Can't restore my iPhone 3G

[Ir0nMa1deN]

Alright so I jailbroke my iPhone 3G using redsn0w (i think) and chose to unlock it so that I could use it with T-mobile. The OS is 4.2.1 and after using it for more than a week now, I see that 4.2.1 is pretty slow. After reading on the internet I decided that downgrading to 3.1.3 would be better. So I downloaded the firmware file and went into DFU mode. Then I went into iTunes and shift-clicked Restore and chose the 3.1.3 file. After it did it's thing, I got the 1015 error. I tried using iReb and some other program I can't remember right now to exit recovery mode and it didn't work. So now what do I do? I tried just doing a regular recovery (not 3.1.3 but the latest 4.2.1 or whatever it is) and it still gives me the same error 1015. On my iPhone right now it just shows the USB-->iTunes picture.

[iChuckles]

Use Tiny Umbrella
Start it
Start TSS Servers
Then select your dev from menu on left
Click exit recovery mode
Done

[Ir0nMa1deN]

oh yeah that's the other one i tried-tiny umbrella. didn't work. after selecting "exit recovery" the apple logo popped up and then it reappeared a few seconds later.

[moon#pie]

If you unlocked it using the iPad baseband, you can never restore to a non-custom firmware. You must use pwnage tool to make one.

[Ir0nMa1deN]

could you guide me through how to do that? i'm kind of a noob when it comes to apple :/

ok so i found a custom 4.2.1 firmware (downloading right now) although it looks kinda complicated. could someone explain this:

5. SSH into your iPhone and copy the Cydia folder that came with this firmware into the iPhone directory given below:
/ private / var / root / Media
6. Reboot your iPhone
7. After reboot, now open Cydia has been updated, and you can open Cydia and perform all necessary updates as usual

UPDATE:
The Custom 4.2.1 Firmware just finished downloading. I'm using iTunes to install it right now. Hopefully it works. At least I'll have basic functionality back, then I'll try to get Cydia back tomorrow.

UPDATE 2:

Got error 1604. From looking around on the web I found that it might just be a USB issue and all I have to do is restart the computer and try again. I'll probably do that tomorrow and see if that does anything.

UPDATE 3:
Tried fixing recovery using TinyUmbrella. It doesn't look like its doing anything though.

[i.Annie]

Download redsn0w 0.9.6rc8

Use that to set your phone into pwned dfu mode only.

After you're in pwned dfu do the restore to the custom fw again. You shouldn't get error 16xx anymore.

Be sure the custom fw you download doesn't have the iPad bb packaged in it, you'll want one that doesn't bc you already upgraded the bb before.

[Ir0nMa1deN]

ok i'll try redsn0w but how do I know if the custom fw I downloaded has the iPad bb on it or not? Should i just try downloading another one and see if that works? Also, which firmware would you recommend? Because 4.2.1 is kinda laggy but lots of games and apps require it, and 3.1.3 is pretty old and doesn't have a lot of features.

hmm redsn0w didn't recognize my custom firmware. guess i have to try a different one.

[moon#pie]

Or use an activated custom FW made with sn0wbreeze

[i.Annie]

You might try sn0wbreeze like moon#pie said, it might just be crappy on the iPhone 3G. It could work tho. I always had problems with iPhone 3G and sn0wbreeze.

The custom fw you downloaded, wherever you got it it should tell you if it is 1) activated or not and 2) have the iPad bb or not

If it doesn't say you just have to try. The 1600 error is bc you didn't set it into pwned dfu so it doesn't help me to know whether it has the iPad bb or not packaged in it. That's why you have to use redsn0w for pwned dfu so you can avoid error 16xx

[Ir0nMa1deN]

so should i download snowbreeze and do it myself?

[i.Annie]

Edit: 4.2.1 isn't the best for iPhone 3G but if you disable wallpaper and multitasking (you can make those changes with sn0wbreeze or in Cydia with MyOS) it should run decently.

If it still isn't satisfactory, restoring to 3.1.3 is probably best. The stock fw should've worked fine on it then exit recovery with TU, don't know why it didn't work for you. The ipad bb shouldn't affect 3.1.3 but I guess I could be wrong.

You can also attempt a custom fw to 3.1.3 as well. Same process, redsn0w for dfu then restore.

Also redsn0w you have to use a stock fw not custom

[Ir0nMa1deN]

thanks everyone for your help but im gonna go to sleep now lol. this is just too much crap to go through right now. tomorrow i'll try using redsn0w for dfu except I don't really know how to do that. Don't I need a stock fm for it to be able to continue to the next step? I'm really confused :/

[i.Annie]

You just open redsn0w and browse to stock (not custom fw) 4.2.1 then it'll give you a list to checkmark. Select only pwned dfu mode then follow the timer to put into pwned dfu mode.

[Ir0nMa1deN]

alright just came back from school i'm gonna try getting into dfu mode using redsn0w now.

OMG THANK YOU EVERYONE IT WORKED!!!!!! Running custom 3.1.3 firmware. Now can anyone help me unlock it for use with T-Mobile?

ok then new problem. my cydia installation seems to be corrupt. i went on jailbreakme and it said that my phone is already jailbroken and doing it again could be harmful. should i do it anyway?

ok done. im all jailbroken and unlocked. tested a call and it worked. it was really slow but then i rebooted and it looks like that fixed it. again, thanks everyone for your help