Unlocking 3GS BB 5.13.04 on ios 5.0.1

[yeska]

Hello! My apologies in advance if this question has already been addressed. I have a 3gs old bootrom BB 5.13.04 running 4.0.1 that is jailbroken and unlocked to T-mobile. I have a few questions.

First off, must I upgrade my baseband to 6.15 to unlock on 5.0.1 or can I preserve it at 5.13.04?

Is 5.0.1 even unlockable? I seem to get mixed opinions on this.

if 5.0.1 is unlockable, what would be the best procedure using windows Xp? Altering 5.0.1 firmware to preserve baseband with Snowbreeze and then jailbreaking with Redsnow?

[i.Annie]

No, you should avoid upgrading to the iPad bb. Yours is perfectly acceptable.

You shouldn't upgrade to 5.0.1 bc Ultrasn0w isn't compatible with 5.0.1, even if you have an unlockable baseband.

You should stay where you are, or upgrade to 4.1 (no SHSHs needed). If you have SHSHs saved for 4.2.1, you can upgrade to that.

Edit: if you choose to upgrade to anything like 4.1/4.2.1 then use a custom fw at all costs. Do not lose the bb you have. Having to upgrade to the iPad bb will yield side effects which is just a pain in the neck to deal with later on.

[yeska]

Thank you Annie. I do have blobs saved for 4.2.1. Would you be so gracious as to recommend the procedure I should use to upgrade? I am a little gun shy after butchering the BB on my other 3gs when I upgraded it to ios5......

[i.Annie]

Well, let's start with downloading Sn0wbreeze. You're on Windows, yes?

Hotfile.com: One click file hosting: sn0wbreeze-v2.2.1.zip

Here's the one you want for 4.2.1.

Also get a stock 4.2.1 ipsw. You can find it in the Downloads section here on MMi.

After you gather all that, let me know.

Do you have an official SIM card to activate in iTunes with after restoring?

[yeska]

Hi Annie. Your patience is appreciated as I'm battling a voodoo hex disguised as a cold.
You are correct, I am running Win XP service pack 3. I have downloaded and extracted sn0wbreeze to my desktop. I pulled a stock firmware off the Felixbruns site and I have an AT&T 3G sim of unknown origin malingering close at hand............

[i.Annie]

Ok good. You have everything downloaded?

Open Sn0wbreeze, select the 4.2.1 ipsw.
Then you want to go to the General menu.
Uncheck the box labeled "activate" and proceed to build your custom 4.2.1 fw.
When that's done, it'll prompt you to put your phone into pwned DFU mode so follow Sn0wbreeze's timer in doing so.
Then open TinyUmbrella, click Start TSS Server.
Then open iTunes and hold shift, click restore.
Select your custom fw, be sure not to accidentally select the stock one you used to make the custom fw.

When that's all done you should be upgraded to jailbroken 4.2.1. Put your AT&T SIM in and activate your phone in iTunes now. You should now have access to your springboard.

Go to Cydia and install Ultrasn0w to unlock.

[yeska]

By "general" do you mean simple mode? the options I'm offered are; BB preservation mode, simple or expert modes only

[i.Annie]

Sorry forgot that step. Select expert mode then you'll see General menu.