My first ever flash!

[TheOracle]

My T-Mobile Vario 2 (UK) is being returned to me next week, and it's running an ancient WM5 rom + bootloader and radio! I've decided to get rid of the old ROM and flash WM6 Black Satin as well as updating my radio to 1.48. Now it's my first ever time flashing the phone. So I have a few questions (I have read through a lot of posts but I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right)
1) If I upgrade my phones radio to 1.48 before I flash WM6, will the 1.48 work in the UK with WM5? And will the 1.48 radio work with the new Black Satin due to be released?
2) Apart from updating my phones O/S to WM6 Black Satin, my phones radio to 1.48 are the any other parts of my phone I should be updating? Do I need to update my bootloader before upgrading the radio and OS?

P.S When I receive the phone back I'll be able to tell you the radio, O/S and bootloader version the phones using.

[X_Farhad]

the answer to all of the above questions is yes.

before flashing anything, you need to first upgrade (http://www.mrvanx.org/hermes_guide/hardspl) your SPL to Olipro's HardSPL. read MrVanx's guides here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=299462).

[mrvanx]

The best thing to do is to read through the wiki and various threads BEFORE doing any updates on the device.

the BARE MINIMUM you should do first is to Update to HardSPL v7 (http://www.mrvanx.org/hermes_guide/HardSPL)

Updating the radio has no effects on updating ROMs etc... so by all means go for it with the Radio update...AFTER you have installed HardSPL though.

At the moment black satin is still not released...the version being downloaded by users has issues which the author (JasJamming) has acknowledged, I recommend AGAINST downloading this version until i have updated the Black Satin thread with the new links to the re-released version once it is fixed. Even though users are reporting no errors the ROM is still not fully functional so DO NOT download it.

You can always try Black Majik. (http://www.mrvanx.org/hermes_guide/black)...which is also VERY good.

[TheOracle]

The best thing to do is to read through the wiki and various threads BEFORE doing any updates on the device.

the BARE MINIMUM you should do first is to Update to HardSPL v7 (http://www.mrvanx.org/hermes_guide/HardSPL)

Updating the radio has no effects on updating ROMs etc... so by all means go for it with the Radio update...AFTER you have installed HardSPL though.

At the moment black satin is still not released...the version being downloaded by users has issues which the author (JasJamming) has acknowledged, I recommend AGAINST downloading this version until i have updated the Black Satin thread with the new links to the re-released version once it is fixed. Even though users are reporting no errors the ROM is still not fully functional so DO NOT download it.

You can always try Black Majik. (http://www.mrvanx.org/hermes_guide/black)...which is also VERY good.

I forgot to mention HARDSPL. I've been looking through the Wiki etc which is why I now feel confident I can do it. So just to reconfirm, when flashing I should do the following in order:
1) Backup (rom, documents etc)
2) Install HardSPL
3) Update radio
4) Update to WM6 Black Satin (when released)

[crazyC]

Satin's ETA is unknown due to unfortunate circumstances beyond JJs control.
I am still using Majik and would thoroughly recommend it in the mean time.

[TheOracle]

OMG my phones back!! YAY! Right here's my software currently on it:

Bootloader: HERM300 IPL-1.01 SPL-1.11
ROM Version: 1.21.110.3
ROM Date: 06/16/06
Radio Version 1.05.05.00
Protocol Version 32.36.7010.04H

Anything else that can be upgraded apart from Radio, WM6 and hardSPL? I assume hardSPL is the latest version of the bootloadeR?

[chrisvor]

HardSPL v7 is an "alternative" bootloader yes, an "insurance policy" if you like against bricking your phone. In case something goes wrong, ESPECIALLY with the RADIO flashing, you can re-vive your phone into working condition.
If you have normal SPL on your phone and flashing is interrupted for example, you will have to return your brick to the service center again.
So FIRST do HardSPL and THEN breathe :)

edit: and by the way Majik is *ABSOLUTELY* excellent. I've had it since day 1 of its release and I never had to soft-reset, wait or otherwise be unhappy with my phone. Haven't tried radio 1.48 yet, but will sometime soon.

Another option is to flash one of the "official" wm6 roms that are floating around this forum.

[TheOracle]

HardSPL v7 is an "alternative" bootloader yes, an "insurance policy" if you like against bricking your phone. In case something goes wrong, ESPECIALLY with the RADIO flashing, you can re-vive your phone into working condition.
If you have normal SPL on your phone and flashing is interrupted for example, you will have to return your brick to the service center again.
So FIRST do HardSPL and THEN breathe :)

edit: and by the way Majik is *ABSOLUTELY* excellent. I've had it since day 1 of its release and I never had to soft-reset, wait or otherwise be unhappy with my phone. Haven't tried radio 1.48 yet, but will sometime soon.

Another option is to flash one of the "official" wm6 roms that are floating around this forum.

very imformative post, I feel confident enough to flash it now. I shall post later on when I've flashed. Thanks for all your help everyone, you've been very helpful. Wish me luck!

[TheOracle]

FALSE ALARM

hardSPL and radio 1.48 have been completed successfully! Now for WM6 Black Majik! I'm so excited!!

[borko]

HELP ME QUICK!

I'm using hardSPL 2.10, so shall I select "SPL -2.02/2.10 New Bootloader" or shall I pick SSPL?

I have the same problem so everytime I flash something to my phone I pick "SPL -2.02/2.10 New Bootloader" and it works just fine...

[TheOracle]

I've finished..WOW! I noticed the speed increase as soon as I booted up, WM6 flys compared to my old install! Thanks for all the help guys!