Getting rid of the O2 phone skin - Newbie question - MDA II, XDA II, 2060 General

Hi all,
New to XDA, so sorry if this is just such a stupid question!
How can I get rid of the O2 phone 'skin'. When I first upgraded my ROM I got a much nicer phone. Then the O2 install happened and I'm back to the horrible O2 version. Can I clear this out without too much trouble?
Also, while I'm here, can I do the same for the welcome screen which always seems to stick an O2 logo across whatever title is displayed?
Many thanks in advance
GeorgeBR

http://www.yorch.net/
here are some phone skins
about the splash screen then do a search about it some guy made a tool which let you change it

If u mean the O2 Active cack that is everywhere, then follow these steps mate. If not, forget it
The way I removed them was ...
a) Start, Settings, Today, Items(at the bottom) and remove the tick from the O2 Active line.
b) Start, Setting, System, Memory, then Stop All Programs Running in memory.
c) Start, Settings, System, Remove Programs. Then remove the O2 progs. I think theres three in total, ActiveUI, Xmail, and one other (think it has o2 in the name).
If when you go back to the Today Screen, the background is all strange with lines on it, that is because the picture that was used has been removed. Therefore go into Start, Settings, Today, and choose Spiral or any other theme you have installed to replace the desktop image from the Today Screen.
Hope that helps,
Rgds,
Rob.

Or check this post for two of my skins you can use...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=7394&highlight=dialler
Cheerio
Howard

Related

How to remove O2 active UI from XDA2i??

Hello,
I have an XDA2i and I need to remove the O2 ative user interface (UI). Anyway I can disable it in order to be able to remove it?
Thank you.
Amro
erm
1) How does this constitute news?
2) Search the forums!
abohsali said:
Hello,
I have an XDA2i and I need to remove the O2 ative user interface (UI). Anyway I can disable it in order to be able to remove it?
Thank you.
Amro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to add/remove programs and check if you see an O2 active installation. if there is then uninstall it. But if you hard reset your device then it will install again so you need to uninstall it.
master g.
master_guapo,
I tried to do that but the program (Active UI) is always running in the background so the uninstall is always unsuccessful. Anyway I can stop it from running and then uninstall it from the "remove programs"?
Thanks,
They way I got rid of it was by:
1) Remove the "connections" shortcut in the windows/startup folder. You don't need that icon in the tray anyway.
2) Soft reset
4) Unistall - which will fail, but it gets rid of some bits
5) From your PC, using activesync go into the windows folder and delete everything you can in the "Mobile Solutions" folder. (It's under windows)
6) Soft reset. You're clean.
O2 seems to have been trying to make it more difficult to remove it this time, but once you get it cleared out the unit operates a lot faster on the today screen. The XdaIIi is in my experience really what the XDA II should have been. The Wifi connectivity is brilliant.
The reason why the installation fails is because the Today items are still active, go into settings & Today, and remove ticks from the o2 items including the battery monitor.
You may need to do a soft reset afterwards, but then you should be able to use the remove programs item.
How do i get o2 active ON my xda?!!!
Ah, but do you know where I can get a copy of the o2 active cab to put back on my xda?
Thanks guys,
I was able to remove by doing the following:
1) Remove "Windows/startup/connection.exe
2) Remove" Windows/fonts/xpdr_02...
3) soft reset
4) use the uninstall from the setting to uninstall the O2 Active UI...
5) Soft reset and there you are.
This will show the clock on the top right corner and make the XDAIIi faster at startup and more stable overall as I noticed.
Thanks,
Having logged a call with o2 regarding GPRS problems, they emailed me with a way to remove the customisation, its so easy. Carry out a hard reset and select the the corporate install option, all customisation is removed, you do have to configure the GPRS settings manually.
Removal of O2 Active software..
I was really sceptical when I read in these foruns that the lockups on my XDAIIs were down to O2 software. I was gettign 2-3 lockups a day and especially if I was using TOM TOM navigator 3, it would run fine if left alone, but if I wanted to do somewthign such as update traffic info any time after 30 mins, it would freeze, the I would have to do a soft reset. Quite awkward when driving...
I had reloaded tom tom twice already (after already doing a hard reset) and didn't want to do it again.. so I tried the removal instructions...
To say I was looking at taking the unit back to O2 for a repalcement... now I'm over the moon as it is very stable.
hi
is there an ext rom unlocker for xda2i ...the one from pda2k doesnt work
thanks
XDA11
Can these instructions be applied to the above as well
Can anyone tell me the settings for 02 GPRS after doing a corporate install?
Also, am I able to install certain parts of 02 active, sucha s the battery meter?
I'd also really like to get rid of the Active UI thing but I like some of it's features. I would like to see the clock return to the top right and the big buggy o2 symbol removed. I'm using Magic Button and the o2 symbol really gets in the way.
Thanks guys!
Great to have the clock back where God meant it to be!
Post moved to Blue Angel forum
This is an Alpine not a Blue Angel!
Ha ha ha, my bad
8)
if you hard reset your phone and let it reinstall all the stuff
then when the O2 selection thing comes up select CORPORATE and enter the code 0506 (if memory servers correctly
this will then skip all the 02 cusrtomisation stuff...
i did this earlier thismorning and my god its SOOO much nicer to use and crashes less often!
before i just removed it manauylly but it kept crashing n stuff afterwards
O2 active? Zapped it!
Yee Hah!
Got rid of that nasty active stuff! Using a combination of Planet, a18041967 & abohsali's instructions & no need to do a hard re-set. You do also have to untick the clockinfo in startup items by the way! Thanks again guys! Top Banana!!!!! :lol:

New O2 Xda mini s

Hi
I'm new here but I was wondering if anyone knew how I could get rid of the O2 customizations. I've unlocked it with the unlocking tool but I cannot get a Rom for I-mate to clear the O2 rubbish as I am not allowed to join clubimate without a valid imei number.
I've checked xda-developers ftp site for the correct rom but i cannot find one anywhere.
Please help me
Sloane
You don't need a new ROM, and with the UK mini S, it's probably best to leave the supplied one alone as, amongst other things, the hardware keyboard layout is different and you'd need to re-patch the keys and symbols back onto the right keys from the i-mate defaults.
I let the full O2 install happen to see what it would install (aside from the 'Active' rubbish) before I did a hard reset to clear it all out. During the reset, when it says 'installing customisations in 5 secs' (or whatever the exact msg is), do a soft reset with the stylus in the hole in the side, and voila, native Wizard, but with correct keyboard mapping... Don't worry, your SIM unlocking will survive the hard reset.
Then, get Total Commander because there are some cab files in the extended ROM that you might want like the MMS editor, additional ring tones etc...
I've got a Qtek 9100 and a mini S (now on Vodafone) and the overall build quality of the mini S is much higher.
Hope that helps?
Dox
Right, I've done exactly as you said. I now have no O2 stuff there. I've got total commander on my phone but I dont know what to look for to get gprs and mms settings back.
Can you help please
Sloane
sloane said:
Right, I've done exactly as you said. I now have no O2 stuff there. I've got total commander on my phone but I dont know what to look for to get gprs and mms settings back.
Can you help please
Sloane
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, the choice of what to add is entirely up to you, but here's what I added...
during the customising bit that you stopped when you soft reset, the contents of the Extended ROM are installed. Autorun.exe reads Config.txt and all the cab files listed there are installed. We want some of them.
Point Total Commander to '\Extended_Rom\ and you'll see them all. I looked at the extended ROM on my 9100 and tried to find the equivalent O2 cab files. Even though I had already configured MMS connection and server details, the MMS inbox didn't show up until I installed the cab file with MMS1 in the name. I also ran the RingTone one, SmartDialing and, I think, Signed_Version.sa (because my Qtek phone had a similar file, even though I'm not sure what's in it).
I've got a Voda SIM in, so I set up the two GPRS access points for web and wap( only used for MMS). Raphael over at BeyondTheTech.com has the MMS settings available as cab files to d/l and install, to save typing them in by hand. They must also be in the Extended ROM cab files, but I didn't need the O2 ones, and couldn't tell from the names, which cab they were in. The k-jam comes with all the carriers' settings in conveniently named files, and that's what Raphael has listed.
If I had had more time, I might have installed them all, one by one to see what each contained, but I was going out and wanted to take the mini S with me.
Hopefully, that will get you a good way there, but if you are stuck with any other bits, yell and I or somebody else will help I'm sure...
Good luck,
Dox
Try these files for phone settings
http://www.buymobilephones.net/sp3_setup.ihtml
V
To get rid of the O2 interface I just removed it from the Startup directory in Windows, there are two files, both with O2 icons and then did a soft reset. Although I imagine there's still some O2 trickery lurking around on my device, I didn't have to add any new settings or anything that required me to switch my brain from inactive to mildly inactive.
Eradificator said:
To get rid of the O2 interface I just removed it from the Startup directory in Windows, there are two files, both with O2 icons and then did a soft reset. Although I imagine there's still some O2 trickery lurking around on my device, I didn't have to add any new settings or anything that required me to switch my brain from inactive to mildly inactive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, im thinking of just removing those two files from start up as i dont want to do anything too extreme to get rid of 02 rubbish and the method of hard resetting sounds a little tricky, not sure i'd be confident doing it as i only just got the phone.
Have you noticed any error messages since doing this? Does the 02 rubbish not just appear again next time you do a soft reset?
Just let it do what its doing and then choose basic install. Then remove the 02 active in startup to stop the annoying message.
My wizard is running fine like that with all the mms settings etc.
Ok, i haven't hard reset but i have removed the 02 active thing in start up and its no longer appearing on the desktop now. Phone seems a bit more responsive.
tom99 said:
Ok, i haven't hard reset but i have removed the 02 active thing in start up and its no longer appearing on the desktop now. Phone seems a bit more responsive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your happy with how its performing then dont change. However if you hard reset and opted for a basic you should see even more of a speed increase. But like I say if it aint broke it dont need fixin

O2 logo on XDA mini S

Is there any way to remove the tacky looking O2 logo that runs along the top of the screen next to the connection status logo? I doubt there is but i thought theres no better place to ask than here. Its only a niggle but it looks too pixelated to me in comparison with the rest of the home screen.
Hi
I had the same niggle so I asked how to remove the O2 stuff.
See Here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=34488
Unfortunately I couldn't get the mms/gprs cab files back so I set them up manually.
Sloane
Nice one. What/where are the settings so that i can also setup the mms/gprs manually if i need to?
Hi
I went here
http://flash.o2.co.uk/productsservices/mobileweb/pdfs/Pocket PC manual set up instructions.pdf
A bit tricky to follow but I got there in the end.
Sloane
Thats gonna come in VERY handy, thanks matey
It's probably a bit late for this but after setting up my mini s in basic mode I deleted the following from the startup folder:
Active.lnk (because it was trying to run O2 software that wasn't fully installed)
and
connections.exe.lnk (which made the annoying O2 logo appear)
That way i kept the settings
There is still some O2 Active software installed on the PPC but I haven't played around with uninstalling it as there are other things to play with.
When you're happy with the less O2'fulness of your mini S, check the October blog posts on beyondthetech.com/ as Raphael (as well as the MMS settings cab files) has some tips for registry edits to make the Wizard more friendly.
My particular favourite is the display indicator that sits next to the SIP button and shows when the keyboard is in caps or dot mode (and if its locked in that mode or just shifted for the next key). Oh, and the complete guide to removing Speech Dialer so you can add MS Voice Commander instead..
Dox
I cheated for the settings, phoned O2 customer care (number on their website) and they e-mailed me all the settings

Active Desktop

I just received an O2 XDA Exec from Santa, and I activated the Active Desktop to see what it looked like. Awful. I'm now finding it difflcult to turn the damn thing off and get back to the standard desktop interface. Anyone know how I do this?
try www.logmein.com
add your computer to an account, and connect trough pocket internet explorer on the same site it works great.
I think you mean O2 Active right? I'm afraid I've never touched it, but many say a hard reset is required. I doubt it... but look around on the board. Sorry I can't help further.
V
Go to "file explorer"
"My Device" then "Windows" folder, then "StartUp" folder and delete "Active". Then soft reset device.
This will get rid of all that O2 active **** on your desktop. If you choose you want it again just goto programs and select O2 Active. But then you will have to follow instructions above to remove it again.
Hope this helps
Brill, thanks mate, that's it gone.
Hi, i am having the same issue, i want 02 active icons on the desktop gone, but can you tell me if since doing this solution if you have had any errors? Does this not just load up again next time you soft reset?
I want it gone but i don't want to do anything too drastic and mess up my new phone.
Thanks
tom99, the exec seems to be MORE stable without the O2 icons on Today screen.
If you follow my instructions then they wont come back on a soft reset.
But you will get it back if you select O2 Active from the programs menu.
tom99, the exec seems to be MORE stable without the O2 icons on Today screen.
If you follow my instructions then they wont come back on a soft reset.
But you will get it back if you select O2 Active from the programs menu.
tom99
If you follow the instructions that ArgyleMoss posted, it will remove the O2 Active desktop and your Exec should be fine. Mine was.
jim
Excellent! Just got myself an XDA Exec, and have found loads of great info and some great hints and tips on this forum.
Cheers all.
Rory

removal of orange software on m3100

before i go ahead and buy the orange m3100 version of the tytn, can anyone tell me how easy it is to remove all the installed orange rubbish from it? and will it void the warranty if i do so? or it it best just to live with it?
never had a windows based phone before
cheers!
If you mean the orange branded home screen rubbish that they seem to love putting on most of their phones then this is quite easy, just go into the today screen settings, items, and untick the orange option, this will see you back to a normal pda.
cool! didn't realise it was that easy!
thanks!
I haven't had direct experience with an Orange device but I do know that it is not quite that simple with an o2 device. If you change homescreen, all it does it change the theme rather than get rid of the o2 UI (which takes up about half the screen whic useless links and icons!).
However the solution to this is not too complicated either. All you need to do is do a hard reset and then do a soft reset before the extended ROM installs. This will definitely leave you with a non-branded device, although you might have to reinstall one or two useful apps that get installed with the extended ROM (eg. when I did it I had to reinstall the smart dialler).
Hope this helps and apologies to Nightshot if I am wrong about Orange devices. As I said I haven't had to do this on an Orange device.
To really get shot of it you can soft reset your device after the initial setup but before the customisation setups run. This will stop the Orange customisation running and leave you with a vanilla WM5 device.
Then you can install the cab files in extended rom without installing the orange customization CABs.
You can find instructions on how to access your extended rom on the wiki:
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Hermes_Unhide_Extrom
If you do it, please post your extended rom here (we still don't have the orange ExtROM contents!):
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Hermes_ExtendedRoms
nice one.
thanks to all for the info.
pof: i don't actually have one yet - just wanted to make sure i wasn't making a mistake getting an orange branded device that i couldn't de-customise.
thanks!
i've just done it
got a m3100 today and removing the orange stuff is one of my 1st jobs. I removed the xda 2i o2 stuff by registering as a corporation but saw no kind of option on the m3100. I deselected orange from the today options and set it to windows default. I dont know if still having the orange stuff on device will cause slow down. doesn't appear too.
I did this to allow me to sync with my Mac but I now don't have my MMS settings and video calling.
How do you get around this?
JustinFe said:
I did this to allow me to sync with my Mac but I now don't have my MMS settings and video calling.
How do you get around this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You did what? Not installing the customized CABS (e.g. the Ext ROM)?
If so, you need to get a copy of the Ext ROM for your orange, and find the file that is responsible for the MMS and Video calling. You can either search in this forum (not sure if there is), or just guess by their names.
I hard reset then prior to the orange customisation/ cabs loading did a soft reset - the 'phone works fine apart from mms and video messaging. I've tried running the MMS cab from Extended ROM, then soft resetting - loading onto device but this doesn't bring MMS back.
Any ideas?

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