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

Debranding

33 replies · 12,597 views · Started 10 September 2009

oxfordmark 10 Sep 2009, 11:06

Hello

If you have debranded your N97, what did you use for it? NSS?

And what Product code did you change it too?

oxfordmark 10 Sep 2009, 11:56

Looks like its not worth debranding.. I hear that when you do it with NSS and do a Nokia update, the phone bricks!

dez_borders 10 Sep 2009, 12:18

oxfordmark wrote:Looks like its not worth debranding.. I hear that when you do it with NSS and do a Nokia update, the phone bricks!

And with a de-branded handset, Nokia considers the warranty as invalidated, so you will own an expensive �500 brick!

Zyyb 10 Sep 2009, 12:41

There is a way to flash bricked phones (i've bricked mine twice) but it's not for the faint hearted. Depends if getting the upgrades 3-4 weeks earlier is that important, plus i guess clearing out the Orange crap!

If you do decide, make sure you have all the programs first, search on here for a 9 page thread called "bricked my n97"

lovesign 10 Sep 2009, 13:15

oxfordmark wrote:Looks like its not worth debranding.. I hear that when you do it with NSS and do a Nokia update, the phone bricks!

I have regularly debranded my phones since the 6680 and have done many of them so when I investigated the possibilities of debranding the N97 I found, like you, many reports of people bricking their phones. It seemed that the usual method of using Nemesis Service Suite to change a product code didn't work because NSS couldn't read/write BB5 phones like the N97. So, many people used an app called JAF, along with some rather convoluted processes to get the number changed. When they used Nokia Software Updater to get the new firmware, it seemes that the procees bricked their phones. They could then be recovered by using another convoluted process involving downloading the FW from a non Nokia site and using JAF again to bring their phones back to life.

Once I read that I was of the mind to just not bother, but that all cahnged when Nemesius released their latest version of NSS and with BB5 support. After more research on the net, I found no reports of bricking, only multiple reports of successful Product Code changes, so I performed the change and upgraded my FW from v10 to v12 with absolutely no problems whatsoever. I used the Euro 1 code (0570817: RM-505_EMEA_EURO_QW1 Black) which I have always used in the past with no issues.

As Dez says (in fact, it seems to be all he ever posts nowadays!! LOL) changing your code will invalidate your warranty, and of course, dicking around with your phones internals is done ENTIRELY at your own risk. However, I can confirm that I have done this successfully and everything is working just fine. My phone is a UK model, purchased from Carphone Warehouse, with the Carphone Warehouse product code.

Hope that helps.

lovesign 10 Sep 2009, 13:25

bijt wrote:Might be worth looking at this tutorial:

http://www.n97fanatics.com/complete-guide-to-unbranding-your-nokia-n97/

Have to say, that's a tutorial to the over complicated JAF method.

The latest version of NSS requires you simply to plug your phone in, run NSS, press one button to "find" the phone, write your new product code in and press WRITE. Job done, 10 seconds work, and it won't kill your device 😊

Again, the ever present caveat being that fecking around with your handset is done entirely at your own risk 😊

Zyyb 10 Sep 2009, 13:35

lovesign wrote:Have to say, that's a tutorial to the over complicated JAF method.

The latest version of NSS requires you simply to plug your phone in, run NSS, press one button to "find" the phone, write your new product code in and press WRITE. Job done, 10 seconds work, and it won't kill your device 😊

Again, the ever present caveat being that fecking around with your handset is done entirely at your own risk 😊

Have to say that i did do this and it did brick mine, not sure if it's because i'd changed the code previously though. Flashing it brought it back to life. Be prepared!

lovesign 10 Sep 2009, 13:45

Zyyb wrote:Have to say that i did do this and it did brick mine, not sure if it's because i'd changed the code previously though. Flashing it brought it back to life. Be prepared!

You bricked it using JAF? or NSS?

oxfordmark 10 Sep 2009, 13:49

lovesign wrote:After more research on the net, I found no reports of bricking, only multiple reports of successful Product Code changes, so I performed the change and upgraded my FW from v10 to v12 with absolutely no problems whatsoever. I used the Euro 1 code (0570817: RM-505_EMEA_EURO_QW1 Black) which I have always used in the past with no issues.

All i have found is still people saying it bricked. Can you find me these reports of successfull debranding?

Zyyb 10 Sep 2009, 14:04

lovesign wrote:You bricked it using JAF? or NSS?

I did as you laid out in a previous post, downloaded the latest version of NSS, changed the code and pressed write. Then upgraded with NSU and it bricked. However, as i said, i'd already changed the code (to generic uk) before, so i dont know if that had an effect.

lovesign 10 Sep 2009, 14:13

Zyyb wrote:I did as you laid out in a previous post, downloaded the latest version of NSS, changed the code and pressed write. Then upgraded with NSU and it bricked. However, as i said, i'd already changed the code (to generic uk) before, so i dont know if that had an effect.

Could well have been an influence.

oxfordmark 10 Sep 2009, 17:22

Well i done it..

Phone bricked! light went off then on several times, had to do a hard reset which rebooted to version 12 😊

ironass 12 Sep 2009, 07:52

lovesign wrote:Reading this may change you mind and put you at ease 😊

http://nokia.nigelcoldwell.co.uk/firmware.htm

Nice one lovesign! :icon14:

After initially bricking two phones back in June, trying the JAF method, I have just managed to debrand my phone in minutes with no fuss or hassle using NSS.

After changing the product code and then updating it on NSU the phone, as predicted, tried to restart and load the operator firmware on the, now, unbranded handset and it "bricked".

Panic ye not... for the "Vulcan Death Grip" brought it back to life immediately and I was on V12.

Thank you. 😃

lovesign 12 Sep 2009, 10:46

I'm glad this is all working out for you guys, but I am concerned as to why, after updating the FW via NSU, the phone bricks. This didn't happen to me. I'm wondering if the UDP feature on the N97 retains something that makes the phone brick, but is then deleted when you do the "Vulcan Death Grip" reset (love that analogy!).

When I updated my phone, it was early into my ownership, so I just wiped everything, reformatted the Mass Memory and did the debrand. As soon as NSU had finished, the phone came on automatically and I was on v12.

What might be interesting is if someone else tries this method, but before doing the debrand, they wipe their phone, reformat the Mass Memory and Memory card (if installed), do a hard reset and THEN debrand and update.

Either way, I guess, it's working, no one has killed their device, more people have access to the latest FW, so it's good times all round. I do find it reassuring that a tried and tested method (NSS) is now available to N97 users.

snuge 12 Sep 2009, 14:00

Just decided id had enough of v11 and went about using NSS and hey no worries atall, phone bricked and needed a hard reset but started up fine again with v12

wadisnake 12 Sep 2009, 18:07

How do you guys save the content of your N97 before doing a hard reset ?
Because I want to change my product code and up to V12, but you know, too long to save contacts, pics, messages, manually...
I am using Ovi suite now 😊

Thanks

edit : okay; found "content copier", I hope it'll save everything 😊

lovesign 12 Sep 2009, 18:16

wadisnake wrote:How do you guys save the content of your N97 before doing a hard reset ?
Because I want to change my product code and up to V12, but you know, too long to save contacts, pics, messages, manually...
I am using Ovi suite now 😊

Thanks

I use PC Suite. Not a fan of Ovi Suite as it stands.

For things like MP3's, I manually copy those across to my PC. For pictures, I use Nokia Photos to sync all my pics across to my PC.

If you just use PC Suite to copy contacts, calendar/notes, messages and bookmarks, it takes no time at all.

lovesign 12 Sep 2009, 20:47

wadisnake wrote:ok thanks.
I'll install pcsuite too. I am more familiar with it and OVI takes ages to load ...

Yeah, Ovi Suite is slow and it's also a resource hungry son of a bitch, especially the 2.0 beta. Shame, because it has promise. Hope they get it sorted before they release it and discontinue the perfectly capable PC Suite.

aquamally 15 Sep 2009, 15:34

I used NSS, with the Euro Code Black, device wouldnt boot at first I had to remove the battery. But it was ok later.But I'm sorry I debranded now, the issue with the camera lens, has happened to me, now I have to purchase a new lens cover. Also being the impulsive Dickhead that i am, I tampered with the GPS antenna. I saw a video on youtube about adding some wire to improve signal strength, but being clumsy I tore the whole strip off. To be honest, i'm using a Bluetooth GPS, and its 10x better than the built in one was. The moral of this story, debranding will get you a much faster more reliable device, but it does void your warranty :frown:

davecozens 15 Sep 2009, 15:43

aquamally wrote:I used NSS, with the Euro Code Black, device wouldnt boot at first I had to remove the battery. But it was ok later.But I'm sorry I debranded now, the issue with the camera lens, has happened to me, now I have to purchase a new lens cover. Also being the impulsive Dickhead that i am, I tampered with the GPS antenna. I saw a video on youtube about adding some wire to improve signal strength, but being clumsy I tore the whole strip off. To be honest, i'm using a Bluetooth GPS, and its 10x better than the built in one was. The moral of this story, debranding will get you a much faster more reliable device, but it does void your warranty :frown:

TBH you were probably OK with hardware issues until you physically modified the GPS. I think you could certainly have argued the point for a lens replacement since modifying the product code can have no impact on the lens cover...

dog-man 22 Sep 2009, 17:53

I shall be receiving a shiny new N97 within a couple of days.

Can I ask what the benefits are of moving up to V12 firmware, should my phone not already have it?

I have used NSS before on my trusty N95 several times.

dog-man