I just started having this problem. My iPhone 3G is loaded with a custom 4.2.1 IPSW using ultrasn0w, but is not jailbroken. When I turn on the iPhone, I see the white snow symbol for awhile, but then it just turns off. When the iPhone isn't plugged in, it won't turn on at all. Any idea whats wrong?
How is it not jailbroken but unlocked with ultrasn0w?? When you create a custom firmware using sn0wbreeze it automatically creates a jailbreak inside the firmware. All you have to do is restore to that (assuming you have the proper shsh blobs.)
I would try restoring back to your cfw and see if this fixes it
Edit: I forgot you have a 3G so you wont need the shsh blobs