IMPORTANT: This guide is for users with a Motorola Photon 4G (MB855) running the 2.3.5 OTA update only. For the lucky ones still running 2.3.4, you want this thread. For those of you who don’t know what version of Android you are running, DO NOT try this. Please read these forums carefully and learn everything you can before attempting this.
This guide is based on the work of halfevildruid and his thread for unlocking GSM for Photon users on 2.3.4 with unlocked bootloaders. All users should take the time to carefully read through that thread
here and keep in mind that it was written for 2.3.4/unlocked bootloader users. Some files and steps in that thread will not work on Photons that have had the 2.3.5 OTA applied.
Unlocking US GSM Carriers on 2.3.5 OTA
Before You Start:
Doing this will remove the domestic GSM carrier lock on the Sprint Photon running 2.3.5 OTA. This process will most likely break your ability to return to Sprint service, so please DO NOT DO THIS if you want to keep your Photon running on Sprint. There are ways to fix this, but none have been tested on 2.3.5 OTA devices. As far as I know, this method has been confirmed to work on three phones (including mine), so consider this experimental and high risk.
I am not responsible for bricked phones, warranty issues, cats chasing dogs or hot snow falling up if you try this.
Things You Need:
1.Windows PC (tested on Win 8) with the following software installed:
-ADB Tools/Android SDK
[Download] (Not really necessary, but helpful if you have USB issues.)
2. Micro USB cable and wall charger (needed for bootstrap recovery)
3. Standard (full size) SIM card for US GSM network. (ATT/T-Mobile/Straight Talk)
4. Micro SD card (not necessary, but good just in case)
5. Motorola Photon running
2.3.5 OTA ONLY
Files You Need:
1.Full US Cellular Electrify SBF
[Download]2. Unbrick SBF
[Download]3. Electrify/Photon (almost) One Click Root
[Download]4. Bootstrap Recovery
[Download]5. Peetr’s Hybrid Locked 2.3.5 ROM
[Dev Thread/Download]-HybridGBv20locked.zip
6. KDDI Radio
[Download]If any links do not work, most can be found at
www.motosunfire.com.
Steps
1. Backup Your Stuff!
2. Shutdown phone and remove SIM/SD card (if applicable)-Tip: Leave your battery cover off. There’s going to be a lot of battery pulls…
3. Open RSD Lite on your computer.
4. Start phone in RSD mode:-With phone unplugged hold volume-down and power
-It should say fastboot in the top left corner, press volume-down until RSD appears
-Connect phone to computer
-Press volume-up to enter RSD mode
5. Select the full US Celluar SBF in RSD lite and press start.-This process takes a few minutes and will end in an error, this is normal.
-The phone may hang on the dual core screen, if so pull the battery.
-The phone will either do two things:
-Bootloop with the US cellular logo
-Boot normally to home screen
-In either case, pull the battery and follow the steps to enter RSD mode again.
6. Once you are in RSD mode again, flash the Unbrick SBF
-This should not end in an error, but RSD may say you need to manually reboot your phone, this is normal.
-Once your phone reboots you may experience bootlooping, if so do a factory reset (See below)
-With the phone off pess vol-down + power
-Press vol-down until Android Recovery is shown, press vol-up to enter.
-Press both vol-up + vol-down to see menu.
-In the recovery screen, use the volume buttons to scroll and select factory restore.
-Press power to wipe the phone.
-When complete, reboot phone and you should successfully boot to home.
7. Once you have flashed the two SBFs, you should be able to g[/INDENT]See next post for Q&A