During the troubles with the device lock code, I have also attempted to reset the device with a few known tricks for that. Look for some support forum postings on how to do it. Will not reveal it here, because it requires you to push an impossible combination of three buttons while switching the device on.
After I managed to "break" the N95 interpretation of my device lock code, I noticed that the reset attempt had worked. Note that I was never informed before that the reset attempt had worked. The only thing I saw was the device lock key entry box, nothing else. But the reset had worked.
So, I had to spend another hour to restore a backup I made.
Now, I also had to work my way through the impressive list of Nokia-application that was installed on my laptop when I thought I only installed the PC-suite. After some clueless clicking around, and after the Nokia control centre on my laptop decided it had to install a 25 MB upgrade, I found out that I have to use the "Content Copier" application for restoring a backup. A little sidestep: I remember the good old days when backing up and restoring a mobile device could be done with an application that has at least the word "backup" in its name.
Content copier presents me with a sleek black window design, and informs me that not a single backup can be found. My fault, should have tested this before I could expect it to work. It appears that I have to place the backup files back in the place where Content Copier created it. Then, the "open file" dialogue, with the sleek back design, does not inform me that a backup file was found. After some clueless clicking, it appears to be searching folders instead of looking for individual files.
Restored the backup and found out that a number of actions have to be done manually. The SyncML synchronization with the back office needs to be fooled: otherwise the back office system will think I erased some appointments from the calendar, and will also erase them from the back office system for convenience.
Observations:
- What on earth could be in a 25MB upgrade of a dreadful set of tools that do not work properly, neither before or after the upgrade? I would say that this functionality could fit in an 800K executable...
- Whoever asked for a sleek black user window design, that, without my approval, overrules WIndows Vista window settings?
- Why this poor quality, laptop invading, application maze?
- All in all, the whole pc toolkit looks like the Sony Ericsson P900 stuff I used to have. Except that the SE toolkit had a crystal clear, working backup/restore tool with an understandable name, a self-describing icon and a lean user interface.
So far with the frustrations. Maybe focus on the N95's basic function: making phone calls. Have had no complaints about that anymore, since I switched bluetooth off forever. This also helped to reduce the number of "very hard resets" required...
Since a few weeks, I am the owner of a Nokia N95 8GB.
I managed to configure it to match my preferences, so I decided to give data security a bit more attention. Previously, I switched on the SIM-lock and the device lock functions. The device lock is a code that blocks the device after it has not been used for a given time (or after the user locks it manually).
The device lock code was a bit too simple, so I decided to change it. I made up a code, entered the old code, then the new code, then repeated the new code and the process was complete.
The next time I tried to unlock the device, it reported failure. I was very sure that I had used the correct code. Also the old (simple) code did not work anymore.
After some time, I discovered what went wrong:
- The new code I made up was a series of 6 digits
- The device lock code is a 5-digit code
- Apparently, the phone accepted my 6-digit code (initial entry and check) but did not use all 6 characters
Question remaining is: what did the phone remember from the 6-digit code I entered? Probably 5 digits (as the device lock code is a 5-digit code), but which 5?
After some attempts (after a few mismatches, you'll have to wait 5 minutes between every single attempt), I found out that: "in case you correctly enter a 6-digit code as your new device lock code, the phone uses the first 5 digits you entered". Makes sense, but I tell you I had a hard time before I found this out.
Probably, this "undocumented feature" is related to the way the codes are stored (hashed, hopefully). However, I wish to express my sincere thanks to Nokia for this user interface flaw that cost me a few hours of work. If ony 5 digits are allowed as a code, why allow more? Why not inform the user? Why accept the 6-digit code entered by the user?
And, I am sorry to say that it is not the only issue. The dear N95 requires a hard reset every day. And with a hard reset, I mean that the battery has to be removed and placed back.
[update:] Due to a constant stream of annoying comments asking how the phone's security can be broken, I have decided to switch off comments for this posting. Once and for all: when you don't know the security code anymore, you should go to you reseller or a Nokia representative and prove that you're the rightful owner. Maybe they'll be able to help you. I can and will not help you with this. [end of update]