How to: Upgrade your Nokia N95 (classic, US or 8GB) firmware
May 2, 2007
This guide starts with some common questions and problems users might have. If you don’t want to read those, you can jump directly to the firmware upgrade instructions.
Sections:
- So whats a firmware anyway?
- What are the benefits of updating my firmware?
- Will I lose any user data if I update my device firmware?
- How to back-up my user data?
- How do I update my firmware?
- How do I change product code?
- How can I check my device model number?
- How can I check for new firmware software?
- Will the warranty be void if I update my Nokia device firmware using Nokia Software Updater?
- How I can be sure that all my Digital Right Management (DRM) protected content will work after updating my device firmware?
- How long does the update take?
- Can I undo the update or downgrade my device firmware?
- Can I use Nokia Software Updater with a Mac running OSX?
- How do I restore factory settings?
- Nokia N95 Language Packs
- Nokia N95-1 (classic) product codes
- Nokia N95-1 (classic) Operator Specific codes
- N95-2 8GB product codes
- N95-2 8GB Operator Specific codes
In general a firmware is usually a computer program that is embedded in a hardware device. A firmware is somewhere between hardware and software. Like software, it is a computer program which is executed by a computer. But it is also an intimate and vital part of a piece of hardware, and has little meaning outside of that particular hardware.
In practical terms, firmware updates can improve the performance and reliability of a device, indeed even the basic available functionality of a device, and many devices benefit from regular firmware updates. - Wikipedia on firmware
What are the benefits of updating my firmware?
The benefits of updating the device firmware include getting new features, applications, and performance improvements to your device. The benefits differ in each firmware update. To know the exact benefits try to do a web search on ‘changelog’ and the firmware version you consider updating to, something like ‘changelog v.15 n95 8gb‘ on Google would result in relevant information on what benefits you would get by updating your Nokia N95 8GB to the 15.0.015 version firmware.
We’ll of course also keep you updated on new firmware versions and changelogs right here on SimplySymbian.com, so make sure you’ll check in from time to time, subscribe to our RSS feed (using your browser or RSS reader of choice) or by Email to get the latest news and articles we produce. You can remove the subscriptions at any time and we promise not to spam your Email with commercial ads.
Will I lose any user data if I update my device firmware?
User data (contacts, photos, messages and files) and add-on applications such as Java games or Symbian applications will likely be deleted during the software update. It is therefore strongly recommended that you make a back-up of data such as contacts, messages, and images before updating the mobile device firmware. When performing the update, and your device requires a data backup, the application will instruct you how to perform the back-up.
Note: Nokia device firmware cannot be downgraded. Once you have upgraded your device, you will not be able to restore to the earlier version.
There are several methods of backing-up user data. The most common one is Nokia’s solution which includes making a copy of your phones memory and later restoring this. In my experience, this does not work very well always as a new firmware can include systems changes which a restoration can collide with. If you are lucky you will not experience any of this, however if you are not so lucky you might experience some applications and games need re-installation and decreased performance.
I find it safer to back-up data manually by copying files to my PC using normal data-transfers and storing contacts using synchronization. This method of course has it’s limitations as no license information can be stored. Hopefully in the future Nokia will add functionality for users to select what they want to back-up using the Nokia PC Suite.
Here are some traditional back-up methods:
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You can back-up your device memory data to your device memory card or to your PC using Nokia PC Suite. The software will guide you through the process.
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To backup phone memory to your memory card:
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Select Tools > Memory from the main menu
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Select Options > Backup phone mem.
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To restore data from memory card to phone memory:
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Select Tools > Memory from the main menu
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Select Options > Restore from card
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Note: Nokia device firmware cannot be downgraded. Once you have upgraded your device, you will not be able to restore to the earlier version. You can however re-install the same firmware version as you’re already running as many times as you want (which sometimes can cure back-up restoration problems).
Alright, this is what you need to do to update your firmware:
Creative Nokia N95 movies, melting ice and sunset-sunrise
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Found these pretty cool videos on YouTube, featuring time lapse filming. Melting ice
[Read more]
Finnish carrier Elisa & Nokia N95 TV ad
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From the homeland of Nokia (yes they speak Finnish).
Spare parts for the Nokia N95, backcovers in different colors!
May 2, 2007
I’ve been doing my usual morning browsing checking news about the Nokia N95 and I found this at Darla Mack’s blog. Happy news for all you people who bought the plum colored Nokia N95! Blueunplugged.com offers Nokia N95 spare parts, such as Deep Plum, Warm Graphite and Sand colored back covers! [Read more]
