custom firmware question

[mmracing1981]

I have a new bootrom 3gs that was previously j/b (tethered) and unlocked successfully on 4.2.1 (with baseband 5.11.07, or what ever the baseband was for 3.1.3). It turned off by itself, but now refuses to reboot thru Redsnow. I had previously done this several times successfully, so I have some practice. When I try to reboot thru redsnow, it just keeps going to the recovery screen logo.
I was thinking about restoring to a custom firmware, but here are my questions:

1. Will I be able to create a custom firmware with pwnage from this iphone even though its in recovery mode?

2. I have another j/b and unlocked 3gs (old bootrom)on baseband 5.13.04 and fw 4.0.1. Can I create a custom firmware from this iphone, thereby updating the baseband to 5.13.04, and restore the first 3gs to this custom firmware?

[Orby]

I have a new bootrom 3gs that was previously j/b (tethered) and unlocked successfully on 4.2.1 (with baseband 5.11.07, or what ever the baseband was for 3.1.3). It turned off by itself, but now refuses to reboot thru Redsnow. I had previously done this several times successfully, so I have some practice. When I try to reboot thru redsnow, it just keeps going to the recovery screen logo.
I was thinking about restoring to a custom firmware, but here are my questions:

1. Will I be able to create a custom firmware with pwnage from this iphone even though its in recovery mode?

2. I have another j/b and unlocked 3gs (old bootrom)on baseband 5.13.04 and fw 4.0.1. Can I create a custom firmware from this iphone, thereby updating the baseband to 5.13.04, and restore the first 3gs to this custom firmware?

1) Yes, as long as you have the corresponding SHSH blobs. For iOS 4.2.1, PwnageTool can only make a firmware that preserves baseband and (hopefully) allows the device to boot past the Recovery logo. Redsn0w 0.9.6rc8 (or so) is still needed after the restore for the actual jailbreak, installing Cydia (and is the only way to insert custom logos, etc.)

Since any PwnageTool restore has to start from Pwned DFU mode, and since DFU mode can be (by design) accessed under any circumstances (assuming the phone's hardware is functioning correctly), you can restore.

2) No, or at least not in the way I think you mean. The custom firmware has the same SHSH blob signing requirements as normal firmware (SHSH blobs are not transferable across devices) and the untethered-versus-tethered stems from the device's hardware itself--the firmware for the old-bootrom devices is absolutely identical to the new-bootrom ones. Custom firmware is created on a PC/Mac, not on the iPhone itself anyway.

[mmracing1981]

I currently have a custom 4.2.1 with 5.13.04 baseband. Can I use this custom f/w to restore the 3GS that is on 4.2.1 with baseband 5.11.07 ?

[Orby]

Usually (and by usually I mean "unless you manually opened the file and changed it yourself") PwnageTool-made custom firmwares are made one of three ways:

1) With no baseband component in them at all, e.g., for preserving whatever baseband you already had (this is the most common).
2) With the iPad (06.15.00) baseband in it, for unlocking an otherwise-locked iPhone.
3) With the native baseband for that version of iOS in it (e.g., 05.15.04 for a 4.2.1 IPSW).

It sounds like you have a 4.2.1 IPSW that falls under category 1--so go for it, should work just fine and preserve the 05.11.07 baseband.

EDIT: That IPSW will likely result in a tethered jailbreak on the new-bootrom phone, so keep that in mind. Then again, this may be old news, but I had to let y'all know anyway.

[mmracing1981]

Orbyorb you are so helpful, so forgive me if I sound redundant. I definitely fall into category 1. Here's my problem: I don't have access to pwnage tool til tomorrow. The phone with the problems is on a custom 4.2.1 with 5.11.07 baseband. I do have a custom FW file for 4.2.1 with baseband 5.13.04. Can I use this file to restore the problem phone? I think the answer is yes, but i just wanted to be sure I understood.

[iYeow]

If the custom firmware is for 3gs, then Yes, you can restore to it to preserve your baseband to be able to unlock with Ulrasn0w.

[mmracing1981]

Thanks for your help and patience. Answered all my of my questions.

[Orby]

If the custom firmware is for 3gs, then Yes, you can restore to it to preserve your baseband to be able to unlock with Ulrasn0w.

^^Yep. If you'd like a link to a custom firmware for the 3GS at 4.2.1 (with no baseband update, i.e., Category 1) just to be safe, PM me and I'd be glad to shoot you one.

[mmracing1981]

So I use the custom 4.2.1 file ha I have with baseband 5.13.04 and did a shift restore in iTunes. I keep getting error 21. I tried upgrading iTunes, rebooting the computer, and changing USB ports, bu no luck? Should I make a new custom FW?

[Orby]

So I use the custom 4.2.1 file ha I have with baseband 5.13.04 and did a shift restore in iTunes. I keep getting error 21. I tried upgrading iTunes, rebooting the computer, and changing USB ports, bu no luck? Should I make a new custom FW?

You need to be in Pwned DFU (with redsn0w) before restoring to the custom IPSW, otherwise you won't have much success.

Are you getting these Error 21 messages when restoring from Pwned DFU?

[mmracing1981]

You need to be in Pwned DFU (with redsn0w) before restoring to the custom IPSW, otherwise you won't have much success.

Are you getting these Error 21 messages when restoring from Pwned DFU?

No, I wasn't pwned dfu? I'll do that now

So I tried entering into pwned DFU mode, but the process isn't working out. I get 1 of 3 results each time:

it goes thru the process and then I get the recovery logo on the phone and redsnow says the device went into recovery mode.
OR
I go thru the process and at the end redsnow says no device detected
OR
I don't even make it thru the whole process with redsnow before the recovery logo shows up on the phone.

Now it might help to know that the phone never completely turns off (I think). I hold power and home buttons, the phone turns off, but then starts turning on right away by itself. I have tried changing USB ports, rebooting computer, and even switching computers. Still the same reults. Should I go tr this on a Mac?

[iYeow]

Run redsnow , browse to OFW 4.1, check the dfu box and see if u can get it to dfu. then restore to Cfw 4.2.1 thru itunes

make sure u have the latest itunes

[mmracing1981]

Run redsnow , browse to OFW 4.1, check the dfu box and see if u can get it to dfu. then restore to Cfw 4.2.1 thru itunes

make sure u have the latest itunes

Even though the phone was previously running 4.2.1? This phone doesn't have shsh saved for 4.1 either. I realize I wouldn't be restoring to 4.1, but just want to make sure were on the same page

Also, can you point me onwards a download link for ofw 4.1? I don't have it

[dane25]

hi,i have iphone 3gs with 4.2.1 baseband 6.15.00.i cann,t restore it and stuckb at recovery mode,i want to unlock it,plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz help

[iYeow]

Even though the phone was previously running 4.2.1? This phone doesn't have shsh saved for 4.1 either. I realize I wouldn't be restoring to 4.1, but just want to make sure were on the same page

Also, can you point me onwards a download link for ofw 4.1? I don't have it

How can your iphone be at 4.2.1 when your bb is 05.13.xx, what firmware is now on this iphone.
I know you don't have 4.1 blob, so you will be restoring to CFW of 4.2.1.

Now that your iphone is in recovery mode, to get to DFU mode by redsn0w, the moment you hit Next to start the 3secs count, you hit the Power button the very same time and then do the rest of the count until it says dfu done.

hi,i have iphone 3gs with 4.2.1 baseband 6.15.00.i cann,t restore it and stuckb at recovery mode,i want to unlock it,plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz help

When you received it, rename only the extension from .zip to .ipsw
You know that you have to restore thru itunes, correct. But of course you need redsn0w 0.9.6rc8 to put you into dfu mode first.

[mmracing1981]

Iyeow, this phone wasom 3.1.3 with whatever the baseband was for that FW (5.11.07?). I then made a custom 4.2.1 FW using the same baseband, then j/b using redsnow. Phone worked great for 3 days, then all of sudden tried to reboot (I'm suspecting a bad package from Cydia), but since it is a tethered j/b, it just kept trying to reboot. When I hooked it up to redsnow to reboot tethered, it starting having this problem. I didn't have access to original 4.2.1 custom FW with 5.11.07, but I do have access to a custom 4.2.1 with 5.13.04 baseband from another 3GS that I have. Orbyorb said I could restore to that FW and I should be fine. Bt I get error 21 when I shift +restore in iTunes. Orbyorb then said I need to be pwned dfu to restore, but that isn't happening. And that's where you come in. Btw, pointing redsnow to ofw 4.1 isn't working for me either. Still cant get into dfu mode.

[iYeow]

Run redsn0w , browse to stock 4.2.1 fw, and you must get to dfu mode using redsn0w, otherwise it will not accept custom firmware of 4.2.1. Reboot your pc first, make sure you have the latest itunes.

By the way, all custom firmware do not carry any baseband update.

[mmracing1981]

Run redsn0w , browse to stock 4.2.1 fw, and you must get to dfu mode using redsn0w, otherwise it will not accept custom firmware of 4.2.1. Reboot your pc first, make sure you have the latest itunes.

By the way, all custom firmware do not carry any baseband update.

I understand what you are saying, but I am having trouble getting into dfu mode. The phone just doesn't seem to be responding to the steps. Phone just keeps rebooting to apple logo over and over. I guess I just need to get the timing right on the steps. Thanks for your help

[iYeow]

Yes, you have to get the timing correct. Is your iphone in frozen logo or recovery mode ?

[mmracing1981]

Yes, you have to get the timing correct. Is your iphone in frozen logo or recovery mode ?

It isn't that it is frozen, its like it stuck in a reboot loop. The only time it comes out of this reboot loop is when it goes to the recovery mode screen, and then itunes says there is an iphone in recovery mode that needs to be restored. I can can turn the phone off temporarily by holding home and power until the recovery logo goes away, and I try and get right into the steps to go into DFU mode, but its like the phone doesn't recognize that im pressing buttons.

BTW, i just understood what you said about custom FWs not having a baseband. I thought that when you ran pwnage tool and then hooked up a phone to out into dfu mode, that it installed whatever basband you were running into the custom FW. Thanks for the clarification.