Root Bricked?

[FeanorArran]

I'm not a phone hacker. I want to make calls, receive calls, get my emails, upload my travel pics, gps, and connect to the internet to google/snopes etc. I never intended to hack my phone. Unnecessary. It did everything I needed.

That is, until the old man let the plan with Verizon lapse. Now, all things that do not concern Verizon/does not belong to them have been disabled. No bluetooth, no wireless, no gps. The only thing they did not disable was the GD camera and calendar. Let me be clear- I don't want access to *their* towers or service, I want access to *my* hardware. I paid for it, it's mine.

I tried rooting the phone, but alas, I have no USB option in the HTC boot menu. I tried to set the phone back to factory settings, and now I have no options at all, because it needs to be activated, and cannot access the OS.

It does receive mini sd cards, so that's a plus, but without access to anything useful in the boot menu or the OS, that seems moot.

Did Verizon brick my phone?

 

[scary alien]

I don't think so, FeanorArran...

I've still got my Eris and it's been deactivated from VZW since July 15, 2010 and the wifi, bluetooth, GPS, etc. all work just fine. I can't imagine that VZW could have done anything more than make your cellular radio not be able to make/receive calls.

I do keep mine in airplane mode so that the cell radio doesn't drain the battery (you might have to re-enable wifi after you do this).

There are ways to bypass the setup screen...I'll have to dig-up the thread with this info (I think it involves touching the four corners of the screen in sequence (clockwise?) and I think you can also try to make an emergency call and end it after you start).

edit: here are the threads:

http://androidforums.com/eris-support-troubleshooting/35076-bypass-activation-screen-droid-eris-help.html

http://androidforums.com/eris-support-troubleshooting/179560-need-help-getting-pass-activation.html

http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-eris/429804-using-eris-after-hard-reset-wifi-device-only.html

http://androidforums.com/eris-support-troubleshooting/350723-activating-eris-without-having-3g-service.html#post2887002 (try this first)​

Anyway, there's still a few of us that are still around that might (should) be able to get you going again, but let's take things one at a time--you've provided lots of great info above, which is a great start .

No worries...let me know what you're looking to do next.

Cheers!

 

[Bob Cat]

Both of my Eris's are deactivated and they work just fine too. I don't think Verizon can disable anything but the radio.

 

[doogald]

http://androidforums.com/eris-support-troubleshooting/350723-activating-eris-without-having-3g-service.html#post2887002 (try this first)

I agree with the note to try this procedure first. I have done this several times on my Eris after deactivating it on Verizon and, after three dials (you hang up by pressing the end call button right after the phone connects) it tells you that activations was not possible at this time and asks if you want to proceed with setup by attaching to WiFi.

Good luck and let us know if you run into any more problems.