Pwn 4.2.1. => boot loop

[NeuroNerd]

(I searched the site for "boot loop" and didn't find any relevant threads - If this question has been asked/answered in the forum, I apologize in advance)


iPhone 3Gs; bootrom: 359.3.2; baseband: 05.15.04; model: MB715LL; birthdate: 31st week of 2010

Phone had 4.1 unthethered JB from Redsn0w.
Used Pwnage Tool to cook up custom 4.2.1; I left the root partition at the default value given by Pwnage and added many of the extra packages available (it seemed a good idea to do that now instead of downloading them separately later on). I screwed up and didn't un-select "Activate" (I have ATT).
I put phone into DFU mode (yep, I know the diff between DFU and recovery, and even still I double check in Apple>About This Mac>More Info...>Hardware>USB to double check). iTunes accepted my custom firmware selection and did the restore magic. The phone rebooted and was happy. I tried to open Cydia and it flashed open for about a second then closed. I figured it may needed to be restored or something first before it would work.
So I selected my recent backup and that process started correctly. I grabbed the phone on my way out the door to work and it was in the infinite boot loop cycle.

Main point:
After I use iTunes (version 10.2) to restore with a custom 4.2.1 ipsw (made with Pwnage Tool version 4.2) the Cydia app doesn't work. It opens into the initial blank loading screen and closes a second or two later.
Then I got to a place where pwn'ed 4.2.1 would get me stuck in boot loop cycle.
I added in bits of Redsn0w and Greenpois0n.
I've refreshed to Apple's 4.2.1 and tried different combinations.

A Quick overview (yeah, I wrote down most of the steps because I was so confused)
Start with a pwn'ed 4.1 > DFU > pwn'ed 4.2.1 restore > boot loop > Redsn0w DFU > pwn'ed 4.2.1 restore > phone works, but Cydia won't open > DFU > pwn'ed 4.2.1 restore > error 1604 > put back to working phone without Cydia > try Greenpois0n to JB over the "semi" JB > GP fail "giving up..." message on screen > DFU > pwn'ed 4.2.1 restore > error 1604 again > Redsn0w initiated DFU > pwn'ed 4.2.1 restore > Cydia still won't work > Apple's 4.2.1 restore > turned phone off > Redsn0w DFU > pwn'ed 4.2.1 restore > boot loop > Redsn0w DFU > 4.2.1 restore > iTunes error 1600 > DFU > Greenpois0n again > GP fail amd boot loop > Redsn0w to install Cydia > pineapple guy did his thing and phone turned off > Redsn0w to just boot tethered > boot loop > DFU > Apple's 4.2.1 restore > phone works > manually restored w/ untouched 4.2.1 downloaded from internet > phone still works > decide problem is in the Pwnage ipsw......


[edit] FINALLY I FIXED IT!

Restored to Apple's 4.2.1 > ran Greenpois0n over that without anything from Redsn0w or Pwnage > first attempt failes and GP "unexpectedly quits" > phone isn't recognized by GP > run iTunes & it recognizes phone > re-open GP and now phone is recognized > run GP > success > use new Loader app to install Cydia >

So GP over a DFU entered from a boot loop is bad? Either way, glad it's fixed.

I don't know proper forum etiquitte... since I answered my own question do I remove this thread or leave it up for others to read if they have the same problem?


Please let me know, I don't want to be rude!


Thanks,
Tiffany

[Simon]

Glad you figured it out. No need to remove the thread, it can still be helpful to others to see how the issue was fixed.