Advice needed for Jailbreak Experts

[thewill]

I've been using the usual software tools to jailbreak and/or unlock the iPhone 2G and 3G ever since they came out, but I've come across a problem where I'm really stumped.

I pwned my 3G on 2.1 and was following the pwnagetool steps for 2.2. After going through the restore with the custom firmware, iTunes indicated that the sim card couldn't be read. I'm on ATT, so I was quite surprised. After replacing the sim and booting the phone a couple times, I still get the same iTunes message. I then downgraded to 2.1 to put the phone back in factory condition. After the restore, I get the same iTunes message about the sim card. I then went to ATT which hooked up the phone and quickly activated it. I could make calls.

I went home and tried to use pwnagetool on 2.2. I got the same message regarding the sim card.

Any suggestions for next steps? Has Apple finally figured out how to prevent iphones from getting jailbreaked or do I have a dud?

[firedog341]

Did you build the custom firmware yourself or download it from somewhere?

[RicardoFelix]

Go to your carrier store, thell fix it.

[thewill]

I built the custom firmware using Pwnagetool 2.2.1.

I did go to the store and the sales rep mentioned that he "unbricked" the phone, but he didn't do anything more than just get the phone out of restore mode and activate the sim card ... similar to using Independence to get out of error 1013.

My problem is that I always get the "Unable to read SIM card" after a restore from factory firmware and custom firmware.


Update 1:

I downgraded to iTunes 8.01 and guess what, the sim card could be read!!!! Factory 2.1 firmware was used.

Beware of iTunes 8.02.

Update 2:

iTunes 8.02 can recognize the iPhone with factory 2.1 coming out of restore now, but iTunes must be launched with missing iTunes .plists (~/library/preference/byhost and ~/library/preference/)

I still haven't had any success with customized 2.2

[bteamer]

Weird...

[thewill]

Latest Update. Problem solved but you won't like the solution.

Hardware: Mac Mini
Software Pwnagetool 2.2.1
Pwnage settings: No activate, 1024 root partition, never been pwned


After restoring with a pwnage custom firmware 2.2 via DFU mode, the only way I could get iTunes to activate the iPhone was by using iTunes version 8.0! iTunes 8.0.1 and 8.0.2 both indicate that the SIM card can't be read.

Be sure to archive a copy of iTunes 8.