HTC broke my wifi!

[Guest pignoli]

I've searched forums quite a bit and haven't come across this one yet, so here's what happened:

Desire had a faulty proximity sensor, so I sent it back to HTC under warranty who repaired it. Nice.

But now, when I try to scan for wifi networks, I just get 'unable to scan for networks'. Can't see a thing. Not so nice.

I've tried rebooting in every conceivable way, plus factory resets, all to no avail.

This is an untouched, Orange UK branded Desire.

My google-fu tells me that something similar happens to de-branded Orange Desire handsets that are then updated OTA as it causes some kind of baseband/kernel mismatch which breaks the wifi radio. But I haven't done anything of the sort to my phone, which leads me to believe that it's something to do with whatever they did to it during repair! On some of the documentation for the repair was a note that the latest software version would be loaded onto the phone as part of the repair. The only conclusion I can draw is that the repair centre somehow botched this process.

So, advice anyone? I haven't been able to find a quick fix for this yet.

I see my options as:

Could try sending back to HTC again - god knows what they'd do this time! But this is probably safest...

Orange won't give me another handset without taking out an extortionate 'care plan'.

Could try and get a replacement from the online shop I bought from?

Just give in and root it with Unrevoked. I'm hesitant to do this as it does void the warranty and afaik there's no way to restore my brand/model combo. But I could then load whichever ROMs/radios I like until I find a combination that works. I guess I'd need to buy an unlock code for this too.

[Guest EddyOS]

what FW/radio u running on now?

[Guest squrl]

It's a software problem, should be easily fixable. If it was in hardware, you won't be able even to start WiFi.

[Guest pignoli]

what FW/radio u running on now?

Here's my full software information section:

Firmware Version

2.1-update1

Baseband version

32.30.00.28U_4.05.00.11

Kernel version

2.6.29-3cb3dfbf

Build number

1.15.61.10 CL155070 release-keys

Software number

1.15.61.10

Browser version

Webkit 3.1

I'm guessing that's just the latest that Orange have put out.

[Guest pignoli]

It's a software problem, should be easily fixable. If it was in hardware, you won't be able even to start WiFi.

Yep, that's the thing, I know it's only software because wifi worked perfectly before I sent the phone off! It's just the way that Orange have this thing locked down means I'm not sure if I can do much about it myself, without rooting. I can't flash anything to the phone without root and I'm fairly sure that flashing the correct radio (again, not even sure if it's available for Orange stock?) would probably fix it.

[Guest squrl]

You can flash official RUU updates :angry: Alas, I can't find any Desire Orange ROM :D

If you want to try to flash stock WWE ROM, you'll find it here. Note you'll need a goldcard.

[Guest pignoli]

You can flash official RUU updates :angry: Alas, I can't find any Desire Orange ROM :D

If you want to try to flash stock WWE ROM, you'll find it here. Note you'll need a goldcard.

So basically, I'd need to debrand it. The idea is tempting, but it still breaks warranty. Funnily enough the thread I read before about wifi conking out in the same manner as mine was on an Orange Desire that had been debranded and then had an OTA update install a mis-matched radio on it. See posts by Hatticus in these two:

http://www.talk3g.co.uk/showthread.php?799...-Branding/page2

http://www.talk3g.co.uk/showthread.php?811...re-phone-update

And this thread:

http://android.modaco.com/content/htc-desi...ate-1-21-405-2/

Looks like the solution there was just to reflash the generic ROM. But I shouldn't have to do that as I haven't debranded my phone! This should be a stock phone, with stock functionality. TBH I'm close to just going for rooting it and giving up on official updates. Will get 2.2 faster that way for sure. I'd just like to be able to use wifi without having to go to those lengths is all.