After the Update? Somthing to consider.

[Wildman]

Is it me or have anyone else noticed a pattern of the number of users that keep reporting that "After a Update" a app don't work, the device developed issue like freezing, rebooting and other issues?

Why is it that users are not prepared to accept that installing updates over a modified device isnt the wises way to go, there is no way that I can believe after you install almost a 20+ apps that all modify files on the device to function wont cause issues with a update that will require to access these files and sometimes delete them all together to resolve bugs that exist.

I understand that no user wants to have to reload apps and configure a device again after updated but it is becoming clearer and clearer that simply coping files over old files isn't the most effective method

For all users that are reporting regularly that the device started having issues after installing a update, try considering this thought how much of the system files software changes from there original design to allow the application to add a function to the device, do you believe these changes can not block access to those same files when a OS update requires to make changes to them?   Even PCs require a reboot to access file when it installs apps that makes system files why would you consider that Android is any different.

I'm not trying to change anyones mind but I am simply give users something to concider...

[Ann154]

+ 1

[gerio]

Yes, I have noticed this trend.

I have taken the hard line on this, especially after a series of discussions I was involved with over the summer.

While I'm certain that there will be a number of phones that break because of the updates, there is the ounce of prevention idea that people refuse to embrace.

I don't even care any more. The 2 Droid Xs that are used by my girlfriend and daughter are working fine after all the updates (they never power the phones off, so I don't know if the phones are afflicted with the power-back-up issue or not. Once a week, I have to remind them to power-cycle their phones).

My X2 hasn't been as solid, but nothing I can't manage until the onslaught of new 4G phones arrives.

I can safely say that any issue I run into will NOT be a result of updating over old app installs.

This has been discussed ad nauseum around here. I have no sympathy for those who choose to ignore the common sense approach to updating their phones.

Geri O

[AZSALUKI]

i'm assuming you are all suggesting factory resets when an update is installed? i only mention the term because it hasn't actually been mentioned and this thread may appear a bit cryptic to some.

[Wildman]

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AZSALUKI wrote:

i'm assuming you are all suggesting factory resets when an update is installed? i only mention the term because it hasn't actually been mentioned and this thread may appear a bit cryptic to some.

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After reading my post (after the edited time had passed) I notice I overlooked stating this one fact and couldn't edit the post, I have tried to point out that a hard reset before any major update could avoid a number of issues reported but so far users hasn't been open to consider this as a possible solution.

Within the last few months every post that was built around issues with a device has always reported that the problem started after a software update, I am hoping that users will become more open to trying a hard reset before constantly starting the obvious.  Like the old joke pointed out "Doctor my leg hurts when I hit it with a hammer" and the doctor replies"Then don't hit your leg with the hammer" , is this something that needs to be pointed out. 

[#6]

Wildman, you sum things up nicely. Building off your doctor reference, I like to use a drug analogy (prescription of course).  I like to compare the Android OS to the human body.  While one application may be fine while loaded on a device and present no "side-effects", there's no telling how that application will react when another application is running in the same environment.  This is much like the human body.  1 prescription drug may be fine, but when you start making drug coctails (still prescription of course), there's much more of a likelyhood that there will be side-effects.  I know, super-lame and over-simplified, but it helps make sense of things. 

Putting that into software terms, when installing an application, the user must accept permissions for the program to modify, delete, and add files to the device.  Let's say 2 different programs need to modify the same portion of the software. Which application "wins"? Does the other one become glitchy? Most developers test their applications well, but it's hard to know if these applications will play nicely with others.  

As always, thank you for your input in our community. 

[B33]

Well since i done the FR the old X in my opinion has done alott better 1 or 2 grims still lurk on her but other than that i'm happy an my battery i cannot say enough that new battery i pute in my X has done very good on the between charge times.  my D inc. on the other hand its just doin.  it might be better after it gets gingerbread we'll just have to see. B33

And i havent said this in while.(((  Wildman a popsickle tost too ya great commet.!!  B33

[DroidJoy]

Help this newbie understand this. I've had my DROID X since the beginning and have had few problems with it. (knock wood)  I love the newest big update (I think its the one called Gingerbread?) But just the other day there was one that made my keyboard go crazy when I tried to text.

B33 had a solution for that which worked, but now I have a question...

You are all talking about a factory reset. would that be taking the droid back to the first day of purchase, thereby  losing my contacts, calendar, emails, pictures etc the equivalent of wiping my computer hard drive? Or are you referring to a reboot by removing the battery?

How does one do a factory reset and what are the consequences.

Thanks in advance for your patience with my question.

[Wildman]

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DroidJoy wrote:

Help this newbie understand this. I've had my DROID X since the beginning and have had few problems with it. (knock wood)  I love the newest big update (I think its the one called Gingerbread?) But just the other day there was one that made my keyboard go crazy when I tried to text.

B33 had a solution for that which worked, but now I have a question...

You are all talking about a factory reset. would that be taking the droid back to the first day of purchase, thereby  losing my contacts, calendar, emails, pictures etc the equivalent of wiping my computer hard drive? Or are you referring to a reboot by removing the battery?

How does one do a factory reset and what are the consequences.

Thanks in advance for your patience with my question.

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A hard reset will wipe all data and restore the device to factory state but you should not loose your contacts, apps, calendar, emails and pictures because Google backs up the contacts, apps, calendar, emails and your pictures are stored on you SD Card and when you hard reset this does not effect any data on the card unless you check the option under the restore option.

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MikeS_VZW wrote:

Wildman, you sum things up nicely. Building off your doctor reference, I like to use a drug analogy (prescription of course).  I like to compare the Android OS to the human body.  While one application may be fine while loaded on a device and present no "side-effects", there's no telling how that application will react when another application is running in the same environment.  This is much like the human body.  1 prescription drug may be fine, but when you start making drug coctails (still prescription of course), there's much more of a likelyhood that there will be side-effects.  I know, super-lame and over-simplified, but it helps make sense of things. 

Putting that into software terms, when installing an application, the user must accept permissions for the program to modify, delete, and add files to the device.  Let's say 2 different programs need to modify the same portion of the software. Which application "wins"? Does the other one become glitchy? Most developers test their applications well, but it's hard to know if these applications will play nicely with others.  

As always, thank you for your input in our community. 

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 Mike, thank you for the kind acknowledgement...  I am glad I can contribute useful information.

[spinge]

Sorry, I am a complete newbie to the X (it is my wife's phone, I get to see it once and a while)

What is the correct procedure for the hard reset?

Thanks

[Wildman]

Settings / Privacy / Factory Reset / Reset Phone / Erase Everything....    It is wise under some cases to uncheck the Auto Restore and Backup Data Option to avoid uncompatible apps and data from auto restoring that may have cause issues..

http://support.vzw.com/clc/devices/knowledge_base.html?id=33552

[spinge]

Wildman,

Thanks for the help.  If I understand correctly, by leaving the backup and auto-restore CHECKED, the phone will back itself up to the Google servers when I select a hard reset.  Or do I need to force this action before the hard reset?  I really don't want to hear a lot of grief about having to reload all of the applications and such.

If she is still having problems after the hard reset, then perform the same operation with the backup and auto-restore UNCHECKED.

Is there a way to selectively restore?  Like so she won't loose her contact and calendar data, but has to reload the apps that she wants?

Thanks again for the help

[Wildman]

Calendar and Contacts will restore no matter what when you connect to Google eMail but the apps is best reloaded from a backup source like MyBackup if you want to restore all apps originally on the device but restoring apps isnt suggested automatically because the issue you may be having could be from a app, usually better to just open the Market app and select menu / myapps and you will see all payed for apps that was installed, install them from there to allow you to trouble shoot the issue.

To wipe a device with issue and restore it back to exactly the way it was with issues just doesnt seem to be the best way to resolve a problem, you would reinstall a bad starter on a car after you just removed it....  This is just what I learned from experiance its best to start fresh but its your call on that.

[lvmydxntmysvc]

Are you saying that if someone buys an AP.. they should get rid of it to do an update?

I can understand an AP "NOT" running after you upgrade your phone.. but I cannot understand an AP being an excuse your upgrade did not work or you have system problems from an update. (as with the phones not turning off)

An AP should run ON YOUR Phone's operating system, it should never take over and run your Phone's operating system.

I can see maybe an (incompatible) AP not closing correctly, after an upgrade, and cause your phone "NOT" to shut down completely causing it to come back on. BUT, if the phone is turning off all the way.. an AP should "NOT" be causing the phone to turn back on.

That is the only issue I have with the upgrade the best I can tell.. is the phone turning itself back on and the ONLY aps on my phone is what came on it.

Although there are NO guarantees when upgrading your Windows machine, Microsoft does let you know when you should do an "UPGRADE" vs an "INSTALL". Most people update their Win7 machine 1 or more times a month with not issues, but like when Windows 7 came out.. they told you that if you were running XP.. you needed to do a fresh Install and a lot of your OLD XP programs would not run in WIN7.

[Wildman]

When you are dealing with a OS that allows programmer to introduce custom codes to be able to add functionality to a device this mean that you can easily run into protocols added that will modify system files to a point that they would have to be restored or overridden to be able to resolve issues, and under this type of methods you can run into to angles that can allow issues..

1. A application overrided rights to restrict the OS from edit or deleting the changes.

2. The OS successfully override or delete the file needed and this makes the app using the files malfunction and cause the app and any function tied to it to crash.

Just changing one line of code when writing a app can change a large amount of codes that follow or link to the edited one and this can cause a number of standard functions to stop working (Ir Break them using a common term)

One more thing to remember that all updates where designed and tested on a unchanged system code and file base,

Its like you drove a car for 12 years and then one day someone moves your steering wheel in the back seat, you wont be able to perform basic tasks because of this change.   Updates exist for a reason, to correct issues or poor design.

[gerio]

Yup.

Geri O

[Ann154]

You're right, AZ. It is a bit vague that the topic is factory resets. I guess I have read SO many posts discussing doing or not doing one that I completely glossed over the fact it wasn't specifically mentioned.

It is all automatic anymore.

[Ann154]

The calendar and contacts will restore from your gmail account along as they have been saved to the gmail account. If a person is not careful when they create the contact or event especially the first time, the items are often saved on the phone only.

You should be able to tell if any contacts are saved to the phone by looking at the details of the contacts. Phone Contacts will say phone and Google contacts will be listed as Google.

[AZSALUKI]

+1 for ann's input. i actually had an htc incredible for months before i realized i had to export the contact files to my google account (they were only on the phone). i had always used backup assistant for my contacts, which only stores them on the phone and on "my verizon." believe it or not, there are some users out there that have not sync'd nor exported their phone's contacts with google. there even some that haven't done that OR used backup assistant, and have no backup at all of their contacts.

edit: if you want to be positive that your contacts are sync'd with google, you can login to your ggogle account from a pc and see if they are there.

[Ann154]

Thanks AZ.

I'm sure I have mentioned it before, but I'll repeat it for any new readers. I have had the "pleasure" of losing a few contacts (thankfully not all) through my first factory reset on my Eris. It is not something one forgets after experiencing it firsthand.

[B33]

Hi ya'll thought i'd chime in an say hellow an i wanted to add after asking mr wildman i did the FR on my X an too me it seemed to help it. An i left the B U M D checked an the A R unchecked an after changing the settings in the battery compartment to performance an some other minor adjustments along the way things have been pretty good. An my new battery that i installed recently is doing better than i could ever expect.

I did have a minor issue with my google contacts as i restored them to the phone it pute them back as it should.  but it created a problem as well it doubled the contacts on my Inc. so after some head scratching an midnight oil burning i got it back in order. An my contacts are listed on the X under google contacts only not Back U Assistant i dont no if i need that or not but going thru the head ache of redoing my contacts again. well that just is'nt in the cards an they seem to be working ok for now any way.   B33