Force Flashing Vodafone-Branded Nokia E61

I’ve been rather frustrated with the reluctance of Vodafone UK to release any new firmware upgrades for the Nokia E61. As an American mobile phone user, I had always naively assumed Europe to be the panacea of the latest GSM-based gadgets (and associated firmware) that would take months before arriving State-side–not so with Vodafone. Although I have no knowledge of how other carriers are handling Nokia’s online software updating system, I was due in for a reflash due to various software bugs.

A big thank you goes out to Jeff Cross over at Average Admins for having already done the dirty work to make my wish a reality. I’ll make some comments on his basic instructions below (in italics) and provide screenshots of the process but I’d suggest heading on over to read up the discussion for useful pointers.

Note: This is an unsupported procedure and could leave your phone unusable so take the proper precautions if you choose to follow this tutorial. I cannot be held responsible if anything unexpected happens or if your phone is bricked.

Install the Nokia Software Updater. Select E61 and download the software.
Install the Nemesis Service Suite. The latest version is Beta 1.0.38.7. During the installation pick Virtual USB Device from the Hardware Selection page.
Connect the phone to your machine via the data cable. Plug the charger into the phone.
Now is your chance to perform a FULL BACKUP of the phone using Nokia Content Copier. The only drawback of this method is it saves all the custom settings which I didn’t want lingering around after the flash. In addition to a full backup I copied all the contacts to the memory card directly on the phone for restoration later.
Open Nemesis Service Suite and click on Scan for new device in the upper right section of the application window.
Click on the Phone Info icon.
Click Scan in the middle of the application window.
Enter 0530151 in the Product Code text box. Click the Enable check box. Click Write to change your phone’s product code.
Close the Nemesis Service Suite. Open Nokia Software Update application.

Follow the on-screen instructions and update your phone. It was almost a 44 megabyte download. Leave the phone and computer alone during this process until it completes!
If everything went as expected, then pushing *#0000# on the E61 should return the following information:

3.0633.09.04
20-11-06
RM-89
Nokia E61

Congrats!

You can either restore the earlier complete backup or just the contacts from the memory card. I choose to do the latter. Immediately you’ll notice the icons in the menu have moved around and previous hidden items such as Push-to-Talk and IM have appeared. I reinstalled all of the applications I use and made the necessary customizations within the phone. The phone has been working great but, as always, your mileage may vary.

December 21, 2006 | Filed Under Tech/Gadgets

Comments

40 Responses to “Force Flashing Vodafone-Branded Nokia E61”

scndr on December 23rd, 2006 5:28 am

It’s working with T-mobile branded too!
thx!
Steve Newman on December 26th, 2006 10:02 pm

Dec26 NYC- Help- I have only gotten to point of step 6 or 7 above. All attempts to do “anything” once connected with NSS produce an error message. I have an e61 UK model from vendor MobilePlanet.com. I am stuck on first version of the firmware. Please advise thanks!
Hisham on December 26th, 2006 11:17 pm

I’ll do my best to help out but I need a lot more information. Is your phone connected to the computer? Have you installed the latest drivers via the Nokia PC Suite? What does the NSS error message say exactly?
Steve Newman on December 26th, 2006 11:51 pm

NYC 2:40 am– Of course I had the latest software already available. Sorry, I presumed one would not try to do this without it! But I finished it all a while earlier. I must say it was not a problem IF you follow the few steps in the correct order and disconnect and reconnect and reconnect the USB cable if necessary to help it along and have the handset on PC suite [not data transfer] mode. The main thing was which set code to use and that is stil confusing but it did not create any problem when I used the code on the averageadmons site.[aftter the whole thing was done I went back and changed it anyway to the original code].—- In any case, after changing the code, all went smoothly and I downloaded the whole upgrade on cable modem in about 45 seconds. A few minutes later the upgrade finished and I resarted. Then- - -I did not notice any difference [!] OK, so I restored my data from a backup and had some user settings to redo [like redo serial no. on my Aqua calendar]. Well things may be improved after I give the phone a workout later today. You web illutstation actually helped a lot!—Steve, Brooklyn NY. Later,
Hisham on December 26th, 2006 11:56 pm

Steve, my mistake. I had assumed almost everyone stays in PC Suite mode for a majority of the time when connecting to their desktops. I’m glad it worked out for you. If you can suggest any improvements to the how-to beyond the different handset code, then I think everyone could benefit and I’ll make the necessary additions/changes above.
Kostas on December 27th, 2006 1:43 pm

Very nice tutorial. Does anyone know what product code should I use in the NSS for a Greek Vodafone branded E61, in order to have Greek & English keyboard after the upgrade?
Thanks.
Steve N on December 27th, 2006 9:52 pm

Dec 28 NYC– Hi. Last comment. Is it of any concern that the code I used when I got the steps right was for an “Asian” phone [- Japanese, Chinese I don't know. ---The browser home page became Nokia asia and I changed that!] Anyway it was still set on English tho I coud choose umm whatver the other language was, and the handset was back to its basic confiuration before I restored my data and some settings that do NOT get backed up. So I hope NOIKA does not orphan this phone too fast [I bet they will...] so we can look forward to doing this all over again!
Rob Z on December 30th, 2006 5:07 pm

Hi Hisham.

I was doing a Software update last week when my PC ‘lost connection’ with my E61 for some unknown reason. As expected the phone is now totally useless but still shows the charge signal and time etc. I have tried your technique about but the PC doesn’t event recognised when the E61 is connected via USB and when I try to scan phone info it Nemesis comes up with ’scan for product….error!’ at the lower left corner. Please tell me I don’t to order my next E61 just yet…
Hisham on January 1st, 2007 7:47 am

Rob Z: You might want to jump onto the various Nokia forums online and see if anyone has any tips/techniques to jumpstart your phone. I’m sure someone has an idea.
Thomas B. on January 2nd, 2007 2:11 pm

Hi,

did it successfully with a german branded T-Mobile device. But now the language can only be changed between english an netherlands. Is there a different code to enter for german devices ???
Plz help
chuddy on January 2nd, 2007 7:11 pm

i just want to say thanks for a solid tutorial. i had a keyboard malfunction that nokias latest update caused, fixed it by changing my product code.
thanks again NYC.
elsandalos on January 12th, 2007 10:06 am

Hey great guide - just what i was looking for. I too have a Vodafone Uk e61 - does this process remove the network lock, allowing me to use the phone somewhere other than Vodafone?

thanks
El.
Hisham on January 12th, 2007 10:10 am

@elsandalos: Strange, my Vodafone UK E61 is not network locked. Have you tried other SIMS in your phone? They should work just fine.
elsandalos on January 12th, 2007 10:13 am

Weird - mine is definitely locked. After some heavy Googling i haven’t found any method of unlocking the e61 either for free or for cash.

El.
jokerz on January 16th, 2007 9:00 am

Hell Yeah!!!
Thanx for the info dude!!!
Bas ten Tusscher on January 22nd, 2007 6:21 am

Hi all,
las week I bought a Nokia E61, T-mobile Netherlands branded, with firmware V2. NSU gives me “nothing available” ofcourse, so I found your terrific site. My product code is 0538179 and its a Dutch model ofcourse. Will the keyboard layout and language (Dutch) be correct when I use your “0530151 code” ? I’m still a little bit affaid to use this method….don’t wanna lose it. Hope to hear from you.
Nicky Boy on January 27th, 2007 9:43 am

If i do this update from V1 to V3 on a Vodafone Branded E61, will i lose settings to Vodafone Live / WAP? Really am tempted to give it a go but as i use the internet browser a fair bit, dont want to risk losing the facility.
Boig on January 30th, 2007 1:46 am

Works great with Vodafone Spain branded phones also.

Moltes Gracies!
Yoram on February 7th, 2007 3:11 pm

My attempt to upgrade from v2 to v3 has been a disaster. The poor phone has died and had to be replaced with a new one by the Nokia lab. Its an Orange Israel branded phone with product code 0530757. The devil in me wanted to upgrade again today only to discover the upgrade is not available any more for my product code!
Hussein Jodiyawalla on February 13th, 2007 4:01 am

Excellent. Thanks for freeing my phone from the deadly clutches of the Orange UK E61 Homescreen. The product code 0530151 in your blog should work fine with any E61 that has the UK English keyboard layout. Anybody with a phone with a keyboard that does not exactly match your photo will end up with slightly messed up keybindings.
tuukka120 on February 20th, 2007 9:44 am

NSS wont work. It hang when I scan for phones.
I’ve using n70 and Windows Vista. Maybe this program (or method) is not compatible with vista?
Hisham on February 20th, 2007 9:52 am

tuukka120: I’m a little concerned that you’re attempting to upgrade your Nokia N70 using instructions clearly designated for the E61. I haven’t tried NSS with any other phone or on any other operating system than Windows XP.
Zvuqniki on February 23rd, 2007 4:57 am

I would just like to let you know that I just updated my E61 wich is locked on 3 (a.k.a. “Three” or “Hutchinson 3G UK”) and it went perfectly fine. No problems whatsoever. The only thing that changes is you lose the “Planet 3″ buttons, which you can put them again but you wont have the flashy logo. Otherwise, great
Stargazer on February 26th, 2007 12:57 am

What about Keybindings and (qwertz keyboard) other side effects?

SG
CuriousShade on February 26th, 2007 12:39 pm

Well, after almost losing my mind and screaming that Windows is the devil and the Nokia were deliberately out to destroy me I think it’s working.

I have a Spanish Vodafone branded E61 and whilst I was using the UK Vodafone product code 0530151, I had downloaded the UK Software Updater and it didn’t work; kept failing with a library error.

So I downloaded the Spanish language updater and it seems to be working. It has broken the keyboard bindings but there are only a couple of keys out of position. I can live with that.

Thanks.
Chris on March 11th, 2007 3:02 pm

To: Zvuqniki or anyone with info on the following

Hello Zvuqniki,
I am eager to flash my E61(operator: Three UK), wanted to ask you which product code did you use, did any of the keybindings get messed up, when did you buy your phone (aka which software version it had before the flashing). Also to the rest of you guys some general questions: do you have to have your phone in a particular mode whilst flashing - General, Offline etc.

Any help is much appreciated,

Thanks in advance
Mike C on March 15th, 2007 7:18 pm

Well done Hisham, I successfully reflashed my Aus Voda e61. I found it frustrating going to a Nokia Care Centre, sometimes they had the right sw & most times they didn’t. Spoke to them just before updating & they still couldn’t advise on the current version approved by Voda Aus. Your suggestion saved me heaps of time & a fruitless visit - WELL DONE !
John @ Mobile Phones on March 28th, 2007 3:29 am

Hisham,

Thanks so much for taken the time to do this, I’ve just successfully reflashed my e61.

Thanks
John
Amit Garg on April 2nd, 2007 11:55 am

Hi there,
I have Nokia E61 with software version 2.0618.06.05, 14-07-06, RM-89, Nokia E61
Simlock info( by using * # 9 2 7 0 2 6 8 9 #) :- 000000:01
Product code: 0531060.
Keyboard style as shown in the blog above.
Phone is Vodaphone UK. but there is no logo on the cover ( may be removed as i bought the second hand)
But when i turn on the phone it shows vodaphone logo.

i have not changed the product code through the NSS. I just thought to give it a try directly to NSU, and it showed there the firmware is uptodate but you can reinstall it.
So when i tried to reinstall it it asked for SIM with general profile.

I donot have any vodaphone sim..so when i try to upgrade the firmware i got struck over here see the following link.

http://geocities.com/punjabiputra2000/insertsimcard.JPG

Can you please tell me how should i proceed now??

And whats that 000000:01 simlock info means??

Any help is much appreciated,

Thanks in advance
AKG
hackeron on April 7th, 2007 4:44 pm

I did the update and it all worked, the right firmware shows up when I do *#0000# but I have no IM, no Push-to-Talk and Sip still doesn’t work through GPRS (says WLAN not available). Any ideas??
TebyChagar on April 12th, 2007 7:55 am

Hi everybody.

Somebody knows if you can do a reverse Flashing from version 3 to version 2?

I know, you think this guy is crazy, hehehe, but his happen because I live in Costa Rica, and here our telephone company (only one = monopoly) can connect to her services only version 2, but I made a update directly from Nokia website and they update my E61 phone to version 3.

Can I put the version 2?

Can I crack the number when you do *#0000# and only change this number?

Because I now the version 3 is better that 2, but this company doesn’t accept.

Thank you for your replies…
audioverite on April 14th, 2007 5:35 am

great post and it’s been a MAJOR help so far. i’m in the middle of the flash and my hands are already shaking in anticipation!

for anyone looking for different product codes for their language/version, here is a nice post, which i think someone might have already posted, but still:
Sameet on April 27th, 2007 8:18 am

hi,
I m trying to but an E61 from ebay! This phone has been bought 1 month ago from Vodafone Portugal.
I am in New Jersey, US and would like to use this phone here with T-Mobile!
is there a way to know if this phone will work here in the US with T-mobile sim card or it comes network locked?

Would appreciate a response people!
Termol on May 5th, 2007 8:48 am

Can someone please tell me if T-Mobile branded phones from UK are locked or unlocked ?

Thanks
Kev on May 15th, 2007 6:12 am

This worked a treat, flashed my new Orange E61 and got rid of their horrible start menu.

Thanks
Mic on May 17th, 2007 3:59 am

Hello,
does somebody know the product code to reset a Vodafone E61i (german) to the factory settings?
It could save me around 100,- Euros to pick a Vodafone branded E61i here at ebay and debrand it
cu
wincerely
Wesley Clouden on June 8th, 2007 6:53 pm

If you phone is wacking out
the thing was the make sure you have the power still in when you boot the phone up again.

I the force mode to kick it in and it worked fine.

PS: just Keep holding it also dont keep your mini sd card in there when you boot up Ok.

Cause the former App’s or card makes it Look for the main
Disc to install the firmware on the device.

if you In NYC hit me on my myspace etc on dodgeball.com
google : Wesley Clouden im that eazy to find

Im back in town and I will help with it in person guy’s no biggie

By: Wesley Clouden
Mobile Content producer
Wesley Clouden on June 8th, 2007 6:55 pm

If your phone is wacking out after
the thing was the make sure you have the power still in when you boot the phone up again.

I the force mode to kick it in and it worked fine.

PS: just Keep holding it also dont keep your mini sd card in there when you boot up Ok.

Cause the former App’s or card makes it Look for the main
Disc to install the firmware on the device.

if you In NYC hit me on my myspace etc on dodgeball.com
google : Wesley Clouden Im that eazy to find

Im back in town and I will help with it in person guy’s no biggie

By: Wesley Clouden
Mobile Content producer
hussain on June 10th, 2007 1:06 pm

u have any thing 4 n-gage . my n-gage is restarting frequently .i want some solution . my only option is flashing the mobile . i need software for it.
Davizle on June 14th, 2007 2:22 pm

I just spent the past two hours racking my brains over NSS (Nemesis Service Suite) freezing on me when I instructed it to search for a phone. According to this (http://www.howardforums.com/archive/topic/1168958-1.html) post Nokia’s PC Suite needs to be running.

The Nokia PC Suite for the E61 can be downloaded in US and UK English (US user here) from the following site: http://www.nokiausa.com/support/pcsuite/download.html (just select E62, as there is no E61 option with NokiaUSA). Its size is only 25mb. This means I can ditch the Nokia DVD that accompanied my phone, and not have to contend with software intended for the red coats.

Unfortunately, my unit was purchased in Germany and I’m going to need US English settings and a new US keyboard (sigh).

I can’t believe an E61i existed at the time that I bought this thing! I have 3 marketing books I need to read and here I am commenting on a blog…

Long live the E61!!!

David