This DIY WSODFix Device Fixes Bricked Nokia N-Gage Phones

There was an interesting transitional phase during the time just before true smartphones came along when cell phones were quite unique. The T-Mobile Sidekick is one of the most well-known examples, because its tactile QWERTY keyboard was popular for texting. But the Nokia N-Gage was definitely the quirkiest cell phone from that era. It was supposed to combine a cell phone with a handheld game console to rival the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. It was a failure, but there are still some N-Gage fans out there. Unfortunately, the N-Gage is prone to the "white screen of death" (WSOD). If you have a bricked N-Gage, this DIY device will let you return it to working order.

The Nokia N-Gage, along with other cell phones running early versions of the Symbian OS, commonly experienced the WSOD due to poor memory management. When the device's internal memory is too full, it cannot boot up the operating system. The dreaded WSOD renders the device unusable and it is only fixable with professional equipment. But that equipment is difficult to find these days, because Symbian OS hasn't had an update in almost a decade. Michael Fitzmayer built the WSODFix device for people who still want to use their N-Gage phones, but who can't get access to the professional equipment that is normally required to fix the WSOD.

WSODFix has been tested on both the Nokia N-Gage (NEM-4) and Nokia N-Gage QD (RH-29), though it might work with other Symbian OS devices. To build your own WSODFix device, you will need an STM32 "Blue Pill" development board, a UFS flashing cable (or a custom-made cable), an RJ45 jack with breakout board, and a couple of resistors. Fitzmayer provides instructions on how to assemble the WSODFix device and how to use it to restore your N-Gage. WSODFix reformats the N-Gage's memory so Symbian OS will be able to boot up again. This is a godsend for N-Gage enthusiasts who have phones bricked by the WSOD.