Background: I unlocked my Tab first by hex editing my nv_data.bin file. It was perfect, my IMEI and device serial number were unharmed. Then I got my official unlock code from Tmobile. So I reverted to my original nv_data.bin, placed an AT&T SIM into the Tab and it rebooted, I entered the code, unlocked the Tab, then compared the original file to the newly unlocked file. Very minor changes. I wrote a program to do the modification and the resulting nv_data.bin file worked fine.
To clarify, I have a T-Mobile Tab and you must have rooted in order to do this.
I also have an AT&T tab and the same procedure works.
It also works on any GSM model.
Heres the edit points for those of you comfy with a hex editor:
If you're going to do this, please back up your /efs folder! Do it twice even
Save your backups for at least 11.5 years.
I just edit a copy of the nv_data.bin, then delete nv_data.bin and nv_data.bin.md5 in the phones /efs folder using Root Explorer, then copy my modified file back to the folder, then reboot. The nv_data.bin.md5 will be automatically regenerated for you.
I've even edited a copy of the file right on my Tab using the Hexeditor in the Market.
FYI, you can not swap nv_data.bin files from one phone to another, you get the bogus IMEI number as the file doesn't match the hardware IMEI number.
UPDATE: New easier way that doesn't involve learning how to hex edit
This requires you to be rooted and have busybox installed, which you should have but you can grab busybox installer from the market if not.
Backup the contents of the /efs folder on the phone first!!! Save your backups for at least 11.5 years.
From your computer, open an adb shell to your phone with the command:
Then paste all the following commands into the shell window at once, in other words, one big cut n paste:
Wait 45 seconds for the whole process to complete.
Thats It! your phone will reboot and its carrier unlocked!
If you can't get internet access with your new SIM its because you haven't set the APN for this carrier. For the settings you need, Google "APN setting your_carriers_name_here" and put those settings in
Settings->Wireless->Mobile Networks->Access Point Names and then select it. Done!
To clarify, I have a T-Mobile Tab and you must have rooted in order to do this.
I also have an AT&T tab and the same procedure works.
It also works on any GSM model.
Heres the edit points for those of you comfy with a hex editor:
Code:
0x181469 change this one byte from 01 to 00
0x18150e change this one byte to 00 if its not alreadyIf you're going to do this, please back up your /efs folder! Do it twice even
Save your backups for at least 11.5 years.I just edit a copy of the nv_data.bin, then delete nv_data.bin and nv_data.bin.md5 in the phones /efs folder using Root Explorer, then copy my modified file back to the folder, then reboot. The nv_data.bin.md5 will be automatically regenerated for you.
I've even edited a copy of the file right on my Tab using the Hexeditor in the Market.
FYI, you can not swap nv_data.bin files from one phone to another, you get the bogus IMEI number as the file doesn't match the hardware IMEI number.
UPDATE: New easier way that doesn't involve learning how to hex edit
This requires you to be rooted and have busybox installed, which you should have but you can grab busybox installer from the market if not.
Backup the contents of the /efs folder on the phone first!!! Save your backups for at least 11.5 years.
From your computer, open an adb shell to your phone with the command:
Code:
adb shellThen paste all the following commands into the shell window at once, in other words, one big cut n paste:
Code:
su
cd /sdcard
echo "this takes about 45 seconds"
if [ ! -f /sdcard/nv_data.bin.orig ]; then
echo "copying file to /sdcard"
cp /efs/nv_data.bin /sdcard/nv_data.bin.orig
fi
echo -en \\x00 > out0
dd if=nv_data.bin.orig of=out1 bs=1 count=1578089
dd if=nv_data.bin.orig of=out2 bs=1 skip=1578090 count=163
dd if=nv_data.bin.orig of=out3 bs=1 skip=1578254
cat out1 out0 out2 out0 out3 > nv_data.bin.unlocked
rm out0 out1 out2 out3
rm /efs/nv_data.bin
cp nv_data.bin.unlocked /efs/nv_data.bin
rm /efs/nv_data.bin.md5
reboot
.Wait 45 seconds for the whole process to complete.
Thats It! your phone will reboot and its carrier unlocked!
If you can't get internet access with your new SIM its because you haven't set the APN for this carrier. For the settings you need, Google "APN setting your_carriers_name_here" and put those settings in
Settings->Wireless->Mobile Networks->Access Point Names and then select it. Done!
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