nobody has any thoughts about this?
I can't tell you what you should do but I can tell you what I would do. I would root now, load Titanium backup, and wait for 5.0 to come out. With TBU I freeze the OTA so it's not pushed without my permission. Additionally TBU will backup everything going forward so I can easily move up and restore my apps.
I believe the current process to root will work so be patient.
woody1 said:
So, nobody has any thoughts about this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't even take the OTA. Lots of issues with it. I am pretty sure LP will be the same.
I rooted mine, installed SafeStrap, and installed the XDK ROM, which eliminates all updates. My phone works great, does everything I want it to. Don't need problematic upgrades to downgrade my system.
cmerlyn said:
I wouldn't even take the OTA. Lots of issues with it. I am pretty sure LP will be the same.
I rooted mine, installed SafeStrap, and installed the XDK ROM, which eliminates all updates. My phone works great, does everything I want it to. Don't need problematic upgrades to downgrade my system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks to both of you for your suggestions. I think I'm going to go ahead and root and stay on the stock rom for a while. If the OTA shows up soon and looks worthwhile, I'll give it a try. Otherwise, I'll install SafeStrap and try a custom ROM.
Sure. Here's an easy answer: if you search for S5 AT&T and lolipop, you'll find lots of things that will say that AT&T will be taking its SWEET time putting an ota upgrade for lolipop out.
It is available from Samsung thru Kies, and I think I am personally going to take a new rom, and try and upgrade and unlock this piece of junque (and I upgraded from a Galaxy SII! )
Sigh

Re-Enable OTA on N900A

I am rooted on 4.4.2 on the N900A Note 3 for AT&T and I disabled the OTA notifications a long time ago to prevent breaking root and upgrading to 4.4.4. Now that the Lollipop update is available I would like to re-enable the OTA but when I go to the Application Manager then the Turned Off section, the AT&T Software update is listed but the Turn off button is greyed out and I can't turn it back on. Any suggestions? Please!
Did you freezed the app by using App Quarantine or another root app to disable it? I just re-enabled mine using App Quarantine.
Did you use Titanium Backup or something to freeze it? If so try unfreezing it there. Unless you Odin back to full stock the update will likely fail anyway though, even if you've unrooted. I would wait a day or two, there's a theoretical chance that the method of having root on 4.4.4 will work again (Be on a version Safestrap supports, flash a prerooted version of the ROM through that, then update the low level stuff via Odin)
Thank you both for replying... I have no idea what I did. I have Titanium Backup installed but I do not see a freeze feature. If I used a different app to freeze it will App Quarantine still unfreeze it? If so I'll try that. I no longer need root.
Even if you unfreeze it'll still likely fail out somewhere around 27% for ever being rooted, even if you unroot. You'll almost certainly have to Odin back to stock and take the OTAs in between, may as well wait for someone to post the Odin files for L so you can do it in one step I figure. If you do want to defrost it should work with anything that has that capability, for Titanium you click on the specific package and it should be the middle of the top row on the default Backup Properties tab, says Defrost
I can say neoman is absolutely correct. My phone is rooted and has 4.4.2. It downloaded the Lollipop 5.0 update today from AT&T but failed during installing. Main reason I rooted the phone was to overcome their Kitkat external SD Card issue. Now they fixed the issue with Lollipop but I can't update. I blame them on that .
I wonder if updating to 4.4.4 first will allow me to update to 5.0? The reason is I don't want to lose any current data or apps or settings. I still have a copy of the 4.4.4 downloaded ota earlier but never installed.
Bottomline is I want to update to 5.0 without losing data.
You'll absolutely have to Odin back to stock NC2 before trying to update to 5.0
andygev35 said:
You'll absolutely have to Odin back to stock NC2 before trying to update to 5.0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there an external download source for the Lollipop ROM to install via ODIN yet?
You can also Odin to stock NL1 http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2999317
Typically if you're careful and you know everything you did with root, you can reverse and update... I did this a few times
Sent from my XT907 using XDA Free mobile app

Root 5.1.1 or 6.0.1?

I have a TMobile Note 4 SM-N910T. It's currently on 5.1.1 stock and I just got the OTA Marshmallow update notification. I'd like to try Marshmallow out, but if I allow the OTA update, will I be able to root it later? Or is 6.0.1 unrootable (for now)? If I root it now (before updating to MM) will I still get the OTA update? And will it still be rooted after the update? So many questions!
ota then root
I OTA'ed, now the phone randomly reboots several times a day, and some apps don't work correctly. Great.
factory reset.
*sigh* I was afraid you were going to say that. Now the problem is backing it up. I have a Titanium Backup Pro license, but I only use it on my old rooted GS2. The Note 4 is not rooted so TB won't run on it. All the rooting tutorials say "back up your phone before you root" but you need root to run TB. Chicken or egg? I guess I could try Samsung Kies, don't know if it will back up everything. My photos are backed up to Google Photos, I guess everything else is replaceable, but I would really rather not have to reinstall all my apps one by one after a factory reset.
That brings up another question: when you to go Settings/Backup and Reset, I have "Backup my data" set to On and linked to my Google account, but nowhere can I find documentation of exactly WHAT gets backed up or to WHERE (it says to "Google servers" but what the heck does that mean? I can't find it on my Google Drive or anywhere else on my Google account dashboard.)
I do greatly appreciate your help, by the way.
You could try reinstalling through kies or smart switch. Make sure to clear caches before and after. And see if that works. If it doesnt help, you could flash recovery, root, try to backup as much as you can between reboots and then factory reset. Your apps should automatically download from play store. But without the titbackup files you'll lose settings and data in a lot of apps that Google doesn't backup.
I unlocked your mum's bootloader.
kydar said:
I have a TMobile Note 4 SM-N910T. It's currently on 5.1.1 stock and I just got the OTA Marshmallow update notification. I'd like to try Marshmallow out, but if I allow the OTA update, will I be able to root it later? Or is 6.0.1 unrootable (for now)? If I root it now (before updating to MM) will I still get the OTA update? And will it still be rooted after the update? So many questions!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Were you able to downgrade back to 5.1.1? My phone also download the MM ota but I haven't installed it. I rooted 5.1.1 first and am trying to locate where exactly the MM ota downloaded to.
Been hearing too much about problems with MM.
Shad0wsabr3 said:
Were you able to downgrade back to 5.1.1? My phone also download the MM ota but I haven't installed it. I rooted 5.1.1 first and am trying to locate where exactly the MM ota downloaded to.
Been hearing too much about problems with MM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There aren't that many problems with MM. Just superficial stuff like not having mobile data toggle. The problems you are hearing about a factory reset will fix. Like lag, jankyness, apps loading, phone freezing temporarily. You won't be able to do OTA. It will fail because of root. You need to titanium backup or whatever method you prefer of backing up data and flash through kies, odin or smart switch. Probably easier to go that route unless you only did minor things with root like just block ads, then you can probably get away with flashing stock recovery and then OTA. You still might have to factory reset like I had to even though I flashed whole rom through smart switch. If you have xposed or modified something like swapping recent apps and back key like me, then you'll need to flash marshmallow whole and start over after backing up.
Afaik, you can't downgrade to 5.1.1 unless somebody figured out a workaround or you only flashed everything except bootloader.
I unlocked your mum's bootloader.
@Shad0wsabr3, my phone gave me the choice to delay the upgrade for a while, but eventually just did it without my consent. I suppose you could download stock 5.1.1 from sammobile if you really wanted to downgrade. I just wish I could figure out how to back up my (unrooted) phone so I could then do a factory reset and see if it helps the problems I'm having.
kydar said:
@Shad0wsabr3, my phone gave me the choice to delay the upgrade for a while, but eventually just did it without my consent. I suppose you could download stock 5.1.1 from sammobile if you really wanted to downgrade. I just wish I could figure out how to back up my (unrooted) phone so I could then do a factory reset and see if it helps the problems I'm having.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Iv never backed up an unrooted device so I wouldn't know. Glad you nrought that up as Iv been meaning to look into that.
Would you happen to know where the downloaded ota file location is? My phone downloaded it and I keep postponing it.
Sorry, idk exactly where in the file system it is. All I can caution you again is, I kept postponing it and postponing it, and then one day the phone just popped up a message saying it was going to reboot and update, whether I liked it or not. Well, it didn't actually SAY whether I liked it or not but it did decide that I had postponed the update long enough and it was going to apply the update, giving me no option to postpone it any longer. That sort of pissed me off.
Please let me know if you come up with a backup solution. I've tried SimpleADB or whatever it is called these days, and another app that claimed to be able to back up an unrooted phone. Neither of them worked as advertised.
Where are the root instructions for completely stock 910T with MM update?
vernj123 said:
Where are the root instructions for completely stock 910T with MM update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/not...overy-n910t-t3-marshmallow-pe3-guide-t3406870
kydar said:
Sorry, idk exactly where in the file system it is. All I can caution you again is, I kept postponing it and postponing it, and then one day the phone just popped up a message saying it was going to reboot and update, whether I liked it or not. Well, it didn't actually SAY whether I liked it or not but it did decide that I had postponed the update long enough and it was going to apply the update, giving me no option to postpone it any longer. That sort of pissed me off.
Please let me know if you come up with a backup solution. I've tried SimpleADB or whatever it is called these days, and another app that claimed to be able to back up an unrooted phone. Neither of them worked as advertised.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm still researching what your dealing with. As for me I found the ota file. For those looking for it this is how and where I found it....
With RomToolbox I went to root browser. Then to data folder and a folder named fota. Within the fota folder is the ota update named update.zip. I erased that and then went into Titanium Backup and chose to freeze both software update files. So far no constant reminders that I have an update ready to be installed.
Hope this may help.

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