Interpreting Signing Error Messages in S60 3rd Edition
Development June 16th. 2006, 12:21pmIf you have been reading discussions at Forum Nokia Developer Discussion Board recently, you may notice there are many questions about signing in S60 3rd Edition. It seems the new security feature in Symbian 9 has led to frustration for some developers.
I would like to share what kind of error messages I have seen when installing signed/unsigned application in S60 3rd Edition phones. There is a hint that explains what may cause a particular message. I may not be able to cover all error messages because I may not have seen all of them.
Read also a nice blog posting from S60 team, Signing applications for S60 3rd Edition.
Message: Certificate error. Contact the application supplier.
Hint: You may have tried installing unsigned application. Note that signing is mandatory S60 3rd Edition. You can use self-signed certificate or developer certificate from Symbian Signed to sign your application.
Message: Unable to install. Constrained by the certificate.
Hint: This message pops up when you attempt to install developer certificate in the unsupported device. The developer certificate from Symbian Signed can only be used in a limited number of devices. Remember that you have to send your IMEIs to Symbian Signed when requesting certificate. You cannot use the certificate in other devices that is not in your IMEIs list.
Message: Required application access not granted
Hint: Check that your certificate can be used to sign all capabilities needed by your application. For example, if you use self-signed certificate, you can only sign basic set capabilities, i.e. NetworkServices, ReadUserData, WriteUserData, LocalServices and UserEnvironment. If your application requires one of the extended capabilities, for example SwEvent, you cannot sign it with self-signed certificate. In this case, apply for developer certificates from Symbian Signed.
Message: Unable to install a protected application from an untrusted supplier
Hint: If you use self-signed certificate, make sure that your application uses unprotected UID, i.e. 0xA0000000 – 0xAFFFFFFF. If you use protected UID (0×20000000 – 0×2FFFFFFF) or legacy UID (0×10000000 – 0×1FFFFFFF), you will get this message.
Message: Unable to install
Hint: This message may come up when your installation file (.sis/.sisx) copies files to other application’s private folder, i.e. \private\uid. Note that Symbian 9 introduces data caging concept, it means you don’t have access to other application’s private folder.
36 Responses to “Interpreting Signing Error Messages in S60 3rd Edition”
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August 13th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
[...] Interpreting Signing Error Messages in S60 3rd Edition from Antony Mobile’s Blog [...]
September 27th, 2006 at 12:21 pm
I have a N73. When I uninstall an application (application manager and Options->Remove) and afterwards, I try to reinstall it, I get the error “Unable to uninstall”.
How can I reinstall the application? Is it fully uninstalled “removing” it?
Thnx
September 27th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
@david: Normally, after uninstalling the application, you should be able to reinstall it again.
My suggestion is try to reset your phone to the default factory settings (using *#7370#) and then try to reproduce the error. May be we’ll get more hints from there.
October 26th, 2006 at 12:02 am
I create application with PY2SIS,then I signed with ’selfsign’.When I install application to the phone it writes me – ‘application’ already exsist.Replace version 1.00 with version 1.00?,then it writes – update error.It does even,when I ever had application install before…..It does on different phones.Can you help me.
Than you.
October 26th, 2006 at 12:22 am
@Tomas: Have you tried to uninstall the application and then re-install it?
October 26th, 2006 at 12:58 am
To:Antony Pranata
I never had application on my phone….I tried with many applications.I don’t know where is the problem.
Thank you
October 26th, 2006 at 9:01 am
@Tomas: Could it be there is another file with the same name in \sys\bin or \resource\apps? That’s the only reason that I can think of.
November 16th, 2006 at 7:12 am
I’m having the same problem as David. Reset the phone (Nokia 3250) with *#7370#, then try installing apps that were originally on the phone (BrowserNG, ImageEditor, SettingWizard, Snakes60). Only Punkwigs (Java) is installed. Can you help me?
November 16th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
@Bart: There is a discussion at Forum Nokia about this issue. The problem is because there is a corrupted file in c:\system\install\registry.
Just look at the solution here, http://discussion.forum.nokia.com/forum/showthread.php?p=256061#post256061
Hope this helps.
November 17th, 2006 at 7:14 am
Antony, thanks for your reply. There’s no .reg file I can find on the phones C:. In fact, there’s nothing but a Data folder, with a few mainly empty subfolders. Just 2 files in the Phone Memory: \preInstalledAppsCache.dat and \data\StarterMonLog.txt.
Meanwhile, I’ve updated firmware to v3.24 16-06-06 RM-38, and another reset, all without luck; same message “Unable To Install”. Have you got any more ideas? tia, Bart
November 23rd, 2006 at 1:20 am
Upgrading a preinstalled application causes “Unable to complete install from memory card. To install remaining applications go to App. manager.”.
This occurs when installing a memory card with a newer version of a previously preinstalled software. Both versions install nicely to a formatted phone but when installed without formatting I get this error. Stub-sis’s UID and version numbering have been changed.
I would greatly appreciate any ideas on how to get the upgrade to work.
May 13th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Hi Antony / pple,
I was trying to modify the certificate settings on my Nokia E50, but I can\’t seem to access the application manager. On clicking the app manager icon it just refreshes the screen.
Firmware ver on my piece is V06.41.3.0
Any tips on how this could work?
May 14th, 2007 at 2:27 am
Dear Antoney!
what are these files on my E50.
-preInstalledAppsCache.dat
-pguard.dat
-installK2.log
Whether deleting these files will create some trouble?
And I am not able to uninstall a program LabyrinthLove
May 14th, 2007 at 6:31 am
@Mufi: I don’t know what is going on there. However, it looks like something has corrupted your Application Manager. My suggestions:
1) Try to remove all of your applications. Note that you can uninstall your apps from the main menu by selecting Options | Uninstall. Thus, you don’t need to go to the App Manager.
2) If the above item doesn’t work, try to reset your phone to the factory settings (by pressing *#7370#). Please check http://www.s60tips.com/2006/04/14/some-useful-secret-codes/
May 14th, 2007 at 6:36 am
@Ali: I am not familiar with two of the files you mentioned. Te preInstalledAppsCache.dat looks like something for pre-installed apps. I am not really sure the content is, but my guess it is to speed-up the loading of pre-installed apps (for example storing hash value of the apps).
June 1st, 2007 at 11:31 pm
hii I have E50 with the new os but i had installed Agile messenger and its trial period expired and i did a *#7370# and resinstalled but it doesnt work that way it some how comes to know i have already used it on my phone.. or id.. of messenger. , secondly i got IM+ in this case … it never works up to the 7 day trial period. just expires in 4 logins in the same day.. how to solve the issue and how to delete agile files in c:/cache folder and one other folder forgot its nam, could some me email me on adityamody@gmail.com thanks a lot
June 2nd, 2007 at 1:36 am
@aditya: Sorry, I don’t give support to Agile Messanger appllication. It’s better if you send email to them directly.
July 26th, 2007 at 6:22 am
Hi Anthony, I have developed an application for Symbian 3rd edition devices which has passed the Nokia/Symbian signing process. When the application is downloaded via Bluetooth or Email installation is as expected on all handsets. When it is downloaded via a url off our server the application gets to 95% done then an error message appears \
July 26th, 2007 at 7:46 am
@Ed: I don’t think the error is related to signing because it happens on runtime. I would say there is a bug in the application itself.
August 7th, 2007 at 5:48 am
What about the message: Certificate may not be valid, expired or phone date settings are incorrect. ?
I get this when generating a plain UI self-signed .sisx application on Carbide.c++.
I configured Software Installation to All as the other article says, but I’m still not capable of installing this app.
August 7th, 2007 at 5:49 am
I mean I get this when installing a self-signed plain UI app.
August 7th, 2007 at 6:55 am
@Avi: You may get this when your phone date is not set correctly. For example, if your PC’s time is set to 10:00 and your device’s time is set 09:58, you’ll get that message. The reason is because the device assume the certificate is signed in the future, which is not valid.
August 7th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Indeed my phone date was wrong.
It worked now. I thought that message was generic, but is actually pointing exactly to what was the problem. Nice.
August 26th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
I am trying to install my application in E50..
But I am getting error message like after finished 75% of the installation
“Unable To install!”
August 27th, 2007 at 5:35 am
@Kannabiran: Normally this message comes when the application try to write to other’s private folder. There is a possibility that it tries to overwrite files from another application. Which application is that?
October 17th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
October 18th, 2007 at 6:47 am
@benson: I think you’re experiencing a bug in S60. The installer file is stuck on your device. Please check my other blog posting, http://www.s60tips.com/2007/01/03/deleting-stuck-installer-files-in-s60-3rd-edition/, to delete the installer file.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
I am trying to install my application in N95.
I modified the Graphics application in S60Ex(add some bmp files to mbm file). It works ok in emulator and pass the self-signed. But when I install the sis file to the device,the error message popuped after finished 90% of the installation.
“Unable To install!”
I do not know how to deal with it?
November 8th, 2007 at 7:50 am
@Lionel: Unable to install normally indicates you’re trying to overwrite something already exists from other application. What I can suggest is try to rollback to the original example and see whether you can install it. If yes, try to add your files. If it doesn’t install, then you know your file causes the problem.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
I have had this nokia N91 for two weeks now must say it is a good at its job (phone),but when asked to become a usefull bit of kit it is let down by the chosen operating system….symbian6 ver 3…the certificate requirements are not user friendly,
therefore i’m afraid the phone must go…and yes i did open the window before i threw it.
(one frustrated N91 owner).
November 28th, 2007 at 8:44 am
I think legacy UIDs are ok for self-signed applications, I ported my application from 2nd ed (becoming a self-signed app in 3rd ed) and kept same UIDs making them legacy UIDs, it works.
So, are legacy UIDs ok both for self-signed and full-signed applications?
Thanks,
Diego
November 28th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
@Diego: Although the application still works, I think you won’t pass Symbian Signed test.
January 9th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Hi Antony,
I have downloaded the following application and I am trying to install in my Nokia N95 mobile phone.
http://www.forum.nokia.com/info/sw.nokia.com/id/471b4e01-d115-406a-b144-7b3b2832a804/S60_Platform_Audio_Streaming_Example_v2_0_en.zip.html
Even I selected application install to ALL its showing the certificate error. I badly in need to make it work. please help me out.
regards
RAjib
January 9th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
@Rajib: That example is signed with self certificate, which is probably expired already. The best way would be compile the application and sign it yourself.
November 15th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I hav problem with mynokia e50 unable to installs and i tryd trusted and untrusted i got the same answer,and even if i want to change certificate setting its say system error,pls help me
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:17 pm
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