Help! Bricked an Alltel PPC6800

[jerrycarson]

I spent all day yesterday researching the DCD upgrade until I thought I was ready - boy was I wrong. I'm not computer challenged! I've been writing FW for over 20 years. Things shouldn't be this hard. Anyway, here's what i did:

1) Downloaded olipro 2.4 (except somehow I got 1.2 - not really sure how that happened). Installed it and everything was fine (expect it saysSPL-1.20.Olipro)

2) Downloaded DCD_3.0.1_Alltel.exe and tried to install. It appeared to work, except I never got to customization screen and when the phone re-booted, I just go the Alltel splash screen.

3) Tried to soft-reset, same problem

4) Tried a hard-reset, same result

5) Went into the bootloader and notice I was at 1.2 instead of 2.4, so I downloaded Hard-SPL-MFG.exe (which I believe is the code name for Olipro 2.4) and tried to run it. The batch job fails because it can't talk to my phone (says no device detected) I suspect this is because the phone cannot run ActiveSync.

6) Then I read that 2.4 should be used for GPS ROMs and not for non-GPS, So I thought I needed a non-GPS version of the ROM. So I downloaded DCD_Titan_3.0.0_Alltel.exe and tried that. This also appeared to work (dl to 100% and the phone reset). But again the phone hung at the Alltel splash screen (now it says "no Radio")

7) I'm begining to panic. I trie to download the original Alltel ROM, but they've just put up a new version. So I try RUU_TITAN_ALLTEL_WWE_3.35.671.9_RS_TITAN_03.37.20_ Alltel_2.01_AM_PPST_Ship.exe. It causes the phone to reset after downloading 12%. Then stops with a "Command Error"

8) Finally I decide the bootloader must be hosed, so I tried to use the re-locker. Titan_Relocker.exe. This also will not copy the files (due to no ActiveSync) so I extract the files and try to run the RUU directly. Still no joy, the download immediately goes to 100% and when the phone resets it still says SPL-1.20 Olipro.

9) Searching a little more I found the microSD upgrade option. So I copied each of the NBH files (one at time of course) the the root directory and renamed them TITAIMG.nbh and reset into the bootloader (yes, I formated to FAT32 first). The loader never seemed to even ready the SD. It never asked if I wanted to upgrade.

So, here I am. Stuck with a phone that only seems to be able to run the bootloader. The BL does change between USB and serial when I un-plug and plug the USB cable. I can boot to the Alltel splash screen - it says "No Radio". The other red letters that used to appear when the HTC splash appeared are gone.

Any advice? I'm pretty desparate.

Jerry
jerry@smilesgalore.com

[Ranger093]

Have you tried popping the battery out for about a minute while its not plugged in yet?

[gc14]

Your problem is you didn't read the instructions carefully enough.

First, you never should have flashed a 3.x.x ROM without making SURE you properly had the 2.4 bootloader installed.

Second, you tried flashing a 3.x.x ROM BEFORE updating your radio to 3.35.04. It says in numerous threads as well as on the first page of the thread that NO radio is included.

What appears to have happened, is you have a 3.x.x rom installed with no radio, and the 1.2 bootloader which can't even boot 3.x.x roms.

My question to you is, have you ever unlocked this phone before or before all of this were you running stock? If you still have the stock bootloader installed and not 2.4, then you need to find the STOCK alltel radio AND rom. You then must flash the stock alltel radio, followed by the stock rom. All you need to do is plug the phone in with usb, manually enter the bootloader and run the RUU's for each.

Once you get your phone back to stock and it boots, only then continue on to reflash. Now, this is VERY important...DO NOT attempt to install any 3.x.x rom without first making SURE you have the new bootloader installed correctly, and second, running the sprint update to get the 3.35.04 radio installed.

[jerrycarson]

Have you tried popping the battery out for about a minute while its not plugged in yet?

Yes, numerous times. Sorryy I didn't mention this in my post.

[jerrycarson]

Your problem is you didn't read the instructions carefully enough.

First, you never should have flashed a 3.x.x ROM without making SURE you properly had the 2.4 bootloader installed.
Agreed, but what is done is done
Second, you tried flashing a 3.x.x ROM BEFORE updating your radio to 3.35.04. It says in numerous threads as well as on the first page of the thread that NO radio is included.
I thought the DCD_3.0.1_Alltel.exe image contained the radio. Obviously I was wrong.
What appears to have happened, is you have a 3.x.x rom installed with no radio, and the 1.2 bootloader which can't even boot 3.x.x roms.

My question to you is, have you ever unlocked this phone before or before all of this were you running stock?
I was running stock.
If you still have the stock bootloader installed and not 2.4, then you need to find the STOCK alltel radio AND rom.
I'm pretty sure I don't have the stock bootloader. It says SPL-1.20.Olipro
You then must flash the stock alltel radio, followed by the stock rom. All you need to do is plug the phone in with usb, manually enter the bootloader and run the RUU's for each.
I've tried the latest stock ROM RUU_TITAN_ALLTEL_WWE_3.35.671.9_RS_TITAN_03.37.20_ Alltel_2.01_AM_PPST_Ship.exe but it re-boots the phone while downloading (@ 12%)
Once you get your phone back to stock and it boots, only then continue on to reflash. Now, this is VERY important...DO NOT attempt to install any 3.x.x rom without first making SURE you have the new bootloader installed correctly, and second, running the sprint update to get the 3.35.04 radio installed.
IF I get the phone back as stock, I doubt I will EVER try to re-flash it again.

[dizwayney]

Here's the link to the old Alltel Rom and Radio. http://www.htcamerica.net/support/ppc6800/software-downloads.html
If that doesn't work for you, you should be able to load up any of the older 2.x radios with an older dcd ROM, then upgrade to OliPro 2.4, then load the new Alltel Radio and Rom which you already have.

[indeo]

I've had this exact same problem (almost) except with Verizon (shouldn't be any difference whatsoever.) With the "No Radio" error messages and such -- and the key is the microSD flash. The reason it didn't recognize the image is (probably) because of the way you formatted your SD card. It can't be formatted in windows and work, you can't use a quickformat, and it has to be unconditional. The /x dismounts the volume so the volume is totally accessable. /a:512 tells it something about how many sectors to use or something -- idk -- but it works.

Open a DOS window (start, run, type "cmd")

this is your command:

format x: /fs:fat32 /u /x /a:512

Replace x: with the drive letter of your microSD card. Be sure of this.

Other than the drive letter type it exactly as is says.

1. Run the titan relocker.

2. Rename the stock alltell rom(s) as TITAIMG.NBH one at a time if there is more than one (radio and rom, unless they are together) and put them on your microSD one at a time (in the root directory.) Order shouldn't matter, but I ran ROM then Radio. Open bootloader and make sure it's not Olipro. The screen should pick up the image on the microSD card.

Flash, after 100% remove the battery, replace, and then hard reset.

These are the steps that I took with my Verizon issue and it worked perfectly.

Once this is done don't give up on the modified ROMs. Sometimes when I upgrade friends phones it won't let me go directly to 2.4 Olipro. I have to flash 1.2, then a 1.2 compatible RADIO and 1.2 compatible ROM. Then I have to flash to 2.4 unlocker, 2.4 compatible radio (usually 3.27) and then a radio 3.27 compatible ROM (pref. DCD 2.3.2.) After which, I can flash the stock Sprint 3.35 (without ever booting the OS) and then flash the DCD 3.x.x ROM.

Hope this helps you out --

[gc14]

I've tried the latest stock ROM RUU_TITAN_ALLTEL_WWE_3.35.671.9_RS_TITAN_03.37.20_ Alltel_2.01_AM_PPST_Ship.exe but it re-boots the phone while downloading (@ 12%)

The latest stock alltel rom is a 3.x.x rom as it states in the file name...3.35.671.9

As I said before, you need the 2.4 bootloader to boot any 3.x.x roms.

If you have unlocked with 1.20, then you have a little more work cut out for you.

This is what you need to do:

Since you have 1.20 and you can't get an activesync connection, you need to first flash an old custom alltel rom (NOT the stock alltel rom). DO NOT flash any dcd 2.x.x rom as the poster instructed above as it also requires olipro 2.4. I believe if you search for dcd's 1.70 kitchen and roms you'll find one there. You also must flash radio version 1.40. THIS will allow you to boot up into windows mobile and finally get an activesync connection. Since you can't boot right now, your best bet is to flash both of these with the microsd card.

The next step is now that you can boot into windows and have an activesync connection, you need to RELOCK your phone using the titan relocker, follow the directions carefully...and if you get stuck in the bootloader after the relock, you need to use the titan exitbl application that will force you out of the bootloader.

If all is well you now should have olipro 1.06 (stock bootloader) back on the phone. Here's the catch, you won't be able to boot the 1.70 rom anymore...so now you must manually enter the bootloader (power+camera+reset) and NOW flash the stock alltel rom and radio again with the microsd card. Once you flash the stock rom and radio, you will now have the stock bootloader, stock rom, and stock radio.

Now just unlock with olipro 2.4 and MAKE SURE it is on there correctly. Then run ROM RUU_TITAN_ALLTEL_WWE_3.35.671.9_RS_TITAN_03.37.20_ Alltel_2.01_AM_PPST_Ship.exe which DOES include the 3.37.20 radio as it also states in the file name. After that, you are free to flash a dcd alltel rom, as you will already have the proper bootloader and radio.

[indeo]

DO NOT flash any dcd 2.x.x rom as the poster instructed above as it also requires olipro 2.4.


excuse me, but if you read my directions in order, that's not what it says to do in the section about fixing his current situation.

AND,

If you carefully read what I had to say about future upgrades:

"...Then I have to flash to 2.4 unlocker, 2.4 compatible radio (usually 3.27) and then a radio 3.27 compatible ROM (pref. DCD 2.3.2.)"

In no way do I mean to flame, but please read.
Thank you kindly

[jerrycarson]

Here's the link to the old Alltel Rom and Radio. http://www.htcamerica.net/support/ppc6800/software-downloads.html
If that doesn't work for you, you should be able to load up any of the older 2.x radios with an older dcd ROM, then upgrade to OliPro 2.4, then load the new Alltel Radio and Rom which you already have.

Thanks dizwayney. This was the link I needed. From here I was able to re-flash the original Alltel 2.14 ROM and radio. It is back to it's old self (well - except for all my data).

Oddly enough it still says SPL-1.20.Olipro for the bootloader. Oh well, as long as it boots I really don't care.

One other thing I learned during this adventure. You can't flash form a 4GB microSD, it must be 2GB or less (in order for the 512 byte allocation to work). If I'd known this earlier it might have saved a lot of time.

Again, thanks to everyone who responded.

[gc14]

In no way do I mean to flame, but please read.
Thank you kindly

I strongly suggest you take your own advice and read, because I wasn't even referring to you. I was referring to the post before yours.

Cheers