Help Bricked Desire after changing carriers

[losttherace]

First, this is a friend's problem...one who has no patience or tech savy, thus the problem.

1. Was ATT subscriber with HTC Desire
2. Received her unlock code from ATT
3. Changed service to Consumer Cellular, who sent her a generic SIM.
4. Before the SIM arrived, she d/c'd her ATT service.
5. Supposedly put in CC SIM and had it activated.
6. Came to me because she had the 'SIM not detected'.
I tried all the connection methods but it wouldn't accept the card. She
then went and purchased another generic SIM...
7. Received message 'SIM not detected' and again I tried all the known
connection issues to see if it was not seated, then I thought, oh no!
8. I asked 'DID you UNLOCK your phone?
9. Answer...'no'

Well, I have no idea what to tell her as I use CC and had no trouble going over because I knew what I was doing and my phone is fine. Would inserting a i.e. Verizon SIM help her to unlock it? Or is this bricked, as she has NO ATT service OR CC (as the SIM is unrecognized).

Thanks to all for any help. People who don't know what they're doing shouldn't try..... :stupido2:

 

[Bazcabs]

As you are talking about sim cards you could try the sim unlocker to allow another sim card to be used in a locked to network phone. It can be found here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=943726

The download is in the first post

 

[Hadron]

Well you asked the key question: did she unlock it? Now I don't buy locked phones, so don't have experience with this, but I thought it was supposed to ask for a code if you put the "wrong" SIM in it. But it sounds like that's not happening here.

It's not bricked, because as far as I'm concerned if you can boot into the bootloader (never mind into Android) it's not a brick . This is just a matter of getting the unlock code entered. The thing to remember is that what she's done with her ATT contract is irrelevant - the phone is locked to ATT, so it's just a matter of unlocking, and the handset doesn't know anything about her ATT contract status.

Now the unlock code would be the cleanest solution, but that doesn't seem to be working. I'm kinda hoping that someone else will have an idea for that, because as I say I have no direct experience of this. An alternative would be to try the software unlock for the Desire from XDA-developers: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=943726. There's no problem with the (fatuous) US unlocking laws, because this phone pre-dates that stuff. However, if your friend is as tech-capable as you describe, you'll probably end up having to help her with this.

A Verizon SIM won't help at all - they're a CDMA carrier, and only use SIMs for LTE which the Desire doesn't support. If you want to experiment, I'd suggest trying a T-Mobile SIM (as another US GSM network - I'm a Brit, so can't advise in detail on your network options).

 

[Hadron]

People who don't know what they're doing shouldn't try..... :stupido2:

Now this I do disagree with. If we followed that we'd still be picking berries off trees and not have worked out how to bang flints together. Nothing wrong with pushing beyond your personal envelope

However, where the procedures are known, I agree that you shouldn't just try things regardless unless you are willing to live with the consequences, or work out what you did wrong afterwards

 

[losttherace]

I have her phone today and will try the unlock as suggested. I hope there's a 'how to' in the .rar file. Thank you all. Will let you know if I get anywhere.

ETA: Tried running sim unlock utility and it says 'wrong device, only for HTC Desire or HTC Sensation. Sigh. I'm obviously doing something wrong here...TIA.....

 

[Bazcabs]

I have her phone today and will try the unlock as suggested. I hope there's a 'how to' in the .rar file. Thank you all. Will let you know if I get anywhere.

It's a very long time since I used the software and according to the site, just hook up your phone via cable whilst it's on and run the .exe file if you are going to use windows, sit back and wait for the phone and software to do the rest.

The summer holiday brought me some more time, so I decided to update the tool. The latest version works on Windows, takes ~30 seconds and the rate of success is greatly improved (we'll see about that.. ). Forget about iso and burning. This is still only for Desire (HTC Bravo),though..
Please note! By using the windows version of the app, you ar not required to boot your phone into HBOOT, it will take care of it by itself.

 

[losttherace]

Bazcabs, you missed the most important part of my message

ETA: Tried running sim unlock utility and it says 'wrong device, only for HTC Desire or HTC Sensation. Sigh. I'm obviously doing something wrong here...TIA.....

I thought it'd be easy, too, but it's not...or at least with this phone. In the Device Manager, I see it listed as Android, but the unlock program does not see it.

 

[nicka3200]

Are you in hboot when you try this as per the instructions in the XDA thread?

From off Press & hold volume then press power. If you've got a gingerbread ROM with fast boot up enabled you will need to pull the battery out before you start to make sure it's fully off before you can get to hboot.

 

[losttherace]

Are you in hboot when you try this as per the instructions in the XDA thread?

From off Press & hold volume then press power. If you've got a gingerbread ROM with fast boot up enabled you will need to pull the battery out before you start to make sure it's fully off before you can get to hboot.

Yes I was in HBOOT and even HBOOT USB........this Android is on 2.2.1
Build # 1.84.502.11CL341719
Software # 1.84.502.11

She somehow missed an update, I do not know that it makes a difference.
I have carefully read the instructions, even tried .iso with no luck. As I said,I tried running sim unlock utility and it says 'wrong device, only for HTC Desire or HTC Sensation.

I think she's stuck with a phone that she'll use as a clock, address book and such. She has already purchased a new phone.