Comments - Hapless band of staff and regulars

Ok, doing it now, idk man, i think it still has that problem, cuz this is not a SIM unlocker right?

Robz | 14/01/08 - 12:47 pm

Nope, still the same problem, i get a message: Please insert the right SIM card.

I had Sweden 3 (three)

Robz | 14/01/08 - 1:21 pm

This only unbrands a phone, it does not remove the SIM lock. The cheapest way I've found so far is to pay your network for the code.

Ryan Cullen | 14/01/08 - 1:23 pm

When you say to do a backup do u mean to backup things like msgs, pics, contacts etc or do you have to backup all the software etc?

Basically does debranding wipe the phone or just wipe personal stuff like contacts etc

Thanks (ps very good guide, will be trying it soon)

Irfan Pathan | 15/01/08 - 8:01 pm

Irfan Pathan, it's going to wipe everything from the C drive, contacts, pictures, calendar entries, games, software, ringtones...
You should be fine using the PC Suite backup and restore program, others however prefer to copy the contacts to the memory card and start a fresh.

Ryan Cullen | 15/01/08 - 8:07 pm

just ordered an o2 w960 (england) and will post in a few days about any troubles i may come across for any one just stumbling onto this site

Amar | 18/01/08 - 8:57 pm

thanks. Very useful and work just breazy. finally got my danish M600i unbranded. much appreciated!!!

Pablo Glitter | 19/01/08 - 5:05 pm

Thanks a lot for the free tip !
It did work with my french Orange P990i !
I was a bit afraid when the process was running, but
it went atout free from any brand !

Ca a bien marché malgres quelques sueurs froides durand le flashage. Fini l'ecran d'acceuil de la marque orangée, vive Sony !

Merci à toi pour le super plan gratuit !

JR (Paris, France)

Robert | 21/01/08 - 11:35 am

im about to try this on my w960 that vodafone branded. im a bit afraid but willing to take the risk.... this works right? i've done my w810 using davinci hence the reason im thinking about doin this. someone who have done it add me on messenger pleaseee!!! jigga_cj@hotmail.com THANKS in advance

chad | 21/01/08 - 3:52 pm

absolutely fantastic..... Goodbye Vodaphone LIVE!!

Hello Sony Walkman.

Thanks a million!

Martin | 21/01/08 - 4:16 pm

hi im trying this with an o2 w960 but when i try to exit its says that i cant, should i end the program using the control panel?

Anonymous | 21/01/08 - 7:40 pm

chad, I've done two UK Vodafone W960i so far, and all worked a charm. It's easier than Davinci, as SEUS will do the firmware bit for you.

anon, exit what?

Ryan Cullen | 21/01/08 - 8:43 pm

thanks Ryan, when i do it i will let u kno how it went..

chad | 21/01/08 - 8:55 pm

pile of poop | 22/01/08 - 7:06 am

poop, have you got "Smartphone connect" ticked?

Ryan Cullen | 22/01/08 - 8:46 am

oh sorry, anon again, i mean exit seus, when i get to the screen tellin me i have the most recent firmware i try to exit but it says i cant.

after i get an answer il try it with my phone

Anonymous | 22/01/08 - 8:19 pm

anon if it SEUS being run for the first time, just kill it in task manager if it's not loading. You won't need to run it again as by now the drivers should be successfully installed on your machine.
If it's doing it after you've used XS++, be carefull. If you are at the "Press to update" you should be fine to stop/kill SEUS, if you are going through the bit where you are downloading the software, stop/kill and uninstall, delete all the files in the SEUS folder in the program files folder of your computer, reinstall, and try again. If you are on the bit where it's copying the data to your phone, leave it as long as possible. If it's at 97+% then try booting your phone, otherwise do SEUS again (maybe on a second machine).

Ryan Cullen | 23/01/08 - 10:18 am

Fantastic!!! Just said "SEE YOU LATER" to the old clunky Vodafone environment on my M600i. It's so simple!! Thanks heaps!! Had to do something after Vodafone NZ couldn't do anything to help me...

TR | 24/01/08 - 3:10 am

Worked fine on my "Digicel Jamaica" branded p990i, now I have Generic World 1.... with the latest firmware of course.

with the Digicel jamaica region (90) it wasn't possible.

Kokooma | 24/01/08 - 4:13 pm

Just works great!

Many thanks man!

Cheers

Narcis from Barcelona (Catalonia is not spain!)

Narcis | 24/01/08 - 11:06 pm

Tried it on UK orange p990i worked a TREAT!!

Thanks!!

steve | 27/01/08 - 9:42 am

Excellent. Worked well w/o any problems.
Good bye to Vodafone logo.
Thanks a lot!

Greg | 27/01/08 - 4:47 pm

odafone debranding worked great with the GW1 backup. No more Vodafone problematic software

Chris | 28/01/08 - 1:43 am

My p990i is locked in Smart Telecoms in Philippines? Can this program disable the network lock?

Ivan | 28/01/08 - 9:20 am

Ivan, this only unbrands a phone, it does not remove the SIM lock. The cheapest way I've found so far is to pay your network for the code.

Ryan Cullen | 28/01/08 - 9:43 am

It worked for me! Thanks!
Bye bye TIM Italy slow brand.
Now my m600 is faster than ever

bruno | 28/01/08 - 9:53 am

Bonjour
Good morning

I do it this morning on P990i/Orange French

Super sur mon P990i / Orange France

Many thanks

Merci encore

Bye

Salut

Byze | 29/01/08 - 10:36 am

Thanks for posting this tutorial, I've debranded my P990 with your solution, big thanks to you!

Matthew | 29/01/08 - 8:23 pm

it's not working with my o2-branded W950i... damn it.

XS++ cannot detect the phone. I have checked SMARTPHONE CONNECT:

17:08:12| Executing SEMC Smartphone Operations!
17:08:12| Please hold boot key ('@' or 'C') and connect device...
***after waiting and holdin C too long i click disconnect...***
17:08:46| Disconnected... Unplug the phone

I also used to connect to XS++ when the phone was on, but then it says:
17:16:20| Master Port detected: COM3
17:16:20| Slave Port detected: COM4
17:16:20| Opening Port!
17:16:20| Init Master Failed!

and in the log I found this, didn't see it when it happened:

17:09:06| Sorry, your phone is NOT SUPPORTED
17:09:06| Sendinging shutdown signal to phone...
17:09:08| Shutting down...

thanks for any help!

smail | 31/01/08 - 4:25 am

smail, have you run SEUS to ensure that the drivers are installed?

Ryan Cullen | 31/01/08 - 9:36 am

Just done this on my Vodafone UK branded W960i and it worked a treat , Yippe... I'm non technical just followed the instructions , simple.

Derek | 01/02/08 - 1:09 pm

should i back up my gdfs in case it goes wrong?

amar | 02/02/08 - 4:27 pm

it doesnt matter, it didnt go wrong, thanks loads for my new w960 without any of that o2 junk!!!

amar | 02/02/08 - 5:48 pm

Thanks for the guide.
Worked fine on my UK Orange P990i, even using WinXP running in VMWare on Ubuntu LInux.
Phone now much faster and easier to use, as expected, plus much more recent firmware.

Tom Chiverton | 03/02/08 - 11:27 am

my m600i now gives an error
NO ORGINISER SOFTWARE SCCRING: 442

I cant find any info on the error. any tips?

mike | 06/02/08 - 3:17 am

mike run XS++ and make sure that you have the correct M600 file selected. Then you'll need to uninstall SEUS, find the SEUS folder in Program Files and delete EVERYTHING, then reinstall SEUS and download the firmware again. If you continue to have problems, use another computer with SEUS.

Ryan Cullen | 06/02/08 - 8:22 am

I did everything once more.
in XS++ i selected
M600i_R9F011_R6A03_R27A03_CDA162011_1(GW1) _R6A13.gdfs

It completed with no errors.

I installed and ran SEUS on another computer.
same problem, it says I have the most recent update and doesnt do anything.

This is depressing.

mike | 06/02/08 - 4:02 pm

mike, you should be given the option to install the firmware anyway, if you continue to have problems you'll need to go to Sony Ericsson or your network to see if they can use EMMA to flash the phone.

Ryan Cullen | 07/02/08 - 8:44 am

Ill try hooking my computer directly to the modem, or use a computer at someone else's home. Maybe my firewall is the problem. I told it to pass everything through this morning and its log doesnt show its blocking anything when I do the update but I am not getting the option to install the firmware, it just says Im up to date.

mike | 07/02/08 - 3:33 pm

same thing, no udate avaiable, your phone allready has the current firmware.

the error now is no orginizer software SCCRING 445

mike | 07/02/08 - 7:17 pm

its allways fun to toss a few hundred dollars in trash eh?

mike | 08/02/08 - 5:18 am

mike, there really should be the option to flash the phone anyway, as the P990 always comes up as having "new" firmware I can't test. However you might want to try using XS++ to turn your phone to chinesse / hk, flash it, then turn it back to GW1.

Ryan Cullen | 08/02/08 - 8:17 am

It worked orange w950i as a few says not unlock just debranded your mobile

kesper | 08/02/08 - 8:39 am

Man, this is awesome! I've had a V800 and I lived the phone, but the vodamized firmware made me nuts...
But with this I can easaly digg my new p990i...
Thanks Man! You Rock!

Dash Raven | 10/02/08 - 8:52 pm

hey man that was really good i am now well chuffed

ben maughan | 11/02/08 - 5:02 pm

yes, i've run SEUS directly before.
updated it, and a second (and third) time i quit before reinstalling the current firmware, as step 2 says...
is there anything more i can do?
cheers

smail | 12/02/08 - 4:09 am

...i get PHONE IS NOT SUPPORTED with my W950i...

smail | 12/02/08 - 4:10 am

Many thanks, just done my w960i vodafone to generic. AWESOME.

Gavin | 12/02/08 - 10:29 am

Worked a treat for Orange branded P990i. I used Vista, the only difference being I had to kill SEUS in Task Manager. First class tutorial mate, thank you VERY much.

Gaz

Tattoo Gaz | 12/02/08 - 12:20 pm

Method worked perfectly for the uk orange p990i
no problems at all.
Thanks for the great help

Ash | 12/02/08 - 12:48 pm

I accidentally updated the firmware of my Australian 3 M600i through SEUS and after changing the phone's CDA and running SEUS again, it said the phone is already up-to-date and I can't update the firmware anymore. Please help!

Ashed | 12/02/08 - 9:42 pm

smail, what's the full debug from XS++ show?

Ashed, there really should be an Update anyway option, although others are reporting that this isn't appearing with their M600s. Not too sure what else can be done.

Ryan Cullen | 13/02/08 - 5:54 pm

Ryan, I posted it earlier, here my XS++ log again:

XS++ cannot detect the phone. I have checked SMARTPHONE CONNECT:

17:08:12| Executing SEMC Smartphone Operations!
17:08:12| Please hold boot key ('@' or 'C') and connect device...
***after waiting and holdin C too long i click disconnect...***
17:08:46| Disconnected... Unplug the phone

I also used to connect to XS++ when the phone was on, but then it says:
17:16:20| Master Port detected: COM3
17:16:20| Slave Port detected: COM4
17:16:20| Opening Port!
17:16:20| Init Master Failed!

and in the log I found this, didn't see it when it happened:

17:09:06| Sorry, your phone is NOT SUPPORTED
17:09:06| Sendinging shutdown signal to phone...
17:09:08| Shutting down...

One of the reasons why I want to debrand it is that I get a lot of messages if I want to install apps everytime I unplug the phone from a computer. Cannot get rid of them. Has anyone maybe any other ideas, apart from debranding?

Thanks!

smail | 14/02/08 - 1:53 am

smail, for the install apps issue you will need to use the datacable and your phone in File Transfer mode.
Go to /private/10202dce/ on the phone's folder, from you PC
You'll find the installer files (.sis) just delete them and you're done.
Not sure why XS++ won't let you debrand the phone though, could try their forums.

Ryan Cullen | 14/02/08 - 7:28 pm

Ryan I also have the issue of the updating anyway option not appearing. I am also on Australian 3 like the other person.

One thing I have noticed is that in the phone status screen, the firmware shows as:

Phone:
CXC162037 R9F011
R9EC001
prgCXC162037_CCPU_HE_LL_NI

Michael | 15/02/08 - 2:00 am

(cant post long comments?)
it shows as prgCXC162037_CCPU_HE_LL_NI < and there are 5 boxes here like its corrupt or something but this doenst show up in the service menu software screen. Also XS++ doesnt get my bluetooth version but it has all other versions fine

Michael | 15/02/08 - 2:03 am

Worked OK on UK "02" P990i.
But did take 3 attempts to get final update to work, and was very slow updating.
Got there in the end.
All WG1 and latest firmware now.
Thanks

p990 user | 17/02/08 - 7:58 pm

Wonderful. Your instructions were very clear and took me 1 try to debrand my P990 (CDA162007/

.to GW1.

Thanks.

tw | 18/02/08 - 6:01 am

I change the cda on my m600i but SEUS say "no update your phone is up to date". Now i can't install french language because the organizer is CXC 162071 R6A16. What can i do to unbrand my m600i and to install french language.

Thank you

opteron144 | 18/02/08 - 4:15 pm

I tried with a M600i with Australian Three network.

Followed the instructions exactly, however end up with the message "Your mobile is already up-to-date", and no option for forced update.

How should I proceed from here?

torbay | 18/02/08 - 4:20 pm

For stuck M600 users, other than hoping that SEUS will allow you to update, the only other options I know are:
taking your phone to Sony Ericsson service centre and for them to use EMMA;
or to try Davinci Team who charge €20 for a PDA Flash, which includes the actual firmware.

Ryan Cullen | 18/02/08 - 7:39 pm

I reflash my "broken" m600i with davinci for 20€ and it works. You should not say in the tittle that the free unbrand is working with m600i. Lot of people on french forum have the same problem.

opteron144 | 18/02/08 - 11:33 pm

i finally did it...and it worked... so easy

chad | 19/02/08 - 1:54 am

I have a problem with both of debrand metods on my M600i. Both of metods going to last step and after that SEUS told me that I already have newer version.

What can be a problem. Can anyone know?

Sasha Petrov | 25/02/08 - 4:28 pm

For Sasha Petrov. I did have the same problem. The only solution with a m600i is to flash your phone with davinci. It's not free it's about 20€. Lot of m600i users are in the same situation. I think it's because SEUS change few days ago.

http://www.davinciteam.eu/index.html

opteron144 | 25/02/08 - 10:21 pm

hi,
works that method also with Vista or do I need XP for this??

pedderson | 01/03/08 - 5:59 pm

pedderson, I don't know. XS++ should run on Vista, but I'm not certain about SEUS. Neither are that big that trying both won't hurt.

Ryan Cullen | 03/03/08 - 8:04 am

Does this method still work on an M600i?

Mine is unlocked but vodafone branded, really want it debranded but read that some have been bricked this method, is that still happening?

The phone is UK btw.

petermg | 05/03/08 - 6:54 pm

Take care. It doesn't work on a M600i.

GameOnly | 05/03/08 - 10:32 pm

i tried all 3 way. the size checker version, the davinci, and the xs++
non of them works. i just found out, my p600i is a brown version.

any help would be great

basstard | 09/03/08 - 2:47 pm

charles | 18/03/08 - 12:57 am

Very very happy, great tutorial,I'm beginning to hate orange, they assured me this phone was seamless with my apple mac before I committed to it for 18 months, so far no joy lets have a go now their firmware barring is switched off.
I know I have to moderate emotions on here but they have been just awful about all this... what use is a smart phone that does not sync with your computer? I have been an Orange customer since 1995 and they really haven't helped at all with the issues, if I could have done this then why didn't they tell me before? maybe it will sync with my Parrot kit now as well, I will let you know. By the way I did the upgrade on my Girlfriends Vaio, what about all the mac users that don't have access to a PC?
Thanks again.

Okay, an update... my p990 has just synced for the first time ever with my apple mac, thank you so much, I now have a smart phone after carrying the thing around for over a year!

Martman.

Martman | 19/03/08 - 5:11 am

Woohoo, just unbranded a UK P990i with vodafone branding! Worked perfectly!
Thanks

J | 22/03/08 - 12:31 pm

This worked amazing on my SE p990i branded by 3 (three sweden) now its unbranded. Maybe unlocked??

Thanks for this amazing guide!!!!

Marcus Wiberg | 25/03/08 - 5:27 pm

I've just done this on my O2 W960i, I've just popped a Vodafone sim into it & it works no problems!

Olorin1126 | 26/03/08 - 1:47 pm

Everything worked great. Very easy!!!!!
15min and my P990i was flashed!

Anonymous | 27/03/08 - 10:50 pm

2 simple words .. Thank you!!

Wesley (netherlands | 28/03/08 - 11:19 am

23:32:11| Attempting to open the interface...
23:32:50| Disconnected... Unplug the phone
23:34:09|
23:34:09| Attempting to open the interface...
23:34:28| Disconnected... Unplug the phone
23:35:13| Executing SEMC Smartphone Operations!
23:35:13| Please hold boot key ('@' or 'C') and connect device...
23:36:03| Master Port detected: COM4
23:36:03| Slave Port detected: COM5
23:36:03| Opening Port!
23:36:03| Error: Cannot open phone communication port
23:36:05| Disconnected... Unplug the phone
23:42:59| Executing SEMC Smartphone Operations!
23:42:59| Please hold boot key ('@' or 'C') and connect device...
23:43:36| Master Port detected: COM4
23:43:36| Slave Port detected: COM5
23:43:37| Opening Port!
23:43:37| Init Master Failed!

if you have the above error,

please checked if you are holding the "C" button in your computer rather than the "C" button in your phone?

Please remember you should press the "C" button in your phone.

leon | 30/03/08 - 4:19 pm

HI. for some reason the 2,4,5 & (*) keys on my phone is not working... upon turning on my phone i have a lock code.. but the lock code consist of me pressing 2 of these keys to unlock it. i am thinking that it may be a firmware issue.. can some one help me in flashing my phone or giving me a software that can reset my phone's phone lock code to 0000... PLEASE HELP.

Jubari | 02/04/08 - 2:57 pm

i forgot to include... i wanted to kno if doin this cleans the phone lock code from my phone? please help

Jubari | 02/04/08 - 2:58 pm

Jubari, the method in the post won't reset the phone lock, however XS++ does display it, and I think there is an option to set it to 0000.
Just run the software and have a look around.

Ryan Cullen | 02/04/08 - 3:22 pm

yea i did that...but it says its only for db2020 phones... the w960 is db2001

... any other options u have in mind?

Jubari | 02/04/08 - 8:38 pm

Hi again.
I'm trying to use this method that you suggested. I'm already encountering an issue. After I installed SEUS, it just keeps running that animation of the SE logo. It downloaded the necessary files and it didnt say anything else.
What can I do now ?

alex_667 | 04/04/08 - 3:21 pm

alex_667 do you use Firefox, as you may need to run Internet Explorer and update Flash. Also check to see if your firewall is blocking it from conecting to the internet. Otherwise try a second computer.

Ryan Cullen | 04/04/08 - 3:30 pm

It just hanged for a few minutes. It worked ok.
Debranding 100% complete on a SE P990i. I must admit that I was very scared at the beginning because many people told me that it might get blocked forever. After I ran XS++ and after it said that the operation was successful I suddenly became more optimistic. Then SEUS recognized automatically the update needed and everything worked fine. +1 happy dude here.
Thank you so much for the help!

alex_667 | 04/04/08 - 4:12 pm

its important to note that the instructions DO NOT tell you to switch off your phone remove and replace the battery then hold down c while you try to connect XS++ I had to read the XS++ instruction manual to find that point out.

That said it seems to de-brand orange phones fairly well.

Keith | 05/04/08 - 5:53 pm

Keith thats because the instructions say:

The box on the left will tell you what to do, but it’ll be similar to step 2.

Ryan Cullen | 07/04/08 - 12:12 pm

same problem as a few people before me.. SEUS gives out message update is up to date and there is nothing (at least nothing for free) to do about that.. please write if you find a solution..
thanks!

betrion | 08/04/08 - 3:27 pm

Hi.I debrand my P990i (Orange -Poland) this method. And after this all looking ok.Is possible run demo ...but phone say" PLEASE INSERT SIM CARD" ...but sim card is inserted!!.I no make a backup before do this debranding procedure because i buy this phone yesterday..but this is no important for this "Please insert Sim Card" right? Guys PLEASE Help...
Thanks

Megablast | 09/04/08 - 11:28 pm

Hats off BOSS. Excellent Post. Thanks a Million.

Bala | 11/04/08 - 7:48 pm

Hi i'm about to ( tonight ) attempt to unbrand my orange uk m600i, from what ive read as per instructions seems easy, can i just confirm the Xs++ and (mirror) links involve a file download to pc ? Also when you state close Xs++ do you mean teh close option bottom right or the X top right? im ok with pc's but would liek to get it right 1st time fingers crossed!

PMRT | 18/04/08 - 7:02 pm

PMRT, the links to XS++ are for either a ZIP or RAR of the XS++ executable.
Close is via either the red cross at the top, or the button in the app.
Only issue is that SEUS seems to believe that there are no longer any updates for the M600. I have heard that Sony Ericsson are fixing this, but have yet to have it confirmed that it works again.
You won't harm your phone trying to do all the stages and if SEUS doesn't allow you to install the new firmware, you will only need to try SEUS again once it is fixed.

Ryan Cullen | 18/04/08 - 7:53 pm

Hi Ryan

i am stuck - i loaded from my pc suite older version also tried newer direct from SE - pc suite picks up device M600i but when use SEUS it states USB device not recognised tho Suite finds ok?

PMRT | 19/04/08 - 2:00 pm

I removed all other usb items ie printer - mouse etc but no good - i really want to unbrand Orange s/w - i qork for them but to be honest i wish theyd leave s/w alone!!

PMRT | 20/04/08 - 1:29 am

Hey dude,

Hopefully you will read this, anyway i tried this method and upgraded fine. However the camera crashed the phone everytime i went to use it. So long story short i want to put the vodafone fw back on, but didnt make a backup of my gdfs. Do you have a copy of a vodafone gdfs that i could use please? Or is there another way?

Cheers.

Hobbit | 28/04/08 - 11:15 pm

Hobbit sorry I don't. However I had a P990i on Vodafone which I debranded and it's worked fine ever since. Have you tried reflashing with SEUS?

Ryan Cullen | 29/04/08 - 7:31 am

Cheers for the reply, yeah i tried reflashing with SEUS, but if i try without xs++ it just errors and wont update. If i use xs++ it just updates and keeps the same world 1 fw.

Hobbit | 29/04/08 - 10:25 am

Thanks so much, i had a few headaches losing the GPRS internet connection info but I found it again eventually and woohoo no more vodafone live. Got to hate the networks sometimes...

Jamie Brown | 30/04/08 - 5:48 pm

great program, made de-branding my orange p990i a breeze. simple and quick, much easier than searching for 353byte file.
thanks

bongobill | 01/05/08 - 10:37 pm

I just managed to unlock my P990i yesterday. Next thing is to try debranding. I have seen the 400+ bytes and 300+ bytes method but yet to try it.

Well, I think that I will be trying this XS++ method tonight. By the way, my phone is locked to Orange UK.

Yet, I am a bit worried because there are people saying that the phone might get locked again if not done properly. Fingers crossed.

myi4u | 12/05/08 - 10:59 am

Hi,

This worked perfect on my P990i branded by Vodafone (Greece).!!! Now is a "new phone".!!! Bye,bye Vodafone live.!
Thnks.!!!

Anonymous | 12/05/08 - 1:21 pm