Totally confused about unlocking Cingular 8525 - 8525, TyTN, MDA Vario II, JasJam Software Upgradin

Apparently, I'm pretty stupid.
I just got the Cingular 8525; I have spent two hours on this site.
Things I've noticed:
One page says go into bootloader; one page says not to allow usb connections.
I do not know if I am supposed to have my non-Cingular SIM card already in the phone when attempting to do anything.
I have seen connect via USB and use mtty (with what settings do I use when I click on USB from the dropdown menu (if any) and do I connect with mtty via USB in bootloader or when the phone has booted into Windows 5.0 and again what about the non-Cingular SIM card?).
I have flashed my computers BIOS several times but I do not understand how to flash this phone based on the myriad of instructions all over this site (and RFTW did not help which is why I am here with 40000000 questions).
The steps to go from SPL 1.06 to an unlocked SIM/CID phone are?
Things I do understand:
I have SPL 1.06 (I know this from bootloader).
I must downgrade to 1.04 from 1.06 then run the upgrade to 1.06 from the Hermes Upgrade wiki page (I already downloaded all of the Cingular files).
Thanks in advance for any clarification.

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I unlocked my 8525 last week, I had bootloader 1.06 so I downgraded to a ROM with boetloader 1.04(you can find it here http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Hermes_Upgrades ).. then just follow the instructions in the zip file you downloaded(i used HERM_Unlock_v2a), which are:
1. Enter bootloader mode on your Phone. To do this, simultaneously hold side OK and POWER buttons together and reset with stylus.
[You should see SPL-1.04 on the top of the tri-color screen, if you see SPL-1.06 this unlocker will not work, please wait for the next version]
2. Connect your phone to your computer using the USB lead.
3. Run the MaUpgradeUt_noID.exe program – this will reflash your phone with a patched radio ROM required to unlock.
4. Wait patiently.
5. Once the MaUpgradeUt_noID.exe upgrade completes, it will end up saying "Upgrade Error 114", but the patched radio ROM will be flashed anyway, dont worry about that error!
6. Soft reset with stylus (Device will not be hard reset and no data will be lost)
7. Allow your phone to reboot. Once it has, connect to your PC using Activesync, and copy the HERM_Unlock_v2a.exe program onto your phone. Alternatively, copy it to an SD card and insert into your phone.
8. Run HERM_Unlock_v2a.exe on your phone. Wait about 1 minute.
9. You should see a "SUCCESS!" message from HERM_Unlock_v2a.exe, after that soft reset your phone.
10. Process is (hopefully) complete!
11. If the phone requests unlock code when you put a locked SIM, the code is: 22051978

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I assume I want go to 1.04 for Cingular which is 1.30.502.1.
What about my SIM card? Is it supposed to be in phone when I run this file? (it's a t-mobile sim).
I assume the activesync connection via usb is okay? I cannot get it to connect (even though the phone is on and booted into Windows 5.0); is this because I have not inserted the SIM card into the phone? Note: after I unplugged the device, setting allow USB connections on the device in the ActiveSync settings, then plugging it back in, it connected via USB in ActiveSync (4.2). However, I just got a box saying the version of ActiveSync is not compatible with this mobile device. This occured after I started the installer and it showing Verifying the information on your PDA phone.
I received an update error 260 since it thinks the phone is not connected via USB (and I noticed the ActiveSync icon in the system tray is gone).
I went to check the M$ page to see if there is a later download; there is not. Then, the AS icon return (trying to update outlook, install nero mobile) so I decided to run the installer again and now sees my current version 1.34.502.1 and I have the option to upgrade ROM
MilanoRex said:
I unlocked my 8525 last week, I had bootloader 1.06 so I downgraded to a ROM with boetloader 1.04(you can find it here http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Hermes_Upgrades ).. then just follow the instructions in the zip file you downloaded(i used HERM_Unlock_v2a), which are:
1. Enter bootloader mode on your Phone. To do this, simultaneously hold side OK and POWER buttons together and reset with stylus.
[You should see SPL-1.04 on the top of the tri-color screen, if you see SPL-1.06 this unlocker will not work, please wait for the next version]
2. Connect your phone to your computer using the USB lead.
3. Run the MaUpgradeUt_noID.exe program – this will reflash your phone with a patched radio ROM required to unlock.
4. Wait patiently.
5. Once the MaUpgradeUt_noID.exe upgrade completes, it will end up saying "Upgrade Error 114", but the patched radio ROM will be flashed anyway, dont worry about that error!
6. Soft reset with stylus (Device will not be hard reset and no data will be lost)
7. Allow your phone to reboot. Once it has, connect to your PC using Activesync, and copy the HERM_Unlock_v2a.exe program onto your phone. Alternatively, copy it to an SD card and insert into your phone.
8. Run HERM_Unlock_v2a.exe on your phone. Wait about 1 minute.
9. You should see a "SUCCESS!" message from HERM_Unlock_v2a.exe, after that soft reset your phone.
10. Process is (hopefully) complete!
11. If the phone requests unlock code when you put a locked SIM, the code is: 22051978
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

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crazyut said:
I assume I want go to 1.04 for Cingular which is 1.30.502.1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
right
crazyut said:
What about my SIM card? Is it supposed to be in phone when I run this file? (it's a t-mobile sim).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
doesn't matter
crazyut said:
I assume the activesync connection via usb is okay?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is ok, but generally it causes more problems than it helps. Best is to disable the checkbox that says "enable usb connections" on activesync settings and you'll see the icon on the system tray turn gray with a red "X". Then you need to start the RUU when the device is in bootloader mode (tri-color screen). After you have upgrded the rom (or radio rom) you can reenable activesync again if you want.
crazyut said:
I cannot get it to connect (even though the phone is on and booted into Windows 5.0); is this because I have not inserted the SIM card into the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SIM card and activesync have nothing to do.
crazyut said:
I received an update error 260 since it thinks the phone is not connected via USB (and I noticed the ActiveSync icon in the system tray is gone).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Icon was gone because RUU checks your current rom version using activesync and then kills it an put device in bootloaer mode. If RUU cannot kill activesync correctly errors happen:
You will avoid the 260 error if you disable usb connections on desktop activesync as I told you, and start the upgrade in bootloader mode... only difference you'll notice is that RUU will not report your current rom version.

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Hey. I left the RUU software running (the 25+ minute variety) while I went to buy a case and care charger. I came back and evidently, the phone had rebooted because, it is at the Windows Mobile screen to setup the Windows Mobile device. I assume it is safe to do the 2a software. After that, am I able to update the RUU back to 1.06?
Thanks for your help, Milan and pof!
I rebooted into bootloader to confirm successful downgrade to 1.04 from 1.06 and it was. The RUU software from the upgrade page for Cingular appears to have been successful.
I am now going to attempt the 2a software.

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Yes, now follow all the instructions on sim&cid unlocker v2a, and when finished, flash the cingular 1.34 rom again.

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pof said:
Yes, now follow all the instructions on sim&cid unlocker v2a, and when finished, flash the cingular 1.34 rom again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's now on the upgrade screen to Radio 1.16.00.69 but it does not show the previous version. Is this normal? I have not pressed upgrade yet. I have the splitter with the AC and USB cables into the phone (currently in bootloader mode at SPL-1.04).

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yes, it is normal... i told you before:
pof said:
RUU checks your current rom version using activesync
[...]
start the upgrade in bootloader mode... only difference you'll notice is that RUU will not report your current rom version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

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pof said:
yes, it is normal... i told you before:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the 114 error as promised in the readme. I exited the program using the EXIT button.
The next step:
6. Soft reset with stylus (Device will not be hard reset and no data will be lost)
On the phone display, it still shows Upgrade Radio Stack Please Wait..
The soft reset is the simultaneous OK and Power?

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I just took the battery out and reset; it appeared to go okay. I copied the exe file to the phone and was able to run the file as in the readme. I then reset the phone, put in the t-mobile sim and it works.
Thanks much to POF and Milan for their straightforward approach. You can use this thread as a tutorial!

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Is there any reason I should add the 1.06 file back to the unlocked 8525?

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SPL 1.06 to SPL 1.04 back to SPL 1.06?
Hi:
I followed pof's (with pof's help) tutorial on how to unlock the Cingular 8525. I am currently at SPL 1.04 (downgraded form SPL 1.06) and had run the v2a software to unlock. It works great with T-mobile (I was a Cingular customer but made the switch).
My questions are:
Is there any reason to go back SPL 1.06?
If I do go back to SPL 1.06, it does not affect the unlock status of the SIM or CID?
I still am confused about the Radio and what that does in relation to the CID, SIM, or phone. I assume the Radio is affected the SPL version that you have?
I have tried to peruse through various pages regarding downgrading (the 13 page thread for example) to see if that question is answered.

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The radio ROM controls the GSM/GPRS/UMTS hardware in your hermes. You cannot independently upgrade it unless you are running SPL 1.04. There is no reason IMO to go to any other bootloader version.

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Sleuth255 said:
The radio ROM controls the GSM/GPRS/UMTS hardware in your hermes. You cannot independently upgrade it unless you are running SPL 1.04. There is no reason IMO to go to any other bootloader version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh okay, that clears up yet something else I did not understand
Thanks for the tip on the bootloader version; I will leave it at SPL 1.04.
That being said, I am currently in the middle of the Radio 1.20 thread; I have not finished reading it yet (I can only do so much at work before people wonder what I am doing). Have you upgraded to Radio 1.20? If not, what radio are you running and what do you think of its stability and/or functionality?
Thanks!

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I'm running the 1.20 radio. It and the 1.35 TyTN ROM are the best combination I've used so far.