Paid CID unlock

[dim4x4]

Just out of curiosity:

If I buy unlock code from say IMEI Check and CID unlock my device, would I ever need to run Hard SPL or Soft SPL to upgrade/downgrade my Trinity? Then going forward, can I just run any custom/cooked/original ROMs without worrying (since my device is permanently unlocked)? Please don't ask me why I want to pay for this when there are so many free alternatives - I don't know the answer :)

Last but not least, which method of unlocking preserves the warranty? Can the device be locked back just in case I need to take it to service?

Thank you! (I know these qns have been answered many times in this forum, but I just want to reassure myself that I got it all correctly)

[NeilM]

As far as I know, IMEI-Check will completely unlock the device, allowing ROM upgrading etc without the need for additional hard SPL or softSPL.

Unlocking in itself doesn't affect the warranty, so you could simply use IMEI check to unlock for use of another SIM card. Further than that, flashing a new, unofficial Radio or OS ROM will technically invalidate the warranty. Most of the free unlockers actually work by flashing the Radio ROM, so in that case IMEI Check is safer as it retains the original ROM.

Once unlocked, there is no way to relock a device, but as long as you have the Operators own ROM in place, the lock status won't be looked at.

[pof]

If I buy unlock code from say IMEI Check and CID unlock my device, would I ever need to run Hard SPL or Soft SPL to upgrade/downgrade my Trinity?

Yes, you'll also need to use SSPL / HardSPL if you plan to flash cooked roms (unsigned) in NBH format using the RUU updater.

You'll not need to use SSPL / HardSPL if you plan to flash shipped official ROMs (signed) using the RUU updater or if you you extract the *.nb files from the NBH upgrade and flash from mtty using LNB command in imei-check's MFG bootloader (which doesn't check signatures). You won't be able to flash unsigned code with the standard RUU Updater or SD card using imei-check's bootloader.


Then going forward, can I just run any custom/cooked/original ROMs without worrying (since my device is permanently unlocked)?
Original roms yes, you can flash them without worrying, but you'll have to re-run imei-check's unlocker everytime you want to flash your device with an original rom not matching your CID as CID unlock is not permanent (it disappears when you flash the radio).
As for custom/cooked roms, no, you'll have to worry about a) using HardSPL/SSPL or extracting the *.nb from NBH and flash from mtty, as it's the only way to flash unsigned code with imei-check's bootloader.

Last but not least, which method of unlocking preserves the warranty?
- imei check, as long as you replace the bootloader with a standard one before returning your device
- free unlocker, as long as you don't check the "superCID" option when you run it and you flash a standard radio back into it after SIM unlocking.

Can the device be locked back just in case I need to take it to service?
Depending on why you have to take it to service, but basically yes if it's working.


As far as I know, IMEI-Check will completely unlock the device, allowing ROM upgrading etc without the need for additional hard SPL or softSPL.
It will SIM unlock, but the CID unlock will only stay as long as you don't replace the RADIO after unlocking. If you flash another radio, then you'll need to re-run imei-check's unlocker again to have it CID unlocked again. And remember that for flashing a cooked rom you don't just need a CID unlocked device, but also need to bypass signature checking.

Most of the free unlockers actually work by flashing the Radio ROM, so in that case IMEI Check is safer as it retains the original ROM.
But it replaces the SPL on the device by a 1.01MFG SPL, so the warranty is technically void. And it also modifies the radio, but keeps the existing version.

Once unlocked, there is no way to relock a device
That's not true ;)

but as long as you have the Operators own ROM in place, the lock status won't be looked at.
That's true in most cases.

[NeilM]

Thanks Pof :) :)

[dim4x4]

Thank you very much, pof! That's clear and exhaustive answer! :)