3GS stuck on apple screen after update to 5.0.1, can't unlock official SIM card

[melcat76]

Hi team,

My 3GS was on 4.1, but starting to have trouble updating apps (as firmware too old). I created custom firmware for 5.0.1 through Sn0wbreeze, and I just restored my phone..... it seemed to work, but then iTunes tells me the SIM has a PIN (it does) and to unplug the phone, unlock the SIM, then reconnect the phone. However, no unlock button or keypad appears on the iPhone, all I can see is the Apple logo and a progress bar that is stuck on about 90% progress. Restarting makes no difference, the progress bar just progresses to the same point and then stops, and I can't enter the PIN without a bloody keypad. I've tried doing the restore again, but I keep getting the 1600 error.

I'm on BB 06.15.00 and I don't need to jailbreak the thing (it was done once without my knowledge, hence the BB), I just want a working phone again.

Can anyone shed any light?? Any help gratefully received! Thanks guys.

[RRoD420]

You're running iPad baseband for unlock. iTunes will corrupt that baseband since it's not supposed to be on that device. You must use redsn0w to reinstall the baseband after restore, now that you used iTunes to restore. This goes for future updates as well, try to only restore using a custom ipsw instead of iTunes restore otherwise you simply have to reinstall the baseband.

[melcat76]

Thanks so much RRoD420. Okay, so even though I used sn0wbreeze to preserve the baseband in creating the custom firmware, because I used iTunes to restore, that affects the baseband? How else can you apply the CFW if not with iTunes - what program should I use in future?

For now, redsn0w has options for jailbreak/cydia, or everything else: under 'everything else', when I hit 'preserve baseband with a custom IPSW' it says that option isn't available through Windows. Not even sure that's the option I need...you might have guessed I'm a newbie at this! Any tips? Feel free to point to a sticky somewhere, although I've trawled them and can't find any hints. Thanks again.

[RRoD420]

run redsn0w, hit Jailbreak. After it identifies the device version, it'll give you options. At the next screen uncheck everything except INSTALL BASEBAND. It's not actually going to jailbreak if you don't choose INSTALL CYDIA.

[melcat76]

You're awesome Will do just that right this minute, and see how I go. Thanks a million!

hmmm, hit a roadblock, as my version of redsn0w (0.9.9b7) doesn't recognise 5.0.1. Just downloading the latest version now (0.9.9b9d), hopefully will have better luck there! Thanks again for all your help, you've been great

[RRoD420]

yep, you need v0.9.9b9d if you're at 5.0.1

[melcat76]

OK, after a few freakouts, I have reached the point of entering my PIN and setting up the new phone...and I've just got to the part where it asks whether to enable or disable location services. Did I read something, somewhere about the GPS function being problematic for jailbroken phones...?? If I remember rightly, I should choose disable?? and can this be changed later?

[RRoD420]

pretty sure that issue has been resolved, not 100% sure though.

[melcat76]

yikes. okay, so I should choose 'disable' then...do you know if this can be enabled later on? Surely it can....?

[RRoD420]

try it with it on, if you have problems turn it off.

[melcat76]

okay, so that shouldn't break the function irretrievably if I do have problems? Sorry mate, I wish I could remember exactly where I read about this!

thanks so so much for getting me this far, you've been so terrific! I can't believe how many knowledgeable techies are willing to help clueless Aussie gals wade through iDarkness just for the fun of it

[RRoD420]

it's true there was a problem with the location services/gps and 3gs/ipad baseband, if you run into problems just restore again and do the same process. Make sure you save blobs+apticket now using iFaith so you can restore to 5.0.1.

[melcat76]

aha, yes, will do that in a moment, thanks for the tip. I'm actually just going through the redsn0w process again now though, as I tried the option of restoring from iTunes backup, which lead me back to the dreading hanging apple logo screen...does this mean that I actually can't use iTunes at all, or that I can sych with iTunes, but not restore/restore from backups (since I imagine this effectively reboots the phone and you warned me about that).

[RRoD420]

did you run the jailbreak after you got it up and running? If you did it sounds like it's tethered and you'll have to use redsn0w's Just Boot Tethered option to get it to boot.

[melcat76]

i did only what you said to above, which was to only update the BB...I unchecked every other option, but I note that Cydia is on the phone now, and the pineapple logo appeared. Does that mean it's jailbroken? I suppose it doesn't matter, as long as I can sync with iTunes (which it's currently doing)...I did use the just boot tethered option after the BB update did its thing. Does this mean that I'll need to use same if the power runs out, or only if I restore or something like today? Sorry if these seem dumb questions, just want to know what I'm in for!

[RRoD420]

Yep. So it's jailbroken tethered, if you battery dies or you shut off the phone you need to boot tethered. Install semitether from cydia repo: semitethered jailbreak | iPhone News, Apps, BigBoss, Guides & Jailbreaking that way at least the phone will boot without redsn0w but jailbroken stuff won't work.

[melcat76]

Oh brilliant RRoD420, thanks for that Still synching, so will install that app straight after. I gather jailbroken stuff means non-official apps, or such? See, I never wanted a bloody jailbroken phone in the first place - but when we moved to Egypt, hubby tried to be helpful and arranged for it to be unlocked so I could use it as a phone here. All it did was stuff up the phone anyway...and I could have got it officially unlocked from back home in Aus. Hence, I have no idea about the advantages of jailbreak, just the downside Anyway, I wouldn't think I would have any jailbroken stuff on my phone, since it's all come through iTunes. Is that right? Thanks a billion for all your help, you've been so great. If I was home in Aus, I'd send you a thank you kangaroo. As it is though, I'm in Egypt; I don't suppose you fancy a camel instead?