Nokia N73's Turning Into Nice Paper Weights

Recently I've been on a few message boards scanning through the threads and reading about users killing their N73's.  At first I wondered how this could be possible until I myself killed my N73.  EEK!!!!  Now to inform you, there are 2 methods floating around the net on dealing with the N73.  People have been updating their N73's to the music edition by some means of changing the region code on their devices.  All of this for the sake of having the extra themes and added visualizations... but this isn't my case.

I've followed the instructions to the letter by backing up my N73 both to memory card and even doing a backup using PC Suite.  What ended up happening was, I started the Nokia Software Updater application.  It found my device and then searched for updated firmware which is also found.  During the update process you are not to touch the phone or data cable, so I conveniently placed mine on the side of my laptop and didn't touch it.  When the update came close to the end of finishing, the NSU application just restarted from the beginning.  When I looked at the N73 it was off.  I knew it couldn't be the battery so I disconnected it from my laptop and tried to power it on.... nothing.

So where does this problem stem from?  I'm not quite sure and as of yet I still don't have an answer... but I am starting to think that maybe updating the firmware shouldn't be left in the hands of the consumer.  Sometimes its like taking a chance especially since you cannot downgrade.  Its hard to determine whether its the NSU or something else. 

What ends up happening is that consumers end up paying $40 to send their phones out to a hopefully reputable company to get re flashed to change its status from nice looking paperweight back to a functioning device.  I don't blame anyone here, but my current mood in this case is AAARRRGGGGGHHHH!

Edit:  I just wanted to reiterate that my mishap was not caused by me trying to update my N73 to Music Edition firmware.  As someone commented on another article here I think I might have disconnected the phone before the process was actually completed.

Comments

[Jeb]

Sorry to hear about your phone.

[Darla]

Aww thank you Jeb. :)

[Tommi Vilkamo]

Although this doesn't help you much, I'm really sorry about what happened to you.

> maybe updating the firmware shouldn't be left in the hands of the consumer

Maybe you are right. However, I still hope that DIY firmware updates are the way forward.

*Sigh*

[Ax]

Nokia just released a new firmware updater V1.1.45, hopefuly this one will be more stable.

[DASH]

I have just killed mine also in the same way you did yours. I think the NSU is to blame here. I now am phoning up shops to get the problem resolved, but since mine was bought off fleebay they might not touch it. Wells hers hoping..

[the_gooze!]

Hi!

I just updated to the N73 Music Edition and had a few problems when I reinstalled the back up. The two soft keys had no details below them and would not do anything. The "Settings" icon said "Can't open, updating!" and the joystick wouldn't open anything either.

So I have reinstalled the ME update and have left the back up on the PC. Guess I'll have to import all my contacts again and buy the games that are now sitting and decaying the 'puter!

[mark]

the exact same thing happened to my 6630, the update was about to end when all of a sudden it just restarted...died and I ended up with a paperweight. Now i got a n73. i got no plans of updating it through NSU. sorry about ur phone darla...well theres always the upcoming N95 :)

[name]

You might have disconnected the handset from the computer before the flash finished? If so then this case is a no-brainer.

[lx]

During update phone is turned off by NSU, to complete installation.

[new age]

just spent several hours trying to update software on my n73 black, which i ordered thinking it was the music edition but sadly was just an n73 with black housing. bumped into a site that tells how to upgrade the software so i took the chance. works perfectomondo now with the music firmware. just make sure you download the updater before you start the product code change. if not the computer disconnects ur handset if you download any nokia sofware while its connected. And as for the phone restarting, i realised that the lights fade gradually then phone switches off when the update nears completion, my guess is thats normal as it happened to me with only positive results

[dave]

I think u shouldnt have messed and waited for the phone to reboot completely, you interuppted the firmware update

[superneminator]

i am from serbia and i am trying to find a way to change my 6630 to music edition. if someone know how please send me instructions on my e-mail:
superneminator@yahoo.com. I use yahoo messenger and my nick is superneminator so you can reach me that way. THX

[adrian]

Hy there right here is the score i did this to my phone some time when you looked at the phone and saw it was of it might have looked like it was off completely but believe me IT WASN`T the updater puts the phone into a sort of sleep mode where by the power apears to be of but the software still has access to the hardware. when i did mine i checked it after half an hour or so and like yours it looked dead but i leaftit went away and watched tv and after another 15 minutes or so i heard the nokia start up tune and low and behold i had a brand new music edition

[VetDuarte]

As Darla, I did it all by the book. Like Darla, I ended up with a less-than-a-week-old dead phone. In my case, a N95. Nice, huh?
There IS something wrong with the NSU. I don't know if it is the software, or the PC you run it into, or the way NSU relates to one's PC and it's content, and I guess Nokia has no idea, either.
So, this thing does not generates a log or anything, so we will never learn from previous deaths. Again, nice, heh?
So, now my nice and new and very dead phone is away, going to another city since we have nobody here with a flash box to bring Lazarus back to life. Nice just doesn't stop!

[olrayt]

makes me think real hard before updating my 6630...

[jordan]

i hav dun this only because I brought an N73 online and it said it was the black ME edition and it was not so insted of sueing and all the expensive legal action I did a search on the NOKIA n73ME and that came up so I thought I try it and take a gamble.... and it works fine you have to realise that the whole proces sof the update takes around 20min and for 10min the screen is off then the phone comes back on with no changes then u turn it off and on again and you have the stave and waveform themes and the loudness and stereo widening audio options also visualizastions and the music player new look. I am only 15 years old but a wise man once said 'Time will heal all of lifes wounds' or 'Patience is the key to success' bare those in mind

[mustang]

hie darla, guys..
ok.. i am sitting on the system this very moment , my mob connected to the system.. just moments before clicking and changing my n73 to music edition..
and i read say.......... 100 comments by now!!!
what do i do!!! egad!! some say its fine.. some say no its a disaster!!

factory output for me seems good.. i havent got issues with my n73 yet.. purchased in jan 06.. so far i got the prob of dialing 5-6 times only (whn i click call.. it doesnt call.. have to restart phone to call)
that too it appeared only after i had my 1gb mmc almost filled ,and was using lots of 3rd party softwares..

the system is slow..but i can be more patient.
like i flick the camera..and it takes just about enough time for that very special moment to be captured, to just fade out!!
but thn its still ok with me..

i am happy with my phone.. i know its a limited fone.
i dont want a lot of possibilities in it.

i just want to update for something new ..not to stop any persisting prob.

so in the end.. i want to ask darla.. shud i?? shud i not??
i think i can give it to the nokia ppl here in middle east..and they wl do it for me.. hassle free.. just wl cost say.. 10 dollars.. and even if not here.. in india i am sure to get it..

but is the whole process of updating stable?
i mean there are guys saying its fine.. but is it long term?? NONE OF THE possitive COMMENTS I HAVE READ are of from a duration loong enough to test it completely..

if a default verson can have small probs in a span of 3-4 months.. i am worried maybe doing this wl create lot of prob for my n73 in fuure. plz advice.

[chriss]

do u know where can I find nokia N 73 for a cheap cheap price I heard in taiwan people sell those nokias
anyway i HAVE ONE N73 japanese but I want to change the language to spanish can I do that?_

I hope u can help me out
thanks again

[Arbind Gupta]

I want to watch Live .T.v. Please send me Live T.V. Software for my Nokia N73

[maza]

i did this updating my n73 the and its easy to fix just plug it back in and start up the nokia updater(evan with no life in the phone)and it sorts it out.....persanly i think the phone is ment to swith off by itself when you update it cheerioo:)

[nick]

no it isnt the NSU fault this has also happened to my e65 for no reason I simply just turned it off and when i turned it back on there was nothing it is a manufacturer's glitch and nokia should hopefully solve this problem in new releases to come. Luckily however my mobile provider replaced my e65 as it was covered in the warranty

[The Man]

Isn't there a MASSIVE, CLEAR warning to NOT disconnect your phone during the update process.

You did. It broke your phone. Its not nokia's fault you didn't listen to the warning.

End of story.

[aj2m]

i've updated the n73 to the music edition, it works great for the 6630 the procedure is the same but you must use this code 0529304 however use always a Fully Charged Battery don't try the update with a battery half empty... if you broke the phone with a fully charged battery try an hard reset *+3+green+on with my 6600 worked

[vene]

that was my problem. my phone [n73] restarted and turned to paper weight. hmm. before anything else, does my phone "HAVE" chances for me to use it again? :] or i'll just buy for a new one???? pls. reply. huhuhu :'[ i need assistance. pls. pls. give me some pieces of advice. i'm begging you. tnx. :'[

[Ben]

I don't think you can just blame the user. Just because it says "Do not disconnect" doesn't mean that other factors might contribute. For instance a dodgy cable, power loss etc. In which case I do think Nokia should be held responsible. There are plenty of other phone manufacturer's who accommodate for this by having fail safes. For instant many phones, SE, Blackberry have kind of "Boot sectors" or recovery modes that let them reflash in the event of bad firmware. Don't Nokia do this?

[LyN15]

u know, i also had that problem. lyk wat u xperienced, mine started from the beginning but i just ignored it. i thought there was a problem, i was tempted to disconnect my fone because it turned off but i decided to wait for the updater to stop for itself. i nver disconnected my fone until d updater itself give up.haha luckily, i realized that it was part of the process. gud thing i became patient.u shudve been patient as well..=)

[Lyn15]

i almost forgot. d firmware updater is safe. the fone really becomes dead and the bar really starts from the beginning.all we need is patience. never EVER disconnect the fone unless the updater itself stopped. and nver blame d software too.=)

[Oscar]

It's happens the same to my I tough the phone was off and I disconnected it and now just don't turn on ,, how we can fix the phon???

dos any one know how???

[JOHN RIDING]

Just bought N73 off ebay 100% seller it was ok for the first 30 minutes and suddenly commenced beeping and flicking through the screen on it's own like invisible man was operating it.I believe it is the small silver stick that is somehow sticking and wonder if anyone has any ideas of how to fix it?

[Xzander]

N73s have a nasty habit of resetting themselves in the middle of user activities for no known reason. Mine isn't the only one that I know to have done so.

If it does this during a firmwire update, it will get as far as its sudden power-down and it will have nothing telling it how to power up again, as the firmwire is not available.

A possible explanation for your unfortunate situation, with which I deeply sympathise.