Verizon S5 Lollipop Upgrade Problems

[EarlyMon]

The proportionality problem is due in part to the fact that we're a US site, Verizon accounts for more than a third of all US subscribers, and Verizon screws people so badly that they tend to become more vocal on forums.

The truth is - and I know because I examine them every year - that OTA installer scripts need about 6 lines of code - maximum - to clear out the cache and the Dalvik and to make the dreaded OTA a thing of the past.

Google never did this for the Nexus, no member of the Open Handset Alliance is doing this.

The manufacturers see no need if Google doesn't, and the carriers see no need if the manufacturers don't.

It's an epidemic of lost time and data for everyone and it affects everyone getting an OTA.

But ask the carriers or makers as I have and they'll tell you - that's what the factory data reset is for.

Indeed. Because the lines to mount the /cache and /data filesystems, erase two areas, and unmount those file systems, is simply someone else's problem - according to everyone in the supply chain.

And the users suffer.

PS - lots of evidence that the Dalvik isn't getting cleaned properly either with ART - Android wide.

PPS - I've written installer scripts, I speak the language fluently.

 

[EarlyMon]

Very interesting information EarlyMon. Would this problem be avoided if the phone was already on ART? I think ironass (for some strange reason I always feel the urge to capitalize his call sign) might have indicated that.

We don't have a statistically significant sampling to know that yet.

I'd hoped so every since ART was in beta. I'd like nothing better.

In ART, the Dalvik cache is still being used heavily - just not by the absent Dalvik.

I can provide a sample breakdown of some of the uses if requested but it's still the same thing in that it's a cache in use by the operating system and apps, by any name.

And caches have a way of failing over time and activity.

 

[EarlyMon]

The FDR can't cure everything but it cures most things and you can't diagnose or troubleshoot an undefined state - either way, it's why I'm such a vocal proponent for it.

 

[ironass]

The FDR can't cure everything but it cures most things and you can't diagnose or troubleshoot an undefined state - either way, it's why I'm such a vocal proponent for it.

As I said in one of my other posts, "I know it's a lot of hassle because you have everything set up just the way you want it", but quite often, a Factory Data Reset is the only way that unrooted users can clear all the detritus from a previous firmware. How often have I seen posters on here that are amazed at how much better their handsets were after one and in some cases, how much extra storage they had. The problem is... you don't know until you try it.

The two things an FDR won't correct is poorly written firmware and incompatible user apps and/or settings. This is why, after an FDR, I urge users to check out their phone thoroughly prior to re-installing any user apps and settings.

As for my hopes that ART might mean less FDR's in future, I can only go by my own experience and that of a handful of others that have done ART to ART bugfix updates. What we really need is a mass Android 5.1 update to try it out.

 

[AZgl1500]

I am going to state right now, that if and when, Verizon actually releases a working version of 5.1 (hopefully or better) that my upgrade path will be:

1 - backup everything thrice

2 - Factory Reset

3 - Purge cache Partitions

4 - Install the 5.1 (or better) software ( I will not call it an upgrade, that is for $ale$men only )

The reason for this around the block method is to ensure that absolutely nothing remains of any possible contamination with what might have been on my phone to interfere with the new software install.

I do not want the new install trying to make sure that all of my XYZ apps and their data are retained.

IMO, that is the major source of the problems that have been incurred with Verizon installs of the flopped release of 5.0

There are actually some Verizon users who have survived the 5.0 two step install path and do not seem to have any issues that aggravate them.

This means, that it worked as advertised, or they just simply adjusted to the new system and moved on living with life as it exists now on their phones.

Either way, in their opinion, it is not broken.

____________________________________
2 ea. Verizon Galaxy S5, 4.4.4 forever!, ART
MyPhoneExplorer lets you access a broken phone while locked
Nova Prime, Textra, Blue Mail, Qi wireless equipped
MacroDroid can help extend battery life
MacroDroid senses Screen off, turns Wifi & Data OFF
MacroDroid senses Screen UnLock, turns Data ON

 

[ironass]

ironass, would a FDR before the installation/upgrade make sense?

Not really Snakeyeskm as the problems with the cache, if they occur at at all, will only happen after the update. Remember, the vast majority of users do not need to do an FDR at all.

 

[Mcgee10]

I get that kind of post all the time. Turning off the internet extends the battery life between charges immensely. My wife's S5 is a telephone, and sometimes she plays games on it. It goes about 8 or 9 days on a single charge.

My S5 stays quite busy, lots of phone calls and SMS use. email, google searches when necessary will require I turn on DATA, but not WiFi..... All of the GPS apps that I use for my work projects do not require the internet, I take a lot of pictures of highway problems with my job, and the GPS date/time stamp is embedded in the pix. I write up a summary of the problem and email it. Blue Mail stuffs it into a queue and it waits until I turn on DATA again.

I have the updater apps turned OFF, and I also have Auto Updates OFF, and I have update on WiFi only. so, I feel pretty sure that my phone will not ever see a 5.0 OS install. I don't need the hassles that I am reading about. I don't need a pretty toy to play with, I have a perfectly good working smartphone that does everything it needs to do "at the time I need it"...

I control when and IF it can access the internet. My phone is just as good as your phone, I just choose to control what it will and will not be doing. What it won't be doing is crap behind my back w/o my permission..... like installing useless upgrades that change the menu structure, make the camera loose focus, and a 100 other things I have documented into a Word file I am keeping....

I am going to have to be fully convinced that the VZW 5.0 release is fully vetted before I wade into the Lolliflop waters. right now, it is just like the previous renditions of Android up until 4.4.4.(2) was released by VZW. yes, it took a 2nd release on 4.4.4 to fix the bluetooth they broke with the 1st release of 4.4.4

You see, I never, ever, wade off into muddy waters and getting myself all worked up because my phone is suddenly "broke". I sit back and watch the early birds fuss with their broken toys.... when it all settles down and is fixed, then I will install it. Same thing I do with MicroSloth's Windows operating systems. I give them a year or two years and then I install the "latest" update.... I am still using Win7 Pro because it is stable and isn't broke. Win8 is a joke, and I refuse to use it.
____________________________________
2 ea. Verizon Galaxy S5, KK 4.4.4, ART
MyPhoneExplorer saves your tailbone
Nova Prime, Textra, Blue Mail, Qi wireless equipped
I refuse to install LolliFLOP
Data and WiFi have been permanently turned OFF until VZW fixes this mess.

This is what I have been doing and it's been working until now. My last message from Verizon asked me to upgrade, I said later then it asked me for a time later. Then said if my phone was not on at that time it would be upgraded the next time I turned it on. So I'm guessing update on wifi only and turning off Updater app and Auto updater makes no difference.
Not looking forward to this.

 

[AZgl1500]

This is what I have been doing and it's been working until now. My last message from Verizon asked me to upgrade, I said later then it asked me for a time later. Then said if my phone was not on at that time it would be upgraded the next time I turned it on. So I'm guessing update on wifi only and turning off Updater app and Auto updater makes no difference.
Not looking forward to this.

Now that you have the message, follow this guy's post and you can eliminate the upgrade file. that puts it off again.

* Lollipop Update delay by clearing cache 3 times *****

 

[Joe Eris]

Why are you blaming Google and Samsung for your Verizon update?

Neither Google or Samsung are directly responsible for the firmware on your Verizon phone. As per #1.6 of 35 Galaxy S5 models - know yours??? the Verizon firmware is a heavily modified, by Verizon, hybrid of Samsung's TouchWiz firmware that is released directly by them and not via Samsung. Whilst there have been around 160 different Samsung S5 releases worldwide for Lollipop, it is the one, non Samsung, release for Verizon that is responsible for the majority of posts.

Please be aware that you are not running Google Lollipop or even Samsung's TouchWiz Lollipop but are in fact on Verizon's own version of Lollipop.

Good to know. Thanks... Oh and btw, I have somehow managed to regain the battery life that I had on kit kat. Not sure exactly how. I updated all my apps and deleted every app that I don't use then did a battery pull, then went into recovery and wiped partition cache, and bingo, it's all good again

 

[Mcgee10]

Well it updated last night. I have given it a real work out today I can't find it not working as good as ever. I have noticed that some of the things work a little different now. I'm betting that some of the complaints about things not working. Maybe not working like they did with kitkat.
So for now lollipop is as good as they said it would be, I guess until it isn't.

 

[mattbirk]

I'm having issues sending texts now using Google hangouts. Also, getting notification to download MMS message which fails. All this worked before the update. Just had to reboot my phone to send two regular SMS texts, they're taking forever to send...am I the only one?

 

[mustang8918]

I can't send texts either and I just did a FDR so I guess I'll clear the cache again and pull battery again and see what happens. I'm getting texts in but none are going out, it's weird.

 

[mustang8918]

Regional tech support couldn't fix it so they sent a trouble ticket to national tech support. Joy.

 

[mustang8918]

So I successfully downgraded back to 4.4.4 and everything works fine again. I will not be doing a lollipop update until they release a more stable update.

 

[AZgl1500]

So I successfully downgraded back to 4.4.4 and everything works fine again. I will not be doing a lollipop update until they release a more stable update.

You and me too....
I have no use for the latest version of 5.0 in any version, or color flavor.
Why should we have to replace a good solid platform with something that is not a total requirement for using the phone?
I don't have a beef with anyone that enjoys the "new generation", I just don't feel that I should have to be drug along screaming and hollering NO all the way and forced to accept something I don't want.
____________________________________
2 ea. Verizon Galaxy S5, 4.4.4 forever!, ART

 

[Shines01]

I am going to state right now, that if and when, Verizon actually releases a working version of 5.1 (hopefully or better) that my upgrade path will be:

1 - backup everything thrice

2 - Factory Reset

3 - Purge cache Partitions

4 - Install the 5.1 (or better) software ( I will not call it an upgrade, that is for $ale$men only )

The reason for this around the block method is to ensure that absolutely nothing remains of any possible contamination with what might have been on my phone to interfere with the new software install.

I do not want the new install trying to make sure that all of my XYZ apps and their data are retained.

IMO, that is the major source of the problems that have been incurred with Verizon installs of the flopped release of 5.0

There are actually some Verizon users who have survived the 5.0 two step install path and do not seem to have any issues that aggravate them.

This means, that it worked as advertised, or they just simply adjusted to the new system and moved on living with life as it exists now on their phones.

Either way, in their opinion, it is not broken.

____________________________________
2 ea. Verizon Galaxy S5, 4.4.4 forever!, ART
MyPhoneExplorer lets you access a broken phone while locked
Nova Prime, Textra, Blue Mail, Qi wireless equipped
MacroDroid can help extend battery life
MacroDroid senses Screen off, turns Wifi & Data OFF
MacroDroid senses Screen UnLock, turns Data ON

I just bought the S5 last night and before I could do anything more than setup security type preferences I received the alert to upgrade to Lollipop. Since I have a brand new phone that is basically straight from the factory except the contacts I had transferred, do you think the upgrade might be more successful on my phone than others who have adding apps and using it for a long time?

I am new to all of this when it comes to technical terms and OS, but I do know I don't want any issues with my brand new phone Thanks in advance for your time!

 

[Shines01]

The less apps you have installed and the less you have messed with the system the better your chances of avoiding a high percentage of issues experienced by most owners. Will not prevent the problems inherent in Google upgrade (minimal) Samsung touchwiz and bloatware integration (slightly more than minimal) and Verizon adjustments and bloatware (more than minimal).

Thanks! I'm going to try not to sound incredibly ignorant with my questions...please bear with me lol

I have always had Droid (the first Droid, Thunderbolt, Razr, Bionic, etc) phones. This is my first Samsung. I am not familiar with Touchwiz or the uncharted territory of the other features on the S5. So not having experienced the true potential of this phone, will I even notice the issues everyone else is having, except for maybe the battery life?

 

[mustang8918]

I may try the update again later today now that I know that I can downgrade. I didn't mind the update the first time I did it but there was a bug that wouldn't let me send text msgs but I could receive them just fine and everything else was fine.

 

[AZgl1500]

I just bought the S5 last night and before I could do anything more than setup security type preferences I received the alert to upgrade to Lollipop. Since I have a brand new phone that is basically straight from the factory except the contacts I had transferred, do you think the upgrade might be more successful on my phone than others who have adding apps and using it for a long time?

I am new to all of this when it comes to technical terms and OS, but I do know I don't want any issues with my brand new phone Thanks in advance for your time!

I feel that in your case, you will be less likely to experience the negative issues a lot of folks have talked about.

Forum posters as a rule, are folks who have a problem. I don't know of any scientific way to measure those with problems and those who don't. but I suspect a lot of VZW Lollipop phones are in use with users who just simply adjust and move on. either thinking that is the way is supposed to be, or just simply are not bothered with the new look and feel.

I am old camp, I choose not to venture into choppy water until I can see the bottom (so to speak). As you quoted up above one of my posts on what I will do, if and when I choose to apply 5.0, there will not be any remnants of old data, or non OEM apps on my Galaxy S5 when the 5.0 install occurs.

Note, I refuse to call it an upgrade. It is not, it is just a different version of software than what is/was in current use. Verizon's version of the release is still too muddy for me to want to attempt it. I am waiting for the Next Coming.
____________________________________
2 ea. Verizon Galaxy S5, 4.4.4 forever!, ART
MyPhoneExplorer lets you access a broken phone while locked
Nova Prime, Textra, Blue Mail, Qi wireless equipped
MacroDroid can help extend battery life
MacroDroid senses Screen off, turns Wifi & Data OFF
MacroDroid senses Screen UnLock, turns Data ON

 

[mustang8918]

Well, I did try the 5.0 update again and after two FDR, cache wipes, and battery pulls I still couldn't send texts out. I have downgraded back to 4.4.4 again and will remain for sure this time until there is a 5.0.1 or 5.1 that fixes the bugs.

 

[Shines01]

I just bit the bullet and downloaded the Lollipop 5.0. I actually had to go through 3 updates. One for the KitKat and the Lollipop comes in 2 parts. I will let you know how things go. I intentionally spent all day on my phone yesterday (almost non stop) to test the battery life. I was able to get almost 13 hours before I hit 5%. I've never had a phone with a battery that lasted so long...now I just pray this new software doesn't take that away. After I updated the software I waited about an hour before I did anything with it so if there was anything still running in the background it could finish without me potentially causing problems by working on the phone. After that hour, I pulled the battery as I had read some other people had done to fix the battery issue. I will keep you posted on how things go. I won't have another day to sit on my phone for 12 hours again until next weekend if I scrap my life events like I did yesterday. But I'm sure gonna try because you can get accurate "test results" without running the same ones, right? LOL

Thank you all very much for your help! I really appreciate it!

 

[Alison Arnoff]

I have not yet upgraded to Lollipop on my S5 and want to hear from you all who were brave enough to upgrade about the bugs that appear to exist before I decide to upgrade.

I have a stock Verizon S5 currently running 4.4.4 and not rooted

What bugs are there?
How is battery life?
What do you not like about the changes?

Very unhappy after upgrade. Battery life poorer. My voicemail autopassword was removed and when I put it back in it is not responding to it so I have to manually enter my password. I also use Mobile day to log into my conference calls and it automatically enters the bridge numbers which tend to be long and the phone is not responding to those as well so I have to manually enter them. Both are problems while driving. Don't know why the phone is not recognizing them and not sure what to do about it. Also, my contacts app seems to crash and I get Contacts app not working. My phone freezes up all the time as well. I have restarted it a bunch of times because of lockups. So not a happy camper and wish there was a back button. I would wait until the next version before upgrading. DONT DO IT YET!!

 

[Mikestony]

....snipped quote.... So not a happy camper and wish there was a back button. ..snipped quote

Hello, and it appears there is
See my reply to your thread here:
http://androidforums.com/threads/since-lollipop-post-phone-phone-number-passcodes-ignored.909251/

 

[EzGoingKev]

I am not happy with Lollipop.

I do not care for the color schemes. Not for the aesthetics, but the all white backgrounds with no dividers between buttons, call list, etc.

I went to set an alarm the other day and hitting the time at the top no longer does that. Still have no idea how to do it.

I do not care for the screen that shows what is running. They made the buttons at the bottom smaller. Half the time when I go to swipe something closed it "bounces" back. I do not like the rolodex style display.

It seems like my phone just does what it wants now. I have the Swiss Army knife app and when I use the timer function most times the alarm just vibrates instead of ringing.

I have my Google voice line added to the phone. It is set so that when I make a call it prompts me with what line to use. Most of the time when I go to place a call it just hangs up, screen turns black, and then finally the prompt comes up. Sometimes it goes black and then back to the log screen.

Half the time it goes to my call log screen, the other half it goes the dialer screen.

Basically it just sucks IMO. So far Lollipop is the Windows Vista of Android systems.

YMMV

 

[ironass]

I went to set an alarm the other day and hitting the time at the top no longer does that. Still have no idea how to do it.

Here you go EzGoingKev...

Pages #61 and #62 of the new Verizon Lollipop Users Manual for the G900V .pdf