Please help me with K800i sim unlocking

[Chappers]

Hi,

Written brief problem for those who can't be bothered reading essays online, and longer one for those who need more info and background.

Brief Problem:

Sony Ericsson K800i locked to Vodafone network. R1JC002 firmware (generic), CID52. Can only re-flash firmware using XS++ as SeTool2 Lite v1.11 comes up with errors and have re-flashed a few times with K800_R1JC002_MAIN_GENERIC_RED52. Using downloaded or patch generator-created sim_unlock vkp file in SeTool2 comes up with this error: BLOCK @ $44700000 read error. Have only: 00000000 bytes. Tried using Disable DB2020 Security in SeTool2 Lite by just ticking box and then clicking Flash but phone won't turn on afterwards and can only revive phone by using XS++ to flash firmware again. No idea what's wrong or what to do next. Help very much appreciated.

Don't understand much about firmware, GDFS, CID, DB2020, etc. But would like to have it explained please!

Longer Explanation and Background:

I have a Sony Ericsson K800i mobile phone that was bought as a Pay As You Go mobile and is locked to Vodafone.

The phone had been playing up a bit for a while, which seemed software based. Then it just refused to turn on. No white screen flashing up, no blinking red LED from the IR port. Nothing. So, I paid €7 to wotanserver.com to perform an upgrade of the firmware - to R1JC002 - which got the phone working. As I want to start using it on the PAYG O2 network, I thought I'd try performing a network unlock so it'll work with an O2 sim.

I have these software programs: XS++, SeTool2 Lite v1.11 and a VKP unlock patch generator. I have also downloaded firmware files (version R1JC002) from 4shared.com - specifically K800_R1JC002_MAIN_GENERIC_RED52 is the one I'm using.

I've tried a sim unlock vkp file from 4shared.com for my firmware version as well as making my own using the firmware file I have and the patch generator software, and then tried applying them using SeTool2 Lite. Each time it failed saying: BLOCK @ $44700000 read error. Have only: 00000000 bytes.

I still don't understand much about all this, and I don't know what DB2020 security is, but read something about needing to disable it, so I eventually worked out how to try and do that in SeTool2 Lite (ticking the Bypass DB2020 Security box and then clicking Flash button). When doing that, it runs without errors and finishes correctly. Trouble is, the phone is dead afterwards - no white screen flashing, no red LED. Nothing at all, won't switch on. Tried it a few times now but each time it turns phone to a brick and only solution is to flash the firmware again to get the phone working.

I'm now stumped. I don't know what the difference is between firmware, GDFS files and what you are actually backing up when making a GDFS backup - firmware, user files, settings? - and what CID is or does and its relevance to all this. I don't know if the eprom data is separate to the firmware or written during a firmware flash or if it is the firmware. I also don't know what DB2020 means or in what way it affects things and why it needs disabling, or its security needs disabling.

And, of course, I have no idea why the 'remove sim lock' patch isn't working. Although so far I have read that SeTools2 is buggy and doesn't like all phones. I must say that I haven't been able to get it to work with anything; I can't flash firmware with it, it comes up with errors - only XS++ works for that. Unfortunately in XS++ the patching tab doesn't actually work, the button isn't clickable, otherwise I'd like to try that.

Could someone please help me to understand the systems used in these phones, as I could probably help myself a lot once that clicks into place in my mind. It'd also be handy to know why the patch isn't working and why trying to disable DB2020 security is killing the phone. Also knowing what software is best to use would be great.

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Thanks!
James

[jasmin]

Connect your phone to xs++ 3.1 and copy your phones log without IMEI number here.

XS++ 3.1 Guide-Flashing, Customizing, Recovering

Global SonyEricsson Dictionary

You need to make a full flash first and then you can unlock it:

General Information about Patch-Unlocking (start here if you want to unlock)

Remove SIM-lock patch generator

Follow this tutorial step by step.

Have a nice day

[riders4sia]

you need the quick access patch for your phone to start patching your your phone. google for qamaker and download it, after downloaded, drag and drop your main firmware to the qamaker.exe file and qamaker will create a patch for your phone. now connect your phone through setool2 1.11, sellect your phone model, tick the "Bypass security" and within the add section browse for your main firmware and withing the misc section, click the "..." and then browse for the patch file that qamaker created. now click on the flash button and wait for the setool2 information. never abort the flashing procedure, you need to unplug and reinsert your battery and then plug it again as command by the setool. please have patience. everything will be done in a single click. have a nice day. pleae use the thanks button if it help you.

[riders4sia]

after doing so, to patch your phone, unplug you phone, reinsert your phone battery again and then reconnect your phone to setool2, select your phone model and then tick the "use quick access patch" and within the misc section, click the "..." to browse for the patch you want to apply. hit the button "write script" it will be done in a jiffy. all the best

[Chappers]

Thanks for all of your help, I have now successfully unlocked the K800i for all networks. I couldn't do it as described in the tutorial because even though the quick access patch went into the phone okay, SeTool2 Lite doesn't display the box for using quick access patch, only the original bypass DB2020 security. So, I ticked the bypass security box, put firmware file in 'files' area, and put generated sim unlock patch in 'misc. files' box. Then clicked Flash. I think the trouble before was that I was only putting the patch in the misc. files box, but no firmware in 'files' box, so I was flashing the phone with a patch only and no firmware, not realising the flashing routine overwrote everything including existing firmware software on the phone.

The SE definitions guide was very helpful to my understanding of what GDFS, CID and so on mean and do. However, I do have some questions:

- Knowing no better, I have only been flashing the MAIN part of the firmware, not even having any FS firmware files, so how come my phone is still working? Since that dictionary says "FS: It contains languages, images, sounds, animations, settings, etc", shouldn't I be missing all those things now? What difference would there be exactly if I found and flashed an FS file to the phone now?

- After flashing with FS file, is it required to then use a customization file, or is that simply to alter images, sounds, etc., that were put in place by the FS file?

- Is the EROM overwritten when flashing with MAIN firmware file? I assume it must be, because phone's displaying corrupted EROM data are apparently fixed if firmware is reinstalled into phone.

- What's the difference between MAIN_GENERIC and MAIN_GENERIC_WI when talking of MAIN firmware files?

- Looking at FS files, what's the difference between ones that might say EUROPE_2 and ones with EUROPE_3, etc?
- I've been flashing phone with R1JC002 firmware believing it to be the latest? Is it?

Many thanks to all of you, you've helped me a great deal. :)

James

[jasmin]

Difference between Europe_2 and Europe_3 and all others is only language.

Languages Description

Have a nice day

[simox]

SeTool2 Lite doesn't display the box for using quick access patch, only the original bypass DB2020 security.

Probably you used the version 1.10 instead of 1.11

I have only been flashing the MAIN part of the firmware, not even having any FS firmware files, so how come my phone is still working?

Yes, it will work because you flashed only the MAIN, so the FS, GDFS, EROM remained untouched.

Is the EROM overwritten when flashing with MAIN firmware file?

No, it is untouched during "normal" flashing.

What's the difference between MAIN_GENERIC and MAIN_GENERIC_WI when talking of MAIN firmware files?

Actually there is no difference. WI - is the phone model identifier (WI = K800)

I've been flashing phone with R1JC002 firmware believing it to be the latest? Is it?

No, the latest version is R8BF003. Link: K800_RED52

[Chappers]

Thanks, you've all been so very helpful and increased my understanding massively. You were right about SeTool2 Lite being version 1.10 even though the folder and link said v1.11. I actually looked in the top corner of the program window itself and saw 1.10.

Still a bit unsure about custpacks, but altogether know so much more now and have an unlocked phone. Next step is to put latest firmware on it.

[Chappers]

Just curious, why is it that after flashing new FS firmware file, which I thought contained stuff like icons and things, you then need to install a customisation pack? Surely everything should already be in the FS file?

[simox]

Surely everything should already be in the FS file?

The custom pack could be in FS but it doesn't. The reason is that the phones can be customized with an FS and different custom packs, without releasing thousands versions from an FS.