Hi,
I've just bought an HTC Mozart and I'm looking to debrand it as I'm on O2 and it's currently branded with Orange UK branding. I can get it unlocked easily enough online, but all the debranding threads I've seen need either a goldcard which I can't make as I don't have access to an Android phone, a WM 6.5 phone or a Windows PC, or flashing (and again, I don't have access to a Windows PC).
Is there any way I can do it from a Mac? If not, does anyone know where I can get *just* a goldcard made up so I can debrand the phone without needing a PC? I already have a Y-USB cable, so I just need the card (and the kits on eBay are around £30, which is a bit steep given I don't even need half the stuff they come with).
Thanks in advance for your help!
I thought the only orange branding was a few pre installed apps and one more theme called orange uk? Thanks all i have on mine anyway...
Save yoursel the trouble and just delete the apps, fro the menu screen swipe left and long press on the orange ans and "uninstall" the phone will have no trances of orange firmware past this
Is that really all there is? From reading around I thought there were issues getting software updates through much more slowly if you didn't have generic firmware.
Can anyone confirm the Orange branding is just a few deletable apps?
even if the difference is only a few apps the fact that slows updates down is that orange have to sign off on their updates before it is pushed to phones. i've had both windows updates on time with non-orange firmware phones.
To be honest, that's kind of why I was interested in getting the phone unbranded! I expect the phone will have NoDo on it, but I don't want to wait longer for Mango just because some guy at Orange hasn't ticked a box on a form on his desk
As a side issue, I still haven't found anywhere that'll just sell me a goldcard. It's quite surprising really - you'd think there'd be a market for people wanting to unbrand their phones but not having the kit or not wanting to figure out how to make the cards up.
Related
I'll start by saying that I'm not very Android literate, but I need some help.
I bought my wife a White Xperia X10 in the last week from Expansys - unlocked and unbranded. When it arrived it came with a euro power adaptor and French leaflets in the box. Expansys also sent me a UK power adaptor and so a simple change of the language had it working fine.
Today it is not seeing the UK firmware update - does this mean I haven't got a UK phone, and how can I check? The back of the phone under the battery shows Sl 1232-4307 and with a google I think my phone is:
X10i GT-FR GENERIC 1233-2796 1232-4307 Customized FR/Luster white
Now I'm not very happy as I wanted to buy a UK phone, but knowing Expansys customer services its going to be easier to try to solve this myself.
Is it possible to make the phone believe that it is a UK Generic model so I can use SEUS to get the update and have it work as I wanted originally - as a UK handset?
I need some pretty straight forward instructions as I am not Android aware, although I am pretty IT literate.
Thanks
Why do you want it to be a UK handset? To update to 2.1?
If so, go to THIS thread and download the "Executable" file link or just click HERE to download it directly.
When the download is complete, just extract the files to somewhere on your computer, backup any contacts/apps (if any), and turn off your phone. Right after the phone powers off, take out the battery for 30+ seconds (to be safe), plug it back in, then hold the back (arrow pointing left) button and plug in the USB cable. Your LED should go a solid green. If this happens, execute the "X10Flash.bat" file from the folder you downloaded and wait. It should take about 2-5 minutes, and when it's done you will have 2.1 on your phone.
Enjoy.
Thanks very much for the information.
I wanted to become a standard unbranded UK handset to simply use SEUS to keep up to date afterwards. It's my wife's phone so it needs to be simple to keep it up to date.
I was also concerned that I might not get all of the right carrier settings etc unless I use UK firmware.
Finally I noticed this evening that there are some French apps on the phone for finding restaurants etc - I assumed that if I got a UK localised version I would benefit.
Are my assumptions wrong?
Thanks again for your help.
Hey guys,
So my phone developed a strange white mark on the screen. Took it to get it fixed and finally a month later Vodafone returned a different handset to me with the latest Vodafone ROM on it as I expected.
Bottom line is I don't want the Vodafone ROM on it. Can I simply install the official HTC ROM onto the handset from their website? Is it that simple or will it totally mess up my handset?
Thanks.
Richard.
Ha, just discovered now that it is locked to Vodafone. Can I make an issue out of this with the idiots at Vodafone? HTC website won't let me download their ROMs. What can I do about this?
do a hspl and flash away.......
BIG ISSUE
If the phone you send in to repair was originally an unbranded device and they returned you a branded device. I would make a BIG (oh no a HUGE) issue out of it, they just can't do that. They have to replace it with a similar device, a branded Vodafone device isn't worth half on the second hand market because of SIM-lock.
But you cannot just install a HTC ROM, you'll have to use HSPL2 (1.66HSPL preferable) but HSPL2 can void your warranty, all tough it is reversible. With HSPL2 the Vodafone branded device will still be SIM-locked.
webpatrick this is exactly as I thought...so yesterday before looking at the posts on here I sent a very heated email to Vodafone telling them exactly as it is. This handset is worthless to me. And you are right about the branding. I bought a phone last year that was branded (I didn't know this when I got it) and I had loads of trouble trying to sell it on. I can mess with the ROMs all I want but the bottom line is that any new HTC ROMs would never install unless I HSPL2 it, so how could I sell it on to someone without telling them that it is branded? I can't.
Words cannot convey how fuming I am with Vodafone right now. It took them a month to get a working device back into my hands...and then it wasn't even my device or indeed a similarly set up device. Absolutely pathetic. This means I have to make more journeys to the Vodafone store, waste my time and money etc.
Thanks for your posts guys. I will let you know what develops. I should be recieving a reply to my email at some point soon.
Richard
Ok so I got this email back from them today. How do you think I should proceed?
"Hello Richard,
To reinstall the HTC ROM on your phone you can visit the nearest Vodafone stores.
Alternatively, you need to contact the HTC manufacturer if they can help you to reinstall the HTC ROM on your phone.
I trust this helps."
What should I do? Should I persue the issue or do one of the above?
Thanks
Richard
So basically....THEY DIDN'T READ MY EMAIL.
So it was originally branded, you probable had a bit of discount back then.
But the employee that sold it to you probable didn't know it was branded neither. Vodafone used to brand devices with a visible vodafone logo on the outside, and they didn't do that with the HD2.
I also was mislead by it a year ago, but since an vodafone upgrade is available, i don't bother anymore, cause I can install any ROM I like with HSPL2 (except new 3.14 ROMs), and revert with the official vodafone upgrade if needed.
So if you want an original HTC ROM, you have to use HSLP2 or for the latest HTC ROM a GoldCard, cause there's no HSPL for the new 3.14 ROMs (with SPL 3.03.0000 bootloader) (see Artemis Thread).
Turns out I have just installed custom roms. I figured that I might as well void the warranty. I will just revert to the stock if worse comes to worse.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App
Hey Guys and Gals......
I am about to purchase a Shiny New SGSII from o2 in a couple of Days (when i get paid LOLOL) and was wondering this........
Are there any problems to look out for if the Handset is SimLocked?
The reason i ask is because i flashed my unlocked SGS easily and often with no problems at all...whereas i did this for a friend who had his with an ORANGE contract and had numerous problems/bugs etc. Am i just paranoid about having to stick with o2 and is the switching of Sims the only gripe people have if the phone is simlocked. Can anyone shed any light please....
Cheers
Orange cram their phones with bloat like 'Orange Maps' and 'Orange Messenger'. They even removed Google Maps and GTalk from my Desire so I wouldn't touch another of their phones with a barge pole!
O2 seem pretty harmless bar a wallpaper and start-up animation.
The only thing to look out for is the release of updates. Carriers take time 'testing' (which in Orange's case means adding their ****ware to it) so updates can be delayed by a few weeks.
If you want the latest then get a sim-free/unlocked handset. Phones4U and CPW usually hand them out on contract and I expect PAYG too.
Thanks for the reply but i flashed both handsets with ODIN and the contract phone had problems. My question above should have read............
Do i need to remove the simlock 1st before i flash a Custom Rom? Can there be problems otherwise?
Alright guys I tried to search for this but basically I couldnt find the answer,
Anyway I might be buying an orange uk HTC mozart from *bay, and then I'll be getting it unlocked via IMEI code also from *bay.
My question is how will I go about de-branding it i.e. taking everything "orange" away from it and also how will I make sure the phone is up to date i.e. which rom will i have to flash?
Sorry for the noob-ness its just I'm coming from android so all this wp7 malarky is new to me!
Thanks!!
try to read some threads before posting new ones..I am sure you will answer all your questions that way.
Sorry to say I cant find anything that answers my question would appreciate if you could help me out.
I'm confused as to whether the mozart will ge the NoDo update on a non-orange carrier?
Thanks
To be honest you won't see much orange stuff on it! You can uninstall all the programs and after that its just the start up screen (which you'll rarely see as who turns off their phone) and I think one of the colours is called orange uk! But the above guy is right there are millions of posts on here about debranding your phone, I did it and went back to the original rom as the european rom doesnt seem to have english uk, only english american...
Thanks for the tips, but im unsure as to what you mean by the original rom?
Basically i dont know what version it will be until it arrives, but i want to make sure I can unlock it, debrand it and keep it up to date whilst being on t-mobile (which happen to share a 2G network with orange lol)
my advice is: get your hands to the phone first, buy an unlock code through some of the several sites providing it if the phone is locked to orange or another network. then pop your sim in, enter the unlock code you purchased and uninstall any orange apps if there are any installed on the phone.. plug your phone to zune and update it to pre-nodo, no-do depends on what version currently is. remember that you have to un-plug and plug again your phone to the pc for each update.. hope that helped..
I did the same thing, bought a Mozart from Ebay, Unlocked by buying a code from the internet and then debranded the phone by downgrading it and letting it update through Zune.
Still looking at getting one of these, but just reading issues about responsiveness on the latest roms i.e. screen response etc.
Is it an issue i should worry about?
BUMP
My mozart is coming tomorrow on Orange UK, and I will need to use it on t-mobile UK.
Please, please oh pretty please will someone help me unlock and debrand it?
Thanks
I bought a Mozart locked to Orange last week to use with an O2 sim card. All you need to do is get an unlock code using the IMEI no. (I used Unlocking.com, cost about £15), then get your phone on a wifi network and dwnload the HTC settings app from Marketplace, which will automatically configure your phone for web/MMS/texts etc. Then just delete the Orange apps by long pressing on them in the app list and assign the correct voicemail number.
Job done! Other than an Orange logo on start up, you won't know any different.
Got my mozart Yay!
HOWEVER
What the hell is with the banding?!?!?! Whenever the screen is any other color than black, there's banding!?!?
Banding? Oh dear - I think you might have a duff screen
No I think this is the issue
http://forum.xda-developers.com/archive/index.php/t-1028496.html
Oh, right. Turns out I have that too, but hadn't noticed until now! Supposedly it'll be fixed in Mango, and it's no big deal so I can wait until then.
Hey everyone, sorry if this has cropped up previously but I've searched to no avail and no one from Microsoft has an answer either.
I've got a new HTC Titan sitting here, completely unused. I won it at the Windows Phone Inner Circle event in Denver weeks before the device's US launch, but I still haven't switched over. This is because the device is a UK phone. The phone does not appear to have any US settings at all, is unlocked, and even comes with a UK plug instead of a US one. Presumably, this is because I won the device before the US version was ready for release.
The issue is that even when I switch my region settings over to "English (US)", nothing actually changes on the phone when it restarts...everything is still English (UK). For example, "synchronising", "favourites", "colour", etc. At first I thought that this wasn't a big deal, but it might be if other region settings persist. So I have three related questions that I'd love to find out:
If/when a custom bootloader is released for the Titan, can I use it to flash a US ROM to my device?
I have to switch carriers to AT&T in order to fully use the Titan (hence my hesitation), but will bringing the phone to AT&T and letting them activate it have a chance of loading US settings onto the phone? I know that will load AT&T app marketplace options, which is why I was curious.
Most importantly, even if none of this can possibly change, will I at all be restricted by UK region restrictions for Zune, Marketplace, etc.? I have a US-based Zune and WLID account, but this is my main concern because of the phone's region.
If anyone can share some insights on this, I'd really appreciate it.
CAVX said:
Hey everyone, sorry if this has cropped up previously but I've searched to no avail and no one from Microsoft has an answer either.
I've got a new HTC Titan sitting here, completely unused. I won it at the Windows Phone Inner Circle event in Denver weeks before the device's US launch, but I still haven't switched over. This is because the device is a UK phone. The phone does not appear to have any US settings at all, is unlocked, and even comes with a UK plug instead of a US one. Presumably, this is because I won the device before the US version was ready for release.
The issue is that even when I switch my region settings over to "English (US)", nothing actually changes on the phone when it restarts...everything is still English (UK). For example, "synchronising", "favourites", "colour", etc. At first I thought that this wasn't a big deal, but it might be if other region settings persist. So I have three related questions that I'd love to find out:
If/when a custom bootloader is released for the Titan, can I use it to flash a US ROM to my device?
I have to switch carriers to AT&T in order to fully use the Titan (hence my hesitation), but will bringing the phone to AT&T and letting them activate it have a chance of loading US settings onto the phone? I know that will load AT&T app marketplace options, which is why I was curious.
Most importantly, even if none of this can possibly change, will I at all be restricted by UK region restrictions for Zune, Marketplace, etc.? I have a US-based Zune and WLID account, but this is my main concern because of the phone's region.
If anyone can share some insights on this, I'd really appreciate it.
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Click to collapse
1. US ROM must be considered. Because the AT&T version Does use the different Chips for different Radio version. It might get the phone bricked. The Goldcard tecnique is not available on Titan, so Official AT&T Rom to flash on the phone is nearly impossible. It need to be done by 3rd party.
2. No. Your Live ID will determine which content you can access. Don't ask why people at Asia can still submit and buys apps that are for US only.
3. The region of the phone could be changed, but not the agent inside. So, don't be surprise that you have the English voice comeout from Tellme and Turn-by-Turn navigation from Bing maps doesn't work at US. You can change, the Region Format, System Locale and Browser &Search Language to English (United States) but it can't change the fact, that this phone is built for Europe user. I will ask HTC if they can bring the custom language pack (if possible) to Windows Phone. I am still talking to HTC Tech Support about this.
I contacted HTC Support several times and they didn't give me any solution (apart from doing a deadly mistake of telling me to search the Android Market for an application :S)!!
I'm still hoping we find a different ROM to flash. Is there an Australian version maybe floating around? I'm dying to use voice navigation and Tellme (which doesn't understand anything when set to English UK).
Thanks for the replies...starting to think maybe I should just sell the thing and use the money to buy a US Titan - especially due to the points about navigation and TellMe. Of course, I'd probably want to sell it to someone in the UK so no one else has region problems. Maybe I'll start looking into that.
In the meantime, if any encouraging news pops up about this, let me know
CAVX said:
...starting to think maybe I should just sell the thing)
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Click to collapse
How much do you want?