Root 4.4.4

[birdxx]

If you want root on kitkat 4.4.4, you have to temporarily go back to kernel .230, than towelroot,  and than back to .2.83.

If you want to flash you have to - after reboot -  skip the welcome setup to enable USB setup. 

Does that mean that you have to start with a clean empty tablet? 

[tiptie]

I have no doubt that sometime in the near future that someone out there will write a one-click program for 4.4.4.

[birdxx]

That could happen,  but 4.4.4 is out some time now. 

I hope that wish will come true for all users that find flashing to scary.

I can understand that,  but i'am to stubborn to accept. 

But i'am also sure Google worked hard to prevent that. 

So if,  it will take time. 

And i couldn't wait any longer, because i wanted my sd card back. 

And this update will be the last one for this tablet. 

After that i will (have to)  install a custom ROM. 

If it will not break down before that time. 

And i have learned something new. 

A couple of days ago I knew nothing of flashing. 

And the biggest point is that it is all there on the Net to learn! 

Keeps the old brain working properly 😱

[birdxx]

After a few days,  i notice the flashed tablet works a little bit smoother than before. 

No flickering screen anymore,  or other faults. 

I was thinking ; wouldn't it be better if we did the OS updates on a factory clean tablet /phone? 

So start with a full backup,  and after that 'format'  to the state you bought it. 

Then do the update,  and then do a full restore back. 

With the right backup tool you have it all back in the original state within  half an hour. 

Is it possible that most faults -  after upgrades -  are created because we updating over/ un top of an existing OS and apps and prefs? 

When you do the flashing,  you can do it without wiping the existing data. 

But it is not recommended! 

Would that not be the same with normal updating? 

Just a thought 😷

[Davem]

Well my experience suggests you are right, and that even Sony share that view. When I bought my tablet it's firmware was out of date, but I waited a while before updating, to test and familiarise myself. When I did update, there were various problems. I contacted Sony who advised a repair re-install via PC Companion, which solved the problems. Then when 4.3 came along, similar story, the display would randomly flip upside down even with tablet motionless on a stand. Again, the solution was a clean install. Having read all the adverse comments on here about 4.4 issues, I have stuck with 4.3 which works fine for me, but I don't have a keyboard, so have never experienced the flickering others have found. I'm guessing it's partly down to inadequate testing (my job for many years) however I can see that might be difficult if they have to test not only a new build from a clean start, but also the upgrade process from every previous build that any user might still have if they had skipped one or more in the past. That complicates matters hugely and is likely to lead to issues being missed. Sony could make their own job easier, if the standard upgrade process was always backup, clean install, restore, but would the average user get that right unless it was completely automated? When I did my clean re-installs, neither the onboard tablet backup nor the PC Companion backup restored everything, I had to restore both to get all my apps, settings and data back.

[birdxx]

The reason that most users upgrade over the existing system is that it is easy, and backup is extra work. 

Another reason is that most backup programs  can only  backup apps,  when without root. 

Titanium Backup (pro) is - as far as i know - the only app that almost make an image of the tablet/phone. 

But with no root,  no 'image'. 

It should be Android\Sony that have to provide such an 'image'  backup tool. 

It would be a great gesture if they offered the users an automatic upgrade app that would do all of that. 

And -  as you write -  it would help their own service to get less users complaining about the updates. 

Nobody wants a blinking/ flickering screen,  or apps that don't work properly . 

Still,  if you already did the update without  factory reset,  i don't know if you than can get a clean update. 

It would be best to flash the same update again,  and root for using the best bu/restore app you can get. 

Android isn't that helpful in that,  and there are a lot of users with problems after an update. 

Another solution is not updating at all,  when there are no problems. 

But updates are things you can get hooked on. 💉

But for now,  your method would be the best. 

No root? Make 2 updates with the apps you mentioned,  than factory reset,  and after update,  restore with  both BU apps to get everything back as before. 

[MikeViller]

Hard to believe no one bypass the move to sdcard like CyanogenMod .......

[faim]

That about its not an unlock boot loader bit its root replace it for: its root, and doesnt unlock bootloader, so no danger while rooting and no data wiping...

[birdxx]

Can somebody tell me the difference between firmware 10.5.1.A.0.283  branding VMo EU1 and VMo EU4?

Are these updates of the same,  or for different countries? 

Thanx

[birdxx]

removed by birdxx because there is no freedom of writing here!