Samsung Galaxy S - Update help!

RastaManBob

RastaManBob

RastaManBob

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Joined
30 Dec 2003
Posts
2,254
Hi,

I have a Samsung Galaxy S. The details on 'About' menu of the phone are:

Model Number:
GT-I9000

Firmware version:
2.1-update1

Baseband version:
I9000XXJF3

Kernel version:
2.6.29
root@SE-S602 #2

Build number:
ECLAIR

I use the phone on T-Mobile. I have no idea if it is locked, etc, but was purchased there from new (well a reseller website, not sure where it physically came from).

I have never updated this phone. This is as the phone was purchased one year ago. I have not installed any new ROMs, official or custom. I am the only owner and therefore no it has never been updated without my knowledge.

I am aware a new version of Android is out and have installed the Kies software, wishing to do this the 'official' route.

I get the following error message in Kies:

The current version is not an official release.
Firmware upgrade service for unofficial versions is not supported.
Current firmware version: PDA:JF4 / PHONE:JF3 / CSC:JE6 (TMU)

Any help at all? I really want to get this updated, especially after the hassle of install the terrible Kies software!

Thanks.
 
Called T-Mobile; No use - 'If the problem is Kies then you should take this matter up with Samsung'.

Called Samsung; A little more useful - 'Take the phone to your nearest authorised Samsung repairer who will install the latest firmware'. They gave me the number for the nearest - an independant.

Called the authorised repairer; Did not fill my confidence - 'Erm.. yeah, I s'pose - Just drop it off'. I asked if it could be done whilst I waited - 'Nah, you'll have to leave it with us'. That's an issue because (a) the place is not actually very near to me (10 miles each way and would have to go their twice) and (b) I cannot be without my mobile.

Really not sure what to do now, being as the people I expected support from have not really been *that* useful. Anybody?! :(
 
Mattey1 said:
You are running a custom/rooted kernel it seems



I'm pretty sure you will need to use odin to install the stock kernel back. Should be able to find that on the XDA developer forums or http://www.samfirmware.com/mobile.htm
Click to expand...

:confused: But I've never installed anything on the phone other than from the Marketplace... I'd never even connected the phone to a PC until last night. I have owned the phone from new so it's like a previous owner could have done it, for example.

Are you sure that is what this means? If so, it would suggest it was like this when purchased (on a T-Mobile contract).
 
I'm pretty certain no Galaxy series comes pre-rooted. Someone will correct me if I am wrong though.

But on my SGSII when I was running a rooted kernel KIES would not let me update & it was showing with the same error message as you get. I always use ODIN now anyway it is very easy to use.
 
Searched Google for 'root@SE-S602 #2' and there seem to be other suggesting that they have this kernel listed but have not rooted. They do not state whether they can update via Kies, though.

Are you positive that the 'root' means the phone is rooted rather than it was build by a 'root' user (at Samsung, etc) as I've read elsewhere? I'm not suggesting you're wrong but want to be sure that this is the cause of the problem as others suggest not.

Still I'm pretty concerned because it's unlikely T-Mobile (or Samsung) will help if they believe I've put a custom ROM/kernel/whatever on when I have not. All I want is the latest 'official' update (as I'd get from Samsung/T-Mobile/whoever).

Doh. :(
 
Grab root checker off the market place, that will tell you if the phone is rooted. I have just read the same as you on Google also.

What happens if you select "software update" under about phone?
 
Mattey1 said:
Grab root checker off the market place, that will tell you if the phone is rooted. I have just read the same as you on Google also.

What happens if you select "software update" under about phone?
Click to expand...

There is no 'Software Update' setting/option to click. I guess T-Mobile (or whatever bloody ROM/kernel I've got!) has removed it.
 
loltim said:
What's the problem? Ignore Kies, download Odin v1.85 and download the JVR firmware which is 2.3.4 gingerbread.

edit: or JVS http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1257063
Click to expand...

At the moment I do not feel like I've a good enough understanding of different firmwares/ROMs/kernels available. Nor am I really too fussed (as can be seen by the fact I've gone a year without even bothering to update). The only reason I'm not interested is because I am *considering* giving the phone to my partner and in this case I'd like it to be up-to-date.

I, foolishly, thought that upgrading the 'official' way would be easiest.

Of course, the other reason is that I would like to keep the phone in warranty (according to T-Mobile the phone has another year left)... I have read it's possible to 'flash' back but this is taking me even further into the whole ROM area where I'm not familiar.

If there were an alternative to Kies that did the exact same thing/same ROM/did not void warranty I'd consider it, but otherwise I think it'll take a lot of research before I feel comfortable enough. [E.g., JVR and JVS mean nothing to me at the moment].
 
My galaxy s firmware used to say "root" when on stock firmware.

Kies is software from hell:)

Best just drop in and let them reflash, a bit of a pain but keeps warranty intact.

Updating to 2.3 is well worth it, 2.1 was very laggy with a lot of black screens
 
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Galaxy S on Eclair is awful. In fact, in the year I've owned the SGS I have never liked it and this was one of the reasons to change phone. My partner is considering a contract (because it offers a better tariff than her current SIM free) but does not care about phones too much... So she's offered me a phone (as long as it's free, or I pay the one-off, on the sort of tariff she is after) for the SGS... It was only when thinking about this I realised an update may be useful... Then if I like the SGS good, otherwise at least it's up to date for my partner.

So, having said all of this - and having seen how useless T-Mobile's support was (and I don't have insurance so that's all I'd ever have to contact) I am now seriously considering going the whole hog.

I do not mean to be lazy (I can assure you I have spent all day reading and am slowly building a better picture) but if somebody could either list everything I need to do *or* point me in the direction of a 'definitive' guide that'd be great. I've found so many guides and they all slightly differ. Specifically, I want to make sure the versions of different files I need/use correspond to my handset (see first post for the Phone/PDA/CSC and all other numbers).

And, if I'm going to invalidate the warranty then I do not mind going the whole hog and put any extra custom ROMs and/or root the phone, etc.

So can somebody hold my hand along the way and basically starting from what we have the OP guide me into getting the SGS as best as it can possibly be? I appreciate that people might not be prepared to help and in that case I'll continue to struggle through the reams of often contradictory information but it'd certainly slow things down.

[I'd even consider buying beers for somebody local to take care of it; I'd trust them more than the 'Authorised Samsung' company I was put in touch with - Especially as they want to keep the phone for a number of days and they are not terribly local anyway].



EDIT: Just been trying to read even more. So it seems there are three pieces to the puzzel: ROM, Recovery and Kernel, right? And a custom ROM is just the 'normal' ROM but somebody has gone through a tweaked it a little? So potentially better/faster but possibly extra bugs? In which case, where can I find the latest greatest 'stock' ROM, Recovery and Kernel? (And other files needed - I keep reading about .pit).
 
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SB118 said:
There are a stack of idiot proof guides out there, even i can follow them!
Click to expand...

Yes there are loads and that's half the problem - Many of them differ on the finer details as (I presume) some are out of date. The actual act of updating does not seem too difficult but it's the process of knowing which versions of the various files, etc.

At the end of the day, I think you're right - An 'idiot' could follow the guides but would not have a clue what to do should the worst happen... Somebody with more experience would know exactly what versions to use (and what each do and how they differ) and how to procede when something goes wrong... I guess that's the sort of level I'm struggling to acquire with the conflicting guides I'm finding.
 
Why not give it a go and post your progress here? I'm happy to help you troubleshoot if there's an issue. Just back everything up first if you want to keep it (if you don't know how, ask).

If you like, I'll guide you through each step to get the latest JVS Samsung software on there. It's miles and miles away from those early releases.
 
loltim said:
where are you located?

http://www.theandroidsoul.com/xxjvr-latest-galaxy-s-firmware/
Click to expand...

Located in Ruislip (Middx/W. [Greater] London)... Unfortunately not near to South Yorkshire :(.

Thanks also for the link. It mentions XXJVR, where as your earlier link (in this thread) was JVS. Which is best? Also I see this covers the whole PDA/Phone/CSC/pit thing too... Great.

However - Will this work 'out of the box' with T-Mobile? I've read about having to install the correct modem or internet (for example) wont work without having to manually set it up... In which case I do not know the settings to do so manually.

Also, am I correct that this does not update the kernel or recovery? Is it necessary to update these? If so, how?

Thanks again.
 
JVR is newer than JVS, I didn't even know JVS existed till 2 mins ago:p JVS is 2.3.5 and JVR is 2.3.4. With 2.3.5 being so new it may be wise to go with JVR as it's tried and tested and likely to have less bugs, up to you, you can always flash back via Odin.

Download Odin from xda, firmware will probably be over there too.
Put phone in download mode, I think on the i9000 you hold down vol down, front button and power button together.
Open Odin, put files in relevant fields as per guide. Select correct check boxes as per guide.
Hit start, and you're done. Phone will restart.

Just make sure Kies is killed in task manager before you start.
 
loltim said:
JVR is newer than JVS, I didn't even know JVS existed till 2 mins ago:p JVS is 2.3.5 and JVR is 2.3.4. With 2.3.5 being so new it may be wise to go with JVR as it's tried and tested and likely to have less bugs, up to you, you can always flash back via Odin.

Download Odin from xda, firmware will probably be over there too.
Put phone in download mode, I think on the i9000 you hold down vol down, front button and power button together.
Open Odin, put files in relevant fields as per guide.
Hit start, and you're done.

Just make sure Kies is killed in task manager before you start.
Click to expand...

Thanks... It seems the website you linked to has a similar tutorial for JVS too, so I'll decide when I get home from work which to go to. The site also lists a kernel/recovery installation that can be installed using Odin after the ROM... Seems to be a good tutorial. Would you recommend doing the ROM *and* (rooted) kernel and recovery?

My main concern is still if this will work on T-Mobile? E.g., the data? Also I am not sure if the phone is locked or unlocked... Will this be an issue?

Slowly building the confidence to give this a go tonight but a few things are still worrying me :p heh.
 
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