I have just debranded my Orange branded n85...
Well i say debranded but i don't really know what was branded about it in the first place. The startup/shut down screens, menu icons etc were all Nokia. The only thing that looked branded on the phone were some of the links to download content were for the Orange network. One other thing the phone suffered from was the usual lack of silent mode from a long press of # which is said to be a common problem for Orange branded Nokia.
By the way i unbranded using the product code 0555817which is the EURO1 code. Is that the best code to use?
I used NSS to read/write the product code, and then did a quick update using Nokia Software Update. The download was 132mb, and only took 5 mins for the phone to install. After the update, all my games, contacts, messages videos, photos etc were still on the phone too, which is very handy.
Things i have noticed since unbranding:-
The Navi Wheel seems to work much better.
The Silent mode can now be activated using the # key.
The menu seems slightly more responsive.
Is there anything else that would be any different about the phone since unbranding?
wow never noticed the #hold doens't work!!!!
but I'm on 11.047 firmware...
were you on 11.047 firmware before too?
what firmware are you on now?
dk206 wrote:wow never noticed the #hold doens't work!!!!but I'm on 11.047 firmware...
were you on 11.047 firmware before too?
what firmware are you on now?
Yeah the # hold thing is a common orange fault from what i've read up on.
I was on 11.047 with the Orange firmware. When i changed the product code and then ran the update i was given a 11.047 firmware update, but it had higher numbers at the end of it but can't remember what these were. The phone does seem slightly quicker though. 😊
I just think it was a bit pointless of orange to brand the phone in such a very very subtle way without adding their own logo somewhere. Does yours have the orange logo anywhere on the casing? The only thing that suggests mine is on Orange is the orange wednesdays sticker on the box lol
ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT FOUND. The Nokia charger is now detected more reliably.
With the Orange firmware, my phone would think i had plugged a USB cable in and ask which mode i wanted to connect in. Sometimes it would also fail to show "charging" on the screen.
Now it just starts charging without asking me about what UBS mode.😊
These issues probably went unnoticed by most as there is so many n85 out there and so many different firmware variations for the phone too.
I don't have a USB charger i can test this with as i can't find it right now lol. The only USB charging i have tried is via the laptop.
The mains charger is detected as a charger now and charges as soon as it's plugged in, wheras before it'd sometimes think i had plugged in a USB cable (it used to ask me which mode to connect to my pc using!).
Now i have no problems at all. 😊
car_guy143 wrote:Yeah the # hold thing is a common orange fault from what i've read up on.I was on 11.047 with the Orange firmware. When i changed the product code and then ran the update i was given a 11.047 firmware update, but it had higher numbers at the end of it but can't remember what these were. The phone does seem slightly quicker though. 😊
I just think it was a bit pointless of orange to brand the phone in such a very very subtle way without adding their own logo somewhere. Does yours have the orange logo anywhere on the casing? The only thing that suggests mine is on Orange is the orange wednesdays sticker on the box lol
me too, had the orange wednesday sticker. that was it.
So how did you debrand it? and with what Regional code?
EURO1?
Do you personally think its better? overall?
I'm thinking about doing that....but want to know if it'll be worth it or not
dk206 wrote:me too, had the orange wednesday sticker. that was it.
So how did you debrand it? and with what Regional code?
EURO1?Do you personally think its better? overall?
I'm thinking about doing that....but want to know if it'll be worth it or not
I debranded it by using NSS to change my product code to product code 0555817 which is the EURO1 code. To get the phone to connect to NSS, you need to exit nokia pc suite.
BTW you do this whilst the phone is turned on and connected to the PC(using USB cable) in PC Suite mode(but make sure you have exited pc suite mode). Then re-open nokia pc suite, run a backup if you wish, and then run the normal nokia software update. If you have the most recent firmware installed, then just click the option to reinstall it. The download is about 132mb, and installation takes about 10-20mins.
When i started my phone up, all my settings, applications etc were still on the phone so didn't have to worry about downloading everything again 😊
For me, i'd say it was worth the debranding. I know the orange branding is very subtle anyway, but debranding seems to have sped things up a bit as well as fixing the problems i mentioned before (phone thinking the mains charger is a USB cable, long press # to silent phone not working etc etc).
The menu icons, colour schemes, etc are the same as the orange firmware ones so you wont see anything that looks completely different to what you see now though.
yeah the nai wheel is awful on my N85 right now...
is the wheel more responsive? its was too hard to control so i turned it off lol
i'm still not sure if I want to debrand it....it means i'll lose warranty right?
stilll thinking....
Yeah the nav wheel does seem slightly better to use i reckon. It's upto you if you think it's worth debranding or not, it's your phone at the end of the day
thanks mate just changed the code now gonna update it
Very good. When it's updated, tell us what differences you have noticed between the vodafone and nokia firmwares. 😊 It might say you have the latest firmware installed, if it does this then just click the option to reinstall
well, I updated and it again didnt wipe the phone as it has done on my previous n95. the firmware updated to 11.047.53 something or other where as it was ...47.295 or something 😊 Voda's phone stuff is still on it as is all my other apps, but their annoying standby themes are gone and the new message notification is back! 😃
overall, happy bunny 😊
Glad to hear it worked for you 😊 Let us know if you notice any improvements or changes.
shibby wrote:well, I updated and it again didnt wipe the phone as it has done on my previous n95. the firmware updated to 11.047.53 something or other where as it was ...47.295 or something 😊 Voda's phone stuff is still on it as is all my other apps, but their annoying standby themes are gone and the new message notification is back! 😃overall, happy bunny 😊
lol my Orange firmware custom code is 11.047.249.2 lol
Still thinking....I'll wait out my 28-days mobile warranty. If my slider is still as rock samsung solid like than after 28 days i'll get it debranded.
If there is anything more special about it >😃
I've just de-branded my Nokia N85 orange version.
Old product code was: 0577607
New one is EURO1: 0555817
Menus are faster. Maybe Navi wheel is working better because of this.
Silent key # is working now. Also no more predefined Orange crap like internet settings, emails and etc. When I formated my phone after new firmware it asked me which country I am in and installed internet settings for local provider.
I would say generic firmware is much better. Wait for your 28 days warranty and debrand.
Am I right in assuming that debranding doesn't remove the sim-lock? Just got an n85, and am trying to get the Orange simlock removed for less than �20. Seems difficult to achieve.
klargon wrote:Am I right in assuming that debranding doesn't remove the sim-lock? Just got an n85, and am trying to get the Orange simlock removed for less than �20. Seems difficult to achieve.
Correct, de-branding does not remove Sim-Lock - only the handset network provider can provide the unlock code.
Please also be aware that technically de-branding invalidates the Nokia 2 year warranty.
Every time you use NSU, the IMEI and Product-Code are logged on Nokia's server
- so Nokia has proof that you de-branded the handset, even if you later change the code back to the original value.
Cheers for clarifying that. I'm gonna get my N85 unlocked (which is now looking like it'll cost me �30!) and then change the product code. I'm guessing there's no dependancy between the two procedures, so they won't conflict? Wouldn't want to risk reversing the unlocking by debranding.
klargon wrote:Cheers for clarifying that. I'm gonna get my N85 unlocked (which is now looking like it'll cost me �30!) and then change the product code. I'm guessing there's no dependancy between the two procedures, so they won't conflict? Wouldn't want to risk reversing the unlocking by debranding.
Don't worry, unlocking and de-branding have no effect on each other.
However, just please be aware de-branding invalidates the Nokia warranty.
Finally got the N85 unlocked (several places tried and failed!), so I've just debranded the thing. All seemed to go well. I treat my phones well, so hopefully it'll serve me well. Cheers to the original poster and to dez.
Has anyone been able to unlock an N85 on Orange?
My turbo sim won't work, and the usual unlocking code/service websites don't seem to do N85's other than Voda/T-Mobile.
CarGuy - I'm in Leyland too! :icon14:
transparent_opa wrote:Has anyone been able to unlock an N85 on Orange?My turbo sim won't work, and the usual unlocking code/service websites don't seem to do N85's other than Voda/T-Mobile.
CarGuy - I'm in Leyland too! :icon14:
Wow another Leylander on the forum, bit unusual that! lol Where abouts? I'm near the market.
Not tried unlocking my N85, but i remember hearing that Orange provide unlocking codes for free if you ask them, but only when the contract is up.
car_guy143 wrote:Wow another Leylander on the forum, bit unusual that! lol Where abouts? I'm near the market.
I'm just off Dawson Lane :tongue:
car_guy143 wrote:Not tried unlocking my N85, but i remember hearing that Orange provide unlocking codes for free if you ask them, but only when the contract is up.
I heard that too, but when I rang they said I need �20 credit on a PAYG sim. I bought one and topped it up, then when I rang back they said it needed to have been registered to me and on the network for 3 months. I only bought it off eBay last week :frown:
Think I've found a place to do it anyway, need to post it to them...more waiting...time drags when you've no phone!
I handed �30 over to a phone shop ("Unlocking Specialist"😉, went back 2 days later to pick it up, and they told me they'd failed due to their software not supporting that phone. Got my money back, took it to a dodgier store (who also charged �30) and picked it up later the same day. He actually took the phone with him somewhere to get it done, so I guess most unlocking places have similar software/hardware and can't do it.
So, it is definitely possible to get the Orange N85 unlocked, but I think you'll need a proper specialist with the latest BB5 hardware and software.
transparent_opa wrote:I'm just off Dawson Lane :tongue:I heard that too, but when I rang they said I need �20 credit on a PAYG sim. I bought one and topped it up, then when I rang back they said it needed to have been registered to me and on the network for 3 months. I only bought it off eBay last week :frown:
Think I've found a place to do it anyway, need to post it to them...more waiting...time drags when you've no phone!
Most likely Buckshaw Village then i'm guessing, unless you're in one of those odd 1 or 2 houses actually on Dawson Lane itself. lol
Hi. I want to debrand my US N85 with a custom software. Can you tell me how I do that and what software I need. My pc is 0574476. Thanks.
shenster wrote:Hi. I want to debrand my US N85 with a custom software. Can you tell me how I do that and what software I need. My pc is 0574476. Thanks.
No problem 😊
You do this at your own risk, this is just a basic guide here to help you get started. If you're unsure then ask someone who knows more about phones or you could end up damaging your phone.
1. Find a new product code for your phone using a search engine such as google. Search for things like N85 product code, and find one you like the sound of, that matches your region is preffered.
2. You need a piece of software called "NSS". You can download FREE from http://www.b-phreaks.co.uk/NSSDownloadLanding.htm Just download and install
3. Connect your phone to your PC via USB. When asked which USB mode to use on your phone, choose "PC Suite"
4. Make sure Nokia PC Suite isn't running and open NSS.
5. Click scan for new device and wait until your phone is found, then click on it.
6. Click on "Phone Info", then scan, then click on where it says "read".
7. You should then see your existing product code displayed in one of the boxes on the right of the screen, click "enable", and then change the product code to the new product code.
8. Click "write" and wait for the phone to update.
9. Recheck the product code by clicking on "read again".
10. Do a backup of your phone data and then run Nokia Software update on your pc. Your phone should then download and install new firmware.
Thanks. That is great. Now how do I figure out whether a product code is generic or branded? I know mine is since *#0000# says so. And a search turned up several PC for my region, but didn't say whether they are customs or not. So how do I figure out whether the codes are generic? I am in the US, and I found a few NA codes:
0567297
0574145
0567104
0567286
The list i found also mentioned whether or not each product code was branded or generic (unbranded). I don't have a link to the list unfortunately though.
