How to register/developer Unlock Windows Phone 7 for free, even NoDo

[Paul_Hammons]

All,
Why all the fuss to Chevron Unlock or any other hack when you can just register it as a developer phone and unlock it officially for free????

Oh, maybe you all didn't know about the free part, maybe that is the piece of magic everyone is seeking...

Here is how to register your phone as a developer phone FOR FREE....

1. Get and verify a Dreamspark account. Two options here....
a. If you are a student with an email address ending in .edu just go to www.dreamspark.com, register and verify the email address.
b. If you are not a student or are not in the USA, follow the steps in this link to setup a .edu account, then register and verify the email address. The Tech Game - How to get Free Dreamspark and XNA membership

2. Create an Apphub account and link it to your Dreamspark LiveId.
a. After Dreamspark is verified, go to App Hub - home register your Windows Live ID and signup as a student. It will ask if you have a verified Dreamspark account, follow the steps to link the two accounts. (I didn't take screenshots but intuitive)

3. Populate your required profile information to the point that "My Dashboard-->My Windows Phone" does not show any more pending tasks.
a. You MUST go through the process to submit a "DummyApp" for Windows Mobile 6.5 to Windows MarketPlace before Geotrust will send you the email to verify your identity. Just put "Dummyapp for id verification" in the notes sections. You will have to upload a .cab and a bunch of icons that all have to be sized properly. Just take a .png file and resize it a bunch of times and upload it. Doesn't matter what it is.
b. Geotrust will send an email requesting you to verify some info. I received it about 10 minutes after submitting my app, but could take 24 hours. I answered 4 questions, and then about 2 hours later Apphub took off the "identity verification pending" alert.
c. I also submitted my bank account info, but not sure if this was necessary.

4. Download the Windows phone developer tools from here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/e...c-8b51b34b00ce

5. Run the Windows Phone Developer Registration tool. Sign in with Windows Live ID you registered at AppHub, connect your phone and make sure it is not screen locked, viola, Windows 7 Phone now unlocked. And you can unlock 2 other Windows 7 phones too for a total of 3 phones.

Total process took less than 24 hours due to waiting on Geotrust and MS confirm.
-Paul

[josh414]

Does this really work? Cuz ive been searching everywhere to find a way to unlock my phone.

[Paul_Hammons]

Yeah, works perfectly.
If you are student or have a .edu account, very easy.
If you are a US citizen, a few more steps but still easy.
If you are not a US citizen (ID Verification and Apphub support for your country may be an issue) your mileage may vary.

I have developer unlocked my HTC Arrive from Sprint which only ships NoDo.
The identical post I put on XDA forum has a ton of feedback and success stories.

-Paul

[mapaz04]

Also, just a note... If u have the arrive and can't get the registration tool to recognize it you have to go to SETTINGS-CELLULAR-CHANGE NETWORK PROFILE and wait for it to complete, reconnect phone and try again... I did this on my own and did not see this tutorial till today. Thought this info may be crucial for some as it took forever to find out why my phone was not communicating... jejeje



Sent from my T7575 using Board Express

[DavidinCT]

Yea, I tried this, got a EDU email and registered for dreamspark all in about 25 min....Nice..

[ncsportic]

Once your phone is unlocked, does it stay that way even for future updates?

[hackftw]

If you have an LG Optimus you can unlock and stay unlocked thus :

(I have Mango 2 Beta installed and it relocked my phone post install. I used this trick again and it worked flawlessly)

You can unlock the phone by using the MFG registry editor.


Open the MFG app and use the password to open it. If you don't know it's (appmfg#*#)
Go to Engineer Menu -> Other Settings -> Edit Registry
Set your ROOT PATH to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE"
Set your input path to "\Comm\Security\LVMod"
Set your input key to "DeveloperUnlockState" and set to DWORD
Hit Query. Output result should return a "0" or a random long number. If it does continue.
Set your input data box to "1" and hit SET. Output result should be 1


How To Keep Your Phone Unlocked

You can keep your phone unlocked and prevent Zune from re-locking it.

Open the MFG app and use the password to open it. If you don't know it's (appmfg#*#)
Go to Engineer Menu -> Other Settings -> Edit Registry
Set your ROOT PATH to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE"
Set your input path to "\Software\Microsoft\DeviceReg"
Set your input key to "PortalUrlProd" and set to DWORD
Hit Query. Output result should return data. If it does continue.
Keep your input data box empty and hit SET. Output result should be 0
Keep this screen open and continue to Part 2


Part 2

Set your ROOT PATH to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE"
Set your input path to "\Software\Microsoft\DeviceReg"
Set your input key to "PortalUrlInt" and set to DWORD
Hit Query. Output result should return data. If it does continue.
Keep your input data box empty and hit SET. Output result should be 0
Backout to the password screen and shutdown the phone via powerbutton.
Reboot and sync. Your phone should stay unlocked.

Good Luck

hackftw

[WMFan85]

I'm still stuck at the registering phase. Apphub keeps throwing me an error page after I enter my personal details. https://users.create.msdn.com/Error?errtype=3

I contacted them but haven't heard anything yet.

[JohnMcD348]

I can't seem to get DreamSpark to send an Email to my wifes .edu address. It's listed in the registration section, and I get all the way so that it says it sent an Email to the address, but so far, nothing. There's no filters I'm aware of on her email to keep it from showing up.

Any ideas?