Upgrading the N9

The N9 I got is the black 16GB Optus variant. Currently running PR1.2 (10.2011.34-1.248.1_PR_248). Instead of letting it get PR1.3 via OTA, I've a mind to flash a stock image manually to remove some Yes Optus stuff (Music Shop, Games, TV Video, and News). Yeah, I know it's only 4 apps (one row), but since I'm upgrading, might as well clean it up. Note that flashing a clean image simply removes carrier branding. If the phone is SIM-locked or network-locked, it remains that way.


Get the latest firmware using NaviFirm+
http://www.symbian-toys.com/navifirm.aspx
Or if NaviFirm+ stops working in the future, go here:
http://www.mrcrab.net/nokia/Nokia_N9.html?productID=4823499691&productType=RM-696
Both link directly to Nokia's firmware servers anyway.

Firmware download takes a long, long time. For the two bin images, prepare to have your download session running for 10-12 hours. I tried using NaviFirm+ and browser HTTP download. Same slow speed. And I ended up with two batches of files with different filesizes. No mdsum provided, so I can't say which one is the correct one. The files from the browser download comes with CRC appended, but doesn't tell you how to generate the CRC code. Personally, I would trust NaviFirm+ over the browser, as it supports pause and resume.

Get the product code from the sticker underneath the SIM tray, or from these links:
http://mobilelivingroom.de/Nokia-N9-product-codes
http://mynokiablog.com/2011/10/03/nokia-n9-product-code-and-variants-shows-uk-ireland-model/
http://www.mrcrab.net/NokiaProductCode/Nokia_N9.html?productType=RM-696

Mine is 059L3N7 for Optus, but I'm thinking of flashing the 059L698 version.

Maemo Flasher here:
http://tablets-dev.nokia.com/maemo-dev-env-downloads.php
Flasher documentation here:
http://wiki.maemo.org/Flasher

Complete flashing instructions here:
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=82693

Actual upgrade was easier than I thought. Couple of things to take note of:
 - command prompt must be run as administrator
 - copy the bin images to the same directory as where the flasher executable is
 - Make sure phone is powered off when connecting it to the PC via USB
Whole procedure took only like 5 minutes.

c:\Program Files\Nokia\Flasher> flasher -i
flasher 3.12.1 (Oct  6 2011) Harmattan
WARNING: This tool is intended for professional use only. Using it may result
in permanently damaging your device or losing the warranty.

Suitable USB interface (bootloader/phonet) not found, waiting...
Found device RM-696, hardware revision 1603
NOLO version 2.0.49
Version of 'sw-release': DFL61_HARMATTAN_10.2011.34-1.248.1_PR_248
Success

c:\Program Files\Nokia\Flasher> flasher -f -F main.bin
flasher 3.12.1 (Oct  6 2011) Harmattan
WARNING: This tool is intended for professional use only. Using it may result
in permanently damaging your device or losing the warranty.

Found device RM-696, hardware revision 1603
NOLO version 2.0.49
Version of 'sw-release': DFL61_HARMATTAN_10.2011.34-1.248.1_PR_248
Sending ape-algo image (7103 kB)...
100% (7103 of 7103 kB, avg. 17282 kB/s)
Suitable USB interface (phonet) not found, waiting...
Ping attempt 1 (250 ms)
Server application: 1.7.2
Found product RM-696 rev. 1603
Server implements softupd protocol version 1.8
Image SW version DFL61_HARMATTAN_40.2012.21-3.299.1_PR_299
Image moslo not present
Image mmc not present
Image tar skipped
Image config skipped

Battery level 93 %, continuing.

    image        [state    progress         transfer     flash speed]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
[x] cert-sw      [finished   100 %       1 /       1 kB      NA     ]
[x] cmt-2nd      [finished   100 %      95 /      95 kB      NA     ]
[x] cmt-algo     [finished   100 %     789 /     789 kB      NA     ]
[x] cmt-mcusw    [finished   100 %    6050 /    6050 kB    3159 kB/s]
[x] xloader      [finished   100 %      23 /      23 kB      NA     ]
[x] secondary    [finished   100 %      94 /      94 kB      NA     ]
[x] kernel       [finished   100 %    2714 /    2714 kB    2446 kB/s]
[x] rootfs       [finished   100 % 1170333 / 1170333 kB   10097 kB/s]
Updating SW release
Success

c:\Program Files\Nokia\Flasher> flasher -f -F main.bin -F emmc.bin --flash-only=m
mc
flasher 3.12.1 (Oct  6 2011) Harmattan
WARNING: This tool is intended for professional use only. Using it may result
in permanently damaging your device or losing the warranty.

Ping attempt 1 (250 ms)
Server application: 1.7.2
Found product RM-696 rev. 1603
Server implements softupd protocol version 1.8
Image SW version DFL61_HARMATTAN_40.2012.21-3.299.1_PR_299
Image cmt-2nd skipped
Image cmt-algo skipped
Image cmt-mcusw skipped
Image xloader skipped
Image secondary skipped
Image kernel skipped
Image moslo skipped
Image rootfs skipped
Image tar skipped
Image config skipped

Battery level 94 %, continuing.

    image        [state    progress         transfer     flash speed]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
[x] cert-sw      [finished   100 %       1 /       1 kB      NA     ]
[x] mmc          [finished   100 % 1946679 / 1946679 kB   12860 kB/s]
Success

More tips and tricks
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1788707
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a85BouTEB_Cr-K4StgDspSXUeWps-MwsA9gEyYtfrDI/edit?hl=en_US
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=78598