Just got my K750i. please advise..

[clever.j]

Hello all..

After much research and asking... i've decided to take a plunge in the SE band wagon... and got a K750i....


I have a black K750i, Made in Malaysia unit with firmware

R1L002 prgCXC125954_CHINA_CL


It is an OPEN LINE unit, and is BRANDLESS, and no ties to anything like O2, Vodafone, etc etc or anything similar here in the Philippines...

so far so good... im loving it.. it's slick!! :) except for the fact that i got my first lock up 3 hours after i first started using it. :( (i was just browsing through my snapshots).. only thing i could do was remove the battery.. :(

Also I wanted to immediately upgrade my firmware to the LATEST EUROPEAN version that fixes known problems, not to mention the annoying single character phonebook search function on chinese versions of the firmware. .. like suggested here, I asked the store to upgrade it for me. they said they will ofcourse, but they will be using CHINESE VERSION still... i insisted that they use european version.. they said that they dont have it, nor will the phone accept it.. they claim that european version software of the K750i wont work, and might mess up the phone.. WTF? This true? Did lots of research and there was no mention of K750i units being restricted to certain firmwares..

They also said that if I try to upgrade the software, it voids


Anyway, to some up my questions..


1) what causes lockups anyway? (software? hardware?) and will firmware update fix it?

2) Is it true that some ASIAN MADE phones will not work with European version firmware?

3) I was told that i will void my 1 year parts,service, and software warranty if i try to update the firmware myself.. HOW COME?? When the SE website itself encourages the END USERS to do their own sofware updates?!

4) I luckily have one of those units where I can put the camera shutter on SILENT MODE... no sounds.. :D is this hardware/unit related or firmware? Could it be that chinese version firmware does let you turn the sound off? Seen lots of debates re this issue.. no theory seem to be conclusive.

5) When deleting something from the cam using my computer via bluetooth, the phone prompts for confirmation every file my computer deletes from it.. how do i turn it off?



ANy advise is much appreciated.. :) thank you.

So far the phone is fantastic.. cant wait to get this firmware thing done though.. hoping it improves the phone's speed and speaker, and even the phonebook..

as a nokia user all my life, there's quite a familiarization curve up ahead here.. lol.. but it's all good.. nothing i can't get used to.


Cleve J
proud new owner of a SE K750i

[Arne Anka]

2) Is it true that some ASIAN MADE phones will not work with European version firmware?


It will probably work as will W800 FW on K750. But SE does not allow it and may invalid your warrenty. Service centers only do updates that SE allows them to do.


3) I was told that i will void my 1 year parts,service, and software warranty if i try to update the firmware myself.. HOW COME?? When the SE website itself encourages the END USERS to do their own sofware updates?!


The warranty only applies to FW updates specifically made for your phone region and branding. If you update your phone with other type of FW your warrenty becomes invalid. Updating FW through SE update service guarantees its done in correct way (SE has no knowledge about your skills in this area) with correct FW (you can not use SE update service e.g. to unbrand your K750 or install FW made for another region).

If you are not worried about your warranty, you can use a tool like Davinci (I think its called) to update your K750 with whatever FW version you want (do asearch on http://www.esato.com/board).

[difenbaker]

congrats!

Hello all..

After much research and asking... i've decided to take a plunge in the SE band wagon... and got a K750i....


I have a black K750i, Made in Malaysia unit with firmware

R1L002 prgCXC125954_CHINA_CL


It is an OPEN LINE unit, and is BRANDLESS, and no ties to anything like O2, Vodafone, etc etc or anything similar here in the Philippines...

so far so good... im loving it.. it's slick!! :) except for the fact that i got my first lock up 3 hours after i first started using it. :( (i was just browsing through my snapshots).. only thing i could do was remove the battery.. :(

Also I wanted to immediately upgrade my firmware to the LATEST EUROPEAN version that fixes known problems, not to mention the annoying single character phonebook search function on chinese versions of the firmware. .. like suggested here, I asked the store to upgrade it for me. they said they will ofcourse, but they will be using CHINESE VERSION still... i insisted that they use european version.. they said that they dont have it, nor will the phone accept it.. they claim that european version software of the K750i wont work, and might mess up the phone.. WTF? This true? Did lots of research and there was no mention of K750i units being restricted to certain firmwares..

They also said that if I try to upgrade the software, it voids

The personnel in that store probably dont know that about davinci, or the differences in software, or how to do it - that's why they said that.

yup, flashing voids the warranty - as was mentioned in the other thread.


1) what causes lockups anyway? (software? hardware?) and will firmware update fix it?

2) Is it true that some ASIAN MADE phones will not work with European version firmware?

1. If the everything else on the hardware is right, then it's probably buggy software. Try to upgrade to the very latest version - maybe that'll solve the hangings/freezes.

2. not true - I've seen a number of k750's upgraded to euro (so they'd have that multi-character search)... and they're working fine.

3) I was told that i will void my 1 year parts,service, and software warranty if i try to update the firmware myself.. HOW COME?? When the SE website itself encourages the END USERS to do their own sofware updates?!

Most of the policies in stores there in the phil say the same thing. Apparently when they made that policy - they didn't take into consideration the fact that some phones are 'user-upgradable". They're just protecting themselves from 'mistakes in upgrading' made by the customers.

4) I luckily have one of those units where I can put the camera shutter on SILENT MODE... no sounds.. :D is this hardware/unit related or firmware? Could it be that chinese version firmware does let you turn the sound off? Seen lots of debates re this issue.. no theory seem to be conclusive.

It's a software issue. My friend's phone (also a china unit) cant turn off the shutter sound. I think it depends on what version you have?

5) When deleting something from the cam using my computer via bluetooth, the phone prompts for confirmation every file my computer deletes from it.. how do i turn it off?

I dont think you can.

ANy advise is much appreciated.. :) thank you.

So far the phone is fantastic.. cant wait to get this firmware thing done though.. hoping it improves the phone's speed and speaker, and even the phonebook.....as a nokia user all my life, there's quite a familiarization curve up ahead here.. lol.. but it's all good.. nothing i can't get used to.

Cleve J
proud new owner of a SE K750i

Good luck on the upgrade.

About the phone's speed - well, I had mine "tweaked" with all the tips and latest software versions before.... still, I found it slow.

But everyone's preference for speed is different - if you can live with it, then good for you.


cheers!

[carcomptoy]

I thought you could do firmware upgrades yourself with SE phones?

heh I would upgrade the K750i to W800i specs...offline mode is well worth it!:p

[brad]

www.davinciteam.com for the flashing software. Your Chinese version WILL run European firmware, as long as you follow the instrunctions from Davinci - I have personally done this myself. I am using R1N EU_1 firmware (available through Davinci) and if my phone is on silent, the camera shutter will not sound.

And as for the Blutooth confirmations, you can try going to Settings > Connectivity > Bluetooth > My Devices, then highlight your computer in the list and go to More > Allow Connection.

[clever.j]

thanks guys.

some further clarifications if you will

1) How safe is firmware upgrading is anyway?? Is it possible to render the phone DEAD without cure (aside from taking it into the SE service center) by just messing with its firmware?

2) I'd like to maintain warranty to its fullest really.. i paid extra for its 1 year warranty on EVERYTHING (as most shops here sell k750i much cheaper but only offer service warranty). So, if ever i completely mess it up, or if i have to go in and claim warranty, it's EASY to restore/reinstall the old firmware, or chinese version firmware using davinci right?? ANd that SE will never know?

3) If i attempt to update to european version via the SE website, will it detect my phone to be asian version and not let me update?

4) And about Davinci, yes i've read around the board about this. im still confused though.. some people say it doesnt cost anything to use davinci, and some say they had to spend? what's the real story?

I plan to update my phone to latest china version first... and see how it fairs with that update.. then later perhaps jump to european if i get fed up with the phonebook limitation..

Clever J

[Arne Anka]

1) How safe is firmware upgrading is anyway?? Is it possible to render the phone DEAD without cure (aside from taking it into the SE service center) by just messing with its firmware?


Everything is possible. That's why the warranty only applies as long as you do the updates through SE update service or SE center only.


3) If i attempt to update to european version via the SE website, will it detect my phone to be asian version and not let me update?


If the original FW was Asian, then that's the only version of FW that can be installed through SE update service, even if you did the update to the EU version with Davinci.

[brad]

Everything is possible. That's why the warranty only applies as long as you do the updates through SE update service or SE center only.It would be EXTREAMLY difficult to kill your phone with Davinci. If the upgrade doesn't work, then you can just do it again. It is writting directly to the phone's memory. When you connect your phone to use Davinci, you need to hold down the C key on the handset, which boots it into the phone's debug mode - Davinci never touches this, so it will always be available.If the original FW was Asian, then that's the only version of FW that can be installed through SE update service, even if you did the update to the EU version with Davinci.Wrong. If you update your firmware to EU version, SE update service will update you with the latest EU firmware, not back to the Chinese version. SEUS looks at the firmware that is currently on your phone, so as far as it can see you are using a full EU handset - I know this from experiance.

@clever.j: It would depend on what part of the phone breaks. For example, if your keypad dies and you can't hold down the C key on the phone as described above, you won't be able to update the firmware. And the Davinci software is free, but every time you use it you need to pay (if that makes sense). It will cost you 10EURO every time you flash your phone.

[clever.j]

@brad
It would depend on what part of the phone breaks. For example, if your keypad dies and you can't hold down the C key on the phone as described above, you won't be able to update the firmware. And the Davinci software is free, but every time you use it you need to pay (if that makes sense). It will cost you 10EURO every time you flash your phone.
hmm.. keys breaking means hardware breaking right? im talking about purely software based crap up.. like really mess up the software?

also i'd like to try davinci, but cant really afford to right now. so will it make anydifference if I just go use SEUS and update my phone to LATEST china version, or even UK version? (i have open line, unbranded phone).. if i mess it up using SEUS can i still fix using DAvinci? i assume i could since Davinci seems to be a low level flashing tool.

Wrong. If you update your firmware to EU version, SE update service will update you with the latest EU firmware, not back to the Chinese version. SEUS looks at the firmware that is currently on your phone, so as far as it can see you are using a full EU handset - I know this from experiance.
umm.. but mine is not an EU handset.. it's an asian unit made in malaysia with chinese version firmware.. :( does that make a difference?

also would like to bring your attention the following question:

2) I'd like to maintain warranty to its fullest really.. i paid extra for its 1 year warranty on EVERYTHING (as most shops here sell k750i much cheaper but only offer service warranty). So, if ever i completely mess it up, or if i have to go in and claim warranty, it's EASY to restore/reinstall the old firmware, or chinese version firmware using davinci right?? ANd that SE will never know?

thanks guys.. you're all very helpful

[difenbaker]

also would like to bring your attention the following question:

2) I'd like to maintain warranty to its fullest really.. i paid extra for its 1 year warranty on EVERYTHING (as most shops here sell k750i much cheaper but only offer service warranty). So, if ever i completely mess it up, or if i have to go in and claim warranty, it's EASY to restore/reinstall the old firmware, or chinese version firmware using davinci right?? ANd that SE will never know?

thanks guys.. you're all very helpful

hi there,

um, I'd just to say that Semicon, Hello, MemoXpress and the other authorized dealers there have the means to know WHEN the phone was flashed. It's usually in the engineering menu... which they might look at when you give them your phone for servicing.

some people I know used to do this trick, of locking back their phones, in order to get some warrantied and free service, hehehe... BUT locking and flashing are two different things. The latter is more trickier to hide than the former.

so if you're going to have it flashed (by yourself or by someone) - try to go to the engineering menu and change the date of the software flash. So when you bring it back to your dealer - they wont notice what you did.

cheers!

[brad]

@clever.j - Just to get this straight, SEUS updates your handset to the latest revision of whatever firmware version you are currently running, you are running an Asian version at the moment, so SEUS would only update you to a newer Asian version. You cannot use SEUS to update to another region firmware.

@difenbaker - SE service centers do not use the flash date as an indicator anymore, as anyone can flash their phone with SEUS (with the condition above).

And finally, back @clever.j - For a start, you can't really mess up your software in normal use, but if you did, flashing it will probably fix it anyway. If you need to take it to a service center and you flash it back to your region firmware, they have no way to tell that it has been flashed to something different.

[clever.j]

thanks brad and difenbaker

i was going around the SE website.. i wish they'd put up their change logs so i can see what's improved..

im now thinking of just sticking with the CHINESE version so that i still have the option to turn off sound when using camera (via SILENT MODE).. but how can i tell what the latest chinese firmware is and if it fixes/imrpoves the known k750i issues like, speed, loudspeaker, bluetooth problems, etc etc.

perhaps i'll Flash tonite. hmm..

[brad]

As I said above, I run EU firmware and when in silent mode, there is no camera sound.

To check your firmware version, from the standby screen use the joystick and * key to enter > * < < * < * (with the arrows being directions on the joystick). That will take you to the service menu, from there go to Service Info > Software Info. You firmware version is the first line, and towards the end of the second line will have what region your phone is from - for example, mine is R1N035, and EU_1.

[clever.j]

As I said above, I run EU firmware and when in silent mode, there is no camera sound.

oh yah. right.. hmm.. strange then. could it be hardware related this issue is? what exact firmware are you running on your k750i?

To check your firmware version, from the standby screen use the joystick and * key to enter > * < < * < * (with the arrows being directions on the joystick). That will take you to the service menu, from there go to Service Info > Software Info. You firmware version is the first line, and towards the end of the second line will have what region your phone is from - for example, mine is R1N035, and EU_1.

thanks have done this already..also using float's mobile agent reveals my firmware:

R1L002 prgCXC125954_CHINA_CL

hmm.. since you're EU version still has the option to turn off camera sound. i might as well go for your version.. then again.. i'll be needing to use davincci.. no cash for that right now..

is the phonebook thing the only difference between the chinese and eu versions?

How bout fixes and improvements?

[difenbaker]

@difenbaker - SE service centers do not use the flash date as an indicator anymore, as anyone can flash their phone with SEUS (with the condition above).

And finally, back @clever.j - For a start, you can't really mess up your software in normal use, but if you did, flashing it will probably fix it anyway. If you need to take it to a service center and you flash it back to your region firmware, they have no way to tell that it has been flashed to something different.

Really? Not so in this case I guess...

A girl friend of mine tried to have her k700 flashed to euro (from asian)... something went wrong, and she ended up with a messed up phone. (wont start sometimes, wont sound off sometimes, hangs sometimes). So she went to the shop she bought it from, it was only 3 weeks old, so she tried to get free warrantied service. The technician took the phone and went out back. After a few minutes he came out again - told her that the flash date is different from the recorded flash date of her purchase. So as such - they wont fix it for free, coz the mistake (or rather the "tampering" of the phone) was made by the user not the shop.

In the end, she did have her phone fixed, but she had to pay for the service. The supposed "warranty" was voided.

.............

Maybe she got a raw deal, or maybe she was dupped, or maybe SE's warranty rules are different from country to country or shop to shop... but that's what happend.


cheers!

[brad]

@difenbaker - Did she return the firmware to Asian spec before she took it into the service center? Its just strange that they would do that, as SEUS modifies the flashing time on the phone, but doesn't void your warranty. Curious...

[difenbaker]

Its just strange that they would do that, as SEUS modifies the flashing time on the phone, but doesn't void your warranty. Curious...

exactly. When the shop found out that the flashing time was different - they regarded the phone as being 'tampered with'. (which automatically voided the warranty)

@clever.j: hi there, my suggestion is for you to have that shop do it themselves. That way if they mess it up - it's their fault, not yours.

cheers!

[clever.j]

@clever.j: hi there, my suggestion is for you to have that shop do it themselves. That way if they mess it up - it's their fault, not yours.

funny you should mention that.. i actually made it clear to the store (SEMICON) BEFORE BUYING the phone that if i update the software myself and mess it up, would it void warranty or not? they said it would void it.. then i debated with them stating WHY? When Sonny Ericsson's website itself ENCOURAGES end users to update their phones via the tools they provide to keep their phone updated with latest software for it.. I told them they're not making sense.. Finally they cracked and said,

"well as long as you dont TAMPER with the hardware, remove the warranty seal, and mishandle the product (drop, get wet, etc), then it's ok.. "

so I made it clear again to avoid confusions.. surely they said (now) that i can update my software myself... as long as i dont "mishandle" it.. mishandled being defined as physically harming it.. software not included.

That's when i bought the phone.. I would ask them to update it for me but believe it or not, they said they didnt have the latest firmware yet. i said what? it's on the website?!.. "yes but that is still buggy sir.. we are waiting for SE to provide us with official firmware", the tech dept said..

bottom line i dont think the official places around here are informed well of these things.. all they do is sell and fix if there is something broken.. :( so boohoo..

@Brad
I'd like to repeat my question if you dont mind..

thanks have done this already..also using float's mobile agent reveals my firmware:

R1L002 prgCXC125954_CHINA_CL

hmm.. since you're EU version still has the option to turn off camera sound. i might as well go for your version.. then again.. i'll be needing to use davincci.. no cash for that right now..

is the phonebook thing the only difference between the chinese and eu versions?

How bout fixes and improvements?

thanks!!

[brad]

Fixes and improvements usually go around all the regions. The phonebook and languages of the installed games are the only noticable differences, though I have heard that the video quality on the EU firmware is better, though it does produce slightly bigger file sizes.

The multi-character phone book searching was reason enough for me to flash to the EU firmware (plus I'm in Australia anyway, so it makes sense).

[clever.j]

i see.. well, you EU firmware right now is best choice for me i because as you claim, it has the SILENT MODE for cam, and it also improves the phonebook! :D

umm.. what exact version are you using then?

also, what would happen if i go to sonyericsson.com/support/ and select the EUROPE region, and from there do the updates?

[brad]

As I said before, R1N035 in EU_1 region.

SEUS is in the Global SE support site, it doesn't matter what region you go to first. SEUS reads the region off your phone before doing any update.

[clever.j]

As I said before, R1N035 in EU_1 region.
??? i must have missed it.. sorry..

anyway, thank you all for your helps and comments!!!

[difenbaker]

.. Finally they cracked and said,

"well as long as you dont TAMPER with the hardware, remove the warranty seal, and mishandle the product (drop, get wet, etc), then it's ok.. "

so I made it clear again to avoid confusions.. surely they said (now) that i can update my software myself... as long as i dont "mishandle" it.. mishandled being defined as physically harming it.. software not included.

That's when i bought the phone..

yikes! That's an unfortunate coincidence.... coz that's the exact same store where my friend bought hers. Yup, she was told the same thing... that "it's okay to upgrade", blah blah blah...

anyway, lostsa luck with the upgrade... hope everything goes well.


cheers!

[clever.j]

yaiks ineed! lol

well, i plan to Davinci it back to china firmware before bringin it it for any warranty..

im sure that uf the case was me "upgraded" it myself with china firmware via SEUS, im sure i have a strong case against them if they dont honor warranty.. as they can not deny it due tot he fact that:

1) I have a witness with me during that time of dicussion
2) The SE website itself encourages end users to use SEUS


perhaps your friend should point out that there is NOTHING in the SE website that dictates against software upgrading so long as the procedure follows their instructions and uses their tools..