bought a used iPhone 4S from craigslist

[brokenwindow]

Hello guys, I recently bought a bad esn Sprint iPhone 4S off craigslist. I restored the phone back to factory setting but I noticed that the number of the previous owner is still there in the 4S info on iTunes. Is there anyway of removing this number?

[Applejuiced]

Take out the sim.

[brokenwindow]

The sim slot is empty. Sprint is CDMA so it doesn't need sim card.

[Applejuiced]

Originally Posted by brokenwindow

The sim slot is empty. Sprint is CDMA so it doesn't need sim card.

Correct.
But the sprint 4S does come with a sim to roam outside the US on partner GSM networks. That's where I thought that itunes was pulling the phone number from.

[Ann P]

You mentioned that it was a bad ESN. Could be wrong but it probably means the line has unpaid fees, therefore the phone isn't cleared = bad esn. I think that's how CDMA iPhone works. I purposely bought a bad esn one (Verizon) to have someone flash it before. The previous number was stuck until I actually flashed.

[brokenwindow]

Originally Posted by Ann P

You mentioned that it was a bad ESN. Could be wrong but it probably means the line has unpaid fees, therefore the phone isn't cleared = bad esn. I think that's how CDMA iPhone works. I purposely bought a bad esn one (Verizon) to have someone flash it before. The previous number was stuck until I actually flashed.

Thanks for the replies, is there any way to flash the phone for free unjailbrokened?

[brokenwindow]

Yeah, there's nothing there. ):

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Originally Posted by Applejuiced

Correct.
But the sprint 4S does come with a sim to roam outside the US on partner GSM networks. That's where I thought that itunes was pulling the phone number from.

Oh I see. I didn't know that, sorry.

[clifford84]

as good as ipod now, are you going to get your money back?

[brokenwindow]

No refunds. /:

[MuddyPaws1]

Man we hear about this all the time. Not to beat you up too much but when are people going to start checking ESN's before they buy crap?

[CEmajr]

Sell it on eBay. Some people buy them.

[brokenwindow]

So there's no way to get rid of this number?

[xraydoc]

Why would you purposefully buy a phone with a bad ESN?
With Sprint (and Verizon), you're at the mercy of the carrier as to whether or not they'll activate any particular phone on your service.
Have you called Sprint to see if there's a problem setting up this phone on your account?

[617aircav]

Originally Posted by xraydoc

Why would you purposefully buy a phone with a bad ESN?
With Sprint (and Verizon), you're at the mercy of the carrier as to whether or not they'll activate any particular phone on your service.
Have you called Sprint to see if there's a problem setting up this phone on your account?

You can never setup a phone with bad esn. Never. The carrier won't do it.

[brokenwindow]

Originally Posted by xraydoc

Why would you purposefully buy a phone with a bad ESN?
With Sprint (and Verizon), you're at the mercy of the carrier as to whether or not they'll activate any particular phone on your service.
Have you called Sprint to see if there's a problem setting up this phone on your account?

I'm going to unlock it if I can using gevey or gpp sims because I have AT&T. I just want to get rid of this number that's tied to this phone and I was wondering if I can do it.

[xraydoc]

Originally Posted by 617aircav

You can never setup a phone with bad esn. Never. The carrier won't do it.

Depends on the reason the ESN is "bad."
If it's due to delinquency on the original owner's account, there may be ways around that. If it's due to the phone being reported stolen, then no...

But generally, you're right. Stay away, far away, from phones with a bad ESN.

[Applejuiced]

Once you restore and use a gevey assuming it will work with the latest baseband version then the number will go away and be replaced with your sims phone number.
Untill then you cant remove it.

[617aircav]

Originally Posted by xraydoc

Depends on the reason the ESN is "bad."
If it's due to delinquency on the original owner's account, there may be ways around that. If it's due to the phone being reported stolen, then no...

But generally, you're right. Stay away, far away, from phones with a bad ESN.

What I meant was only the account holder can do this. You can't buy a phone that the esn has been blocked and use it. The carrier will not do this for you.