Stuck in recovery mode - non ATT sim card

[Fab418]

I got this iphone 3GS this morning.

Previous owner says it was jailbreaked and unlocked but was now stuck on the emergency screen. Had a Bell sim in it. I could not determine the firmware version myself but previous owner said it was at 4.2.1

I tried redsn0w with iPhone2,1_4.2.1_8C148a_Restore.ipsw and got an error (don't remember wich the message tho).

I am now stuck in recovery mode and getting error 1015 when trying to update to iPhone2,1_4.2.1_8C148a_Restore.ipsw in itunes.

I do have a non-activated Bell card (it will be activated when I unblock the thing).

Could someone help me as to which thing should I try next?

[Ratman2050]

You should try asking someone you know if they have an ATT sim. I would suggest downloading TinyUmbrella, running it and seeing what your firmware and baseband is. That will help you figure out what to do next if you want to keep the jailbreak/unlock.

You can always restore to a custom firmware that is activated already.

[Fab418]

I would get an ATT sim but being in Canada, it may take a little while so this is my last option.

I have TinyUmbrella and I will give it a try and post back.

I don't have a custom firmware file on hand.

Thanks for the help

[Ratman2050]

Well if you are desperate then you can buy a used sim card on ebay for like $3. But yeah let me know I can help you out further.

[Fab418]

Yeah I know about the cards on ebay but I'd like to fix this 2nite.

Thanks anyway!

[Ratman2050]

Sure just give me some more info.

[Fab418]

I have some update.

I've been able to run redsn0w and a stock 4.2.1 firmware. Now redsn0w tells me to rerun and both thetered but it just brings me back to the usb to itune screen. Any idea where I'm messing up?

[Ratman2050]

Let me get the firmware and baseband from TinyUmbrella.

I recently jailbroken and unlock an iPhone 3GS on 4.2.1 and 6.15.00. Redsn0w 0.9.6b6.

It was untethered as well.

[Fab418]

How should I do this?

In TU, I can see the device but I can't seem to find the info you're asking for.

BTW, I'm on ressn0w 0.9.6rc8

[Ratman2050]

Make sure you have the latest version of TinyUmbrella, click on your device on the left hand navigation, and on the bottom of the program it should display all the info.

[Fab418]

I don't get the info. I have TU v4.21.02 downlaoded today.

On the left hand nav I have a device but with this icon: ?

At the botton I get:

ECID (DEC): 1114116

and:

ECID (HEX): 110004

Dosen't the ecis needs to be 16 chars?

[Ratman2050]

Interesting lol you actually are in somewhat the same boat I was in a few days ago with my iPhone 4 (if you take a look at my posts you'll see what I mean).

The ? icon means that (well I don't know the exact meaning) but when it happened to me it meant that there was no iOS on my iPhone meaning it wouldn't boot up so the ? mark showed.

This is what you are going to have to do. Get custom firmware for 4.2.1 iphone 3GS that is activated first, then:

1. Download official iphone 3gs 4.2.1 firmware.
2. run redsn0w (0.9.6rc8 should work but if it doesnt use .9.6b6)
3. load the stock firmware 4.2.1 and click put in pwnd dfu mode on redsn0w options, and unclick everything else.
4. once it is pwnd dfu mode close out of redsn0w and open tinyumbrella and hit run TSS server. next open iTunes.
5. iTunes should detect your iphone in recovery/dfu mode.
6. if you are on Windows which I believe you are then shift+click on restore in iTunes and point it to the custom firmware for 4.2.1.
7. let it restore and your phone should restore to normal.

then what you can do is rerun redsn0w with the stock firmware and click install cydia and ipad baseband this time, then once that is done you should have cydia on your iphone and unlock via ultrasn0w.

PM me if you need the custom firmware.

[Fab418]

About the custom activated firmware: does it has to be custom made for my carrier and all or any activated one will do?

[Ratman2050]

No it doesn't, just google iphone 3gs 4.2.1 custom firmware and make sure you find an activated one because the unactivated one is for people only on ATT and the activated one is for everyone else.

[Fab418]

Wow! Restored to normal in itunes!

Huge thanks!

Now I get the message that my sim card is not supported, I guess it's normal.

I have a few questions before continuing on:

I'm a little scared about what I've read about the ipad baseband upgrade and not being able to downgrade and all, is there something safer I could do?

I haven't found the info if I will be tethered or not after instaling Cydia and 4.2.1. Any thoughts on that?

From TU, i see that i'm already at 6.15 baseband. does this mean that I don't have to make the 6.15 upgrade?

[Ratman2050]

Wow! Restored to normal in itunes!

Huge thanks!

Now I get the message that my sim card is not supported, I guess it's normal.

I have a few questions before continuing on:

I'm a little scared about what I've read about the ipad baseband upgrade and not being able to downgrade and all, is there something safer I could do?

I haven't found the info if I will be tethered or not after instaling Cydia and 4.2.1. Any thoughts on that?

From TU, i see that i'm already at 6.15 baseband. does this mean that I don't have to make the 6.15 upgrade?

Hmm there are certain drawbacks about the 6.15.00 baseband but when you mentioned in your first post and said you the person jailbroke and unlocked it on 4.2.1 I assumed it would be on 6.15.

6.15.00 is risky but if you are looking for an unlock there isn't that much of risk, you will just have to restore using custom firmware and not stock firmware (you wouldn't need to restore anyways to keep your unlock). Also there have been issues with some people about wifi/gps/etc but some people it works fine. I am sure in the future there will be a way to get out of 6.15.00 so no worries.

It is an untethered jailbreak for 4.2.1/6.15. Here is a helpful website you should use jailbreakmatrix.com, just go to the homepage and on the left hand side there should be a link to their "jailbreak chart" and it gives a list of iDevices and if they are able to jailbreak/unlock on each firmware/baseband.

Good luck.

[Fab418]

Just ran ultrasn0w and everything worked perfect.

Huge thanks again!

[Ratman2050]

No problem, glad it worked out.