Fuck you, Virgin Mobile.

[theweaselking]

Fuck you, with a chainsaw. I'm smarter than you, and now I have proof of it.

My phone. My hardware. MINE. It works the way *I* want it to, not you.

(Yes, that IS Metallica coming out of the speakers of my phone when it rings, now. It's even Metallica that I've altered, and no, I didn't pay you $4 for 15 seconds of Enter Sandman. Funny how that works, hmm?[1])

For the record, if any of you ever get a Nokia CDMA phone locked with idiotware, such as those provided by Bell Mobility and Virgin Mobile, intended to make you pay them $4 per use for the privilege of using a feature that's supposed to be built into the phone, the fix is simple:

#1: Buy a USB cable for the phone on eBay. Yes, this costs about $10, but it's cheap AND having a USB cable for your phone is good for other reasons.[2]
#2: Download Nokia Diego, the software Nokia uses to program the phone in the first place. No, you can't get it directly from Nokia, but that really shouldn't slow you down. You need version 3.08+ for a 6275i, but the exact minimum version depends on your model. Google it.
#3: Uninstall all Nokia software from your PC
#4: Install Diego
#5: Plug in your phone, set it to Data Enhancement mode if it's got that. If not, select Data Storage mode.
#6: Start Diego. Tell it to stop looking at COM1. If you're in DE mode, go to step 7 now. If you're in USB FT mode, hit "exit" to leave it.
#7: Click "Settings", click "Load All From Phone". Wait for them to load.
#8: Here's where you back up all your phone settings as much as you can, with "save to file" and "export to XML" and all that stuff.
#9: Examine the settings, marvel at the piles and piles of data that's in there, and then get to the point: User -> Ringtone Settings. Change from where it is (a number from 1-5, with descriptors) to "0 - Allow All Ringtones".
#10: Click "Save All To Phone", have a brief fucking heart attack because you're playing with a production system with no guarantee that the backups worked, wait for the phone to beep, and set your ringtones however you want.

You can also, presumably, unlock the Java settings so you can get your Tetris on without paying separately for it, too. That's left as an exercise for the annoyed geeky person, because I don't use java applets on my phone. I should also see if I can edit the main menu easily, to get rid of the stupid "Hey, why not come spend more money at Virgin's Website!" thing.

Of course, if this had been a GSM phone, the solution would have been "pull the SIM card, put the battery in, google the 10 digit code, enter the code, pull the battery, put the SIM card back" - but I wasn't given a GSM phone, I was given a CDMA one. CDMA ones are more complicated.

[1]: I don't think I'm going to keep Enter Sandman as a ringtone. While Canada doesn't have the insipid "ringtones are a public performance" interpretation of copyright law, I only picked it because, hey, it's a DRM and copying problem. I've gotta break it with Metallica. It's a tradition.

[2]: If you're local to me, I know you, and you get the same phone I did, or a similar one, you don't even need to buy a cable. You just need to come over to my house and say "Hey, John, can you unlock my phone? I'm tired of idiots locking out features on MY PROPERTY so that they can sell me shit."

Comments

[tjackson.livejournal.com]

nice.
now work your cellphonely magic to get me out of my fucking Alltel contract.
I'm in roam, at my new home address. Their website .. says they don't offer service in this zipcode. Yet ... I am still in their contract. Because they're too lazy to let go and I'm too poor for a lawyer.

Fahk.

*end bitching on other's journals*

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I don't do contracts. The best part about Virgin Mobile is that they have no contracts at all. You buy the phone and it's yours outright, and you can put money on it, but there's no contract and everything is Pay As You Go.

[chaosrah.livejournal.com]

uh, where do you live? maybe you can figure out how to do that with my phone.. although it's not a nokia..

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

#1: Ottawa, Canada.
#2: Make and model of phone?

[rhiannonmai.livejournal.com]

SWEET!!
Thanks for the tip.
But you really shouldn't hold back on how you feel.
Go ahead, let 'em have it with both barrels!

[peristaltor.livejournal.com]

You should forward this along to the good folks at Make magazine. They had an article about just this nonsense a few issues back.

[zenten.livejournal.com]

I am going to speak to you before I end up getting a cellphone. Which will be approximately when I have the money to spend on it.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I knew shit-all about cellphones until Dec 25, 2006, when I was given one as a gift.

Just so you know.

[culfinriel.livejournal.com]

You're my hero.

[psyco-path.livejournal.com]

You are my hero.

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

Nice work.

[torrain.livejournal.com]

Can I request ringtones?

As in, could/would you set it up so "RE: Your Brains" is a ringtone for my work phone number?

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

Absolutely.

In fact, I may set that up as the default ringtone for every number in the "work" category, starting at the chorus. "Alll we wanna do is eat your brains..."

Still

[mexxboy.livejournal.com]

What is "USB File Transfer Mode". When I plug in my phone it says only 3 modes. Nokia mode, Printing and Data storage. Help. =[

Re: Still

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

Data Storage mode. Sorry.

[texas-tiger.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I just wish my Tracfone's voicemail would work.

It just died suddenly one day and they reset it four or five times and it's still dead.

wont install

[jeromejerome.livejournal.com]

I can install diego 3.09 no problem, when i plug in my nokia 6275i into my computer via my cable, the computer says "There was a problem installing this hardware: Nokia 6275i. An error occured during the installation of the device the specified service has been marked for deletion." and it doesnt install, if i use the nokia programs drivers the phone works fine (not with diego obviously) but when i install diegos driver it says that message. What can i do? Ive tried diego 3.06, 3.08 same thing. ive tried reinstalling it and installing it with no nokia software or drivers. still nothing. any ideas?

Re: wont install

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you either didn't uninstall all your Nokia software (including cable drivers) before installing Diego, or you need to reboot after the uninstalls before plugging in the phone. I realise you say you've done that - triple-check to make sure you didn't miss anything?

As well, when you plug the phone in, it should prompt you to select a mode. Make sure you're selecting Data Storage Mode, not Nokia mode.

Apart from that... maybe try a different PC?

[mr-jrdn.livejournal.com]

I got my 6275i before christms and I've been wanting to do this for awhile. Has anyone had problems installing apps on this phone? my carrier seems to have locked that out too.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I haven't tried installing apps. If it's blocked on the phone, though, this application will control the setting to unlock it again.

Which end of Ottawa?

[jkaluski.livejournal.com]

Hey, John, can you unlock my phone? I'm tired of idiots locking out features on MY PROPERTY so that they can sell me shit.

Are you still doing this for folks who hate locked stuff? I have the 6275i from Virgin.

I've tried with my own cable and diego, but I keep getting "USB Device Not Recognized" and "Unknown Device".

I'm gettin' kinda pissed, 'cause i've tried it on 3 different PCs now. I work in the west end, live in the east, so I gotta go by your place at least 2x a day.

Re: Which end of Ottawa?

[jkaluski.livejournal.com]

OK, So I tried calling VM and they referred me to Nokia for my issue. Nokia asks "On the cable, does it say it was made in China or Taiwan?" "China" I says. "Oh," he says, "There's your problem. The CA-53 from China is incompatible with your phone." Ass-lickers.

why do you people still give them money???

[fone-star.livejournal.com]

Why do you people continue to fund companies that obviously have no respect for your privacy, your intelligence and conspire with police/authoritarian forces against you? I will not give ANY cellular company ANY legitimate form of income. When wireless VoIP becomes feasible they are dead, dead in the water and I will laugh and crack a beer. No fone company, cop or spook has any right to know who I call, about what or when even if it's a matter of national security my rights trump theirs. You guys should quit being fucking lemmings! They tell you to pay $4 for a ring tone, I say Bittorrent. Microsoft says "this content requires a DRM licence to play..." and I say Linux. They say that their fone can only be used on our network on our terms and I say "good-bye and fuck off!" When you give these people money they think they can get away with that shit.

Things you can do to help:

1) Plaster notices about how cellular companies violate basic privacy all over their windows at night.

2) Fraud

3) Spam all their gay SMS services telling people their service is about to be turned off for non-payment(make it look like it came from service provider, email spoof).

4) Dump your cola drink all over that ditzy chick on the bus with the annoying 50 Cent ring tone.

5) Tell your friends not to feed bears or corporate fascism!

Cannot install games, pls help

[spiderman999.livejournal.com]

I am using a Nokia 6275i from Virgin Mobile Canada.
I followed Weasel King's instructions on 2007-02-05 and the following one on 2007-02-09. I am now able to set my own mp3 as ringtone! Thank you Weasel King, you are great!!!
However, I still need some help to programme my 6275i so that I can install new games on it. I open Nokia Application Installer and it is saying "No supported phone selected". I can see my phone connected to PC Suite but the program does not allow me to select my phone. Is there something that I can modify the phone using Diego? Would that be something under Java settings?

Re: Cannot install games, pls help

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

... I'm afraid I don't know, actually. Diego should let you modify every setting on the phone, including whatever setting allows or blocks installation of software, but I haven't done that to my own phone, so I can't tell you how it works.

just bought 6275i

[ms-cannabis.livejournal.com]

I just bought a nokia 6275i for virgin mobile at futureshop.

I would like to "unlock" so I can use mp3's as ringtones.. but I am wary of buying the CA-53 usb cable after hearing about jkaluski problem. I e-mailed 5 different sellers on ebay and all say their ca-53 cable is made in china..

Can you please point me in the direction of an ebay seller that you know sells a compatible ca-53 cable?

my msn is noroomfortheyouth@shaw.ca add me if you can help. thank you.

Re: just bought 6275i

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I got that from richard516_lee ; his member
profile's at
http://feedback.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=richard516_lee
, and his Items for Sale is at
http://search.ebay.ca/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZrichard516Q5flee .

It worked perfectly for me, as soon as I plugged it into a modern computer.

(The cable worked but Diego wouldn't work properly on the laptop I tried it on first - P3 800, 240MB RAM. The problem disappeared when I plugged it into my desktop instead.)

Java Applets

[canonjoe.livejournal.com]

I have a 6275i under Sasktel. I used Diego 3.08 to enable mp3s as ringtones. But I am unable to use downloaded java applets, such as games. As well, I am unable to download applications from my phone such as m.opera.com. Always says "application not supported." I have gone through countless hours of reading on HowardForums, but still can't get it figured out.

How do I get java applets, such as games, unlocked on my 6275i? Any help would be very appreciated. Thanks.

Re: Java Applets

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I don't know - I haven't used the java applets on my own phone, so I haven't tried to unlock it that way.

If it's a setting on the phone, Diego should be able to unlock it.

problems

[vettle.livejournal.com]

hello, i just got the connectivity cable but i can't seem to get diego to work properly. Diego runs, but it's not recognizing my phone and so it won't let me do anything (i.e "load all from phone") and all the buttons are inactive. I clicked the "stop sign" button to stop the program from looking for COM1 but it doesn't make any difference. Is there something i'm doing wrong? I'm following all your steps. Thanks

Re: problems

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

My problem was that I couldn't load Diego if the phone wasn't connected and in a specific mode, and that Diego couldn't read the phone while it was in that mode.

My solution was to plug in the phone, tell it to go to Data Storage mode (so it looked, to Windows, like it was a USB memory stick), start Diego, then tell the *phone* to return to normal phone mode. At that point, Diego was able to read the phone.

This SHOULD work, for you. It worked for me, anyway. Can you tell me, step by step, EXACTLY what you're doing? (eg "Plug the phone cable into the phone. Plug the other end of the cable into the PC. The phone beeps and asks me what mode I want, I select Data Storage Mode.") As well, what is the exact model of the phone you have, and what version of Diego do you have, and did you also download the crack for Diego?

I will note that the Bluetooth module I'd installed was causing a problem (too many COM ports for Diego to actually reach the USB one that the phone was one), so I had to uninstall it, first.

diego 3.09 does not display phone settings anymore

[rism007.livejournal.com]

I've had a little trouble but finally managed to get diego 3.09 running. At first it displayed my phone settings but no longer does when I run program again. I also could not find ringtone settings....Any suggestions?

GSM...

[chetankania.livejournal.com]

hey bro..just got the 6275I from solo mobile for $50 no contract...thats all fine, but now i wanna unlock it. so my question is two fold: where abouts in Ottawa are you? i'll be living in Ottawa central around uOttawa in a few months, mind if i stop by and have you unlock the phone? I can bring some beers! Also, you mentioned that:

"of course, if this had been a GSM phone, the solution would have been "pull the SIM card, put the battery in, google the 10 digit code, enter the code, pull the battery, put the SIM card back"

what do you mean by googling the 10 digit code and where would you enter the code and is this (vague) method only for nokia phone or for any gsm phone?

help me!!

[ankabreaka.livejournal.com]

Guys im having a problem can you plz help me out.. i am lost at step 10.. i dont know where to find user settings and ringtones and where it says to allow all ringtones etc plz somene help me!

Re: help me!!

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

That's not step 10, that's step 7.

So.

You've plugged your phone into your computer. You've started Diego. Your computer has seen your phone, and you've hit the lit-up Load All Settings From Phone button.

This should show you a huge list of options, in a tree. One of the items in the tree is User Options. Click the plus beside that, and a sub-tree will open. Find "ringtone settings" in that list (just go through them one at a time until you see it), click it, and the right hand side will tell you what the current setting is.

Change that setting to 0, and click the "save all to phone" button, and you're done.

[drakkenfyre.livejournal.com]

You rock. Thanks!

My little sister just got one of these, and now her cell phone will play "The Logical Song" whenever I call. :D

[enilaj.livejournal.com]

I just bought this phone a few weeks ago (I live in Ottawa) and ordered my USB cable from eBay (some store in Toronto) on Monday. I got it today, and did the hack. I found the hacking info online (probably Howard Forums, which I am a part of), had some setbacks with various things, but eventually it worked. Hopefully they'll make Diego for the Mac soon, because I have to use my family's PC just to modify the capabilities of the phone.

Glad to see you're helping people out :)

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear it worked out for you.

Diego

[shakes-m11.livejournal.com]

Where can i find diego 3.08...I need it badly...somebody please help!