GDR3/Update 3 (Official consumer release, not developer preview)

[Macco26]

I've 3 CSC DBT in my family, so tofmin I'm in your same boat.

If WP8.1 is worth the wait, I'm going to CSC them to ATO or ITV and let the new firmware comes in (and then let the WP8.1 PfD enters the main door).. ^^

That'd be at least after hearing others ATIV S GDR3 successfully entering the WP8.1 preview of course (read: no issues). I'm pretty scared of what could happen with a non Nokia handset getting early WP8.1 access, to be honest.

 

[Rafael Sol Maker]

Here in my Dad's Ativ S there's no notice of GDR3 or even GDR2. Some Sammies were updated but others were forgotten in the dust...

Maybe it's time to try some flashing. Or maybe I'll try to update with sim-card off.

Hey, Preview for Developers required GDR2 in past, right? Because of drivers and firmwares (and some changes in WP software made by Microsoft, aparently, to make it possible).

Maybe to update to 8.1 it will need WP8 GDR3 and I want to try this update ASAP. I guess I'll have some problems, but life works this way anyway.

So, what are the alternatives to update my phone to GDR3 except flashing and CSC-changing?

 

[Macco26]

Changing CSC does not require any flashing. It can be done with the phone itself. it Hard resets, though. And you need to have your handset listing a CSC compatible with your current one: for EU is not a problem, but I feel that some different cellular band requirements could change in other parts of the world.

 

[pege63]

Now i have Windows phone 8.1, first 2 small updates and one BIG one, it took 1h to install

 

[Boris NevermorE]

Is it possible to change the CSC to get the update and after the update finish return to the old CSC?

YES it is possible to do that just the way you did when you change it first place. and YES it will requred a hard reset which is normal.
But, since that CSC is already on your phone (and all others if you have them more than one) that means that whatever CSC you change who is already preloaded will work with your phone, cuz they are not preloaded if half of them won't work with your phone, got it?
So, if you already try some CSC and that CSC grab the GDR3 right away, i will suggest that you leave that CSC to work if you already established that everything from your Mobile Carrier is working, why switch it back? There is no need, so if that CSC grabbed the GDR3, there are pretty much big chances that will grab the next updates/upgrades faster when they roll out. (Probably the Official WP8.1)
Changing CSC will NOT void your warranty, so you are pretty much free to change CSC's whenever you like it.
I myself for example was on MBM CSC (T-Mobile Macedonia) and was stuck with GDR2, i use the method of changing CSC to grab the GDR3 i changed it to NEE (Which is Nordic, Sweden) and I grab the GDR3 right away, the moment phone came back from hard reset. Then just to check i changed back to MBM and it was fine. Since i confirm that that is possible i switched back to NEE and leave it to that and the phone is working perfectly on the T-Mobile Macedonia network. Altho i have 40 different CSC's on my ATIV S i8750.
I don't know if this will work for non european countries, but since changing CSC's won't void your warranty, you should try it. From my experience CSC's that get the GDR3 right away (tested) are: NEE, ATO and APO, if you have NEE or ATO, go for the NEE (my recommendation)