Stay Unlock goes 2.0 after two years


Since I developed Stay Unlock two years ago, it had received numerous feedback. I had also started the habit or was it a hobby, of developing small software utilities to do stuff that default Windows Mobile does not provide, e.g. Bluetooth Notification hack, and most recently LED notification. From applying my knowledge of Windows Programming acquired 10 years ago in Windows Mobile development, I have also finally decided to take the opportunity to explore C# and .NET programming. For sure, these development toolkits make development life of a Windows Programmer much easier, as compared to say 10 years ago. You always learn something new but it is also important that you know the fundamentals!Anyway, inspired by the comments from Stay Unlock users, I have decided to pull forward the upgrade effort which I had originally planned for during my year  end vacation (now it looks like I can take a good break in December!). It took me a day, and I’m hoping that it will be useful for existing users of Stay Unlock, although I know during the last one year, many variant of Stay Unlock had surfaced. Anyway, here’s what you can expect from the new version of Stay Unlock

  1. Supports both Smartphone and Pocket PC Phone platform (WM5.0, WM6.0, WM6.1)
  2. Stay Unlock will always run in silent mode, and will never prompt. A log file is created instead.
  3. Stay Unlock now has a separate configuration tool, to support the following options
    1. Turn on/off Stay Unlock, i.e. override security policy enforced by your Exchange IT admin
    2. Always Stay Unlock
    3. Overriding Timeout setting
    4. Once you save your setting, the tool will prompt you if you want your running instance of Stay Unlock to reload this setting
  4. Stay Unlock will also allow override of time out value enforced by Exchange Server. This will address situation whereby users wants the device lock function but prefer a longer time out threshold value than what’s defined by their IT admin
  5. Stay Unlock will also default the timeout to 24 hours, when you set “Always Stay Unlock. There are technical and security reasons behind this implementation, instead of completely disabling device lock function. However, you can still turn off device lock by going to Settings > Personal > Lock, and turn off the checkbox “Prompt if unused for”. Stay Unlock is not responsible for your action to unsecure your device!

Stay Unlock Download Links

Click Here for WM5 PocketPC Phone, WM6 and WM6.1 Professional platform

Click Here for WM5 Smartphone, WM6 and WM6.1 Standard platform

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190 thoughts on “Stay Unlock goes 2.0 after two years

  1. Craig says:

    I was excited to try this but it doesn’t appear to be working so well for my SMT5800 WM6 Smartphone.

    All boxes in config checked.

    Shortcut in StartUp.

    Ap not listed in Task Manager when viewed.

    I’d be willing to send the logs, but I’m unsure of where they are stored.

    I know the ap works for some people. I just wish it worked on my phone. Let me know if there is anything you would like me to try.

    Phone: Verizon HTC SMT5800
    Phone Type: Smartphone
    Carrier: Verizon
    OS: WM6

    Thank you,
    Craig

  2. Hi Craig,

    the app will not show up in Task manager because it’s a silent process running in the background.

    To see if the app is running, check if there’s a logfile “Stayunlock.txt” in the root directory of your device (i.e. “\”), and if the logfile content indicates that the process is running.

    If you have not run the stay unlock configuration tool or soft-reset the device after you have install, the application is unlikely running.

  3. Craig says:

    Hmmm… I have the log. It appears to be configured correctly, but the phone is still locking. Weird.

    Any other ideas?

    Thanks,
    Craig

  4. ok, first of all, make sure that the log states that the “Stay Unlock initialised and started”.

    then, go to Settings > Lock, and see if the checkbox “prompt if device unused for” is not greyed out. If it’s not greyed out, the program is running properly.

    If you have set “”Always stay unlock” in the stay unlock config tool, it’ll not untick the checkbox “prompt if device unused for”, but rather set the timeout value to “24 hours” which effectively make it unlocked.

    There’s technical and security reason why the program does not untick the checkbox when you set “Always stay unlock”.

    Sorry if all these are confusing.

  5. John says:

    Wow, just the program i was looking for. I tried both versions, But bot gave the same result on my HTC touch Pro. They install fine, but after i press the save button i get an error with the following message: (its a Dutch phone so “bij” will prob be “by” in English)

    Stay Unlock Config.exe
    Win32Exception

    bij System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithShellExecuteEx()
    bij System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()
    bij Stay_Unlock_Config.Form1.menuItem1_Click()
    bij System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem.OnClick()
    bij System.Windows.Forms.Menu.ProcessMnuProc()
    bij System.Windows.Forms.Form.WnProc()
    bij System.Windows.Forms.Control._InternalWnProc()
    bij Microsoft.AGL.Forms.EVL.EnterMainLoop()

  6. Craig says:

    Hmmm. Didn’t do anything, but I think it might be working now. Very cool. I’ll keep you posted if I have another issue.

    Thanks,
    Craig

  7. Hi John,

    if its a Dutch ROM, I think that’s because the program path is different from what was hardcoded in the program (which is \Program Files\Stay Unlock)

    can you check where’s Stay Unlock being installed in your device?

  8. Thanks for this program — its great there’s resourceful people like you out there to create these very useful work-arounds.

    I have a Samsung Blackjack II and downloaded the Smartphone app., it seems to install correctly and appears in the ‘Programs’ section. I have checked the ‘Override Exchange Security Policy’ box, checked the ‘box ‘Always Stay Unlocked’, set Time Limit to 24 Hours and checked the box for ‘Turn on Logging’.

    I then rebooted the phne, but when the phone is locked when the phone comes on.

    I would think the phone would power on normally — without being locked — is this normal (phone locked when being turned on) is something not working correctly??

    Again, many thanks in advance for your help!!!!!!

  9. Eric says:

    Hi John,

    I had the same error on my HTC Diamond with Dutch ROM. I solved it by moving the zenyee directory and content from \programmabestanden\ to \Program Files.

    Zen, great program! Thanks.

  10. @Tedk,

    when you ticked “Always stay unlocked”, the effect is really nothing but just setting the timeout to 24hrs, but the lock mechanism is still in place. Therefore you still need to key in your pin code after a reboot. There’s a technical and “social” reason for me to do that. You can always completely unlocked the phone yourself by going to settings > lock to do it.

    @Vicki, first make sure you unzip the zip file, and transfer the CAB file to your mobile device. Open up the explorer in your mobile device, and double click on it to run. Then you can just do a soft reset and the program will run automatically after that. You can obviously use the configuration tool (Start > Programs > Stay Unlock Config) to change some settings.

    @Eric, Thanks for confirming my suspect that the program files path is different in the Dutch rom!

  11. Roberto says:

    Installed your program but It looks that I’m confused. What I’m looking for is a program that doesn’t force me to enter the password every time that I softly press the power button after that my device went switched off the screen after 3 minutes for being unused. I want to be forced to enter the password only when I switched off the device with a prolonged power off press button and confirmed that I want to power off. Is there any way to reach my desire? Thanks.

  12. @Roberto,

    yes there might be a solution to address your needs, although it may sound cumbersome.

    1. install stay unlock 2.0 (which you already did)
    2. run the stay unlock config (start > programs), tick the checkbox “always stay unlock”, this will effectively set your timeout to 24 hours (but still retain pinlock capability)
    3. install pin lock utility from here http://www.zenyee.com/2008/10/16/pin-lock-your-device/
    4. map your hardware button to the pin lock (Settings > personal > buttons)

    now, your device will not lock even after you press the power button. However, when you press the assigned hardware button, your device will be locked. Although you can’t do pin lock using press and hold power button, it should meet your key requirements 🙂

  13. Kelly says:

    I’ve tried both programs, and each does not work. The “Prompt if device unused for” box is still “greyed out”.
    Each time I do the install, it says something about the program not working because it is for an earlier version of the operating system.
    I have Windows Mobile 6 Standard.
    CE OS 5.2.1620 (Build 18125.0.4.2)
    The log file says that “Stay Unlock initialised and started
    Initialising Exchange Policy Override
    registering callback function

    Thanks for any help.

  14. Kelly says:

    I installed the one meant for Smartphone/Windows Mobile Standard.
    I did a soft reset afterwards. By that, I mean I removed the battery while it was up and running. This is a BlackJack II. Is there some other way to do a soft reset?
    My log says [01:40:38] Stay Unlock initialised and started
    ———————————————–
    [01:40:38] Initialising Exchange Policy Override
    [01:40:38] Registering callback function

    Afterwards, when I go to Settings>Security>Device Lock, the “Prompt if device unused for” line is still greyed out. I get 10 minutes, no matter if I choose “Always Stay Unlocked”. or choose some other time value.
    Am I dense? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

  15. Hi Zen..

    I had the same issue with a dutch rom on the HTC TOUCH DUAL.
    Copied it to Program Files/ and it seems to work.

    Thanks,
    I really enjoy your utility!

  16. Kelly says:

    Tried copying to Program Files, then running from there. I get the same entries in the log file, but, after soft reset, it isn’t working for me.
    Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks.

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