[carnivalist]

I've tried upgrading the Firmware both on both my unbranded S3 (ICS to JellyBean) and my mother's Virgin Mobile Galaxy Ace Plus (Gingerbread to ICS I assume) to no avail, thanks to The Most Useless Piece Of Software Ever Known To Man - otherwise known as Samsung Kies.

I've used two different laptops, one Win7 64-bit, one Vista 32-bit, to no avail. I've installed and reinstalled and tried old versions; no dice. I've used old drivers; no cigar. I've connected in USB debugging mode and MTP; epic fail.

The Ace Plus won't even connect now - at least Kies previously afforded me the courtesy of connecting, before locking up at the start of the firmware upgrade and only leaving the building with the aid of a boot in the backside from Task Manager.

I've tried upgrading my S3 with an OTA update, but unfortunately that fails as well (I get the Android lying on it's back thing). While Kies previously informed that there was an upgrade to my mother's Galaxy Ace Plus (i.e before it stopped connecting) it won't update OTA. (Maybe Virgin haven't released it via this method?)

Anyway, as far as upgrading is concerned I'm pretty sure I'm stuffed - all the alternative methods seem to involve rooting the phone, which I assume would invalidate the operator guarantee, if not the manufacturer's warranty. I might get away with it on my S3, as it's unbranded, but presumably it would mean having to debrand the Ace Plus.

Still, if anybody has any more ideas, I'd be grateful.

I love the S3 and I think the Ace Plus is pretty decent for what it is, but if I can't even upgrade the firmware, then what's the point? If Samsung haven't sorted out this piece of garbage Kies, by the time I come to get a new phone in a year or two, there is no way I will touch Samsung with a barge-pole. I have to say I don't hold out much hope, since the sheer volume of complaints out there is astonishing - even from dyed-in-the-wool android fans. However it seems to have had no effect whatsoever on Samsung. If it wasn't for that fact I'd probably e-mail and complain.

I struggle to think of a more frustrating and time-wasting piece of software - it makes the inordinate amount of time I spent on old windows versions trying to resolve BSODs and working out such peccadilloes as where storage drives had suddenly disappeared to in explorer and so on, seem like a minor detail.

I would actually be relieved if Samsung announced they were going to replace kies with itunes, which is saying something. In fact I wonder if apple have a mole somewhere in Samsung's handset software department, because it seems to me that Kies is by far the most effective way to p*ss of Samsung's customers - better than anything any competitor could ever dream of. ("Entice them with a great handset, then burst their balloon with the Software From Hell!")

And please - no anti-apple/pro-android fanatics claiming that Kies works fine for you. Hooray and congratulations if that's the case, but from the torrent of abuse this software attracts all over the web, it seems you're just lucky.

Rant Over.

(As I say I'd be grateful for any help.!)

[Anika Hanson]

Kies is awful. I tried to update my galaxy note and galaxy tab 2 through it and it never worked. Just a waste of time. I just wait for over the air updates now.

[Step666]

There's a piece of software called Odin that can be used to flash Samsung handsets.
It's questionable as to whether it would void your warranty or not, though it definitely doesn't require rooting.

It'll work for both handsets, I'm just not sure what selection of firmwares you'd be able to find for the Ace Plus - unbranded firmwares should be easy to come by, network-branded ones maybe not to much.

As for Kies, I know it's of little comfort but Samsung are well aware of how poor it is and are working to fix it.



Also, an odd request I know but you don't happen to have a screenshot of the Android on it's back?
Sounds kinda cute...

[Stiggles]

Odin doesn't void warrantys as its what Samsung use in house to unbrick and flash phones in for repair.

Regarding kies, i just updated my Mrs S3 with no issues again today. The only time i have seen the Android man lying on his back was when the phone was rooted and Kies wont update that.

Does the Android man while lying on his back have a yellow exclamation mark or is a door open with blue button things?

What OS are you running Kies on?

EDIT:- is it showing this?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jF4CgOU8cb...edTriangle.JPG

[Step666]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stiggles

Odin doesn't void warrantys as its what Samsung use in house to unbrick and flash phones in for repair.

It's a piece of software that Samsung don't make available for users to download, that has to be used with firmware files that are sourced from third-parties - it's definitely not officially supported by Samsung for end users to use.

Chances are you'll never have problems with it but anyone opting to use a program like Odin has to accept there's a chance something will go awry and they will be up the proverbial creek.
If you're not willing to take that chance, however small, you shouldn't be dabbling in such things.

[Stiggles]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Step666

It's a piece of software that Samsung don't make available for users to download, that has to be used with firmware files that are sourced from third-parties - it's definitely not officially supported by Samsung for end users to use.

Chances are you'll never have problems with it but anyone opting to use a program like Odin has to accept there's a chance something will go awry and they will be up the proverbial creek.
If you're not willing to take that chance, however small, you shouldn't be dabbling in such things.

Only if YOU told samsung you used it would they know!

Otherwise yes, use it, take a risk of bricking your phone if you do not pay attention and samsung will not want to know.

But apparently now it doesnt matter if you brick your S3, Theres a new method to get out of a brick using an SD card. Sure i saw it on XDA.

[TelevisionUser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anika Hanson

Kies is awful. I tried to update my galaxy note and galaxy tab 2 through it and it never worked. Just a waste of time. I just wait for over the air updates now.

Indeed, Anika Hanson; it is a truly awful and unresponsive piece of software that really ought to be scrapped and replaced by something that actually works and that isn't bloatware.

[Stiggles]

I know ive said this before but ill say it again and probably get lynched for it!

I don't see whats wrong with it! It opens, updates and backs up fine for me. I have never had an issue in all the years i have used it! Its never been sluggish either!

[Jwhiterz]

Am I correct in saying that the Samsung galexy ace plus is getting jelly bean in the future?

[Step666]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stiggles

Only if YOU told samsung you used it would they know!

Well, as I say, the chances are slim.
But it's always worth being fully informed before opting for a particular course of action.

And it's certainly not true, as I've seen people claim on other fora, that Odin is covered by the warranty.
At best, Samsung would not realise you'd used it but that's a very different thing to them supporting it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stiggles

Otherwise yes, use it, take a risk of bricking your phone if you do not pay attention and samsung will not want to know.

But apparently now it doesnt matter if you brick your S3, Theres a new method to get out of a brick using an SD card. Sure i saw it on XDA.

Of course, in what will seem to be a rather ironic statement given what I've just written, one of the reasons that it's so hard to brick a Samsung device is that Odin is such an awesome piece of software

[carnivalist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stiggles

Odin doesn't void warrantys as its what Samsung use in house to unbrick and flash phones in for repair.

Regarding kies, i just updated my Mrs S3 with no issues again today. The only time i have seen the Android man lying on his back was when the phone was rooted and Kies wont update that.

Does the Android man while lying on his back have a yellow exclamation mark or is a door open with blue button things?

What OS are you running Kies on?

EDIT:- is it showing this?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jF4CgOU8cb...edTriangle.JPG

Yes, that's the android-on-it's-back animation I get.

Genuine thanks for your help Stiggles. However I did point out that I didn't want to be told that a particular poster had no issues - after all there are people who loved Vista, even though Microsoft themselves effectively admitted it was cr*p (admittedly most of these are sectioned in secure wards, but nevertheless they do exist).

There is an overwhelming weight of anecdotal evidence that Kies is the bane of many Samsung owner's lives. As much as I adore the S3 and would never choose an iphone over it, I would much rather use itunes than Kies, even though I'm not a particular fan of the former and don't even use the official release to manage my ipod. Then again, I'd rather use an application which required me to connect my handset via a red hot USB cable thrust into my testicles than Kies.

[carnivalist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stiggles

...I don't see whats wrong with (Kies)...

Stiggles, I'm not going to flame you. However please read my OP again, then search for "Kies" in conjunction with any rude word, term of abuse and/or phrase of complaint you can think of - then stand back and watch your processor struggle to cope with the consequences.

Quote:

It opens...

True - to be fair I do usually get that far.

Quote:

...crashes, freezes, refuses to connect and throws wobblies in general fine for me.

Typos corrected.

On a less facetious note, I understand you don't have problems, but an unacceptably large number of people seem to. That is what should matter to Samsung,

[artnada]

Kies has updated twice very recently and I now find it a very good, fast, responsive piece of kit now. Go back 2 builds and it was an absolute crock of shit.

[Stiggles]

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnivalist

Stiggles, I'm not going to flame you. However please read my OP again, then search for "Kies" in conjunction with any rude word, term of abuse and/or phrase of complaint you can think of - then stand back and watch your processor struggle to cope with the consequences.

Ah yes, but do that with anything and the same will apply!

My i5 sits pretty much idle with kies open and gets tickled when running an update.

Quote:

True - to be fair I do usually get that far.

Good

Quote:

Typos corrected.

See, i get none of that which is what i dont understand.

Quote:

On a less facetious note, I understand you don't have problems, but an unacceptably large number of people seem to. That is what should matter to Samsung,

Yep and likewise a vast number of people will have no issues.

Quote:

Originally Posted by artnada

Kies has updated twice very recently and I now find it a very good, fast, responsive piece of kit now. Go back 2 builds and it was an absolute crock of shit.

Yeah, a while back it was awful. Now its fine.

[finbaar]

Just to clarify, if you brick your phone and then send it to Samsung and told them you done when attemting to flash it with Odin you will be stuffed, they will say you have invalidated your warranty.

I have used Kies and would not use it again, I will update my wife's Note with Odin. The only time I have bricked a phone was using the official Sony Ericsson updater on my Xperia Arc. I would much rather trust the developer community rather than what the manufacturer gives us.

[carnivalist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stiggles

Ah yes, but do that with anything and the same will apply!

Yes - but some things will suffer more than others. i.e there were people who had no problems with Vista - even some reviewers IIRC. The prevailing view is what counts - are you suggesting that this was the same for Vista as for Win7? Of course the reviewers defending Vista tended to be those who couldn't bear to hear any criticism of Microsoft - might you perhaps be the same about Samsung?

Quote:

See, i get none of those problems which is what i dont understand

.

Simple - you're lucky.

Quote:

Yep and likewise a vast number of people will have no issues.

And likewise a large number of pregnant mothers taking thalidomide had healthy babies. Unfortunately the 10'000 deformed ones were considered evidence that the drug was not fit for purpose - unfair perhaps, but there you go.

Quote:

Yeah, a while back (Kies) was awful. Now its fine.

Not for me or many others it seems. Even on android forums it still gets more hammer than other software.

I note an earlier poster claimed that Samsung are aware Kies has problems and are trying to address it. If true this would tend to undermine the clam that everything's hunky dory.

[rosetech]

@OP use ODIN.

Kies has many issues primarily with driver support (so does ODIN but to a lesser extent). Before you attempt an update, ensure your machine has loaded the correct Samsung USB drivers.

I agree the newer versions of Kies are an improvement but a turd rolled in glitter is still a turd

[call100]

An alternative view may not be liked, but, in a discussion thread, it's inevitable.
I don't have any problem with Kies and find it does everything it's supposed to do. Something that works on some computers and not others would indicate to me that there is a good chance that the problem lies elsewhere other than the software. (or maybe not )
As has been said, if you can't get any joy from Keis on your computer, give Odin a try....I hope you sort it soon...Good luck.

[carnivalist]

Quote:

Originally Posted by call100

An alternative view may not be liked, but, in a discussion thread, it's inevitable.
I don't have any problem with Kies and find it does everything it's supposed to do. Something that works on some computers and not others would indicate to me that there is a good chance that the problem lies elsewhere other than the software. (or maybe not )

I guess that would be true if other software experienced the same issues, but Kies is in a class of it's own in my experience.

As I said, I've tried two different machines. These have different specs, different Windows versions and largely different software installed, so I'd suggest it is more likely to be Kies itself, especially given the widespread infuriated complaints of even expert users.

I would re-frame your analogy and say that it's a bit like a car working on motorways and breaking down on A-roads when competitor software has no such problem, then blaming the A-road instead of the car. After all, In terms of backup alone, I've had a far better experiences with third-party software, bizarre as that sounds. I was directed to that third-party software in the first-place by other posters who advised me not to use Kies, precisely because of its many flaws.

Quote:

As has been said, if you can't get any joy from Keis on your computer, give Odin a try....I hope you sort it soon...Good luck.

I'm a bit wary due to the warranty issues - especially with my mother's branded Ace Plus. Thanks for the good luck wishes though - I'm going to need them!

[finbaar]

[quote=carnivalist;63452992]I guess that would be true if other software experienced the same issues, but Kies is in a class of it's own in my experience.

As I said, I've tried two different machines. These have different specs, different Windows versions and largely different software installed, so I'd suggest it is more likely to be Kies itself, especially given the widespread infuriated complaints of even expert users.

I would re-frame your analogy and say that it's a bit like a car working on motorways and breaking down on A-roads when competitor software has no such problem, then blaming the A-road instead of the car. After all, In terms of backup alone, I've had a far better experiences with third-party software, bizarre as that sounds. I was directed to that third-party software in the first-place by other posters who advised me not to use Kies, precisely because of its many flaws.




I'm a bit wary due to the warranty issues - especially with my mother's branded Ace Plus. Thanks for the good luck wishes though - I'm going to need them![/QUOTE]

But there is no warranty issue with Odin. If you brick the phone (very unlikely) tell them you done it using Kies and all will be well. They have no way of knowing.

[sacavsworld]

Does anyone have a link to download Odin

[call100]

Download Odin

[scooby1970]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stiggles

I know ive said this before but ill say it again and probably get lynched for it!

I don't see whats wrong with it! It opens, updates and backs up fine for me. I have never had an issue in all the years i have used it! Its never been sluggish either!

I'm the same. Kies does the job perfectly, is really fast and just works. And the same goes for other people I know who use it as it goes.

Mark

[londonman]

Not for this fella. (Yes, I know this is an old thread).

Kies is the biggest heap of poo I have had the misfortune to try and use.

When it eventually deigns to connect to the phone and you try to transfer a file from phone to Mac, you get the message Waiting to transfer files.....and waiting...still waiting....Hell has frozen over but Kies is still...yup..waiting.

[d123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by londonman

Not for this fella. (Yes, I know this is an old thread).

Kies is the biggest heap of poo I have had the misfortune to try and use.

When it eventually deigns to connect to the phone and you try to transfer a file from phone to Mac, you get the message Waiting to transfer files.....and waiting...still waiting....Hell has frozen over but Kies is still...yup..waiting.

Kies has a bad name for previous versions, it works ok these days.

But it is still much easier to download the firmware from Sammobile and just flash it with Odin .