[Q] Motorola Photon with U.S. Cellular SBF

[Q] Motorola Photon with U.S. Cellular SBF - Motorola Photon 4G

OK I'm in need of dire help. I own a Motorola Photon for SPRINT. It started with the fact i was using jokersax CM9, but had no signal. Tried all the fixes but nothing prevailed, so i decided to flash back to stock. I flashed and somehow I started getting "failed to boot 2/3/4". Eventually i came into dire need for it to get past the boot screen . So eventually tried the method of flashing U.S. Cellular SBF which eventually worked. Eventually got past the activation screen (go into wireless setting through menu button and change it to GSM) but now I can't make calls, text, 3G unlike the people I heard this method from, and I'm wondering how can I do that or how can i go back to sprint SBF

U.S. GSM towers are blocked at the hardware level I believe.
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium

ninjajtm said:
OK I'm in need of dire help. I own a Motorola Photon for SPRINT. It started with the fact i was using jokersax CM9, but had no signal. Tried all the fixes but nothing prevailed, so i decided to flash back to stock. I flashed and somehow I started getting "failed to boot 2/3/4". Eventually i came into dire need for it to get past the boot screen . So eventually tried the method of flashing U.S. Cellular SBF which eventually worked. Eventually got past the activation screen (go into wireless setting through menu button and change it to GSM) but now I can't make calls, text, 3G unlike the people I heard this method from, and I'm wondering how can I do that or how can i go back to sprint SBF
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you flashed back to Sprint stock 2.3.4 from CM9, did you format the system data? If not you will have problems going past the boot screen. I learned that the hard way.
Try the following to see if this works.
1) Use RSD Lite to flash back to Sprint stock 2.3.4 SBF
2) Turn off phone
3) Hold Power+Vol Down buttons and use Vol Down to scroll through options to "Android Recovery" and press Vol Up button
4) You'll get a triangle warning icon in the middle. Press and hold both Vol Up + Vol Down button to access stock recovery.
5) Select "format system data/factory reset" and "wipe cache partition"
6) After that is done, select "reboot phone"
7) You should be able to boot up like factory reset
8) Make sure your phone registers with Sprint during the initial setup.
9) PROFIT!!!
Let me know if this works out for you.

I just tried to go back to stock through RSD Lite and it failed at "waiting for re-enumeration" and on the phone it says "sec_exception: febe, 4e, 4e"

How many times did you try this? Did you make sure before you started flashing via RSD Lite that you put the phone in "RSD Protocol support"?
Try watching this video to flash back to RSD Lite. Skip to 3:30 for RSD Lite part and watch from there. Its very step by step on how to go back to stock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J94VcWk-CJc

If you flashed the USCC 2.3.5 sbf and not zip file, you have effectively locked your boot oader and no amount of sbfing will help.
You won't be able to activate it for sprint because of that.
Sent from my MB855

I understood that which why if I couldn't change it back to sprint, how can i make it to where I can atleast make calls and text or use internet (3g)?

You need to flash photon radio. That will help, I think.

peetr_ said:
You need to flash photon radio. That will help, I think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you explain in more depth, with what radio and how?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1573727
Graze through this thread to see if it is going anywhere. I used a variation of this to unlock my Electrify that shipped with 2.3.5 and a locked bootloader. If they got the method working you should be able to use it to unlock your bootloader and get back to a sprint rom.

ninjajtm said:
Can you explain in more depth, with what radio and how?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You cannot go back with any Photon sbf, but theoretically, you can get your phone service back, with flashing Photon radio through recovery (maybe bootstrap recovery, if you cannot be unlocked), try it - http://d-h.st/lS0

I don't understand why the OP flashed the USCC 2.3.5 update when he has a Sprint phone. Sounds like it was too much desperation and with a simple look on the XDA forums the problem would have been solved.
I offered the OP a few steps to try out but has yet to get back to me. Oh well I guess he missed my suggestion or ignored it. Either way good luck with that.

ericdabbs said:
I don't understand why the OP flashed the USCC 2.3.5 update when he has a Sprint phone. Sounds like it was too much desperation and with a simple look on the XDA forums the problem would have been solved.
I offered the OP a few steps to try out but has yet to get back to me. Oh well I guess he missed my suggestion or ignored it. Either way good luck with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did, posted 20 mins after you did with my results, and it kinda was out of desperation that I did it since all i got was a load of sec_exemptions and failed flashes that I went with the method I did. But thank you for helping with those steps, I'm currently following the thread that can probably fix my problem without flashing

ericdabbs said:
I don't understand why the OP flashed the USCC 2.3.5 update when he has a Sprint phone. Sounds like it was too much desperation and with a simple look on the XDA forums the problem would have been solved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the problem (at least it was for me, and given the number of people posting that they accidentally flashed it, there has to be a reason) is that one of the threads with info on restoring back to locked/stock ROM says something like 'flash the attached bootloader.' The correct bootloader is *linked* inside a list of links, and the horrible, horrible 2.3.5 bootloader of doom is actually *attached* to the message with the warning about not using on a photon being up a little higher in the thread.
In my case, having done the restore a time or two on the phone already, I thought I knew what I was doing, so I just jumped right into the steps this time, and grabbed the attached (wrong) bootloader, only to discover that I had now bricked the phone.
I did a ton of reading here yesterday, and it seems the consensus so far is that these phones are bricked until someone can get their hands on an SBF of the 2.3.5 Sprint release that is supposed to be coming out in a soak test this week along with a similarly locked bootloader. I just ended up buying a new G Nexus from a guy on craigslist that had them off-contract for $250. Gazelle is buying photons for about $125, so if I can get it fixed in the next week or so (or try for a hardware replacement from Sprint), I'll only be out $125 for an cross-grade to a more hack-friendly phone with ICS. Not the worst mistake ever.

Ok, I am thouroghly lost when it comes to the dangers of bricking this phone as I come from a samsung epic in which you can basically flash another phones rom and it won't brick.
So I have some questions. TIA
1. First of all this is for the sprint photon right? What's all this talk about a sim card slot? Isn't that gsm only?
2. From what I'm gathering 2.3.5 electrify is a big no-no
3. Some people I'm reading say that since the 2.3.5 update the bootloader has yet to be unlocked? Let's assume my photon will come with the most up to date sprint rom so is it unlockable?
Sent from my Nexus Slide 4G via Tapatalk 2

xopher.hunter said:
Ok, I am thouroghly lost when it comes to the dangers of bricking this phone as I come from a samsung epic in which you can basically flash another phones rom and it won't brick.
So I have some questions. TIA
1. First of all this is for the sprint photon right? What's all this talk about a sim card slot? Isn't that gsm only?
2. From what I'm gathering 2.3.5 electrify is a big no-no
3. Some people I'm reading say that since the 2.3.5 update the bootloader has yet to be unlocked? Let's assume my photon will come with the most up to date sprint rom so is it unlockable?
Sent from my Nexus Slide 4G via Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Yes, Well its possible to use gsm on the Photon since its now possible unlike the at&t version (Atrix) that is GSM only, so No/ Sorta
2. It is. .but its that method you go to when you have no where else to go and you'll make a contract to the devil to get this phone to go past the boot screen
3. As far as I know yes, but I'm not sure

xopher.hunter said:
Ok, I am thouroghly lost when it comes to the dangers of bricking this phone as I come from a samsung epic in which you can basically flash another phones rom and it won't brick.
So I have some questions. TIA
1. First of all this is for the sprint photon right? What's all this talk about a sim card slot? Isn't that gsm only?
2. From what I'm gathering 2.3.5 electrify is a big no-no
3. Some people I'm reading say that since the 2.3.5 update the bootloader has yet to be unlocked? Let's assume my photon will come with the most up to date sprint rom so is it unlockable?
Sent from my Nexus Slide 4G via Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Sim card slot is for non-USA gsm service as this is a world phone. Can't use at&t or T-Mobile.
2. Yes, very much so. Stay away.
3. If you buy a photon, it may or may not come with 2.3.5 out of the box. I don't think 2.3.5 is official yet, but I may be wrong. I'm not stock so I haven't been paying attention. If it doesn't, just don't accept the update and you're ok. Root, freeze updater with titanium backup, and no worries. At least until ics is official, and then you may need 2.3.5 for that. I don't know exactly how all that works, but I'm sure someone here does. If it does come with 2.3.5, no unlocked bootloader, but it's still rootable.
Sent from my MB855 using XDA

Related

I'm trying to activate my photon but sprint can't seem to....

Ok, so I have a rooted photon with cm 7.2 and sprint wasn't able to get it activated. ESN is fine and they inputed everything, but when I tried to do the ##yada yada thing nothing happens. It's supposed to let me put in a password. Does it need to be put back to stock then activated?

Yes you have to put it back to stock first.

Call me tomorrow after 9 am. I work for Sprint I may ne able to activate it for you. Pm me for my number.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App

Joshhayes801 said:
Yes you have to put it back to stock first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PM Sent Miguel, thanks. I can get a stock rom from here right Josh? I guess that will unroot it too. I did do a nandroid backup, so I can just re-root it and run that. Darn, that's what I get for not reading enough. I just assumed it was no biggie to activate any phone.
Edit:
I forgot I already had rdslite and had to un root it before. I accidentally soft bricked it when I first got it so i'm returning it to stock then I'll call back. I'll give you a call Miguel if I can't get it working, but once stock it should be fine, thank you.

jeffrimerman said:
PM Sent Miguel, thanks. I can get a stock rom from here right Josh? I guess that will unroot it too. I did do a nandroid backup, so I can just re-root it and run that. Darn, that's what I get for not reading enough. I just assumed it was no biggie to activate any phone.
Edit:
I forgot I already had rdslite and had to un root it before. I accidentally soft bricked it when I first got it so i'm returning it to stock then I'll call back. I'll give you a call Miguel if I can't get it working, but once stock it should be fine, thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have a photon so I wouldn't know but I am sure you can easily find a stock ROM. I just know I have tried to activate a few different phones that had custom ROMS and they would never activate until they were back to stock.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

Joshhayes801 said:
Yes you have to put it back to stock first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OMG i'm stuck in a boot loop=(.. I ran RSD lite and put or attempted to put 198 on twice and still in boot loop. Any idea what I need to do now to get it out of boot loop?

Factory reset with hardware keys, Link Here. Then try to SBF, AKAIK your supposed to full wipe everything before trying to SBF. If thats a no go then try a different .SBF file of a different version, may have been a bad download or the such. And incase you didnt know, RSDLite is supposed to come back with a failure at the end, its normal. And FWIW, I think you could have gone back to a Nandroid of a stock rom to get it to activate. Dont quote me there but im pretty sure, know for a fact you can update prl and all that when unlocked and on stock rom so you should also be able to activate id assume.

Joshhayes801 said:
I don't have a photon so I wouldn't know but I am sure you can easily find a stock ROM. I just know I have tried to activate a few different phones that had custom ROMS and they would never activate until they were back to stock.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to flash a stock rom, but can I leave it unlocked? I unlocked it and put CWM back on so I can flash a stock rom and I think I should be ok. I'll give that a try first.
Edit: wwhhheeeww, ok so I just wiped data and dalvik and rebooted and the sbf file I was rsd ing came up. So it's totally stock, but with unlocked bootloader and with CWM. Rom is stock so I should be able to activate it unless the unlocked bootloader is a problem.

The only sprint phone that im aware of being able to be activated with CM is the NS4G. This is because sprint pushes a carrier profile from the network to your phone, which is what tells the phone it's allowed to use the network, and CM cannot receive nor retrieve the profile, hence why it wont activate. The reason CM works on our phones is because we already have the profile on it prior to flashing CM, its activated so it doesn't need to receive a new profile. This process doesn't work in reverse (flash CM then activate phone).
With all that said, the short story is you need to be stock or stock based custom ROM prior to activating a sprint phone unless it's NS4G. After activating and the phone handshaking with the network, flash away.

thanks
KSmithInNY said:
The only sprint phone that im aware of being able to be activated with CM is the NS4G. This is because sprint pushes a carrier profile from the network to your phone, which is what tells the phone it's allowed to use the network, and CM cannot receive nor retrieve the profile, hence why it wont activate. The reason CM works on our phones is because we already have the profile on it prior to flashing CM, its activated so it doesn't need to receive a new profile. This process doesn't work in reverse (flash CM then activate phone).
With all that said, the short story is you need to be stock or stock based custom ROM prior to activating a sprint phone unless it's NS4G. After activating and the phone handshaking with the network, flash away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for that great explanation
I should be able to load up my backup right? I did it with CWM just before I put it back to stock. I haven't done the root but since I have unlocked bootloader and CMW I should be good to go right?

KSmithInNY said:
The only sprint phone that im aware of being able to be activated with CM is the NS4G. This is because sprint pushes a carrier profile from the network to your phone, which is what tells the phone it's allowed to use the network, and CM cannot receive nor retrieve the profile, hence why it wont activate. The reason CM works on our phones is because we already have the profile on it prior to flashing CM, its activated so it doesn't need to receive a new profile. This process doesn't work in reverse (flash CM then activate phone).
With all that said, the short story is you need to be stock or stock based custom ROM prior to activating a sprint phone unless it's NS4G. After activating and the phone handshaking with the network, flash away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i work for sprint and havent heard it put better. i have dealt with quite a few custs that wanted to activate on diff roms and always told em it couldnt be done but never could explain why... thanks for info there!

[Q] Successfully Flashed Locked 2.3.5 to US GSM

So...I've been a longtime lurker around here since the cupcake days and am doing my first post.
After having Motorola throw me under the bus with the last soak test and Sprint looking the other way pretending nothing happened, I decided to flash the KDDI radio to my locked Photon on the 2.3.5 OTA soak. By following the instructions in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1815200 , I was able to get the GSM radio unlocked with no issues. Everything works, including the CDMA radios, but for some reason I can only connect to Verizon in CDMA mode. I have a working T-Mobile sim for testing purposes, but my main account is still with Sprint until I can ditch them. I have already flashed the 12124 PRL back on the phone, but it still won't connect to Sprint. So here is the question: Is there any way to force the phone back on Sprint without loosing the unlocked GSM radio. I can easily flip between Verizon/ATT/T-Mobile from the mobile networks menu so this should be possible.
I know I'm trying to have my cake and eat it too, but it would be nice to not feel completely screwed over with this phone. Great hardware, half-assed software and no support.
P.S. A huge thank you to peetr and everyone else who has refused to let this phone die.

makakalo said:
So...I've been a longtime lurker around here since the cupcake days and am doing my first post.
After having Motorola throw me under the bus with the last soak test and Sprint looking the other way pretending nothing happened, I decided to flash the KDDI radio to my locked Photon on the 2.3.5 OTA soak. By following the instructions in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1815200 , I was able to get the GSM radio unlocked with no issues. Everything works, including the CDMA radios, but for some reason I can only connect to Verizon in CDMA mode. I have a working T-Mobile sim for testing purposes, but my main account is still with Sprint until I can ditch them. I have already flashed the 12124 PRL back on the phone, but it still won't connect to Sprint. So here is the question: Is there any way to force the phone back on Sprint without loosing the unlocked GSM radio. I can easily flip between Verizon/ATT/T-Mobile from the mobile networks menu so this should be possible.
I know I'm trying to have my cake and eat it too, but it would be nice to not feel completely screwed over with this phone. Great hardware, half-assed software and no support.
P.S. A huge thank you to peetr and everyone else who has refused to let this phone die.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry not answering your question I just have another one.
are you talking about these instructions:
On a locked Photon 4G, been locked for quite a while (SOB's!!):
Flashed the full sbf: 1FF-sunfire-user-2.3.5-4.5.1A_SUN_USC_19.0-19-release-keys-signed-USC-US.sbf
Flashed the unbrick: 2.3.5_45.4.13ota_unbrick.sbf
Rooted with Photon Torpedo
Installed the MOTODX2 bootstrap
Installed Peetr's rom: HybridGBv20locked.zip (Was bootlooping, had to do a factory reset after this part)
Took two reboots before it showed up as the Japanese radio, and if it matters, in between the first and second reboot, I tried to install the KDDI zip from bootstrap twice, both failed. After that reboot, baseband ver went from unknown to N_02.29.04P.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My carrier is switching from CDMA(Sprint) to GSM(T-mo) it would be great to switch the phone to GSM I just thought it could not be done
with a locked bootloader.

Yes, those are the same instructions I followed. Just two things to remember: If you ever get stuck in a bootloop, do a factory reset from the stock recovery (not bootstrap). Also, flash the KDDI zip from bootstrap a few times before and after flashing peetr's ROM. Once your baseband (visible in phone settings) changes from unknown to N_02.29.04P you are good to go.
I still haven't gotten Sprint to work again, but I'm not really missing it. The edge speeds on T-Mobile are faster than the "premium data" that I pay $80 for. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app

Does 2.3.5 have ##programming menu by chance? Also, when it tries to connect to Verizon, is it roaming at all?
Sent from my sunfire using xda premium

I have not been able to enter any of the ## programming codes. When I do switch to CDMA the roaming triangle will appear and I can dial out. However, after a few rings, a recording comes on that says "Welcome to Verizon, please wait while we transfer you to an operator..."
I also called Sprint to reactivate the phone, but they can't even see it on the network. They referred me to a "repair center" and they were more interested in selling me a new phone than fixing the old one. I was able to get service back by flashing the stock 2.3.5 blur ROM, but I loose Sprint whenever I go back to peetr's ROM. If I can't get Sprint service back on peetr's locked ROM I'll just have to suck up the etf and head for a better network. There's no way in hell that I'm spending the next 9 months on blur.
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app

Instead of flashing the two the SBF files would this not work?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=30332325

DXM31 said:
Instead of flashing the two the SBF files would this not work?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=30332325
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know, flashing the US Cellular SBF is what exposes some loophole that allows you to apply the KDDI radio. That stock rom that you linked is only good for taking your phone back to (almost) complete stock 2.3.5. However, I have found that after reverting to stock 2.3.5 the phone radio will not react the same way to flashing peetr's hybrid rom and you will not have access to the Sprint network.
So let this be a warning: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK GSM unless you have no intentions of using Sprint with with anything but the stock 2.3.5 blurred rom.
I don't consider myself a developer in any way (I'm a hardware person), but it seems like the only way to completely reset the phone back to stock would be an official 2.3.5 Photon SBF. Unfortunately, Motorola hasn't released that file as far as I can tell. I have a few more tricks up my sleeve, but I feel like a rat on a sinking ship.
Update: The ship just sank. My computer no longer sees the phone in RSD mode. Time to get a Straight Talk sim and wait for the Nexus 4.

makakalo said:
I don't consider myself a developer in any way (I'm a hardware person), but it seems like the only way to completely reset the phone back to stock would be an official 2.3.5 Photon SBF. Unfortunately, Motorola hasn't released that file as far as I can tell. I have a few more tricks up my sleeve, but I feel like a rat on a sinking ship.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the ship has already sunk.
Outdated yet young Motorola Photon 4G

makakalo said:
As far as I know, flashing the US Cellular SBF is what exposes some loophole that allows you to apply the KDDI radio. That stock rom that you linked is only good for taking your phone back to (almost) complete stock 2.3.5. However, I have found that after reverting to stock 2.3.5 the phone radio will not react the same way to flashing peetr's hybrid rom and you will not have access to the Sprint network.
So let this be a warning: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK GSM unless you have no intentions of using Sprint with with anything but the stock 2.3.5 blurred rom.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the insight. My new GSM sim should be here Monday then I will give this a shot.
I really don't care to switch back to Sprint once done, it just would have been nice to have that option for resale.

makakalo said:
snip.....So let this be a warning: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK GSM unless you have no intentions of using Sprint with with anything but the stock 2.3.5 blurred rom.....snip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're locked and give this a shot, you can go back to stock Sprint, I've had to do it at one point, after I soft bricked with the de-blur script, peetr_ posted instructions on how to do it.
1. RSD the USC sbf
2. Root with Photon Torpedo
3. Install bootstrap apk
4. Bootstrap flash the Stock Photon 4.5.1A-1_SUN-254_13.zip
5. RSD the 2.3.5_45.4.13ota_unbrick.sbf
This put my photon back to the way it came out of the box....or so close I couldn't tell the difference, and it worked fine on Sprint, think I had to re-activate it if I remember right.

matt51 said:
If you're locked and give this a shot, you can go back to stock Sprint, I've had to do it at one point, after I soft bricked with the de-blur script, peetr_ posted instructions on how to do it.
1. RSD the USC sbf
2. Root with Photon Torpedo
3. Install bootstrap apk
4. Bootstrap flash the Stock Photon 4.5.1A-1_SUN-254_13.zip
5. RSD the 2.3.5_45.4.13ota_unbrick.sbf
This put my photon back to the way it came out of the box....or so close I couldn't tell the difference, and it worked fine on Sprint, think I had to re-activate it if I remember right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got that to work once, but I could only use Sprint on the stock rom. I lost the whole radio as soon as I flashed peetr's rom again. So I've come to the conclusion that you can use Sprint again, but only if you intend to stay on the stock blured rom. Without an official 2.3.5 SBF, there is no way to undo all of the radio/firmware changes that occur when the USC sbf is flashed.

makakalo said:
I got that to work once, but I could only use Sprint on the stock rom. I lost the whole radio as soon as I flashed peetr's rom again. So I've come to the conclusion that you can use Sprint again, but only if you intend to stay on the stock blured rom. Without an official 2.3.5 SBF, there is no way to undo all of the radio/firmware changes that occur when the USC sbf is flashed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, that may explain why I couldn't roam GSM/UTMS at all, I never tried it before I did the restore, but I couldn't roam out of the US at all with a local sim card. I can pop a sim in no problem now and it works fine. After the restore I was using the Slim Photon locked rom.

No. The T-Mobile APN was already there along with Simple mobile.
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app

[How-To] Unlock ATT/T-Mobile on 2.3.5 OTA

IMPORTANT: This guide is for users with a Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) running the 2.3.5 OTA update only. For the lucky ones still running 2.3.4, you want this thread. For those of you who don’t know what version of Android you are running, DO NOT try this. Please read these forums carefully and learn everything you can before attempting this.
This guide is based on the work of halfevildruid and his thread for unlocking GSM for Photon users on 2.3.4 with unlocked bootloaders. All users should take the time to carefully read through that thread here and keep in mind that it was written for 2.3.4/unlocked bootloader users. Some files and steps in that thread will not work on Photons that have had the 2.3.5 OTA applied.
Unlocking US GSM Carriers on 2.3.5 OTA
Before You Start:
Doing this will remove the domestic GSM carrier lock on the Sprint Photon running 2.3.5 OTA. This process will most likely break your ability to return to Sprint service, so please DO NOT DO THIS if you want to keep your Photon running on Sprint. There are ways to fix this, but none have been tested on 2.3.5 OTA devices. As far as I know, this method has been confirmed to work on three phones (including mine), so consider this experimental and high risk. I am not responsible for bricked phones, warranty issues, cats chasing dogs or hot snow falling up if you try this.
Things You Need:
1.Windows PC (tested on Win 8) with the following software installed:
-Motorola USB Drivers [Download]-RSD Lite [Download]-ADB Tools/Android SDK [Download] (Not really necessary, but helpful if you have USB issues.)2. Micro USB cable and wall charger (needed for bootstrap recovery)
3. Standard (full size) SIM card for US GSM network. (ATT/T-Mobile/Straight Talk)
4. Micro SD card (not necessary, but good just in case)
5. Motorola Photon running 2.3.5 OTA ONLY
Files You Need:
1.Full US Cellular Electrify SBF [Download]
-1FF-sunfire-user-2.3.5-4.5.1A_SUN_USC_19.0-19-release-keys-signed-USC-US.sbf2. Unbrick SBF [Download]
- 2.3.5_45.4.13ota_unbrick.sbf3. Electrify/Photon (almost) One Click Root [Download]
-su.zip4. Bootstrap Recovery [Download]
-MOTODX2_Bootstrap_signed.apk5. Peetr’s Hybrid Locked 2.3.5 ROM [Dev Thread/Download]
-HybridGBv20locked.zip6. KDDI Radio [Download]
- KDDI_Radio_udate.zip
If any links do not work, most can be found at www.motosunfire.com.
Steps
1. Backup Your Stuff!
2. Shutdown phone and remove SIM/SD card (if applicable)
-Tip: Leave your battery cover off. There’s going to be a lot of battery pulls…3. Open RSD Lite on your computer.
4. Start phone in RSD mode:
-With phone unplugged hold volume-down and power
-It should say fastboot in the top left corner, press volume-down until RSD appears
-Connect phone to computer
-Press volume-up to enter RSD mode5. Select the full US Celluar SBF in RSD lite and press start.
-This process takes a few minutes and will end in an error, this is normal.
-The phone may hang on the dual core screen, if so pull the battery.
-The phone will either do two things:
-Bootloop with the US cellular logo
-Boot normally to home screen-In either case, pull the battery and follow the steps to enter RSD mode again.6. Once you are in RSD mode again, flash the Unbrick SBF
-This should not end in an error, but RSD may say you need to manually reboot your phone, this is normal.
-Once your phone reboots you may experience bootlooping, if so do a factory reset (See below)
-With the phone off pess vol-down + power
-Press vol-down until Android Recovery is shown, press vol-up to enter.
-Press both vol-up + vol-down to see menu.
-In the recovery screen, use the volume buttons to scroll and select factory restore.
-Press power to wipe the phone.
-When complete, reboot phone and you should successfully boot to home.7. Once you have flashed the two SBFs, you should be able to get to the stock US Celluar rom.
8. After everything has loaded, you need to obtain root access. (See below)
-Make sure all USB drivers are installed on your computer.
-Enable USB debugging mode on phone (System>Applications>Development)
-Unzip the su.zip on your computer and open root.bat, the program will take you through the rest.9. Once rooted, place the KDDI zip and Peetr’s ROM on either the internal or external storage.
-This is also a good time to install your SIM card.10. Install the Bootstrap recovery and follow the instructions to boot into recovery.
-Remember: You need to be on AC power to get into Bootstrap recovery.11. In recovery, flash the KDDI zip and then Peetr’s ROM
12. After installing the ROM, flash KDDI again.
-Flash KDDI as many times as you want, it will give an error but will still work.13. Reboot phone and enjoy the GSM radio.:highfive:
-If you bootloop again, just do another factory reset. Peetr’s ROM will still be there.
-You may have to root and install Bootstrap again.
-It never hurts to flash KDDI one more time just to be sure.
See next post for Q&A

Q&A
When You’re Done:
Q: How can I go back to Sprint?
A: The only way that worked for me was by flashing 2.3.5. Photon 4.5.1A-1_SUN-254_13 from this thread. This will take the phone back to mostly stock, but there may be residual radio issues.
Q: What carriers can I use now?
A: Any GSM carrier that uses a standard SIM card. These include:
-ATT (3G)
-T-Mobile (2G/EDGE unless you live in a re-farmed area.)
-Straight Talk (3G w/ATT SIM, 2G w/T-Mobile SIM)
Q: Can I unlock my bootloader now?
A: Nope. This only unlocks the GSM radio.
Q: Can I install a different ROM than Peetr’s hybrid?
A: SIM unlocking has only been confirmed to work on Peetr’s locked hybrid rom.
Q: I’m pissed at Motorola for canceling the ICS upgrade. How can I sleep at night?
A: As of right now (and probably forever) there is no way to install any version of Android higher than 2.3.5 on any Photon with the 2.3.5 OTA. However, Peetr’s ROM can be modified to make it look and function like ICS. Planters76 has made an excellent theme for the hybrid ROM that can be flashed in Bootstrap. It can be found here.
Once you flash that theme there are several applications on the Play Store that replicate the ICS/JB experience. Developer Moblynx offers replacements for the clock, camera and gallery. Mobint Software makes home and lockscreen replacements as well. I’m not affiliated with these developers, but their work is solid. This is as close as were going to get to ICS on 2.3.5.
Q: Which developers contributed to this?
A: halfevildruid, mof9336, peetr_, Noncs, Lightsword1942, Planters76, and many others. If anyone else would like to be mentioned, let me know and I’ll add you in. Without these developers we’d be left out in the cold, so give them some thanks.
Q: Who are you and what are you doing here?
A: I am not a developer myself, so just think of me as the person gathering all of the information and trying to simplify it. I can’t stand planned obsolescence, so the Photon is a sore point for me. I’ve stayed in the shadows before now because I haven’t had a reason to speak up, but the locked down OTA and cancelled ICS update bugged the hell out of me. I was in the first soak test for the 2.3.5 OTA, so I had no warning that Motorola was about to screw me and many others. If I can help anyone else that was locked down eek any more life from their phones, then I’ve done my job.
Q: I’m lost! Can you help?
A: Just reply with your questions and I’ll try my best. Keep in mind that I am not a developer, so there are some questions I may not have an answer to.
Finally, if anyone finds any incorrect information in my post or some other error, please let me know so I can fix it. I’d like to prevent any unnecessary phone damage if possible.

Works great. thanks.
now 3G shows 4 bars instead of 1 earlier.
I had to use libmoto_198_7
peetr's ROM is cool. and I like the keyboard!
great work.

Works, but WIFI shows error
I followed the steps and I have my Sprint Photon working in AT&T. But the issues is, the Wifi shows error and doesnt start at all. is there something that can be fixed. Also, How can I get my Google Play up and running. The market icon in the stock Peeters ROM doesnt seem to work and time and again just goes to a browser Window.
Thanks a lot for compiling the steps here...

The combination of a WiFi and apk error makes me think that the ROM needs to be flashed again. Also try downloading a new copy of the zip in case the first one was corrupted. If that doesn't fix it, there was another zip floating around the dev forums that fixed WiFi and MMS issues on the USC ROMs. The file is USCMMSWIFI.zip, I just don't know exactly where it is. As for Play store issues, look around for a recent copy of vending.apk or a flashable zip version and install it manually.
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app

flashing 2.3.5_45.4.13ota_unbrick.sbf at the end fixes wifi issues.

Thanks portman and makakalo. I will do the same. I found the USCMMSWIFI.zip, but it is not in a SBF fashion. Any steps that I could follow to include this fix would help me. Thanks again and Merry Christmas!!

Reflashing Peetr's ROM didnt help with Wifi
I reflashed Peetr's ROM, but still stuck with WiFi Error...Installed USCMMSWIFI.zip using Bootstrap Receovery Mode and the installation completed. Yet, Wifi Error is persistent and cant use Wifi

If you haven't already done so, do what portman suggested and flash the unbrick sbf again. If that still doesn't fix it the only other thing I can think of is going back to stock and redoing the entire process. You may need the 254_12 radio sbf and libmoto zip as well as the 254_13 modules zip to completely reset. Those files are in the 2.3.5 sv2 unbrick thread in the dev forum.
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app

Dear all
Thanks..Got it working. Realized that there was some issue in the Peetr's zip file downloaded. Went through the process meticulously after redownloading and got my phone working in an amazing manner!! Thanks a lot to all.
regards
Ram

Thanks for putting this together, I am still waiting on my SIM, should be in the mail today.
Just one question on the root method..does it really mater which root method I use?
The last time I rooted this phone I used torpedo direct v1.1

I seem to be stuck in the unbrick sbf??
Manually powered up my phone a couple of times.
Never mind stuck in bootloop...DOH!

Wipe data/cache
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app

Something strange
I was stuck in a bootloop after flashing the Hybrid ROM/kddi and I could not even get to bootstrap soo, I went back to the beginning and after the first SBF step the phone starts normally and my baseband is N_02.29.04P.
Now I have a US cellular phone with a GSM radio:silly:
The phone is not rooted at this time nor did I run the unbrick sbf.
I am tempted to use it like this to see if I can activate it on my carrier...heh why not.
Update:So what does the unbrick do? Do I need to run it?
wifi works now and it did not work before the phone seems fine, still want to root and load bootstrap though.
My carrier cannot activate me until after the holiday, but the phone shows me on the Tmo network.

After flashing the unbrick sbf, my phone is probably bricked as it is now stuck on : Failed to boot 4, starting RSD mode
Any idea how to recover ?
Thanks !

portman said:
Wipe data/cache
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As many times as I have done this you would think I would remember that, but no.
After wipe data/cache I got the hybrid rom to load and ran fine except I could not get the radio to work??
Tried rebooting several times, reinstalling kddi several times, but no go.
Fortunately I made a backup, so went back to USCell ROM and the radio was back

khatta said:
After flashing the unbrick sbf, my phone is probably bricked as it is now stuck on : Failed to boot 4, starting RSD mode
Any idea how to recover ?
Thanks !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The failed to boot 4 means there's a problem with that partition meaning, whether its corrupt or not there, it just won't boot and will relay that if to you.
To recover, I'd imagine that you need to try the steps over after wiping your data/cache but to make sure that the phone boots after flashing a full sbf.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1759997 (This has lots of info on the sbfing you are doing)
Sent from my sunfire using xda premium

you need to flash anyone of the following using bootstrap recovery
198_7 radio sbf ----- 198_7 libmoto_ril.so
254_12 radio sbf ----- 254_12 libmoto_ril.so
(thanks to Peetr_)
in my case 198_7 radio sbf ----- 198_7 libmoto_ril.so did the trick even when my phone had a locked bootloader.
after this flash KDDI radio
DXM31 said:
As many times as I have done this you would think I would remember that, but no.
After wipe data/cache I got the hybrid rom to load and ran fine except I could not get the radio to work??
Tried rebooting several times, reinstalling kddi several times, but no go.
Fortunately I made a backup, so went back to USCell ROM and the radio was back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

portman said:
you need to flash anyone of the following using bootstrap recovery
198_7 radio sbf ----- 198_7 libmoto_ril.so
254_12 radio sbf ----- 254_12 libmoto_ril.so
(thanks to Peetr_)
in my case 198_7 radio sbf ----- 198_7 libmoto_ril.so did the trick even when my phone had a locked bootloader.
after this flash KDDI radio
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed the 254 before and it was a no go for the radio.
I just did a backup and just to be clear on what I need to do:
wipe data/cache/dalvik
flash hybrid ROM
flash 198_7
flash 254_12
flash radio
and I should be golden, correct?
thanks
as a side note:
the phone is currently working great with the usc rom except the network shows T-Mobil the 'e' gets loped off and I have not actually activated the phone yet because my carrier was closed yesterday(wonder why) they said after Wednesday I should get an email.

DXM31 said:
As a side note:
the phone is currently working great with the usc rom except the network shows T-Mobil the 'e' gets loped off and I have not actually activated the phone yet because my carrier was closed yesterday(wonder why) they said after Wednesday I should get an email.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank God, I thought I was the only one with the T-mobil issue. It happens on every ROM. I noticed if I dial *#*#4636#*#* and go to phone info, it sticks the e on the end for a little while but other than that, I randomly have it.

[Q] used USC 2.3.5 to unbrick and it wants to activate?

Hello I messed my phone up (long story). I am on the Sprint network and have a Photon 4g.
I have been trying to get my photon to be usable again. I did have it working using http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1798145 procedure EXCEPT I could never get the services on sprint to work even though I flashed the radios. I've been working on this for a couple of days. Well I got frustrated and just decided to flash the US cellular 2.3.5 USC_19 sbf and use the phone that way.
It flashed but now it comes up with the activate screen and I can't get past it to root etc.
At this point I am just hoping to be able to get the US cellular to work and until I can up grade in a few months.
thank you

RoisF350 said:
Hello I messed my phone up (long story). I am on the Sprint network and have a Photon 4g.
I have been trying to get my photon to be usable again. I did have it working using http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1798145 procedure EXCEPT I could never get the services on sprint to work even though I flashed the radios. I've been working on this for a couple of days. Well I got frustrated and just decided to flash the US cellular 2.3.5 USC_19 sbf and use the phone that way.
It flashed but now it comes up with the activate screen and I can't get past it to root etc.
At this point I am just hoping to be able to get the US cellular to work and until I can up grade in a few months.
thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can anyone please help?

Follow steps 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. OR follow steps 1, 2, 3 and 5 if you want Peetr's ROM. I'm just guessing that maybe you mixed the steps.

Same my problem. When you finish flash stock rom and phone reboot see the motorola logo when it start animation remove battery then go to RSD mode again and flash unbrick when finish you may do factory reset if you got bootloop.

I'm pretty sure I didn't miss any steps but I will go back and try again. Thank you. I've been reading this board for a couple of years and have rooted and flashed a few devices and this is the first time I have had so much trouble. I'll post again when I get a chance to try again.
Sent from my Xoom using xda premium

stumped
well i followed the steps.
Can i flash the 2.3.x_libmoto_ril.so_254_12 radio via SBF?
If I could get past the us cellular activate screen then I could root by bootstrap and flash by recovery the needed radios, rom etc.
Maybe I'm missing something.
Thanks for any advice.

Anyone have the radios by SBF file?
RoisF350 said:
well i followed the steps.
Can i flash the 2.3.x_libmoto_ril.so_254_12 radio via SBF?
If I could get past the us cellular activate screen then I could root by bootstrap and flash by recovery the needed radios, rom etc.
Maybe I'm missing something.
Thanks for any advice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm still trying to get past the us cellular activation screen. The radios I have from the above threads dont seem to be able to be flashed by SBF.
Does anyone have the radio SBF files?
thank you

[Q] Got OTA update, now Dual Core Logo Flashes; No Boot

Been on this since last night with no success and have scoured XDA over and over til I'm dizzy with all the acronyms and developer talk lol.
Background: I installed a bad app 8 months ago and had to SBF my phone. I previously rooted my phone but had un-rooted so when it broke 8 months ago, the P4G was unrooted. Didn't do any lock or unlock stuff...whatever that is. So, I did an SBF using: "1FF-sunfire-user-2.3.4-4.5.1A-1_SUN-198_6-CM-release-keys-signed-Sprint-US.sbf" since Sprint couldn't fix my phone. I'm was thinking I was taking it back to stock with this SBF but apparently I was wrong. Anyway, this resulted in:
System Version: 45.3.6.MB855.Sprint.en.US
Android Version: 2.3.4
BaseBand Version: N_01.28.07R
WebTop Version: WT-1.2.0-160
Kernel Version: 2.6.32.9 [email protected] #2
Build Number: 4.5.1A-1_SUN-198_6
ERI Version: 6
PRL Version: 51097
Problem: Everything was working great!!!!!! Until last night. I received an OTA update. When it was done, it rebooted and now all I get is a flashing dual core logo. So, I figure I'll just SBF again...piece of cake right? Nope...I get the SVF:106:1:2 error on the phone. So, I've tried to SBF from 4 different computers using RSDLite 6.1.4 and no dice. I have wiped data/cache/factory reset...no dice.
Can someone please, please, please tell me what the heck I need to do to fix this phone in easy to understand terms lol? I'm in a really bad spot here since my wife is freaking out as we have two handicap kids and I travel. My phone is a life-line...literally!
It seems on XDA, there are many similar cases but there is always a difference which doesn't apply to my phone and to my problem.
I thank you in advance and I think you developers on XDA are amazing in what you do! Ya'll scare the crap outta me with your abilities!
BillyD

No-one can help??? Please??? :crying:
Thanks!
BillyD

Someone may chime in to correct me as I may be wrong, but if the update was for 2.3.5 (which it most likely was) then the sbf's won't work. You can try to boot into recovery mode by pulling the battery and while holding down on the volume key until it says fastboot on the screen. Then keep toggling down until you see Android Recovery then press up on the volume key. It should say entering android recovery mode. Once you're there, press both up and down on the volume key and the menu should pop up. Toggle to wipe data with the volume key then hit the power button. When it's done wipe cache the same way, then reboot. It may work it may not, but that's all I've got.

stonesaber said:
Someone may chime in to correct me as I may be wrong, but if the update was for 2.3.5 (which it most likely was) then the sbf's won't work. You can try to boot into recovery mode by pulling the battery and while holding down on the volume key until it says fastboot on the screen. Then keep toggling down until you see Android Recovery then press up on the volume key. It should say entering android recovery mode. Once you're there, press both up and down on the volume key and the menu should pop up. Toggle to wipe data with the volume key then hit the power button. When it's done wipe cache the same way, then reboot. It may work it may not, but that's all I've got.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks and I did try that as well yet forgot to mention it and as well...no dice. Just for the hell of it, I tried to SBF 198_7 thinking it was 2.3.5 (is it?) today. Again, I still get the SVF:106:1:2 error on the phone. Ugh.
I'm wondering...is it my bootloader that is hosed? If so, can I fix that or...do I just go ahead and try unlocking my bootloader (I'm assuming to do this a 'new" boot loader is installed...again, showing my limited knowledge here)?
Thanks!
BillyD

BillyDJJr said:
Thanks and I did try that as well yet forgot to mention it and as well...no dice. Just for the hell of it, I tried to SBF 198_7 thinking it was 2.3.5 (is it?) today. Again, I still get the SVF:106:1:2 error on the phone. Ugh.
I'm wondering...is it my bootloader that is hosed? If so, can I fix that or...do I just go ahead and try unlocking my bootloader (I'm assuming to do this a 'new" boot loader is installed...again, showing my limited knowledge here)?
Thanks!
BillyD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no 2.3.5 sbf for photon. But you can find one for electrify. You should root your phone and flash some files to work
Look here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1798145
Sent from my Motorola Electrify using Tapatalk 2

198_7 is still 2.3.4. As far as I know, if you've accepted the 2.3.5 update, your bootloader is permanently locked and there is no way to sbf back to 2.3.4. or to unlock the bootloader. If the update is responsible for breaking the phone, then taking it in to Sprint may be your only option. Unfortunately, development has all but stopped on this phone and I doubt it will go any further.

pradeeppk said:
There is no 2.3.5 sbf for photon. But you can find one for electrify. You should root your phone and flash some files to work
Look here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1798145
Sent from my Motorola Electrify using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I am now looking for the 1FF-sunfire-user-2.3.5-4.5.1A_SUN_USC_19.0-19-release-keys-signed-USC-US.sbf (Electrify) as this is what seems to work per this post http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1403322
Can' find this sbf though! Crap...so close but still so far!
Thanks!
BillyD

Grab the lock unlock kit from the compendium under the dev section. It has it
Sent from a crazy mopho by a crazy mofo

Castik said:
Grab the lock unlock kit from the compendium under the dev section. It has it
Sent from a crazy mopho by a crazy mofo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks...will do!
BillyD

Thank you XDA!!!!!!!!!!!!
BillyDJJr said:
Thanks...will do!
BillyD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, once again the devs on this site have saved my phone! Yes, I spent probably 40-48 hours getting it to work, gaining an understanding as well as tracking down software from broken links in the process but in the long run, it's worth it to me. The Photon 4G is a great phone and there is simply no reason for me to get rid of it!
So, I just wanted to drop a note and say thank you XDA! Motorola was useless...Sprint was more useless. This makes me want to learn C and Java programming but I am an IT consultant and no time to switch careers! Great stuff gents...great stuff!
Thank you once again XDA!
BillyD (also BgDaddy)

Better Mobile App

welcome