TC vs. KitKat: Status?

[JohnFredC]

Samsung has pushed KitKat to my Samsung tablet and started posting the message to install it. Unless I can find the update itself and delete it, eventually I will not be able to postpone the install (or so I have read), at which point the external SD storage becomes inaccessible.

Another Android file manager author claims to use a hack to get around KitKat's external SD permissions architecture, enabling unrestricted write to the card. Of course, I cannot test this without letting KitKat proceed.

Several recent TC for Android updates have mentioned KitKat in the update history.

What exactly can I expect when using TC with my external SD card under KitKat?

Do recent TC updates "fix" the write permissions issue for all "external" folders? Or just for the TC folder on the external SD?

Should I root my device now to kill the KitKat update?

Or should I install KitKat and root afterwards, then apply one of the "fixes" available on the Play Store?

I would like to avoid rooting my tablet, but will reluctantly do so if the alternative is to lose access to my folder structure on the external card.

Any help whatsoever in this area would be greatly appreciated.

[NoSubstitute]

Hi!

Both my recent posts relate to your questions, even if it's not on a Samsung device, due to the fact that the issue device agnostic. It's a KitKat issue. Be sure to read them.

http://www.ghisler.ch/board/viewtopic.php?t=40631
and
http://www.ghisler.ch/board/viewtopic.php?t=40632

TL;DR
No write access in dirs of your choice on external SDcard without root!
No matter which app you're talking about.
Only the provided file manager is allowed to do that.

[JohnFredC]

After readimg quite a bit of material about this situation, it still isn't clear to me whether Mr. Ghisler's "work around" requires a rooted system.

I have reluctantly decided to root my Note. Whether before or after the KitKat "infection" I haven't decided.

Still looking for input.

[ghisler(Author)]

It depends - it works without root on some older Samsung devices like the Galaxy S4, but it's completely locked down on newer devices like the S5.

[silber1]

I just updated my Samsung Tablet Note 10.1 to 4.4.2. (Unrooted)
Before TTC worked fine. Now there is no way to copy, rename, delete files on my external SD card.
I hope for a hack to use extern SDcards as before!

[Sir_SiLvA]

the hack is called ROOT
otherwise downgrade or complain to google...

[silber1]

There should be a big basket in the web, where all claims for Google can be delivered!
Maybe NSA can help here to find into SCards?

[Bruce Salyer]

I have Samsung Note 1 and it keeps on requesting me to update the OS as well. I really don't want to do that as it causes multiple problems in the system.

[silber1]

I solved this terrible Problem by not updating my new S4 to Android 4.42 and stick to the original 4.3.
With this all works fine!

[JordanBauer009]

Hey. I faced the same issues with my Samsung S5 and a complaint to Google sorted out a lot. You could also try the same.

[ghisler(Author)]

The S5 now has Android 5, which allows writing to the card without root (requires Total Commander 2.60 beta).

[FrankCullens323]

Thanks a lot NoSubstitute for the links.