Help Need unlocking advice for Desire HD - I've read other threads

[OM2]

I've got an HTC Desire HD on T-mobile that I need to unlock

I've read some other threads and am confused!

Firstly: do I have to pay or not?
Is there a good free option? Or do you just have to pay?

I read on one of the websites that they provide permanent unlocking codes and not temporary ones - is it really possible to give a temporary one??

Also... someone slated one of the sellers of unlocking codes on ebay - if they were a fraudster, then they'd be checked off eBay really fast - the particular seller is STILL on eBay - so surely they can't be a fake?

Any advice would be great

Thanks

OK

 

[arlrb]

It's true, many phones can be unlocked with a simple code, & you will usually have to pay for these.
I don't know whether the dhd can be.

As far as the ebay thing, read all the other comments left by buyers, score etc.

The other way is to root your phone & install different software. (android OS)
Takes a bit of reading & jiggery poker, but it's free, you get the most out of your phone (can do a lot more than htc let you), & you'll have the latest & greatest android (gingerbread + mods, froyo mods etc).

 

[zildj]

how old is your phone? depending on the carrier, if you unlock your phone or root it, you also lose warranty. make sure to ask that first as you might run into some problems and it might be costly to fix it.

 

[OM2]

thanks for the replies guys

so i can unlock if i root?

i have scan read about rooting
from what i understand, now there are reliable ways to take an 'image backup' of the phone
so... if u do screw it up... u can always put it back to how it was before

but... what if i just wanted to unlcok and do nothing else?
are there free ways of doing this?
or should i just buy? (i don't mind paying

 

[arlrb]

If all you want to do is unlock & use a different sim then go the paid route.

 

[OM2]

i haven't looked into rooting at all
if i did consider...
how much time are we talking about for a complete newbie?

thanks

 

[arlrb]

The actual process is remarkably quick. What takes the time is making sure you've dotted the 'i's & crossed the 't's. (followed the procedure to the word)

If your build is 1.72.xxx.x (2.2.1) or higher, you'll need to downgrade to 1.32.xxx.x (2.2) first. This will then allow you to root as htc disabled rooting in 2.2.1.

The best place to look is xda, there are links in a previous reply a made, 'quick need help' or something like that. (all things root forum)

 

[OM2]

thanks: that's a great reply
i've sold my hd on ebay - but will go for an orange if it seems cheaper as long as i can root

how about backing up the entire image?
if something does go wrong... how reliable are the image restorations programs?