Re-locked my new iPhone

[cerebus]

If anyone can assist me with this it would really be appreciated.

I got a 2ndhand iPhone 3G on Sunday from a guy on Gumtree - really excellent condition, nothing wrong with it - running OS 3.1.3 unlocked. Then I decided to try jailbreaking it, so put it in DFU mode but iTunes wouldn't load the blacksnow ipsw. So I put it into recovery mode and the same... So I flashed it back to the original 3.1.3 OS - but now it's re-locked itself.

Seems like from reading just a bit that it's actually a common issue with 3.1.3 on certain basebands.
http://newgadgetworld.com/unlocked-iphone-3g-re-locked-after-3-1-3-update

I'm just posting in the hope that someone on here has the knowledge to help me out with a solution? Preferably without telling me what an idiot I am for trying to jailbreak and not researching properly and the rest of it. I have jailbroken iPod Touch before without any issues. How could I know that they'd stuff it up like this with 3.1.3....

 

[bwana]

I successfully jailbroke my 3G the other day with this http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?229190-Spirit-iPhone-3.1.3-and-iPad-Jailbreak-Out

 

[cerebus]

Requirements
Any iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch on firmware 3.1.2, 3.1.3, or 3.2.
An activated device: one not stuck on the Connect to iTunes or Emergency Call screen.
Any version of iTunes 9 (including 9.1.1).
Syncing with iTunes before trying this is highly recommended.

Thanks bwana but my phone is stuck on that part... I don't see it working.

 

[SlinkyMike]

running OS 3.1.3 unlocked

Legit? as in: Vodacom Phone or is there a possibility the phone was bought overseas and unlocked using the common methods?

So I flashed it back to the original 3.1.3 OS - but now it's re-locked itself.

Did you allow iTunes to download and install the firmware?

...reason I ask is that if this phone was unlocked using one of the older methods it will have had the correct bootloader & baseband (the one that can be unlocked as at the current time) if you then allowed iTunes to download and apply an update you will have inadvertently downloaded and installed an updated baseband and bootloader thus making your device un-unlockable.

I have jailbroken iPod Touch before without any issues. How could I know that they'd stuff it up like this with 3.1.3....

'Tis an embuggerance for sure but iPod <> iPhone as the iPod does not require unlock for obvious reasons.

There is light at the end of the tunnel though (and it's not a train):
http://www.iphonedownloadblog.com/2010/02/11/iphone-3-1-3-baseband-051201-unlock/

 

[cerebus]

Legit? as in: Vodacom Phone or is there a possibility the phone was bought overseas and unlocked using the common methods?

Well the guy is a vodacom4u rep so I think it's a Vodacom phone.

Did you allow iTunes to download and install the firmware?

Yes I did.

...reason I ask is that if this phone was unlocked using one of the older methods it will have had the correct bootloader & baseband (the one that can be unlocked as at the current time) if you then allowed iTunes to download and apply an update you will have inadvertently downloaded and installed an updated baseband and bootloader thus making your device un-unlockable.

That is also my guess.

There is light at the end of the tunnel though (and it's not a train):
http://www.iphonedownloadblog.com/2010/02/11/iphone-3-1-3-baseband-051201-unlock/

Thanks will check it out.


Would Vodacom themselves not be able to unlock the phone? Atm it has the legit 3.1.3 firmware. Why can't Vodacom do the job?

 

[SlinkyMike]

Well the guy is a vodacom4u rep so I think it's a Vodacom phone.

...no guarantee although it does seem unlikely that a Vcom rep would have an imported phone.

Yes I did.

Not good.

Would Vodacom themselves not be able to unlock the phone? Atm it has the legit 3.1.3 firmware. Why can't Vodacom do the job?

It's worth a try in the case that there is some other issue but if the phone is not a Vcom phone and is locked by another carrier they'll tell you where to stick it unfortunately.

I'd guess that the unlock will be released shortly after the release of iPhone 4G/OS4 which is not too far away, bummer though as you essentially have 2 iPods now.

 

[cerebus]

I don't even have 1 ipod.... the iTouch is gone and this is locked at the home screen

Is it even possible to just get past the emergency call screen to use it as a normal iTouch?

I can also contact the guy who sold it to me.

 

[SlinkyMike]

Good point - I don't think you can get past the activation screen without unlock, ugh... you can't catch a break dude.

I'd give him a call if only to ascertain the details of the phones history. Then you will know what you are dealing with.

 

[cerebus]

hm he reckons i need to register phone via itunes... Well let's give that a shot and see what happens.

 

[cerebus]

IT WORKS....

Blimey what a relief.

 

[WiT8litZ]

lol failbreak

 

[cerebus]

Yep that pretty much sums it up.

 

[SlinkyMike]

You mean you had failed to activate the phone in iTunes?

...can we start slagging you off for not having read up properly yet?

 

[cerebus]

Yeah you can i'm fully open for slagging off now.

 

[SlinkyMike]

Yeah you can i'm fully open for slagging off now.

Nah, congrats on the iPhone - best thing I ever bought

 

[cerebus]

Yep for the two days I could use it it was a fantastic experience.

 

[cerebus]

Oh fancy that SpiritJB worked.

 

[adsl3g]

Yeah you can i'm fully open for slagging off now.

Oooh - let me let me

You unadulterated twit - why did you not check if the phone has been activated with iTunes - thats the first thing you do when updating firmware.....

Ahh that was good -
back to the forum...

I took the jailbreak off my phone last weekend as I was sick and tierd of cydia not working properly (always with the errors and it takes forever to load and update) and I was also not happy with the sudden battery life not making a full day - an upgrade to v 3.1.3 not jailbroken has cured this and my battery is definately giving me better performance now. Will leave it like this for now as I am not missing anything but SBS Settings and the winterboard wallpaper.

 

[SlinkyMike]

I am not missing anything but SBS Settings and the winterboard wallpaper.

SBS is a deal-breaker for me, the other two are VERY 'nice to haves.'

I found HUGE gains in battery life by dissing push notification and Location Services, you may want to try that strategy - I find both of those to be fairly pointless TBH. I switch location on if I need to use the GPS but otherwise why have it activated and draining your battery?

 

[cerebus]

You unadulterated twit - why did you not check if the phone has been activated with iTunes - thats the first thing you do when updating firmware.....

I deserved that. I'm a worm.