Need help to fix my friends iPhone 3G - Boot Loop - iOS3.1.2 - Preserve BB

[truncj]

Hey all,

Let me start off by saying I'm pretty stumped. I've been jailbreaking/unlocking iPhone since '09 and seem to have met my match. I'm trying to help my friend unlock his iPhone 3G.

Facts:
iPhone 3G
Last know iPhone OS that was on it: 3.1.2
Stuck in a Boot Loop (Apple Logo with Respring spinner)
Apple still signs 4.2.1 for 3G

Here is what I did:
Created a custom IPSW to preserve the baseband using sn0wbreeze using 4.2.1 stock ipsw
Ran iReb to put iPhone 3G in pwned DFU mode
Open iTunes (shift click + restore) selected the new custom 4.2.1 ipsw (preserving bb)
iTunes returns an error 1600

I checked to make sure that there are no hosts entries redirecting my restore.
According to my though process, everything should have worked. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[i.Annie]

Try pwned DFU mode with redsn0w instead of iReb.

[truncj]

Try pwned DFU mode with redsn0w instead of iReb.

Tried it as well, with no luck. Any other reasons it may not work? Is the SHSH for a custom ipsw the same as that of a stock ipsw? I know apple is still signing 4.2.1, so shouldn't it sign custom 4.2.1?

[i.Annie]

Has nothing to do with the SHSHs. 1600 is an error for failed pwned dfu mode or USB/port issues.

Is it still returning 1600 when you used redsn0w for pwned dfu?

[truncj]

Has nothing to do with the SHSHs. 1600 is an error for failed pwned dfu mode or USB/port issues.

Is it still returning 1600 when you used redsn0w for pwned dfu?

I switched over to my mac and used redsn0w to put it in pwned DFU. After repeating the restore process twice, the iPhone finally showed the sn0wbreeze icon on the screen and had a progress bar (however, the progress bar did not move). iTunes got stuck on "restoring iphone software" and threw an Error (2). What could the problem be...

EDIT: And I did it again..getting error 1643 this time. Still has the progress bar on the iphone even though the restore failed.

EDIT: Back to Error 2...

[i.Annie]

Restore to stock 3.1.3, does it give you an error?

[truncj]

Restore to stock 3.1.3, does it give you an error?

But won't restoring to stock 3.1.3 ruin my chance to unlock? I though BlackRain only works with 3.1.2 baseband and below. Either way 3.1.3 should throw an error since Apple isn't signing it anymore right?

[i.Annie]

Nope, that baseband is unlockable.

3.1.3 and below are still signed by Apple for the iPhone 3G. No SHSHs required.

Don't use Blackra1n, plain and simple Not my jb of choice as of now. I would suggest using Redsn0w 0.9.4 (though you'd need stock 3.1.2 for it to proceed, the device can be on 3.1.3 though).

[truncj]

Nope, that baseband is unlockable.

3.1.3 and below are still signed by Apple for the iPhone 3G. No SHSHs required.

Don't use Blackra1n, plain and simple Not my jb of choice as of now. I would suggest using Redsn0w 0.9.4 (though you'd need stock 3.1.2 for it to proceed, the device can be on 3.1.3 though).

Woops. Totally meant Blacksn0w in my previous post. I'm download 3.1.3 now and I'll give restoring to the stock ipsw a shot. Once I do that maybe I can upgrade to 4.2.1 and still use Blacksn0w to unlock? Cause UltraSn0w wouldn't work on that baseband, would it?

[i.Annie]

Ultrasn0w is the one you want to unlock with. It'll unlock the bb that comes with fw 3.1.3.

You can upgrade it to 4.2.1, I wouldn't recommend it though. The performance is terrible on that fw with an iPhone 3G.

[truncj]

Ultrasn0w is the one you want to unlock with. It'll unlock the bb that comes with fw 3.1.3.

You can upgrade it to 4.2.1, I wouldn't recommend it though. The performance is terrible on that fw with an iPhone 3G.

Good point..I remember those days. I'll update once the ipsw downloads. It's taking 30min..ugh. The first 4.2.1 ipsw took 30seconds.

[i.Annie]

Let me know how it goes.

[truncj]

Son of a *****. 3.1.3 is installing as I speak. Who woulda thought Apple was still signing it... I'm pretty stoked, assuming all goes according to plan. I'll keep you posted, but thanks a ton i.Annie. You're the reason ModMyI is great!

EDIT: Phone is alive! Using JailbreakMe right now. Thanks again.

[DevouredDreams]

Son of a *****. 3.1.3 is installing as I speak. Who woulda thought Apple was still signing it... I'm pretty stoked, assuming all goes according to plan. I'll keep you posted, but thanks a ton i.Annie. You're the reason ModMyI is great!

EDIT: Phone is alive! Using JailbreakMe right now. Thanks again.

3.1.3 didnt requiring a signing on the 3g

[jolyrogger]

iPhone 3G is the only phone that you don't need shsh to restore to any FW. I think 3GS old bootrom is the same way.

[i.Annie]

IPhone 3G still requires SHSHs for iOS 4.0-4.1. It's 3.1.x and 4.2.1 that don't need them.