Droid Eris can't get 3G after factory reset

First the answer:

Call ##778 This is a special phone number that puts you into EPST editing mode. You need to enter a password

000000 is the password

The friendly people at Verizon tech support will tell you how to reprogram the MDN, which is YOUR telephone number, and the MSI which is the Mobile station number.  That will make your phone work, but it won't make your phone negotiate with the 3G data login.

That setting is under

M.IP Default profile

You will see a setting called NAI set to 0000004500@vzw3g.com or something like that. THIS IS WRONG

Change it to YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER@vzw3g.com (e.g. 2125553456@vzw3g.com, if your cell phone number is 212 555 3456)

press MENU

COMMIT MODIFICATION

Next, what is happening

When you do a hard reset on your phone, it wipes these settings out.  For some reason the OTA for your phone is not working and the verizon tech support people did not get a full set of instructions on how to fix the problem.

There is nothing wrong with your radio, you don't have to root your phone.