Read-only archive of the All About Symbian forum (2001–2013) · About this archive

Let's talk about Phoenix....

14 replies · 3,938 views · Started 18 March 2008

Hello there,I must admit that the "phoenix" word was totally unknown to me (as concerns the Phoenix Software) since yesterday... I read the threads almost every day and i am one of those thirsty enough to update our firmware to the newest one!As i conlcuded we must wait for another week or so to update our device through NSU OR we can catch up by using Phoenix.🙄
AS i have read most of you here that all ready updated through phoenix succeeded in it. I realised that talking about Phoenix is like a big "secret" that must no be talked about but only whispered in forums so i couldnt collect all informations needed about it...
Now i come to conclusion,as a newbie in Phoenix,flashing etc etc i'd like to ask anyone of you that DOES know to explain me what does Phoenix do exactly and how can be so useful to us....:icon4:
Thank you people

Pheonix isn't really a a big secret, its just that it costs a lot of money to buy a licenced copy legally, soooo, people tend to use the cracked version. It can used by phone repairers to test phones, reflash them etc. It is a very powerful application and could really f**k up your phone, flashing isn't really that difficult using it, but obviously its not 'supported' (like any pirated software isn't). Soooo if you know what you are doing, and are willing to accept the consequences if you brick the phone, then go ahead and try - if not - best wait that little bit longer.

Pheonix is the tool that service centers use to recover dead phones (hence the name) but it has many other facilities too such as testing various areas of the device and loading specific firmware. The reason people use it is because Nokia release the new firmware to service centers first so if you have Pheonix you can download the firmware, load it into Pheonix and then flash it onto your phone.
It is, however, not supposed to be available to 'average joe' user hence why it's not openly discussed on this forum.

EDIT: Doh, beaten to it

Once upon a time there was only one way to update your firmware and that was Phoenix. The problem was that only the Service Centres had access to the program. Then cracked versions that could be installed on any pc appeared. The program has fallen into obscurity since the online update service arrived. Wouldn't bother unless you're really desperate. Even if you've done it several times it's still a pain in the a**e- amongst other things you must remove all Nokia programs from your pc (and I don't just mean uninstall I mean download a cleaning tool to remove all traces.

Or use one of the yet-to-be-handed-out new laptops in your build room then re-image it afterwards :redface:

I'm impressed.thank you people for your immediate replies! I think i'm going to wait for the "official" release through NSU since i cant locate any specific installation guide for phoenix. 😉

phoenix has served its purpose over the years but unless youve bricked the phone, Id wait it out or take it down the NSC .

shug wrote:I don't just mean uninstall I mean download a cleaning tool to remove all traces.

No you don't you just uninstall them via control panel like you do any other programme!

It won't be long before phoenix is needed to debrand handsets as Nokia are changing the way product codes work on handsets, therefore changing the product code on your phone will no longer mean you debrand! 😉

kontraband wrote:phoenix has served its purpose over the years but unless youve bricked the phone, Id wait it out or take it down the NSC .

I agree, in most cases your better off waiting for the update via NSU.

UncleBooBoo wrote:It won't be long before phoenix is needed to debrand handsets as Nokia are changing the way product codes work on handsets, therefore changing the product code on your phone will no longer mean you debrand! 😉

Really? That's news to me. Well, put this on top of the certificate thing and it looks like Nokia are spending way too many resources on hindering the way we use our devices now, instead of enhancing them. Seems like MS is the only viable solution in the future, unless you don't mind a totally locked device that you have no control over.

sbc wrote:Really? That's news to me. Well, put this on top of the certificate thing and it looks like Nokia are spending way too many resources on hindering the way we use our devices now, instead of enhancing them. Seems like MS is the only viable solution in the future, unless you don't mind a totally locked device that you have no control over.

They are supposedly monitoring phones updated thru NSU that have had the product code changed. Cant say for 100% is true, but it looks like it from the blogosphere.

Why do Nokia give a **** if you debrand anyway? I could understand the networks wanting to stop it but once Nokia have sold the phone, why does it matter to them what firmware you choose to use.

I guess it because the initial spate of debranding used pheonix and resulted in a lot of bricks... possibly 'costing' nokia.

NSU still has the capacity to throw a spanner in the works if the battery dies or the cable gets knocked etc etc so I assume they are using this an excuse to protect investment.

I see what your saying but if the hardware 'goes wrong' its back to Nokia.. hence why they give a fcuk.

I flashed to v21 using Phoenix and I had nokia software updater and nokia map loader still installed and working on the same pc. I think PC Suite is the one to avoid, I've found it messes with loads of different things so rarely use it.

Takes me back to the old SE P900 days. Awfull lot of bugs in the device, which made it crash several times each day. But Sony Ericsson never fixed these bugs, instead they used a LOT of resources to stop the users from debranding. That was my last SE device...

I really don't understand why Nokia will push the users to use the powerfull and destructive Phoenix to debrand, instead of NSU. But then again I don't understand either why we no longer are allowed to install what we want on our smartphones. Guess Nokia has taken a wrong turn at a crossroad.

Oh well. Time to look into the Phoenix thing, I guess. Thanks for starting this thread 😊