Does the fact that the car asks if you want to install an update mean that you have not selected to receive updates automatically? After seeing the discussions here on battery issues I am concerned. I have tried at least 3 times to install an update, and have been unsuccessful. I am planning a 2000 mile trip next week, and a call to my dealer indicates that they can see me in two weeks, which is no help at all.
Suggestions?
Ralph

 

I believe it’s a 2 step process. First, the software is downloaded and you have to select it to be done automatically in the settings on the infotainment screen. The update is stored in memory waiting for step 2. Step 2 is the actual software installation and it always ask you to approve that.

 

My car has never asked me to install an update. I must not have it turned on. Judging from all the posts about the issues created by the updates, I think I'll leave it off. There is nothing wrong with my car.

 

Read this thread for general OTA update information: OTA Updates - General Information

 

Like many others, I tried the latest update about 3 times and each time after about a minute it said update failed. I saw on a thread lots of mention about batteries, so I thought maybe a low battery could cause the update to fail, so I shut off my car and plugged in my Chevy battery tender. The car had been driven recently but I was surprised that my battery level was low with only two lights on the charger. I let it charge overnight and had a green charge light this morning, so I thought I would try again.

I started the car, and backed out into my driveway and let everything get settled in (nav screen etc.) and I was just getting ready to try the update again when it popped up on the screen "Software update successful. Click OK". I had not told it to try the update again.

So did it automatically finish the update during the night once the battery got fully charged? Is low battery what causes these update failures?

BTW, I have managed software development for 30+ years, and this update process is sorely lacking. Very poor job for GM on this. Otherwise, I LOVE the C8 and am totally impressed with the engineering that went into it.... Just not this part...

 

This is not what mine does at all Russ. It says an update is available, do I want to start a download. If I say yes, it goes through the actual download. The next step is when it installs the download it just stored.

 

That answers a lot of suppositions that have been on the threads. Tells the real deal. Great post.

 

Speaking of software updates, I'm in the process of backing up my desktop with windows for the first time, replacing the hdd to a ssd before it dies, then reloading the image I'm creating. 🤞 it works better than GM OTA update. We shall see. It'll be over 2-3 days. Takes a while plus waiting on ssd.

 

Make sure it's on a battery tender first.

 

I have a ups for that exact reason.

 

I think it has both cases, Phil... I have done 4 or 5 updates so far, and some of them gets downloaded in the background and the message I get is something like "update is ready for install", while other 1 or 2 cases it says "update is available", and when click on proceed, it started download, like you described here.

I don't know what's the reason GM decides some update they just pushed it down, while others they ask you to download it first. Maybe if the file is small they just pushed it down, or maybe if they think the update is critical enough so they want as many people to install as possible so they push it, while leaving large files or non-critical ones for you to manually download. It would be nice if GM explains this, or make it consistent in terms of behavior and process, so it's less confusing for users. But I guess maybe that's too much for the GM SW team to handle.

Another annoying bug is, sometime I get an notification saying update is available while I was out driving, and after parking the car somewhere such message popped up. But I didn't want to run update install when I am out somewhere, and preferred doing it when I get home and can connect to a more stable home wifi just in case it needs to do download. However, after getting home and select the update option, it would say "no update available", but just a few min earlier it was saying the opposite. Sometimes it would say that the condition for the installation is not optimal so it wouldn't run. But exactly what was not optimal or missing, there's no info, so there's nothing we the user can do to resolve it. So exactly what will trigger the update notification, what is the required condition for the update to run, is just a confusing mess.

I won't be surprised that there are more bugs in the overall update install program that neither GM nor us the users have totally discovered yet. And the way they test the programs (or the lack of it), something like leaving power on that should have been caught before they release the SW, really shows that their software QA process is very poor there, certainly not on par with the modern standards like MS and many other companies handling the SW updates.

 

This info is in the link I posted in post #4.

 

I've just never seen that, every single update asked me before it downloaded. I have never gotten the "update is ready for install" message.

 

My car is set to accept updates automatically. It both downloaded and installed without any prompts or actions on my part. I only know it happened by seeing the conversations on the Forum and looking at my car's system update history. And there it was. Installed 5/14/2021.

 

Great info Zymurgey, thanks for the link. I have it bookmarked but agree it would be a great sticky thread.

 

There is a link to the thread in the Manuals, Reference Material, DIY Threads sticky thread. It is in the "Other Items" section.

 

Ah, thanks. Haven't looked at that thread in a while.

 

Update Wow - Amazed myself!
ZERO, Nada, Zilch Problems (sorta - need addt'l software for extra value).

Two Days ago:

• First I created a Windows Boot Disk from the Windows BU & Restore Function in CP.
• It went quick, but the Full System Image took 8 Hrs. possibly because I had the 3.0USB external hard drive USB connected to a 2.0 USB port. NBD, I just let it run overnight. It was ready in the morning.

Today:

• Removed internal old 512 GB HDD
• Installed internal New 1 TB SSD
• Installed Created Windows Boot Disk (fm 2 days ago) in DVD and Crossed fingers
• Booted Ok and followed instructions to load backup Image created
• Everything created / restored OK (in only 42 Minutes!!!) except SSD was 512GB vs 1TB in size due to image restore
• Downloaded (purchased) Partition Manager and now single drive is 1TB
• Everything boots and works as before but better and now I have hopefully eliminated any possible Disk crashes going forward - at least for years.
• Why did I do this you ask - My computer was purchased in Jan 2012 - I've just learned to listen to my Gut and go with it after ignoring and paying the price.
• So

GM, Are You Listening???
That is how you do an UPDATE.