110% non-brick upgrade ? [Archive]

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Dalork

23-06-2008, 03:23 PM

Is there anyway that is 100% safe to upgrade or is there always some amount of risk that a unit will end up a brick ?

I've read so much here and on other forums my head spins lol. I was like all set to just do it and then I got the phone lol, now I'm getting cold feet because I read so many people have bricked their phone.

Also can the SPL be done by SD card or does it need to be done with a computer ? I know some will say do a search, I have and man there are so many choices is there just a page or link with a simple idiots guide ?

beastfellow

23-06-2008, 11:39 PM

Its better to do all the upgrading through a PC. Its more safer than SD Card upgrade.

Simple way

Do the HardSPL first then do anything you want. Try to look for Mr.Vanx guides

scousemartin

24-06-2008, 12:47 AM

I agree with beastfellow, install hardspl first then you can flash any hermes rom you like. I have flashed my heremes over 50 times,i even flashed it 12 times in a week :) as long as the roms you have have no radio or spl in them then they should be fine to flash. Just make sure they hermes roms you are flashing.

hardspl can be downloaded from here http://pof.eslack.org/hermes-unlocker/

guide to how to do it is located here
http://www.mrvanx.org/thg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=26

other guides and there links can be found here

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=299462
anyway my advice is to go for it. I have only ever bricked one device and that was a wallaby :) back in the day.

good luck and make sure you read EVERYTHING ,twice if you have to

wacky.banana

24-06-2008, 12:53 AM

Dalork,

I felt exactly the same way as you a couple of years back. What I did was to read every scrap of info I could find, constantly assessing the risk, while looking for a stable rom.

Key criteria for my rom search was what other people were saying about that rom (good and bad) and the developers willingness to resolve issues. In the first instance this led me to Schaps and his brilliant roms. For my rom history see my signature.

Read the following threads very carefully, then read the threads on one rom from Schaps and, say, a rom from Kin0ken. Look at the 6.0 roms, NOT the 6.1 versions...

http://www.mrvanx.org/thg/
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=HTC_Hermes.

Also use these search tools:

wiki - http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=%20+site:http://wiki.xda-developers.com&hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all

forum - http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=+site:http://forum.xda-developers.com&hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all

entire xda site -
http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Axda-developers.com

Once you are fully genned up then prepare your kit carefully, e.g. make sure your phone batttery is fully charged, then upgrade your rom as you logically and carefully work your way step by step through Mr Vanx guides.

First time I upgraded I had the Mr Vanxguide open on my desktop PC whilst I ran the rom upgrade off my laptop. Using the laptop meant that in the unlikely event of a power cut (does happen where I live) I wouldn't instantly end up with a bricked phone.

Good luck and PM me if you need help/any further info.

Cheers

WB

Dalork

24-06-2008, 01:24 AM

Thanks for the help folks, I'm just worried I'll brick it as I have a friend who tried this and his is a nice paper-weight now.

I must be getting confused as I thought doing the flashing direct frm the SD card was the safest ?

Anyways, I'm not certain at this point which is the best or safest ROM to go with. I was going to do the Hard-SPL-V7 (2.10 Olipro) and was think of the Schaps_WM6Pro_Hermes_4.31_WWE_Full.

ATM the unit has ROM 1.30.707.4 8/22/06 and Radio 1.20.31.10

I don't think it's ever been flashed as yet as the bootloader is IPL-1.01-SPL-1.06

scousemartin

24-06-2008, 02:43 AM

ask your mate if i can have his paper weight i have a nice rock to swap for it :)

Dalork

24-06-2008, 12:11 PM

scousemartin, lol I had already asked him that before I bought my dopod as I was hoping to come here and find out if it could be fixed.

Another point, after upgrading the phone to say WM6 or whatever can you still recover/reload the original factory WM5 system/set-up ?

I guess I'm in-fact quite happy with how the phone is already I just really want to be able to use a 8GB Micro SDHC card so I can load more programs and music. I don't know if any of the radio ROM's will improve my signal as such but battery life seems to be ok already. Used the phone quite a bit today, started off with 80% battery and finished off tonight with still having 70%.

ultramag69

25-06-2008, 12:18 PM

Dalork

25-06-2008, 04:02 PM

Then why not search for the wm5/6 sdhc fix instead of potentially bricking your phone. Try this - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=344338

Also, I still reckon, and I believe I'm not alone, that flashing via the sd card is safest....

Direct quote from Wam7's posts -

Flashing your ROM without HARDSPL is like going to a South African brothel without any condoms...

and not using a MicroSD Card is like walking into a prison, dropping your pants and yelling "come and get it boys!"

I rest my case...:D:p

Thanks heaps for that, and I agree I did think flashing from a SD card would be safer as there is no risk in USB/sync problems, no cable to bump...etc..etc... But then I'm a total newbie, what I think doesn't always make sense lol.

If I just do the Hard-SPL-V7 and then something like Schaps_WM6Pro_Hermes_4.31_WWE_Full and don't do the radio ROm is there really much chance of bricking the Dopod ?

While I say I'm not bothered with upgrading the OS and everything else, it's mostly because I'm shit scraed of bricking it lol. I guess it would be silly to say I wouldn't like the better features of a decent upgrade, I just have to get my head around it somehow. But I WILL need more space as I really like to put lots of music on it and some games/apps. Hence the SDHC, I'd like 4GB but would love 8GB as I doubt I'd ever run out of room then.

As it is with my current phone I have 3 x 1GB cards which I just swap around and I hate having to do that and I'm always losing/misplacing the damn things.

ultramag69

26-06-2008, 11:27 AM

If you are SERIOUSLY thinking of upgrading, Hard SPL your phone. You can find the thread "Hard SPL or how not to brick your Hermes" in the upgrading section. Its best to do this as it is the safest we thing you can do. It won't prevent a brick but it makes it a lot more fixable. I have never bricked a phone that I couldn't fix (yet) with Hard SPL on it.
Its fairly difficult, I find bricking the hermes when using the sd card method, as long as you make sure you have Hard SPL, Unlock your Hermes(if needed, did this as wasn't sure) and make sure your battery is charged.
Unlock before putting Hard SPL on though as it downgrades the SPL to 1.10 olipro.
Also use Hard SPL ver.7 (should say SPL 2.10 olipro after upgrade) as ver 9 is the developers SPL (says SPL 2.60) and throws up error messages (if done from the pc) after flash.
As for the rom, no-one can say what is best... What is suitable for me may not be for you. If you ask this questiopn on a thread you'll be inundated with "This rom is best..." remarks. Search and you will see.
Hope this shines some light on the subject (forgive me if this seems scattered, too much caffeine and not enough sleep), anyway,
Cheers....:D

Dalork

26-06-2008, 12:43 PM

Thanks for the info and it does help/shed light on it. I have read heaps of info about most everything here, maybe more than I should have even to sart off with lol. I would normally not have been so concerned except that I have a friend close by who tried this exact way of flashing and still somehow bricked phone. Though he did say with folks help here he did get the unit working again but the radio never worked again I think he said.

I already downloaded a copy of Hard-SPL-V7 and Schaps_WM6Pro_Hermes_4.31_WWE_Full.

Not certain if this is the right one for me or not but seems alot of people like it and find it stable. I also grabbed this HER_DopodAsia_AUS_1.30.707.4_1.20.31.10_WWE_Ship though I'm not certain if it's any good or not. I haven't grabbed the unlocking file, not sure I need it or not. With flashing the Hard-SPL-V7 by sd card am I right in what I have read that all I need to do is rename the nbh. file and not the RUUWrapper_exe.

Dalork

26-06-2008, 12:46 PM

I am finding it difficult to get the Dopod to use 3G for web browsing/email though. But someone told me that the original set-up/ROM wasn't much good for the Optus/Virgin 3G network.

ultramag69

26-06-2008, 04:24 PM

Dalork

27-06-2008, 10:15 AM

Yes you do only have to copy and rename the .nbh file. Don't forget to run the sspl.exe file from the phone however if you upgrade Hard SPL from the sd card. I ran the unlock tool as a precaution. I DID use the pc for this. I also used the pc to install Hard SPL. Hard SPL takes about 2 secs to install so no real trouble there but the unlocker will change your radio rom. I'd probably install the official Telstra rom to get your tradio back to 154.30.10 after unlocking (it changes to 150.00.00). Also, if you need to search for CircAU's roms as they are made for us Aussies and have a little tool that allows automatic setup of MMS/SMS. You just pick which carrier you have and press start.
You might be able to find a cab file for it on the forum. Do a search for"CWW Enterprises Aus Operator Con.cab". This can then be loaded into ANY rom and used to fix your setup for MMS/SMS. Make sure you also run the ARCSoft MMSComposer cab file first...
Cheers...:D

You got me really confused now lol, I thought I only needed to run the Hard SPL and then whatever ROM I liked (was looking at ones without radio ROM's). Also do you think it would be wsie to flash it with a radio stack for Telstra when I'm using Virgin as it seems Virgin is using the Optus network.

Sorry if I sound daft just the more I read the more confused I'm getting. Also it seems that everyone does have a different opinion on how and what is best. Just want to work out what is best for me before I have a go at bricking my phone lol. I've not found setting up SMS/MMS hard at all. Seeed pretty easy, having most my trouble setting it up for Virgin's 3G access for web browsing. Just can't seem to get it to work, got it set-up for wifi at home no drama but don't really need web access from the phone when I'm at home and have several computers.

ultramag69

27-06-2008, 11:36 AM

Sorry, Information overload...

1. CWW Enterprises Aus Operator Con.cab - this cab file does a quick loading of sms/mms setting on the phone. You can use ANY rom and then setup your messaging with this. First however, install 2.

2. ARCSoft MMSComposer cab - This allows the use of mms on your phone properly. Some roms don't seem to set up your mms properly. If you have this installed then run 1. it will fix it all up.

I believe it should fix up ALL settings (including the 3g ones) as when you flash a rom, no native settings are kept and I've never had trouble using 3g after installing 1. and 2. then running 1. (will be in programs). It will soft reset your phone after setting it up.

Confused...:confused:

Really, just find the rom you want, check in settings as some have an auto network wizard to set this up. I just like CWW Enterprises Aus Operator Con.cab as it was made by an Aussie to use here. Its good when you don't have the network setup wizard (lite roms generally don't come with the frills)

Hope this clears it up....(preferably like glass and not like mud)
Cheers...:D

es_bih

27-06-2008, 06:17 PM

I am intrested in buying a Hermes, most likely the unbranded HTC tytn that I believe comes all unlocked.

For that one the procedure is the same still, right?

Hard spl install and choose rome you like

I have seen eithe Schaps 6 or the newer 6.1 with diamond stuff in it

So would I have the same procedure. To find the hard spl (not sure which version to install) and then find the rom w/out a radio?

ultramag69

28-06-2008, 09:10 AM

es_bih, yes. Its the same procedure. Instyall Hard SPL ver 7(ver 9 is the developer one. It tends to throw up an error after upgrading via pc, no problem though).
As for the rom, make sure its a hermes rom. Any you find on this forum are for the Hermes BUT if you go to the other forums (herald, kaiser, etc....) the roms will brick your device as it isn't compatible with your device. Cooked roms are good but until you get to know the vagaries of wm6.1 I'd suggest to stick with wm6. Its more stable than wm6.1. Play with that and then when you are confident enough to try, then go for wm6.1.
Most if not all cooked roms come without a radio rom.
Cheers...:D

Dalork

28-06-2008, 12:16 PM

Tried doing the Hard-SPL-V7 on Vista x64 computer and get error 260 problems.

Tried on a XP laptop and got a different option. The first screen that comes up after running the RUUWrapper.exe not only give me the choice of "Force SSPL" but also allows me to tick "Is this Hard SPL ? "

In the guides I've been reading it says you should only get the "Force SSPL". So my question is seeing as I have the option of ticking "Is this Hard SPL?" should I ?

ultramag69

28-06-2008, 01:38 PM

Installing Hard SPL? Tick SSPL. After that you can pick either.

Dalork

28-06-2008, 01:47 PM

Hmmm, can't seem to get it to do it. Sounds so simple I must be missing something somewhere. No matter what I try I stillget the ERROR 260 (update error)

Dalork

28-06-2008, 02:23 PM

Well seems something was messed up. Uninstalled activesync and all the updates off the XP laptop, then downloaded latest version, installed then updated and all is well. Now I have the Olipro 2.10 SPL...going to go try a new ROM now hehehe, thanks again for all the help

ultramag69

28-06-2008, 05:03 PM

since you have Hard SPL on your device, do yourself a favour and upgrade with the sd card method. Its safer than with the pc as it can't be accidently stopped.
Cheers...:D

Dalork

29-06-2008, 01:30 AM

since you have Hard SPL on your device, do yourself a favour and upgrade with the sd card method. Its safer than with the pc as it can't be accidently stopped.
Cheers...:D

I did, didn't even try using the PC. After all the fuss I made I don't know why now lol. But I'm so glad I did it :D

Many thanks again for the help, I will be trying a few different ROM's to see which I like/suits me best.