Samsung Kies help

[Denisew 1972]

Ok, so I buckled and downloaded Kies to try to update to Android 4.3. It recognizes my phone, tells me all my info like device memory, music, contacts...so i know it's working BUT, when I check the firmware KIES is saying my device is running the latest firmware when it's not. I've been stuck at 4.1.2 FOREVER now. Is this a hopeless cause? Why in the heck can't I get my phone to recognize that it needs an update? (Even a factory reset did not trigger it to need an update). What gives? Any ideas?

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[Golfdriver97]

Ok, so I buckled and downloaded Kies to try to update to Android 4.3. It recognizes my phone, tells me all my info like device memory, music, contacts...so i know it's working BUT, when I check the firmware KIES is saying my device is running the latest firmware when it's not. I've been stuck at 4.1.2 FOREVER now. Is this a hopeless cause? Why in the heck can't I get my phone to recognize that it needs an update? (Even a factory reset did not trigger it to need an update). What gives? Any ideas?

Posted via Android Central App

I have never understood why Kies acts the way it does especially in situations like this.
You could try flashing a stock ROM through your PC and Odin. However, I have seen a fair amount of threads where people doing this (and doing it correctly) and having problems afterward.
Something else to be made aware of: once you get your device to 4.3, as far as I am aware of, there is no going back. Samsung introduced a security feature called Knox that will prevent rolling back to an earlier ROM.

From a Sprint Moto X using AC Forums app

 

[GSDer]

BUT, when I check the firmware KIES is saying my device is running the latest firmware when it's not.

Apparently the carrier is responsible for letting Samsung know that a firmware update is available through Kies - even though the OTA was available, it took over two months for Kies to finally recognize that the firmware was out of date on my Verizon S3. Heck, Verizon's own utility didn't even recognize that the firmware was out of date.

If replacing the SIM card hasn't solved your inability to get the OTA then I'd suggest using Odin to load it manually.

As Paul has warned you, though, once you jump to 4.3 there's no going back. You could load a hacked version of 4.3 that runs on the old bootloader/firmware and have the best of both worlds. Or if you just want your phone to be in line with what the carrier is supporting you can go the Odin route.

Sent from my rooted, debloated, deodexed Sinclair ZX-80 running CM -0.001 using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Denisew 1972]

Thanks for your help! I appreciate the input. I'm on Sprint, there isn't a SIM card on the phone. I did seriously consider re rooting the phone via Odin. It may be my only option at this point. (Sigh)
Question, when I rooted the first time, I do believe it was Odin and it downloaded a Superuser app. with the root. I unrooted, via the superuser app. because I wanted to be able to get the OTA of 4.3 (never did). Could the fact that I previously rooted mess with the ability to receive OTA updates? Shouldn't the act of unrooting enabled that back so updates could come OTA?
I really had no business rooting anyway, I just wanted the "multi task" sooner than Sprint was sending it out, LOL.

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[GSDer]

Could the fact that I previously rooted mess with the ability to receive OTA updates?

It could - it depends on what else went on in the rooting process (or what else you did afterwards). Oftentimes the OTA will actually download but will fail to install (for various reasons); sometimes it'll be blocked from even downloading.

Your best bet is to use Odin to load whichever firmware you really want - if you go with 4.3 stock then whenever 4.4.x comes out you should be ready for that OTA.

Sent from my rooted, debloated, deodexed Sinclair ZX-80 running CM -0.001 using Tapatalk Pro