Changing the OS...

[Darthalie]

Ok. I am throwing a bottle to the sea here...

(I did a search but the few threads are not about the exact same thing.
Still, if it has been discussed before (but under another title maybe?) I sure would appreciate someone pointing me in the right direction)

1- Is there a way to change the OS version of one phone for the version of another CARRIER?
( Like puting the Rogers OS in a Tmobile phone?)

2- Is there a way to make a model work with the OS of another model?
( Like the OS of the Pearl 8100 into a Pearl 8220)
if YES: how?
if NO: why?

I don't want " should/should not" comments. I want to understand how things work with the phones, not with my head!

[DrLouie]

1. - Yes (see below), 2. - Not that I'm aware of (and with different hardware inside the phones probably not recommended).

More info:
Installing another vendor's version of the OS (borrowed from Ahmed G, I followed his steps below when installing a different vendor's OS to upgrade my bold to 5.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recommended Upgrading Procedure is as follows:

1. Download the OS and install it on your PC. (Make sure you have already removed any older OSes you have installed on your PC by going to Add / Remove Programs in Control Panel)

2. Delete the vendor.xml file (located in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader)

3. Backup your 3rd party applications ( optional recommended step )

4. Connect your Bold 9000 to your PC and right click on a file named Loader (located in the same place where you found the vendor.xml > C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader\Loader.exe) and select '' Run As Administrator ''

5. Follow the prompts. The Loader will backup and restore your data by default

Another Trusted Procedure
Upgrading Procedure
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Reubechs]

Louie answered your questions except for one thing: you cannot load an OS for a different device onto yours - it will brick the phone. Do not load anything that's not for your specific device, not even if it's "close" to the same thing. As long as you stick to that guideline you can load any carrier's OS and any version number whether it's an upgrade or downgrade, for which Louie has provided instructions.

Some members of CB make hybrids, which are blends of files from other devices that are compatible with the radio file of a particular device. But you must have an OS for your device installed, for the same reason I mentioned above.

[Darthalie]

These answers bring up more questions:

- what is this "vendor file"? what does it do, or represent, in the program?
- what is a radio file?
- pardon my french ( literally) but what does "...it will brick the phone." means?
- where can I find such hybrids? or can I make one myself?

Maybe I should explain here why I ask all these questions...

I am with the company FIDO in Canada. I don't want to change. When it was time to change my phone to accomodate my failing eyesight (bigger screen) and workers hands (bigger keys) the one model I fell in love with (BB Pearl Flip 8220) was not offered by FIDO. I bought a used one, unlocked and originally with Rogers ( Fido is affiliated with them) so all was well... except for the part where I can't access FIDO's mobile website because I had the Rogers' OS, not FIDO's. Oh well...
After a year the phone lost bluetooth, then the earjack, then the zoom. Since the 8220 is discontinued the only "new" one left I could find is with T-Mobile. I bought it last weekend. It's unlocked but will only update to T-Mobile's OS. Now: FIDO carries the BB Pearl 8100, thus my question about changing the OS. But if I could find/make a hybrid by just adding or switching a little bit of FIDO's instead of Rogers' it would be PERFECT!
Since the old phone still works for calls and texts ( if I put my SIM card back in it) any suggestions I get from anyone here at Crackberry would be tried on it first and results ( good or bad) would be posted here, and the bad would not affect my new phone.
Oh, I have used JL_cmder many times already on the old phone in my efforts to restore the bluetooth option, so any suggestions that has me start from scratch is no problem. I am game if you are...

[hubermania]

vendor.xml identifies the carrier. So if I want to install OS 4.6.0.308 intended for a Comcel 8220 on my T-Mo 8220, I gotta delete that Comcel vendor.xml out of C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader\.

Don't mess with the radio files. These are files named .sfi in the GPRS folder. If you just want to get your 8220 fully working on Fido, search the CrackBerry carrier forums for using an unlocked phone with Fido. It might be as simple as plugging the Fido APN information in under Options->Advanced Options->TCP/IP.

APN: internet.fido.ca
Username: fido
Password: fido

If you have a BlackBerry data plan, do a search for Fido Service Books and get the service books pushed to your phone.

Bluetooth death is common among 8220 owners. I've been fortunate but my wife has not. Next week I will disassemble her old 8220 so I can bake the main board and reflow the solder, in an attempt to get the Bluetooth circuit working again. After switching her to a spankin' new unlocked 8220, of course.

[Darthalie]

Thanks hubermania.

lol! while waiting for answers I went ahead and tried a few things on the old phone... like deleting everything BUT FIDO from the vendor file! of course it didn't work and after the process it still said Rogers on the opening screen... So: if I want to install the Rogers version on my T-Mobile phone I have to delete ONLY the Rogers' <vendor> lines </vendor> from the vendor file? or the whole "vendor file" from the Rogers' OS version?

Also I watched the "bake the main board" video with great interest because "baking/resolding/reflowing(?)" was a last resort option offered to me at the repairshop but I said no. Now I think I just might give it a try myself...

As I don't have a data plan on the new phone ( maybe I should have specified that earlier) I do not intend to touch any "radio" file as I have no idea what it would do. I may have a BB but all I want from it is: phone, texts and bluetooth to be reached in the car ( I drive around a lot). No internet, no GPS, no messenger, mail or 3rd party apps.
BUT, since FIDO ( my carrier) offers its clients free access to its portal AND there is the "pay as you use" or "24hrs internet package" that I might want to try someday, I sure would like my BB pearl flip 8220 to show the FIDO logo when I turn it on and have the FIDO browser available if I do, someday, decide to give their data plan a try.

So right now my old phone says:
- Rogers on the cover
- Rogers Wireless as connection
- Fido on the monthly bill


And my new phone says:
- T-Mobile on the cover
- Rogers Wireless as connection
- and the monthly bill is with FIDO ( even tho I can't really "reach" them (their portal) with my phone.

After 7 years with same company I just wish the software inside my BB's were FIDO's so I could access it and try everything I am entitled to...

I am open to any more/other suggestions, I will post the results of what I try...


...oh! and I am still waiting to learn what "bricked" means!

[Darthalie]

*sigh* update on the new T-mobile phone:

-took out the SD card and the SIM card
-did a wipe with JL_cmder
-disconnected from the internet so no unwanted update would get in.
-installed the Rogers OS on the PC
-deleted the vendor file from the C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader AND from the recycle bin
-chose specifically the local 4.6.0.293 Rogers OS
-the upload/update using Desktop Manager was successfull BUT it's still the T-Mobile page that greets me when I turn the phone on!
- and the phone is only in english now...


Can someone tell me where did I go wrong?...

[Reubechs]

Originally Posted by Darthalie

*sigh* update on the new T-mobile phone:

-took out the SD card and the SIM card
-did a wipe with JL_cmder
-disconnected from the internet so no unwanted update would get in.
-installed the Rogers OS on the PC
-deleted the vendor file from the C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader AND from the recycle bin
-chose specifically the local 4.6.0.293 Rogers OS
-the upload/update using Desktop Manager was successfull BUT it's still the T-Mobile page that greets me when I turn the phone on!
- and the phone is only in english now...


Can someone tell me where did I go wrong?...

Not quite sure about the English-only, did you install an English-only OS? Or accidently removed the other languages during install? The Tmo branding is permanent - you can't change that. The branding is not affected by wiping/installing the device software.

[Darthalie]

hello genomos

Being bilingual (french/english) I can come here for help and understand about 99% ( terms like "bricked phone" being the 1% I miss) but at home everything operates in french (PCs, phones, etc...). I'm used to translating.

But its okay now for the phone: I deleted the whole vendor file and then had access to the language applications again.
My phone is now a Tay-Mobeel

I am disapointed to hear that the Tmo ( T-Mobile?) is "branded" into the phone itself. I thought the JL_cmder's "wipe" was complete?... unless I have to do it over and over many times? what do you think?...
Or maybe we are not talking about the same thing? because among the choices there was:
- reset to factory ( that would certainly keep the branding)
- wipe ( supposedly a complete and total wipe)
and the complete wipe is always the one I choose since I will never find a BB Pearl from FIDO.

Thanks a bunch for keeping up with me!

[Reubechs]

Originally Posted by Darthalie

hello genomos

Being bilingual (french/english) I can come here for help and understand about 99% ( terms like "bricked phone" being the 1% I miss) but at home everything operates in french (PCs, phones, etc...). I'm used to translating.

But its okay now for the phone: I deleted the whole vendor file and then had access to the language applications again.
My phone is now a Tay-Mobeel

I am disapointed to hear that the Tmo ( T-Mobile?) is "branded" into the phone itself. I thought the JL_cmder's "wipe" was complete?... unless I have to do it over and over many times? what do you think?...
Or maybe we are not talking about the same thing? because among the choices there was:
- reset to factory ( that would certainly keep the branding)
- wipe ( supposedly a complete and total wipe)
and the complete wipe is always the one I choose since I will never find a BB Pearl from FIDO.

Thanks a bunch for keeping up with me!

No problem! And if nobody went in-depth, the "bricked phone" term means a device that's been messed up to the point where it's unusable e.g: it's now a little black brick.
The branding can't be touched, sorry; it's in the area with the device PIN and other unique and permanent phone/network ID numbers. A bit annoying I understand, but unfortunately nothing us average consumers can do about outside the factory.

[Darthalie]

Thank you for the "brick" explanation. lol, I am now 99.1% bilingual!
Not too happy about the branding... but I'll keep trying things and coming back for info and, who knows, maybe someday someone here will find a way around that too...