Iphone *3GS* unlocking question

[usjsn]

I searched so many hours.. and more I search more confuse i get..

I just need simple answer..

1. 3GS with 4.0 os unlockable?
-if yes, how? any requirement?
2. 3GS with 4.1 os unlockable?
-if yes, how? any requirement?

if you know link that can help me please post.

[iYeow]

There is no jailbreak at iOS 4.0 or 4.0.1 yet, so there is no unlock too.

[i.Annie]

If you have the old bootrom it's possible to jailbreak only 4.0 and unlock it HOWEVER there are so many prerequisites required.

1) Must have been jailbroken before (but not with Spirit).
2) If jailbroken with Spirit on 3.1.x, must restore and jailbreak again with another jailbreak tool such as Sn0wbreeze or PwnageTool (Mac only).
3) Must have SHSH files for 3.1.x to downgrade to if jailbroken with Spirit before to redo the jailbreak.

I feel like I missed something... ah but oh well. Remember, this is only for the old boot phones. New boot phones cannot jailbreak on 4.0 and 4.0.1.

[eyeRobot]

I feel like I missed something...

I don't think you missed anything, but I don't think it would be necessary to have been previously jailbroken by something other than spirit as you are are going to have to restore to 3.1.2 anyway then JB with Blackra1n and then custom restore to 4.0/4.0.1.

Maybe I'm wrong?!?

[i.Annie]

Well, what I meant was if someone jailbroke with Spirit then upgraded (Im talking about old boot) to 4.0 then expected to jailbreak, they cant. Theyd have to downgrade which requires the SHSH files to jailbreak again with another tool to cancel the Spirit jailbreak then upgrade again to jailbreak 4.0. If they dont have SHSHs for 3.1.2 and only 3.1.3, using Blackra1n is out of the question. Most people would think to use Spirit, which is a no-no if they expect to jailbreak 4.0. Its so complicated -.- lol.

Edit: I forgot to post the main point haha. The main point is, if they were previously jailbrokem before on say 3.1.2 with Blackra1n, and then they upgraded to 4.0, they could jailbreak it without having to downgrade, rejailbreak, upgrade, rejailbreak again. They could just jailbreak where they are. If they jailbroke with Spirit tho, then upgraded to 4.0, then they would have to come back down to 3.1.2/3 and rejailbreak with another tool then upgrade and rejailbreak again. Whew, I hope that made sense.

[eyeRobot]

Funnily enough I just upgraded a friends 3GS on non JB 3.1.3 to 4.0 very easily. Just used spirit, spirit2pwn, cfw restore to 4.0 then ultrasn0w to unlock. It worked like a charm and took half an hour. I know no one wants to take credit for spirit2pwn due to copyright, but it really does work.

We've gone off track though. What was the question again? Oh yes, can you advise if you already upgraded to 4.0 or are you on some other firmware?

[Tophe_3gs]

Funnily enough I just upgraded a friends 3GS on non JB 3.1.3 to 4.0 very easily.

Was that a 3gs with new bootrom?! so can i unlock my new 3gs that is currently not jailbroken and is 3.1.3 !??!??!?!

[eyeRobot]

You can't go to 4.0 by this method (or any other) with new bootrom at present.

However, if you are on 3.1.3 you can use spirit to jailbreak it and then unlock with ultrasnow.

Looking at your other threads it looks like you've been without your iphone since April? So you are probably quite keen to get it unlocked again!

Here is a link for unlocking with spir1t (you will need to have itunes lower than 9.2 - so downgrade itunes if necessary):

http://www.redmondpie.com/download-s...ch-3g-9140718/

Here is a link for the unlock (forget it says 4.0 because it works with your baseband too):

http://www.redmondpie.com/unlock-ios...-how-to-guide/

[jimates]

Funnily enough I just upgraded a friends 3GS on non JB 3.1.3 to 4.0 very easily. Just used spirit, spirit2pwn, cfw restore to 4.0 then ultrasn0w to unlock. It worked like a charm and took half an hour. I know no one wants to take credit for spirit2pwn due to copyright, but it really does work.

We've gone off track though. What was the question again? Oh yes, can you advise if you already upgraded to 4.0 or are you on some other firmware?

You make it sound possible. What bootrom? My daughter bought a 3gs with 3.1.3 and we want to unlock and JB. I do not know what bootrom it has. I did dl f0recast as directed in the unlocking guide but don't know what to do with it. Can't open it.

[eyeRobot]

You can jb and unlock it with ease. Just use spirit followed by ultrasnow. If you have old bootrom you could get to 4.0. But why not just unlock at 3.1.3 for now?

[jimates]

I don't care whether it is 4.0 or current 3.1.3.
I didn't want to just come in and ask what to do so I went to the jailbreaking section and started there.

It directed me to dl f0recast to see what bootrom I had. That is where I got stuck because I can't open f0recast. I dl autoshsh to save the shsh and when I try that it says it worked but there is no file in the save folder and then I get a java error saying it couldn't do it.

Should I save the shsh before using spirit? Most info directs jb by other methods. I have jb both the kids ipods.

one problem with trying to find info is it appears they think everyone has already got 4.0. There is no organization to the guides, just a list and you have to read down the list until you find one that corresponds to your device/fw.

This is the main thing that sticks out:
If you have already upgraded to 3.1.3 then don't follow this guide. iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 2G users with the new bootrom that have upgraded to 3.1.3 you are SOL so don't follow ANY 3.1.3 jailbreak guide – watch the homepage we'll tell you if/when you can jailbreak and how

[eyeRobot]

Ok, it sounds like you're frustrated but you are in a good position.

Just google a guide to install spirit. You will need to downgrade to iTunes below 9.2.

Once that's done, install ultrasnow and you're done. 15 mins max. If you can't find a guide I can google it for you.

Once you've done it you'll agree it was easy. I agree it's confusing there are just so many permutations that the answers aren't handed on a plate. For you though there's an easy solution which will work whether old or new bootrom.

[jimates]

OK great, I am googlin' now.

installing old version of itunes on second computer.

suggested first step is to save shsh and I already pointed out that that doesn't seem to work right. will try the umbrella

[eyeRobot]

Spirit:
Download Spirit to Jailbreak iPhone 3.1.3, iPad 3.2, iPod touch 3G | Redmond Pie

Ultrasnow:
How to Unlock iPhone 3GS/3G on 4.0 Firmware

Be careful with the ultrasnow repo. There's a typo on the graphic but the text is right!

Please let us know it all worked.

If tiny umbrella isn't working just ditch it. Believe me, it will be a breeze.

[jimates]

do i really need to backup the damn shsh.
I know that everyone else was not born with the knowledge of how to do this stuff. Everyone writes guide with the thought that everyone else is only one day behind them in terms of the knowledge.

No one says what to do when their directives don't work.

This is why people wind up in situations with updated fw that can't be worked with and then they come to these forums asking for help and all the old timers speak to them very disrespectful as if it is second nature to everyone.

Refering to this thread
URGENT !!!!! Help to unlock Iphone 3g 3.1.3 baseband 05.12.01

[eyeRobot]

It's not at all important to back ip your SHSH files. The only one you will be able to save is the current one, which is useless to you anyway. You should try to get it saved anyway (4.0.1) but get yourself unlocked first. If it goes wrong the SHSH won't save you.

That wasn't clear was it? I'm on the iPhone so it's tough to type, but basically you can't save your 3.1.3 anymore anyway. If you get tiny umbrella working it will only be able to save 4.0.1 anyway. Get going with spirit!

[jimates]

I have other things to do today. I will get back to this late tonight.

Thanks for all your help.

That wasn't clear was it? I'm on the iPhone so it's tough to type, but basically you can't save your 3.1.3 anymore anyway. If you get tiny umbrella working it will only be able to save 4.0.1 anyway. Get going with spirit!

So, why don't any of the guides tell you that? Why doesn't autoshsh or tinyumbrella tell you that. Just waste, waste, waste time.

As stated, got other things to do now.

okay, got it done.
Installed my t-mo sim and it says my carrier is now t-mobile.

Took longer to read the tutorial than it did to actually do it. If I hadn't had to install the old itunes I would have got it done when we were here earlier.

Put the t-mo sim in and now it says the carrier is Carrier 5.1. I guess that's good.

Now this is what I should tell my daughter, right.
Do not update the fw. As a matter of fact, if it asks you something, you ask me first.

[eyeRobot]

Tell her to never update the firmware in iTunes! Or you will be stuck. Go into cydia and see if you have SHSH files on store, and if none use tiny umbrella to get 4.0.1.

If you can check the bootrom then maybe you could get her onto 4.0 firmware as there are some new features worth having. Though itsounds like you've had enough!

[jimates]

I think they heard something about multi tasking in 4.0 and that would be what they want.
I guess that may be another battle. Of course I still have to buy one more phone for the son and do this all again.

Currently awaiting my activation confirmation from t-mo.

Thank you so much for your help.

[eyeRobot]

If you buy another at3.1.3 or 3.1.2 then try to find out if it's new or old bootrom before you buy. A not completely foolproof method is to go by the serial number. The third number has to be a 9 (as in 2009) and not a 0. The 4th and 5th numbers should be below 40 as that relates to the week, higher than 40 is likely new boot.

That method is not complete accurate but gives you a good idea when buying. It's not accurate due to refurbished models etc. You can check your daughters this way easily but should use forecast on ih8sn0w.com to find out the exact bootrom before we go to 4.0. If you do want to take her to 4.0 it's not hard again just a bit time consuming and you'll be an expert when the boy's arrives!