Tuesday, September 11, 2007

HOWTO: Samsung SCH-u740 Ringtone Unlock

I personally think selling & buying ringtones is a rip-off, especially when the mobile phone is equipped with a memory card slot for loading additional media files. However it is a common practice among mobile phone providers. The phone companies would often lock the phones t0 prevent them from getting ringtones freely.

Recently I got a Samsung SCH-u740 from Verizon Wireless. It is preloaded with ten ringtones which none of them I liked. At least I should be thankful they were not those moronic classical music ringtones. Like many other mobile phones, additional ringtones can only be purchased via its online store.

Using an USB cable (Samsung PCB200BBEB) with software drivers (Samsung Mobile USB 4.40.7.0), BitPim (http://www.bitpim.org/), and a PC, I was able to unlock the phone and load my own ringtones.

Samsung SCH-u740 with Ringtones Enabled

As of right now, there is no dedicated setting for u740 within BitPim version 1.0.1 or test release 1.0.2.2007082. Therefore the phone is connected as “Other CDMA phone”.



The phone’s file system is similar to any operating system. Ringtones are stored in a directory located at

/brew/mod/mr

In my case, I loaded a remix version of the theme song from The IT Crowd (UK version, not the upcoming American shite!). MrInfo.db is a database file to let the phone know there are additional ringtones available for use and locations of the ringtone files. To generate the database file, just reboot the phone either via BitPim or manually.



One thing I found interesting was the dates of these files. Notice they are marked as “11/20/80”? Certainly it does not mean we are living in the 1980’s (or do we?).

The default line in MrInfo.db ends with “|0|0”. For example, in my case it originally shows

/ff/brew/mod/mr/the_it_crowd_remix.mp3|0|0

It needs to be changed to “|0|3” like this



Use Notepad to change it and save back into the phone.

Reboot the phone once more, you are done.

Repeat the same process if you want to load more ringtones & enjoy.


Update: Mar. 23, 2008 - BitPim 1.0.5 supports Samsung SCH-u740:



To view directories within Filesystem, be sure to check View Filesystem under View:

19 comments:

  1. Thank you Tian! This worked flawlessly!

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  2. AWESOME - The instructions were flawless, worked first time. Great job and THANK YOU!

    Now, when you get a chance, how about some tips on adding or changing photos, etc?

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  3. I just bought this phone and your site is fabulous.!!!

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  4. worked like a charme once I had the .0.3 test version of bitpim running!
    Thank you VERY much - I finally can put MY ringtones on that phone!

    R

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  5. I couldn't get either the red or green tip drivers to work. So what I did was go to the Verizon Wireless website and downloaded their music manager software, which includes the driver for your particular phone. After that, everything worked great! This step by step also worked for my friend's sch-u540 phone also. Thanks !

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  6. All files are numbered with ordered file names. You can find these file types in the directories listed:

    Pictures: /brew/mod/10888
    Videos: /brew/mod/10890
    Downloaded tones: /brew/mod/108890/ringtones
    Tones received from messages: /brew/mod/108067 or /brew/mod/mr (as described above)

    If a memory card is inserted, its files can be found in the directory:
    /mmc1
    The directory there are self explanatory.

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  7. thank you soo much, this was sooo helpful!

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  8. Well the new bitpim 1.0.3 and later does all the work for you so thats all you need!

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  9. Tian, your site was the only I find with links to the Samsung suite of USB/Modem Drivers I needed, Bitpim, and instructions on how to do what you've done with your phone with my SCH-U540.

    ....and those Samsung CDMA drivers- MAN are they hard to find (for me, at least).

    Thank you so very much for being such an awesome guy! =D

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  10. Thanks!!!!tian..3 long days could not changed ring tones of my new phone...Now I'm a happy camper..Only a problem might the other person will get...if you don't see mrinfo.db...your phone must set @ default ring tone...change it to any ring tone then reboot your phone..you will see that file.

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  11. This sounds like it's saving a lot of people... unfortunately, seems the Bell at least is using a newer firmware v.AH31 --- with a newer file system that current (and beta) versions of BitPim cannot read.

    Using Qualcomm's QPST software, the filesystem is viewable, but the structure is not like here in Tian's examples.

    hopefully, later versions of Bitpim will fix this, and someone can post the new locations for the files.

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  12. I have a U740 Samsung from Aliant, soon to be Bell Mobility....what are the com ports you need to open. I see the program sets it to AUTO but BITPIM won't find any open port and there is none in the available list when you go to browse for ports. What should they be set at????

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  13. I have the 740 with bell mobility as well. The problem i have is that once i connect the phone via the usb cable, i get a message on the phone telling me it's set up as a modem. i have drivers installed, as well as bitpim but i cannot see the phone or use the samsung sofware to due any type of transfer. Anyone out there who can help?

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  14. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
    i've done this and it worked, and i put Semi-Charmed Life as my ringtone. :)

    can I do the same with images? like PNG files?

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  15. You're great Tian. Thanks for the good work. Now i can put snip-its of audio or whatever on my phone without paying a ridiculous five dollars.

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  16. Bell U740 did not work i used bitpim got the drivers have the cord but it wont show me the filepaths , this has got to be the way this works whats goin on?

    Please any solutions would be so appreciated , i've had this thing for a year!

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  17. Worked great! But how do you remove a ringtone. I used Bitpim and deleted the files but it still remains on my phone. Went to the phone and deleted it there but still remains

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  18. Tian -

    You are fantastic! It took me a year to find this hack, but it's worth it!

    A-non-ee-moose

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  19. I have the 740 with bell mobility as well. The problem i have is that once i connect the phone via the usb cable, i get a message on the phone telling me it's set up as a modem. i have drivers installed, as well as bitpim but i cannot see the phone or use the samsung sofware to due any type of transfer. Anyone out there who can help? I run windows vista anf last version of bitpim and install the driver for u740

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