Can I get some help with my demo unit?

[Windows Central Question]

Please help with my demo unit

Hi. I have just purchased a Lumia 735 from a third person in sealed original box. After unboxing and starting the phone I realized it is a demo unit (the software was limited - I couldn't add my account). I did a hard reset with the key combinations (since the OS didn't offer the option). After the hard reset I could connect my account and it synced as expected. However, now I am concerned whether there are any other limitations to it that I could encounter in the future. Do you know if its possible to compare / check if I have the regular hardware?

 

[Kaushik Banerjee]

Hi. I have just purchased a Lumia 735 from a third person in sealed original box. After unboxing and starting the phone I realized it is a demo unit (the software was limited - I couldn't add my account). I did a hard reset with the key combinations (since the OS didn't offer the option). After the hard reset I could connect my account and it synced as expected. However, now I am concerned whether there are any other limitations to it that I could encounter in the future. Do you know if its possible to compare / check if I have the regular hardware?

Use the Lumia software recovery tool and roll back the to the latest commercial version available for the 735.
This will eventually remove and limitations existing in the device.
You will loose all data on the device and our will boot up in a out of the box condition

 

[RumoredNow]

Re: Please help with my demo unit

You have been bamboozled. No regular units for commercial sale have a demo mode. Demo phones under Windows Phone are hugely difficult to impossible to convert to normal operation status on a permanent and irrevocable basis.

Demo units are not for sale and this one may in fact be stolen. If at all possible return it for full refund. The issues down the road will not be worth whatever "deal" you thought you were getting.

 

[Norbert Sabic]

Re: Please help with my demo unit

The top question is from me, but forgot to log in, so it appears as guest. Anyway, as I said, I managed to hard-reset the phone (using the key combinations), and it appears I have the full OS now (no more demo content and works as it should (OS version 8.10.14219.341)). My wife's MS account synced to the phone, she can download apps from the store, etc. So it appears as any other phone. But you said "hugely difficult to impossible to convert to normal operation status" so I wonder if you could be more specific? Do you know some limitations I could encounter? Is there a way to compare firmware/hardware version numbers to check if it is different from normal?

 

[RumoredNow]

Re: Please help with my demo unit

Here's lots of users with lots of problems in lots of threads.

Search | Windows Central

 

[Norbert Sabic]

Re: Please help with my demo unit

I searched the forums before, but there are no specific answers (just suggestions to return/reset). So for all those who might get into the same situation in the future, here is my experience:

I bought a Lumia 735 demo unit/phone which I managed to hard reset and since then it works normally (and I hope it stays like this).

You can't hard reset a demo unit from the OS, so don't search for it under About option. Instead do the following:

1. Turn off the phone
2. Press power button once (release after vibration)
3. Press and hold Volume Down until you see exclamation mark on the screen
4. After press this keys in sequence: Volume Up -> Volume Down -> Power button -> Volume Down.
5. Done

After hard reset, the phone installed the latest OS version and synced with my account. I checked the model number (beside battery) and it appears to be the same as for normal phones, so I assume the hardware is the same.

 

[RumoredNow]

Re: Please help with my demo unit

The problem is with a button push Hard Reset, you are just reloading the ROM on the phone. It doesn't download anything. It flashes what is stored in system memory.

You still have a demo unit.

 

[Kaushik Banerjee]

Re: Please help with my demo unit

The problem is with a button push Hard Reset, you are just reloading the ROM on the phone. It doesn't download anything. It flashes what is stored in system memory.

You still have a demo unit.

What if he uses the Lumia software recovery tool....and flashes the normal consumer version. Will that fix?

 

[RumoredNow]

Re: Please help with my demo unit

No... The tool is out there and I never mention it because those who are qualified already know or can research and find it on their own.

 

[RumoredNow]

Re: Please help with my demo unit

The bottom line is the User bought a Demo Unit.

They are not for retail use.

Whoever sold it to him stole it.

And they are purposely made defective.

Get the thief to refund you is the best possible answer.

Buy a legit phone.

I don't know what else to say on the subject except that the User got a "bargain" and he has to live with that deal, for good or ill.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Re: Please help with my demo unit

The bottom line is the User bought a Demo Unit.

They are not for retail use.

Whoever sold it to him stole it.

And they are purposely made defective.

Get the thief to refund you is the best possible answer.

Buy a legit phone.

I don't know what else to say on the subject except that the User got a "bargain" and he has to live with that deal, for good or ill.

With that, the thread is now closed.

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