N95 - getting v21

[Adrenalyze]

I'm having a bit of a mare trying to get v21 software on my n95.

I bought a v12 N95 locked on Tmobile. I wanted to be able to use it on Vodafone so instead of trying to get it unlocked I bought and installed a turbo chip and now Voda works fine, although I can't see this being the problem as I'll explain.

I immediately ran a Nokia Software Update to get v14 and that went fine, no problems at all but it wouldn't let me get to v21, I kept getting the 'phone recovery' rubbish message.

I took the chip out and put a Tmobile SIM back in and and had the same result. I downloaded NSS and used a generic Euro product code instead but the same thing keep happening,

Seems like whatever I try, I keep getting the same message. The update begins, I get the the "15 minutes remaining" status bar, the phone sort of reboots, then a few seconds later it's "phone recovery" time.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Hands0n]

I had to do a look up for Turbo Sim (http://www.modifications.co.uk/nokia_turbo_sim.html) - an interesting gadget for those with an N95 not on Vodafone (who will unlock your handset at any point in your contract free of charge).

This sounds all very odd! Providing that you have got an appropriate Product Code set in the handset, which it sounds like you have, there should be no problem. I have done this many times now with almost 100% success, although the N95 is reported to have a habit of bricking itself occasionally with Nokia's NSU tool.

The NSU does not care what network operator's SIM you have installed, which version of the firmware it sends you is defined by the Product Code - where there is a unique code for each [UK at least] operator.

I would suspect this as a USB issue. Are your PC's USB ports USB2, do you have any other USB issues with other devices such as card readers etc? Is your USB cable plugged directly into the PCs USB port and not through or via a USB hub? Have you tried doing this with all other USB devices unplugged from the PC?

Also what is your WAN like? Is it a reliably high speed, or does it reset or error frequently.

I think the key is that something is interrupting the speed and/or quality of data between the PC and the N95 handset. Perhaps you could try this out on another PC?

[Adrenalyze]

Oh the turbo chip works like a dream – you have to cut a section out of your SIM for it to work but that doesn’t damage the SIM’s performance in the N95 or any other phone. But I digress, it has no bearing on the update.

My pc has about 6 USB ports so I don’t need a hub – and I’d be skeptical about it being a USB issue as I’m using the same cable and port as I did when I went from V12 to V14. I found a list online of about 50 or 60 different product codes and I’ve tried about 5, all either Euro or codes that others have posted about, saying they’ve worked for them. I’m thinking of taking it to my local independent Indian mobile shop (have you noticed just about all indy mobile repair-type shops have got at least one Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi working for them?? That’s not a dig – just a curious observation!) and leaving to them to sort out but I begrudge forking out £20 for a procedure that really I should be able to do myself.

[Hands0n]

Before you fork out your hard-earned, is there an opportunity for you to try this out on another PC?

Something else to consider, have you reset the N95 back to factory condition? You should not have to do that at all by the way.

I have used NSU on many N95 (Classic) and many times too. I currently have two of the beasties. But a few updates ago my Vodafone N95 didn't take too well to NSU and bricked itself. I sent it off to Vodafone for repair, assuming they'd just re-flash it at the workshop, but they sent me a total refurb as there was nothing they could do with the original one. Allegedly the N95 can be a bit flaky under NSU.

I must say that I cannot notice anything at all significant in the new firmware over and above the first V20. There may be bug fixes but nothing at all very apparent.

[Adrenalyze]

Cheers for the advice - I'll try doing a factory reset later and if that doesn't solve it I'll try it on my work pc but as I said I did the original v12 - v14 on this pc.

[Adrenalyze]

Just tried the factory reset - no difference.

[Ben]

So bizarre. Do you have proof of purchase? Is it under Nokia's two year warranty? Might be able to get it flashed gratis at a Nokia repair centre.

[Adrenalyze]

I bought it second-hand at Cash Generator. There's nothing really wrong with it and it did the upgrade from v12 no problem.