Laymans Take on flashing Symbian Belle on Nokia N8 (link updated for v111.030.0607_03)


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Update: Avoid the old method as the latest firmware update method is very simple. Keep the files in place, open Product and flash. Use refurbish.

Original Firmware file link only: Download Link (Warning: It leaves only 20 mb around in C: drive of Nokia N8)

Updated link without Hero of Sparta: Download Link (It will leave you with around 130 mb in C: drive)

I will suggest you to use the second link which is created after removing Hero of Sparta files from the firmware.

Check the latest version demo here

Notice the speed this time.


Updated: Installed the second leaked version too via the same procedure and with new files. Haptic feedback and 6 home screens now. You can use exactly the same procedure while flashing. Note that even if you are already on Symbian Belle (earlier leaked one), you need to use the same Anna files (at least I did so successfully without any trouble).

So you bought a Nokia N8 last year and while reading a lot of negative buzz on internet and around you, started thinking if buying Nokia N8 (or even any other Symbian^3 device) was a wrong decision? But still keeping it around as there been no better camera phone than this ever nor seems likely any soon.

Think again… Haven’t you seen your Nokia N8 like brand new twice a time till now?

Scr000125

Once when you bought it and once you got Symbian Anna on it recently. Not enough? That was just kind of theme change in your eyes?

Be ready to see it like real brand new with Symbian Belle now. Yup! even though its so unlike Layman’s take, I decided to take the plunge and flashed Symbian Belle leaked firmware on it. So we paid once and will be having brand new device experience for more than three times.


WARNING:

1. DO NOT USE ANY OTHER THEME THAN INSTALLED. IT WILL CERTAINLY MAKE YOUR PHONE GO IN REBOOT LOOP.
I bricked mine while trying the same and the only  resolution was to flash it back to PR1.0 11.5 scanvidia. It was a scary ride for me as didn’t wanted to loose N8 in any case. Somehow managed to get over with it.

How to flash my Nokia N8 with Symbian Belle?

I know most of readers here never did any flashing with their Nokia Phones and no one wanna take a risk of bricking their phones, specially when it comes to Nokia N8. I know there will be many questions in your mind and I will try to get them answered, but first I want to make you clear that

1. FLASHING YOUR PHONE WITH ANY UNOFFICIAL FIRMWARE WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY (though you can claim your warranty back once you are back on official firmware).

2. THERE ALWAYS WILL BE A RISK OF BRICKING YOUR DEVICE WHILE FLASHING, SO ITS AT YOUR RISK (Not advised for faint hearted)

So done with warning, I know you still are interested in the guide .. so here we go..

Pre-requisites tools and files:

Let me very clear that this guide is talking about unlocked Nokia N8’s only. You need to download the following things first …

1. Phonix: An awesome piece of un-official software for flashing Nokia Phones. Official Page here and download link for the latest version is here. Note that its some 95 mb+ file.

2. Navifirm: Navifirm is a software for downloading firmwares for Nokia devices. It is also for finding product code of Nokia mobile phones. You can find their page here and latest version is here. Less than 1mb

3. Symbian Belle leaked firmware: Leaked firmware’s are usually those one that are not yet finished for the official release and somehow came out via some insider or some outsider accidently or intentionally. Obviously the definition itself says that its not a finished firmware and there might be\ will be bugs. Worth it or not, you will find in later parts. You can download the files from here (password: orvvan + mohamad 79) or alternative download without password from here.

It will contain the following four files

RM-596_111.010.0606_13.01_MEA_A_79u_prd.rofs2.fpsx (40mb)
RM-596_111.010.0606_79u_prd.core.fpsx (121 mb)
RM-596_111.010.0606_C04.01_MEA_1_79u_prd.rofs3.fpsx
RM-596_111.010.0606_U07.01_79u.uda.fpsx

New Files for the new leaked firmware:

Though original link by CODeRUS was from Rapidshare,  but for the convenience of others, I have uploaded the same on Multi-Upload, that were provide the convenience to download via any of the download site of your choice.

Here goes the link for the new leaked firmware, which resolves haptic issues and also gives 6 home screens.

4. Symbian Anna Official firmware: Multiple posts on web can confuse you that which Symbian Anna firmware you need (some Chinese one or something else), so note it clearly, the basic requirement is Symbian Anna firmware and best option is to download the one, which is available for your region, for your model number, for Nokia N8. Like I went for v22.014 for my Indian Dark Gray Nokia N8.

For downloading the official firmware, you need to use Navifirm Plus, choose Nokia Care Suit mode, then clear cache and once the list loads, select Nokia N8 (RM-596) and then subsequently your firmware files. It should be around 253 mb and 8 files. Indian Dark Grey Nokia N8 users can download from here.

5. A perfectly working Nokia USB Data cable

Precautions to be taken before the beginning:

1. Install Phonix first. Should not be any issues here. Though some guides suggest that you need to uninstall Official Nokia Softwares before installing Phonix, but I found that you just need to assure that none of the official Nokia Apps are running in background, just that. No need to uninstall.

2. (Optional) Have a clean Nokia N8 Many of the issues people faced with leaked Symbian Belle only because of their own messed up Nokia N8, so its better to start a fresh. Best if you have a refurbished Nokia N8 with Symbian Anna, otherwise clean your Nokia N8 via Factory Reset + Delete Data and a reinstall via Ovi Suit.

*Those who haven’t got the official Symbian Anna firmware yet, can flash their phone with an Symabin Anna via same Phonix, but you need Symbian Anna on your phone first to upgrade to Symbian Belle.

3. Make sure power availability and have a recharged Nokia N8 In any case, if your Nokia N8 goes out of battery or USB connection gets disconnected, then its almost likely to brick your Nokia N8, which might be a bit hard to recover back. So make sure, nothing like such happened in middle of operations.

4. Remove the SIM, remove the memory Card There been issues with some people, when they tried to do the flashing with SIM inserted so it better to be safe remove the SIM and only insert back when everything running fine on Symbian Belle.

Finally How to do the flashing:

1. Copy original 8 Symbian Anna firmware files (not the four Symbian Belle files) to Phonix directory

C:\Program Files\Nokia\Phoenix\Products\RM-596

Files

Note that the directory might be changed in your installation and also you need to create RM-596 yourself. *You can check location at Phonix –> Tools –> Options –> Product Location

2. Keep all four Symbian Belle Firmware files in one folder somewhere as you will be needed to navigate to them.

3. Make sure only one phone is connected to your computer. Then go to Phonix –> File –> Manage Connection, move No Connection up and apply.

4. Go to Phonix –> File –> Open Product, type RM-596 and select the result which would be Nokia N8.

Open Product

5. Go to Phonix –> Flashing –> Firmware Update, from the Product Code box, open and choose your product code (should be there automatically). Now it must be showing your SW version and variant. Check Dead Phone USB Flashing and go to Options button at the bottom of the same page and you will fine another page open with six files listed.

Before

6. Delete following two files as you don’t have those two files available in leaked firmware, so we wont do anything on them

RM596_APE_ONLY_ENO_11w15_v0.148.fpsx
RM-596\RM-596_M021.44.emmc.fpsx

After Delete

7. Now carefully replace the rest of the four files via Edit option (double click will also do) with subsequent files in Symbian Belle Firmware. Like in my case as given below:

RM-596\RM-596_022.014_79.92_prd.core.fpsx –> RM-596_111.010.0606_79u_prd.core.fpsx
RM-596\RM-596_022.014_24.01_India_79.92_prd.rofs2.fpsx –> RM-596_111.010.0606_13.01_MEA_A_79u_prd.rofs2.fpsx
RM-596_022.014_C03.01_India_79.92_prd.rofs3.fpsx –> RM-596_111.010.0606_C04.01_MEA_1_79u_prd.rofs3.fpsx
RM-596\RM-596_022.014_U03.01_79.92.uda.fpsx –> RM-596_111.010.0606_U07.01_79u.uda.fpsx

Edit

After 

Note that only four files must be shown there as of now. Press Ok to come back to last page.

8. Now re-verify all the things above and then press Refurbish which will start flashing your phone. Following the onscreen messages. In between, it will ask to keep the power button pressed for 8 seconds. Keep it pressed for a little longer till you get the three vibrates. In start, it will tell you that a file is missing.. don’t worry and press OK.

Final

Flashing

Flashing complete 

9. Now, if all went well then your Nokia N8 will reboot into Symbian Belle.

Its definitely not that longer or complex as it seems from the long post, but I just elaborated the steps a little to make you understand that what’s actually happening otherwise this all will take not even a 5 mins from you (apart from the flashing part). For more convenience, you may check the video

When started, it will take a longer time to install many apps from Mass Storage I guess. Nothing to be scared of it. In my case, Swype was bugging me and was installing like forever. I connected the phone with PC and remove the directory Phone/System/Apps/Swype and all went well.


How to downgrade from Symbian Belle

In case if you wanna come back for claiming warranty or something else, then you will be needed to flash to Scanvidia firmware (that is PR1.0 actually) first. It might not be a working one (no Home Screen etc), but once done, then you can flash your Nokia N8 with the latest Symbian Anna firmware or Symbian Belle or something else (custom/ hacked firmware etc).

Belle-to-Anna

As in last steps, always be careful that no SIM\Mass Storage Card should be inside phone while flashing and also never forget to delete unnecessary files except four important files.

 

Perfecting Working Apps that I installed on Symbian Belle and their links

Gravity, Opera Mobile, Best Screensnap, HDR Photo Camera, LinkedIn, Socially, fmobi, 4Squick

These are not the only apps that working, but ideally all the apps should work perfectly. Though Java based apps not working yet and all those themes which are not created with Carbide 4.2 or later, wont work on Symbian Belle. (Thanks @marvelprash for the tip)


Symbian Belle Preview on Nokia N8

Sorry for a very bad quality video. Somehow made this at mid of the night.

There are a lot to share about Symbian Belle features and I will try to add the same in another post, but one thing I must say, I have a got a brand new Nokia N8 after this.

2011-08-26 09.46.02 2011-08-26 09.44.02 2011-08-26 09.44.25

Any reader, who needs any help or have any quick question or have a nice suggestion/tip for me, can catch me on twitter @nkumar_ or on email id nitish@nitishkumar.net.

141 thoughts on “Laymans Take on flashing Symbian Belle on Nokia N8 (link updated for v111.030.0607_03)

  1. Will it be the same if I download it directly from navifirm? Is 24.011 the same as belle? it also has more files…
    What is the firmware version for belle? Probably 24.011 is more recent…
    Tjank you very much 🙂

  2. Hey, Nitish. I’m just curious. Since you also own an Android phone, which do you prefer? Your Samsung Galaxy S or your Nokia N8 with Symbian Belle?

  3. i hav a dark grey n8 india…so can i download the files u hav given…bt its onli 147 mb….bt u said the files r of 240 mb….plzzz help me…..i downloaded the files frm YOUR limk nt frm navifirm

  4. hey nitish
    thanx for this tutorial.
    i am not able to install any app on my n8 (belle)
    any suggestions?
    also, have you heard of the new update to this leaked version of belle containing 6 homescreens and even less bugs?
    kindly help me with this.

    1. Vaibhav,
      I have posted the links about the new Belle now. As about Apps installation, then not all App might be supporting the non-released OS as of now, though there is a Belle version of Opera available and Gravity and Qt apps works just fine.

      The new firmware provides 6 home screens, add the missing haptics, though Java apps bug still continued I guess.

  5. hi!!!! I like to downgrade to symbian Pr 1.0 and get anna via Ota to my n8(belle)… Pls provide me a complete steps and links for me…

      1. hey hi i’m yash i just flash or tried to flash my n8 i had all the files mentioned in the post did it step wise then also my n8 has freezed on the new belle nokia logo and it starting again and again like u know looping

  6. Thanks for the elaborate explanation.

    I successfully updated my N8 with Belle and yes it is smooth and has 6 homescreens. Just that my Exchange is not working yet whereas other email accounts were a breeze.

      1. Got the exchange working, it was a silly mistake from my end . Skype giving issues, it opens and when I click continue it shuts down

  7. its sure a lengthy post ,but i am enjoying reading it detailed and informative
    i am using an n8

    the part about the contacts application in belle is good news for me i even wrote on a Nokia forum that for people like me integrating social ntwrks in phonebook is not of much use

    once i select a contact the only 2 things i require are call and messages

    for some people it is useful for my part if there is a option to disable it in final firmware will be useful

        1. may be u did not read the comment properly and gave such an irrelevant reply

          i suggested that if there is option for disabling social networking option in contacts it would be helpful for guys like me

          who dont use phone for this purpose

  8. hey nitish, i had flashed my phone with leaked symbian belle firmware last month. .then one day i installed a theme from ovi store and select it. .after that my phone turned off and isn’t starting. . One of my friend told me that my phone’s dead nd i need to flash it again via dead usb mode to repair it. . So can i flash it again with symbian belle frmware via dead usb mode ? Is there any risk ? Kindly give a suggestion plz. . .

  9. Thank you Natish, I was successful in flashing Symbian Belle on my N8 with your instructions. I have noticed now that any headphones I plug in do not work and I get an error message “device not supported”. Even with the N8’s original headphones! Has anyone else had this problem?

  10. I assume the jack is good as it worked before the update. I tried 3 different headphones, all are not recognized. I am using Belle version 111.020.0203.00.01.

    Also, I cannot find the correct fields to get the MMS working. I can find access points but I don’t see an area to enter “MMSC” and “MMS Proxy”. Thanks

  11. Will i still be able to sync my N8 to my computer after flashing belle onto it?? And by using a theme you mean only applying it. if i have themes from the nokia store on my N8 it won’t make a difference, right? Also Anna ahasn’t come out in my location (Australia) so should i just flash another version onto my N8 (if so, how do i do this?)

    Thx!!!

  12. i’ve tried as you said in this post….. But it doesn’t work. There accours an error when verify connection to device.. What will i do now sir?

  13. I have n8 with anna vrsn. 025.007 custom version 025.007.C03.01 product code 059B656 and i wanaa to install belle but im not able to find rm-596 files of my version due to which it gives error product didnt match. plzz help me out here is my email. naughtyronny91@gmail.com

  14. Hello Nitish…Bravo !!! ……awesome step by step instruction..Just have a question for you…When i want to flash it back to Scanvidia should i flash it with all the files in the Scanvidia folder provided for download by you or should i just replace the four BELLE files with corresponding Scanvidia files??Please help.

      1. Thanks a ton my friend !! Sorry to bother you with another quick question…after i flash Scanvidia using phoenix, will i get official OTA firmware updation of ANNA on my N8 or else will i be able to flash ANNA again only using Phoenix ??? Have a great weekend mate !!

  15. m unable to find my symbian anna files of rm-596 Product code 059B656. So when i install belle using other files.. my phine stops on nokia blinking and doesnt strat.. after it i have to visit care center to repair it. plz zhelp me i wanaa to install belle.. Plzz give me Aana files of my product… plzzz help

  16. I have the same problem when I try to upgrade to Belle, Phoenix runs through the install procedure, but when it tries to reboot the phone, the phone won’t start and I just get the word Nokia which flashes on a black screen on my phone.
    I can re-install Anna by flashing using dead USB and downloaded Anna files and everything seems fine.

    I have Windows 7 64bit

    Anyone have any ideas?

  17. hey hi i’m yash i just flash or tried to flash my n8 i had all the files mentioned in the post did it step wise then also my n8 has freezed on the new belle nokia logo and it starting again and again like u know looping

  18. This one is the latest leaked version of Symbian Belle v111.030.0607 for Nokia N8. We have tested it and its more stable and several things have been improved as compared with previous leaks. Detailed change-logs are available below.

    Change-log Symbian Belle for Nokia N8 v111.030.0607

    – New Nokia tune on boot screen
    – More ringtones added in profiles
    – Faster Boot time 10secs or less
    – VERY smooth transitions on the homescreen
    – Wifi Connection connects faster/wifi locking
    – Browser speed is increased
    – Haptic feedback is improved
    – Camera launches faster
    – Less processing time between shots taken from camera
    – Better battery life
    – Preloaded New Nokia maps 3.08(105) new UI
    – Added Fsecure
    – Better GPS locking/faster
    – New loading aninmations
    – Quicker loading for homscreen widgets and icons
    – Digital clock font is different hours(bold) minutes(light)
    – Applications load alot faster and no bugs with the email client when opened

    Euro 3 language pack: Czech, English, German, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak

  19. hi,
    I am waiting for the official version of Belle and hope that it will finally help the N8 achieve what it has been missing on the software front.
    I had one query and would appreciate if someone can please answer it. Earlier Nokia phones used to have the facility to let the user edit the text of a contact label, this facility is not available on the my N8…will the N8 get this feature with Belle??

    peace,
    ~kg

  20. Nitesh,
    Looking forward to you comments on the new firmware Symbian Belle v111.030.0607 for the N8. I am eagerly wait flash the N8. Is it really worth it?

    James

    1. Definitely worth it. Working fantastically. Faster than ever. In fact, i didn’t expected it to go this much faster as you can see in video.

      Will try to make one more post about it.

      Regards Nitish Kumar @nkumar_

        1. I flashed my phone with this new version, everything went really smooth and the firmware is working perfectly (i only had to refurfish it instead of just update cuz otherwise it wouldn’t work), the only problem was that it took almost all of the phone memory, now I only have 13MB left on my C: drive, almost all of my apps are installed on E: and this happened even after i did a hard reset.
          I don’t know how to free up space cuz i wouldn’t know which files to delete, is this normal on every belle firmware or just this new one?
          Anyone who could know what would this be?

          1. Oh! Sorry I missed to update about it. Yes! It does take most of c: drive memory due to bloatwares installed by T-Mobile, specially Hero of Sparta that takes almost 100mb.

            One needs to remove Hero of Sparta from firmware uda file using Nokia Cooker and then flash with modified uda file.

            Will upload the modified file of mine soon that will leave around 120-130mb free space in c: of your N8.

            Regards Nitish Kumar @nkumar_

            1. Oh thank you very much Nitish, after I modify it is it ok to just “update firmware” in phoenix or should I “refurbish” to get all files deleted?
              Greetings

  21. hi i flashed it in my 4 th attempt !! it was easy though. Thanks nitesh for your help. ur steps was easy and clear. thanks.
    i find some of the HD games very slow – Fraggers, Rally master pro not working….skype is the most disappointment…bt overall i luv belle….its fast !! no hang ups !

    Thanks once again.
    Rakesh

  22. Hi all,

    just finished flashing my N8.
    it was under warrent so was little scared.. but still i have doubt…
    while flashing my n8, the pheonix displaied a message that the product flashing failed…failed to set phone in flashmode… i clicked retry.. but didnt happen.. even i pressed ‘restore user product’ didnt work.. at last i clicked close and tried to restart the phone.. but to my surprise i got belle installed.. my phone worked…how did that happen… ALSO WILL GET ANY ISSUES IN FUTURE REGRDING THIS IN MY N8…
    please help…

    i took screenshots also.. please let me if you need.. i will sent it also…

    Thank you
    Muthu

      1. Thank You so much Nitish.
        Have another doubt. I have seen several themes effect pack while surfing.. They look awsome..I came through various methods also, like editing the core file and then flashing or just installing some package and hacking with rom pacher norton and so on…. do you recomend this.. if so do you have any tutorial???

        Only after seening ur tutorial i felt flashing is easy.
        Please advice….

        Thank you
        Muthu

          1. Oh.. i think i wil stay away for some time.. because this is my first expierence and am not that sure about these file.. so will try after some time.. after gaining some experence…

            But if you have any tutorial plz do let me know.. if feel comfirtable reding your tutorials..

            Thank you so much for you help.

                1. Nitish,

                  Sorry to disturb you again..
                  I want to downgradu my N8 back to ANNA.
                  I thing flash with the 11.5 will be ok.

                  But have some doubts. Hope you will be able to help me in this regard.
                  1) I could see 8 files in navifirm for 11.5 sandinavi version.
                  Should i need to flash all these files.?
                  2) Also after i flash it to 11.5 can i update it to anna through the OVI Suite?
                  3) Is there any other process or tips to be followed while flashing other than the steps you have mention in belle flashing?
                  4) can i direcetely flash my N8 with Anna without the 11.5 version?

                  Sorry for asking tooo many questions,

                  Awaiting your response.
                  Thank you.

  23. Hi All,

    Can I change to older themes which I used once I flash my phone with belle? I want to change themes which i was using in symbian anna. Please reply

      1. Will it go in a loop without starting? I saw in FB that we can change themes. Please clear the air as I want my friends not to do this

  24. Ok Nithish, Please educate me on how to identify themes lesser than carbide 4. I want delete these themes which are not compatible with symbian belle

      1. Thank you. One last question. Will I be able to update official versions from nokia once they are available over OTA? Also, do you know when belle will be released officially? I have flashed my N8 with symbian belle and it is working fine.

        Regards,
        Siva

        PS:- Thank you for answering my silly questions patiently

      1. Ummm, my uncle sent me that N8. But its country locked. I cant use any local sim. So, will this solve my problem. Sorry, I am not that experienced with Nokia cellphones. So, any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance. 🙂

    1. I think I replied via mail but that didnt reached here.
      Have you done a hard reset after Flash? Its required for getting things working properly.

      Sorry had a very messy day at office today so couldnt check things

      1. Sorry to have bothered you mate! Internet and web was was working until today. I did not do any hard reset after flashing. I have taken a back up of my mass memory contents. So, please advise if really need to do a hard reset. *#7370#. correct?

  25. Hello NItish..Good Morning!! Just happened to know that there is a new version of Nokia N8 Symbian Belle v111.030.0609 available with lots of new widgets. Can you please throw light on how stable is this? Please let us know if you can provide us the download link & your recommendations on it. Thanks – Karthik.

        1. Thanks a lot for your reply Nitish. I shall wait for your post on stock version of the next Belle leak. Have a great day ahead mate 🙂

  26. hi nitish.. ive been tryin to flash my n8 to symbian belle 111.030.0609 from symbian anna 25.007.. ive been at this for hours now.. my n8 is currently on symbian anna 24.. ive followed through the steps thoroughly but i cant seem to flash my n8.. i am stuck on the part where im supposed to set the phone on flash mode.. but every time i try.. my phone boots normally and not on flash mode.. ive been stuck on this loop for almost half a day.. what should i do..? any thoughts..?

    1. correction on that.. the smybian anna 25.007 im refering to is the firmware files im using along with the symbian belle files to flash..

  27. i flashed my phone with the new belle v111.030.609. Everything is fine except for the nokia social widget is missing. i see from ur screenshots that u have it. Any idea why is went missing n how can i get it back?

  28. i also see from ur video that in the ‘add widget’ option the nokia social widget is missing but u still have it. how did u activate it n from where? my quickoffice n adobe reader are also missing. i took backup just before flashing. will restoring help? plz reply!

    1. @Nitish- still no belle on nokia suite for C6-01 which has a product code 059C5W6. Iasked on nokia developer site they said it is a SWAP CODE means You can’t update to belle. I went to Nokia care centre they said belle is not available yet. WTF is this?
      My phone was swapped becoz i got the faulty unit at the time of buying..
      Wht should I do? Can I change my product code?
      Warm regards,

  29. wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww woww wow wow thanks alot i have managed to update my n8 10000% thanks alot. it works great now

  30. how to remove symbian belle ….. pls tell
    it’s not support flv video file and many time hang…

    many apps are also not support..

  31. Nithish! Sorry to disturb you. Do you have any belle like CFW for Nokia 5230 Product code 0585713? If so please give the link and tutorial for the same. It would be helpful for me

  32. Good work mate! Had no luck trying other peoples methods, but your’s mapped it out nicely. Thanks heaps mate.

  33. Thanks for your marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you can be a great author.
    I will make certain to bookmark your blog and will come back in the future.
    I want to encourage you to continue your great job, have a nice weekend!

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