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How to debrand your Sony Ericsson phone.
gaming_guy
Posts: 6,128 Forumite
in Mobiles
Step by step instructions for flashing a phone using only XS++
Table of contents
i) Terms of agreement
ii) Downloads
1) Converting to CID52 (if required)
2) Backing up GDFS
3) Flashing the firmware
4) Customizing your phone
i) Terms of agreement
By following this guide you recognize that I will take no responsibility for any damage caused to your handset while doing so, having said that, it is very unlikely that you will.
ii) Downloads Please download all of these files before proceeding.
YOU WILL NEED TO FIND THE FIRMWARE FILES YOURSELF. You will need a MAIN firmware, a Filesystem and a custom pack. My phone is a RED (retail) CID52 K610i and i am going to flash it to a W660i, so i will need W660_R6BC002_MAIN_GENERIC_FY_RED52 for the MAIN and W660_R6AD001_FS_EUROPE_4_RED52 for the FS
1) Converting to CID52 (if required)
If XS++ detects a DB2020 CID49 or CID51 phone, it will automatically ask if the user wants to upgrade.
2) Backing up GDFS
Backing up the GDFS isn't something which necessarily has to be done when flashing firmware, but it is a very good way to ensure you don't damage your phone beyond repair.
Step 1.
Take battery out of phone and put back in (do not turn phone on). Open XS++ and click Connect. Hold down the "C" button on the phones keypad and connect the USB cable. If this is the first time you flash your phone you will need to install the Flash drivers I posted further up.
Step 2.
Click on the GDFS tab as shown in the picture.
Step 3.
Click "Backup GDFS" and wait (shouldn't take more than about half a minute).
Step 4.
Done
3) Flashing the firmware
Step 1.
Take battery out of phone and put back in (do not turn phone on). Open XS++ and click Connect. Hold down the "C" button on the phones keypad and connect the USB cable.
Step 2.
Select the firmwares (make sure you extract them first) by clicking the "..." buttons or simply dragging the file from the explorer to the box (don't get mixed up with FS and MAIN).
Click "Flash" and wait (this takes a while, 6-7 minutes is normal).
Step 3.
Flashing is done, you can breathe now
4) Customizing your phone
Compulsory if flashing FS
Step 1.
Take battery out of phone and put back in (do not turn phone on). Open XS++ and click Connect. Hold down the "C" button on the phones keypad and connect the USB cable.
Step 2.
Tick “Customize File System”, select model and region/CDA, click flash.
Click here for help picking the right region.
Click here for help picking the right CDA.
Step 3.
Done.
Once it has finished flashing and you have unplugged the phone, take the battery out for a few minutes. Put the battery back in and power it up. You now have a debranded phone
ORIGINAL POST
Table of contents
i) Terms of agreement
ii) Downloads
1) Converting to CID52 (if required)
2) Backing up GDFS
3) Flashing the firmware
4) Customizing your phone
i) Terms of agreement
By following this guide you recognize that I will take no responsibility for any damage caused to your handset while doing so, having said that, it is very unlikely that you will.
ii) Downloads Please download all of these files before proceeding.
YOU WILL NEED TO FIND THE FIRMWARE FILES YOURSELF. You will need a MAIN firmware, a Filesystem and a custom pack. My phone is a RED (retail) CID52 K610i and i am going to flash it to a W660i, so i will need W660_R6BC002_MAIN_GENERIC_FY_RED52 for the MAIN and W660_R6AD001_FS_EUROPE_4_RED52 for the FS
1) Converting to CID52 (if required)
If XS++ detects a DB2020 CID49 or CID51 phone, it will automatically ask if the user wants to upgrade.
2) Backing up GDFS
Backing up the GDFS isn't something which necessarily has to be done when flashing firmware, but it is a very good way to ensure you don't damage your phone beyond repair.
Step 1.
Take battery out of phone and put back in (do not turn phone on). Open XS++ and click Connect. Hold down the "C" button on the phones keypad and connect the USB cable. If this is the first time you flash your phone you will need to install the Flash drivers I posted further up.
Step 2.
Click on the GDFS tab as shown in the picture.
Step 3.
Click "Backup GDFS" and wait (shouldn't take more than about half a minute).
Step 4.
Done
3) Flashing the firmware
Step 1.
Take battery out of phone and put back in (do not turn phone on). Open XS++ and click Connect. Hold down the "C" button on the phones keypad and connect the USB cable.
Step 2.
Select the firmwares (make sure you extract them first) by clicking the "..." buttons or simply dragging the file from the explorer to the box (don't get mixed up with FS and MAIN).
Click "Flash" and wait (this takes a while, 6-7 minutes is normal).
Step 3.
Flashing is done, you can breathe now
4) Customizing your phone
Compulsory if flashing FS
Step 1.
Take battery out of phone and put back in (do not turn phone on). Open XS++ and click Connect. Hold down the "C" button on the phones keypad and connect the USB cable.
Step 2.
Tick “Customize File System”, select model and region/CDA, click flash.
Click here for help picking the right region.
Click here for help picking the right CDA.
Step 3.
Done.
Once it has finished flashing and you have unplugged the phone, take the battery out for a few minutes. Put the battery back in and power it up. You now have a debranded phone
ORIGINAL POST
In this tutorial, i am going to give a rough guide on how to debrand your SE phone (ones with the fastport connection (k750i upwards)).
IF THERE IS ANY DATA ON THE PHONE PLEASE BACK IT UP BEFORE YOU START, AS IT MAY NOT BE THERE AFTER DEBRANDING
Before you begin you will need the following:
* DCU-60 USB Cable (which comes with the phone)
* DCU-60 USB flash drivers (download from here)
* The latest Wotanserver client (download from here)
* Wotanserver credit (Here, 7 Euros per credit)
* A fully charged Phone
It is important to make sure that your Phone is fully charged before flashing as you wouldn’t want it turning off mid-flash!
Fire up the Wotanserver Client and log in
Turn your phone off, remove your SIM card and memory card (if you have one), then put the battery back in (DO NOT SWITCH THE PHONE ON) and then fire up the Wotanserver client. enter your username and password in the login box. Whilst holding down the ‘C’ (for the w880i, it is the number 2 button. for the k600i/k608i/v600i, it is the power key) button on your phone connect the DCU-60 cable to the phone and then press ‘Start’. The client should detect the phone. When it has found the phone, let go of the 'C' button. Make sure it has detected the right phone in the box under the start button. If it fails to detect the phone, unplug the cable, then take the battery out for about a minute, and try again.
When the client has detected your phone, the latest firmware should be displayed in the firmware box (the one under the 'europian ftp'. it should show something like R4EA031, which is the latest for the w810i at the time of writing). Leave it as it is, unless you want an old firmware version.
Next, you need to select the CDA string. i chose 'Generic UK'
YOU MUST CLICK FINALIZE, OTHERWISE THE PHONE WILL DISPLAY 'Configuration error. Please contact your network operator or service centre.', AND YOU WILL HAVE TO FLASH THE PHONE AGAIN.
Once you have checked all the right options, Cross your fingers and click on ‘Continue’ and good luck!. It should now download the Flash files for you
Give it 10-15 minutes to do it’s thing and when it notifies you it has finished just close the client down and remove the DCU-60 cable along with the battery for a few minutes. Put it back in and power up.
when you turn the phone on for the first time after flashing it, it will say 'Please Wait' (with a progress bar) for a few minutes while it configures the new firmware.
You now have a newly flashed unbranded phone!
Please note that by using this guide and/or flashing your handset with new firmware that it is done at your risk and that Me or Moneysavingexpert.com will not take any responsibility for any damage or data loss you may incur.
0
Comments
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What is debranding and why does it need to be done?Onwards and upwards!0
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If you have an Orange phone or Vodafone - it removes their LOGOS etc from the fone - so when you poer it up it wot show Orange or Vodafone.manofthemoment wrote: »What is debranding and why does it need to be done?
I dont see the point of it really - unless its a fashion thing...0 -
i did this guide for a few people in the other thread here
it can give you more free memory, and may speed up the phone0 -
the_tired_one wrote: »If you have an Orange phone or Vodafone - it removes their LOGOS etc from the fone - so when you poer it up it wot show Orange or Vodafone.
I dont see the point of it really - unless its a fashion thing...
The issue (with Nokia phones, and I guess SE too) is that the network branding s/w slows the phone down due to poor testing. As a guy from Nokia said to me “we spend something like 5 man years writing and testing the firmware. The networks spend a few weeks bolting on their stuff and then WE get the blame when it screws the phone !!”….0 -
you can also use the got server which is cheaper than wotan (2.99 euros) and the credit lasts all day so you can do as many phones as you want for the same price (in the same day)
http://66.199.236.202/got/main.php?section=features0 -
Gfash it for free for cid36 phones.
http://forums.se-nse.net/index.php?showtopic=5025&st=0&p=67218&#entry67218Join the Sarcasm Appreciation Society.
(Yeah...Like we need your support!)0 -
you can also use the got server which is cheaper than wotan (2.99 euros) and the credit lasts all day so you can do as many phones as you want for the same price (in the same day)
http://66.199.236.202/got/main.php?section=features
How did you get it for 2.99 as when I select the UK reseller, it comes back as 5.99 euros0 -
it says 2.99 euros here for 1 day access but it says 5.99 euro below it? dont know why,. have you tried emailing them?How did you get it for 2.99 as when I select the UK reseller, it comes back as 5.99 euros
http://www.fonefunshop.co.uk/Unlocking/got.htm
also try here, it says 2.99 euros
http://www.gsm-!!!!!!/index.php?pag=det&id=230&cat=2&subcat=57&ppage=5&p=00 -
I'm a bit unclear on this. Will this unlock the phone so you can use it with any provider?
If not, what is the cheapest way to do this with 4 phones!?
Cheers0 -
debranding will not unlock your phone. some of the servers can also do unlocking for another credit - depends on which phones you haveyoucancallmeAL wrote: »I'm a bit unclear on this. Will this unlock the phone so you can use it with any provider?
If not, what is the cheapest way to do this with 4 phones!?
Cheers0
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