Upgrading Firmware and Removing Operator Junk

[superleccy]

Hi

I have an N80, and there are one or two annoying little problems (see elsewhere in this forum) that I hope will be fixed in time with firmware upgrades. Also, there's a lot of stuff that Vodafone have stuck on the phone (useless bookmarks that I can't delete) that I find just irritating.

So, my questions are...

1) How will I know when there is a firmware upgrade available?

2) How do I upgrade the firmware without sending the device back to Vodafone (which would be more trouble than it's worth)? Can I download it from somewhere and apply it with the data cable?

3) How can I un-Vodafone my N80? If I take it to one of these places that "unlock" phones, would that work?

Thanks & regards
SL

[Rafe]

1) There's no official way of knowing. You have to keep an eye on these forums / ask at your local phone centre etc.

2) Firmware can only be updating by Vodafone or by visiting a service centre (some can do it while you wait). You can not download it / install yourself. Unfortunately OTA formware is not supported until S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1.

3) You can unvodaphone the N80 by getting it reflashed with a generic firmware (i.e. the Vodaphone braning is in the firmware). Of couse some can be removed by changing wallpapers / themes etc. Unlocking the phone will only remove the network lock. For the N80 network unlocking can only be done by the operator (or Nokia theoretcially), no one else has the means the generate the codes.

[superleccy]

Thanks for the answer Rafe!

SL

[zainman]

well there is a way to upgrade the firmware yourself since the Nokia N80 is a BB5 phone. u need special software and the new firmware ofcourse. google around a bit. plus yes it is also possible to unlock the phone. google again

[Rafe]

The software is not available to the public. The N80 is not currently user unlockable (the same as the situation with the N70).

[Hassan]

Originally Posted by zainman

well there is a way to upgrade the firmware yourself since the Nokia N80 is a BB5 phone. u need special software and the new firmware ofcourse. google around a bit. plus yes it is also possible to unlock the phone. google again

The software is not for the consumers. Its only be used and handle at NSC or professionels.

Missusing software mean end up killing handset.

Please do not advise peoples to upgrades the phone firmware at home.

@superleccy
Take you N80 to nearst nokia service centre for firmware upgrade. (requist them if they can remove the branding)

Also you can get unlocking code from vodafone, you wont find any think by serching the google to get you handste unlocked.

[superleccy]

OK, thanks for the warnings all.

When I get wind that there's some firmware worth the trouble of upgrading to, I'll hunt down a Nokia service centre and get them to do it. I will see if they can un-Vodafone it as well.

Cheers
SL

[Master_Payne]

I dont understand why you want to do this so badly?

My N80 is on orange, and yes it did come with some of their customisations but with a bit of fiddling around in the menus I have managed to disable practically all of them. Is this not possible on vodafone too? Which features do you dislike?

[superleccy]

Originally Posted by Master_Payne

I dont understand why you want to do this so badly? <snip> Which features do you dislike?

Actually, on reflection, the Vodafone branding on the N80 is pretty light compared to on some phones. I've managed to delete most of the Vodafone stuff, apart from those extra bookmarks in the browsers that you can't remove (although half of those are Nokia anyway), although some of them seem to appear on other apps like Gallery, which is annoying.

It's not bothering me so much now, I think I'm over it.

I'd also like to ditch the Kodak application, but that's not Vodafone's fault.

[Hassan]

I dont like branding either, as soon i get phone through network first thing i do is get rid of branding then i put sim card.

[zainman]

i told you we could upgrade the firmware ourselves Rafe. didnt want to post the link before but now that it is legal to post it here (i assume so since its already the hottest thread in the N80 section) here u go:

http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/forum...ad.php?t=46754

[Milli from NL]

It is possible but it is at YOUR OWN RISk!! There are many including me who have done it but it can go wrong. You must be handy with softwares and PC. If you are not a genie about just DONT DO IT.
Go to the Nokia store and let then do it. Esspecilly if you got the warranty.
Mine situation was different. I bought mine in Thailand. And I really need a dutch language on it. Thais I cant read and English was fine except for the sms. I couln't use the T9 for it because it had only English language on it and my friends al speak Dutch... So I had nothing to lose and more to gain...
So good luck withever U decided.
Greetz Milli

[baffledbrewer]

Will flashing unlock the phone from the orange network.
I.e. will I be able to use my O2 simcard in it after flashing?

Thanks

Brewer

[cah1982]

silly question how do u find out which firmwares on yer fone


cheers

firmware found by *#0000#