Help I just had to factory reset...

[Finn The Human]

Hello. I recently bought an LG Optimus Elite from a buddy of mine when he got a new phone. I was using it to tether with a network bridge to my desktop to play online games. I live in the sticks and my home ISP is Hughesnet, which only works when it wants to, and when it does work, it doesn't work well. After a few days of playing on the net with the tether over 3G I decided I wanted to go ahead and get all his crap applications off and set up my Google account on it.

I did a factory reset and now it won't connect to 3G, just the basic network. He was using it with a no contract plan on Virgin Mobile, and his plan rolls over on the 25th. The number he was using on the Optimus, he is now using on his new phone. Is there anyway to reactivate so I can use the remaining data? I've tried reactivating, connection to the "My Account" page, Airplane mode on/off, nothing works. I really don't know much about the phone, I'm just trying to give as much relevant information as possible.

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[RealFastOne]

If you were using the Elite to tether, the phone was rooted. Doing a factory reset on a rooted Elite will cause it to lose 3G at best and possibly brick it at worst.

Other forum members may be able to walk you through a process to get it running again. Stay tuned...

 

[Finn The Human]

The big thing I'm concerned with is I might end up screwing with his new phone, by trying to reactivate his old one, because he used the same number on both phones. I wouldn't think it was possible to accidentally do this, but I don't know much about these phones, or much to do about the activation process.

I got it to connect to wifi (first few times it wouldn't connect) and I linked my Google account and got into the Play Store. Is this how most would recommend rooting their Elites?

 

[MacFett]

If he moved the number to a new device then the service on the old device is gone. You will need to open your own account with Virgin Mobile and pay for service.

Just be warned that tethering is against their terms of service to which you must agree to activate your device.

 

[Finn The Human]

Right, if you say so. I got it activated, I can't make calls or texts, but I can use data as he still has 40$ leftover on his account.

Thanks anyways.

 

[PilotBob]

Right, if you say so. I got it activated, I can't make calls or texts, but I can use data as he still has 40$ leftover on his account.

Thanks anyways.

I expect you are on WiFi? If he used the switch phone feature on his account then the old phone no longer has service (voice or text or data). The account is tied to a single phone.

BOb