ElekSen Keyboard

[Guest thodges]

I have written on this subject previously, but for some reason my mail was

not posted.

I have an SPV from Orange France, and an ElekSen keyboard, which I purchased

from Orange in the UK. Subsequently, I and many others have established the

fact that the ElekSen driver for the keyboard will not work with the French

version of the SPV.

I have exchanged several mail with ElekSen, and they tell me that I need to

get a copy of ROM version 1.3.7.0. or higher (on a SD card) and then copy

this to my mobile (see text hereunder). The problem is, I have no contacts

with the 1.3.7.0. ROM version. Can anybody be of help with this ?

"I'm afraid that the driver will only work with a ROM image of 1.3.7.0 or

above.

My suggestion would be to find someone with an image of 1.3.7.0 or above,

copy it onto an SD card and then copy it to your phone.

If you manage to get the image on then the driver you have will work. I'm

sorry I cannot be more help. It's just unfortunate that the way Orange have

set up their phones is inflexible.

You can take a full image of your phone onto an SD card. Get someone with

the right ROM version to make you an SD card image. Apply this image to your

phone. Apply the IPSM from your original phone image over the new image on

your phone. Restart the phone..."

[Guest Jedi]

Hi thodges,

The Rom update can be put on your SD card at any Orange Phone Store free of charge for all Orange Contract Customers.

You can also download it from the Orange website choosing your phone as the SPV.

The keyboard driver can still be downloaded from the Orange Update once you have updated the Rom version.

A little secret for you;

The SPV and SPV E100 run the same software so both will have the same errors. The only difference is the original language or the SPV E100 in this case French.

Orange is owned by French Telecom so they should have sorted this out promptly for you.

Jedi

[Guest thodges]

Thanks for your comments, much appreciated. However, I think there is some confusion here. I believe the ROM update you are speaking of, is the one from Orange Update in the UK. This site cannot be accessed by me, as I have the French phone. By the way, the French version of Orange Update does not work (it simply says on a permanent basis, that the server is not responding). As I understand matters, Orange in France have yet to put there update site into service.

I have a copy of the last ROM update from Orange UK (obtained via MoDaCo), but this cannot be installed fully into my phone, because I do not have a compatible existing ROM version. When you are talking of a ROM version being avilable from Orange UK at any Orange shop or via the Orange UK website, I think you are talking of the last Orange ROM update, which had the keyboard driver included. Unfortunately, as I say, I cannot install this, because I need a compatible UK ROM version to begin with.

I believe what ElekSen are telling me, is to get a mirror copy of the ROM version needed, and then install this in replacement of my existing ROM version (although I'm not quite sure on the procedure for doing this). I think I'm correct in saying that Orange UK (either from an Orange shop or Orange UK website) cannot provide me a mirror copy of the ROM version, but only the aforementioned ROM update. If I am correct in my understanding, then I still need a source for a mirror version of the ROM version that I require.

As regard Orange, naturally I'm fully aware that they are owned by France Telecom, but Orange UK informed me via e-mail that they had no way of assisting me with this problem and Orange France is not even worth discussing. There is "zero" after-sales service for the SPV at Orange France. Most of the customer service people you speak with don't even know what you are talking about !

Any further comments or suggestion that you may be able to add, that can help me with resolve this problem would be greatly appreciated. As you might imagine, it's very frustrating having purchased the keyboard, only to find it cannot be used because there is no compatible driver available. It's even more amusing to note that ElekSen have said they have the ROM version I require on file, but cannot supply me with it, because Orange provided it to them on a confidential basis.

What is all this nonsense I ask myself ?

Thanks again for any additional assistance that can be given.

[Guest Jedi]

Hi Thodges,

I fully understand.

So you need either the Mirror copy of the ROM or a French Keyboard Driver.

Would the French ROM from the Microsoft Smartphone web site be a Mirror or the French ROM from the Orange Up date site?

Try calling the MicroSoft Data Support line on +448706010100 and ask them for a url where you can download a mirror version or a way forward on this issue.

I know that ElekSen can not provide any drivers as they are restricted by the Orange Copyright cos Orange have total distribution of the drivers, and the drivers can not be found anywhere else to down load.

Hopefully a French driver is available and Microsoft may be able to point you in the right direction if the suitable mirror version can not be found.

To note that Orange France don’t know what you trying to get across to them only go to show how much Orange are prepared to support their own phone.

This would not of happened if it were another make of phone as most phone manufactures would stay with you on this one until a resolve was found.

Sorry I can’t be of more assistance on this one, but do wish you the best and hope MicroSoft can put you in the right direction.

Jedi

[Guest jenneth]

Have you tried the driver here?

[Guest Gorskar]

There is a trick mentioned here for putting on rom updates from coutries other than the one you live in.

Might be worth a shot ...

[Guest thodges]

Well guys (and girls of course), thanks for your input. Just to clarify, there is no French driver for the Eleksen keyboard. Eleksen say they were going to produce a French version, but then Orange decided not to sell the keyboard in France. It doesn't make any sense to me either, but that's what ElekSen tell me ! As such, the only solution is to use a UK ROM image, and it is this that I am seeking.

I have tried the ElekSen driver (thanks Jenneth), but it only works with a UK ROM image (so aside from not working in France, even customers in Denmark, Switzerland, etc., cannot use this driver).

The link with the various "tricks" for installing a ROM update from another country, I have seen, although not that particular page, which is very comprehensive (thanks). As things now stand, I think I will try the "trick" method and see what happens.

The last mail I received from ElekSen gave instructions that sounded anything but simple (I've pasted the text hereunder), so I don't think I have much to lose. I must say that I am very disappointed with Orange and with this whole experience, where the customer is just left out on a limb, to sort it out for himself.

I'll let you know how I get on with the "trick" method (as I call it !).

Cheers . . .

Mail from ElekSen :-

"I do not have the time to help you in detail, but again here are the basic principles....

The following advice is provided to as is, and should not be attempted unless you are confident that you can complete the operation. ElekSen Ltd or it's employees will accept no responsibility for any loss of data or damage to your phone and it's normal workings. You attempt this at your own risk!

You must back up your phone onto an SD card using the phones boot loader "PBOOT".

You must backup someone else's phone onto an SD card.

You must then restore your phone using the image from the other persons SD card.

You must then restore your IPSM from your SD card.

You must then install the drivers from this link http://SmartPhone.Modaco.com/viewtopic.php?t=65797

Please note that in order to backup and restore separate aspects of the ROM image using SD cards, you will need an earlier version of the boot loader. Again you find details of this on Modaco.

This is not a simple procedure, it will take some time and does contain some risk of data loss. Furthermore I cannot guarantee that it will even work for you.

I will do what I can to help you, but I'm very busy and End User Support actually is not my job."

[Guest Alex_le_brit]

Hi, did you ever find a solution for this ?

[Guest squall]

Do you have a problem with your keyboard, or are you just looking to get one?

welcome to the site

[Guest Alex_le_brit]

Hi Thanks for the welcome, I've been lurking on here for ages, and had another username but forgot it. Oh well

I just got my keyboard today, having bought it from an ebay shop, which totally failed to let me know it wouldn't work with a French SPV.

So I'm in the same state as the poster on here. A nice new keyboard, a nice SPV with the driver downloaded (I found it on Coolsmartphone) and an OS which says

ROM Update versons:

Operator 1.3.6.5

Manufacturer 1.3.6.5

Microsoft 3.0.12255.0

Language 1.3.6.5

File System 3.0.12255.0

I'm in France, with a French SPV, which I updated a while ago with Orange France, but I'm now a Breizh Mobile Client, so I can't even access the Orange France Updates site.

Anyway from reading posts on here it appears there's no keyboard support on the French update.

Do you have any ideas?

[Guest squall]

try installing the uk update from the bootloader

access the bootlaoder by holding record and power button when switching on

latest uk update found http://web.orange.co.uk/yourphone/e100/pro...E100_ROMupgrade

[Guest Alex_le_brit]

try installing the uk update from the bootloader

access the bootlaoder by holding record and power button when switching on

latest uk update found http://web.orange.co.uk/yourphone/e100/pro...E100_ROMupgrade

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But won't I end up with the same problem as I'm reading over and over again. That you can't do a ROM update from one county when your phone's original ROM is from another.

I'm really reluctant to try this as if I do it wrong I'll have a useless phone, and I'm no longer with Orange France, so will have no after sales (not that they ever had a lot)

[Guest squall]

its not always the case that you cant swap roms. in 90% of cases if wont damage the phone, or is easy to fix. still if you arent confident i wouldnt.

[Guest Alex_le_brit]

Well I've tried everything else, so I guess here goes, only thing is I don't appear to be able to use anything to back up, I get a runtime error on my PC with the back up programme, Oh well I've backed up my contacts, which would be the biggest loss, I guess I'll just have to download, and reinstall everything else.

:D not a happy bunny, last time I buy anything from Deltasoft, I've had pretty shitty service.

Alex