iPhone iPhone 4S 5.0.1 to 6.1.3 Upgrade & Re-JB Help

[Agent 21]

Hello all. I used to be a pretty active member and haven't been on in quite some time. Travel, work, and life in general have just been so hectic the last year or so. Anyway, given that, I also haven't been able to keep up on all the iPhone stuff, be it new iOS releases and features to new JB methods etc. I've been perfectly content with my jailbroken 4S still running 5.0.1. However, for the past couple months or so it's been giving me lots of issues. The major one being Cydia basically no longer works. I open it and when it loads up, or tries to, it has the white background screen for a couple seconds that just says "loading" with the status circle, and then instead of going to the home screen it says it goes to the black "database" screen and says the following three things in red:

• wow, you exceeded the number of package names this APT is capable of

• problem with merge list
/var/lib/apt/lists/apt.thebigboss.org_repofiles_cydia_dists_stable_main_binary_iphoneos-arm_packages

• the package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened

And if I hit "return to Cydia" button at bottom it DOES take me to home page, but then I can't really do anything because if I search for anything or click on any of my sources the results are just blank, nothing listed. So that, combined with recent issues of Safari crashing, and some new App Store apps I'm interested in needing iOS 6.1, have me wanting to finally upgrade and re-jailbreak.

So given that I've been out of the loop for awhile I decided to google/YouTube any tutorials for how to JB 6.1.3 on a 4S. I can't find anything SPECIFICALLY for the 4s though, a lot of it is either general, or says iPhone 5 in the title. I don't want to mess anything up and do a wrong method, so I figured I'd come back to the trusty MacRumors community for a point in the right direction as these forums have been helping me with questions and knowledge since the iPhone 3G days.

So I'm asking for either instructions or a point in the direction to the best tutorial to upgrade my 4S to the newest FW (well, that part is pretty easy, as I can do it right on phone or iTunes lol) and then re-jailbreak it. I don't even know what the new JB methods are called anymore I've been away so long haha. I've always used the "Ra1n" methods in the past, be it purple-, lime-, black- etc.

**EDIT** I just saw from old threads of mine that the JB I'm on right now is Absinthe, not one kf the Ra1ns, if that makes any difference

I don't want/ever need to unlock, just a jailbreak. Also, I'm still on iTunes 10.5.3.3 and it tells me I need to upgrade to the newest version before updating my software, but I didn't do it (yet) because I remember awhile back for one of the jailbreaks you had to NOT be on te most current version, and again, haven't followed the "scene" in almost a year so I don't know if this still applies. So if anyone could help me out it'd be MUCH appreciated.

TL;DR: I've been away from the JB scene for almost a year and need help/direction to a tutorial on how to JB (no need to unlock now or ever in future) 6.3.1 on a 4S that's currently running 5.0.1 jailbroken. Searched Google and YouTube but didn't find 4s-specific instructions/vids, so I want to be positive I'm using the proper method.

My "specs" are:
- launch-day 4s currently running 5.0.1 jailbroken *EDIT* with Absinthe
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
- iTunes 10.5.3.3

Any other needed info I can provide ASAP.

Thanks in advance

 

[spyguy10709]

Hello all. I used to be a pretty active member and haven't been on in quite some time. Travel, work, and life in general have just been so hectic the last year or so. Anyway, given that, I also haven't been able to keep up on all the iPhone stuff, be it new iOS releases and features to new JB methods etc. I've been perfectly content with my jailbroken 4S still running 5.0.1. However, for the past couple months or so it's been giving me lots of issues. The major one being Cydia basically no longer works. I open it and when it loads up, or tries to, it has the white background screen for a couple seconds that just says "loading" with the status circle, and then instead of going to the home screen it says it goes to the black "database" screen and says the following three things in red:

• wow, you exceeded the number of package names this APT is capable of

• problem with merge list
/var/lib/apt/lists/apt.thebigboss.org_repofiles_cydia_dists_stable_main_binary_iphoneos-arm_packages

• the package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened

And if I hit "return to Cydia" button at bottom it DOES take me to home page, but then I can't really do anything because if I search for anything or click on any of my sources the results are just blank, nothing listed. So that, combined with recent issues of Safari crashing, and some new App Store apps I'm interested in needing iOS 6.1, have me wanting to finally upgrade and re-jailbreak.

So given that I've been out of the loop for awhile I decided to google/YouTube any tutorials for how to JB 6.1.3 on a 4S. I can't find anything SPECIFICALLY for the 4s though, a lot of it is either general, or says iPhone 5 in the title. I don't want to mess anything up and do a wrong method, so I figured I'd come back to the trusty MacRumors community for a point in the right direction as these forums have been helping me with questions and knowledge since the iPhone 3G days.

So I'm asking for either instructions or a point in the direction to the best tutorial to upgrade my 4S to the newest FW (well, that part is pretty easy, as I can do it right on phone or iTunes lol) and then re-jailbreak it. I don't even know what the new JB methods are called anymore I've been away so long haha. I've always used the "Ra1n" methods in the past, be it purple-, lime-, black- etc.

I don't want/ever need to unlock, just a jailbreak. Also, I'm still on iTunes 10.5.3.3 and it tells me I need to upgrade to the newest version before updating my software, but I didn't do it (yet) because I remember awhile back for one of the jailbreaks you had to NOT be on te most current version, and again, haven't followed the "scene" in almost a year so I don't know if this still applies. So if anyone could help me out it'd be MUCH appreciated.

TL;DR: I've been away from the JB scene for almost a year and need help/direction to a tutorial on how to JB (no need to unlock now or ever in future) 6.3.1 on a 4S that's currently running 5.0.1 jailbroken. Searched Google and YouTube but didn't find 4s-specific instructions/vids, so I want to be positive I'm using the proper method.

My "specs" are:
- launch-day 4s currently running 5.0.1 jailbroken
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
- iTunes 10.5.3.3

Any other needed info I can provide ASAP.

Thanks in advance

You can't jailbreak 6.1.3

No, not with shsh,
no, not with anything.

Don't even ask.

 

[Agent 21]

So all of the Google results for 6.1.3 jailbreak aren't real? Because there are tons of them, that also say untethered, and for 4/4S/5.....? Something called "SilverWind" is mentioned a few times, as well "evasi0n"

 

[darricksailo]

Hello all. I used to be a pretty active member and haven't been on in quite some time. Travel, work, and life in general have just been so hectic the last year or so. Anyway, given that, I also haven't been able to keep up on all the iPhone stuff, be it new iOS releases and features to new JB methods etc. I've been perfectly content with my jailbroken 4S still running 5.0.1. However, for the past couple months or so it's been giving me lots of issues. The major one being Cydia basically no longer works. I open it and when it loads up, or tries to, it has the white background screen for a couple seconds that just says "loading" with the status circle, and then instead of going to the home screen it says it goes to the black "database" screen and says the following three things in red:

• wow, you exceeded the number of package names this APT is capable of

• problem with merge list
/var/lib/apt/lists/apt.thebigboss.org_repofiles_cydia_dists_stable_main_binary_iphoneos-arm_packages

• the package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened

And if I hit "return to Cydia" button at bottom it DOES take me to home page, but then I can't really do anything because if I search for anything or click on any of my sources the results are just blank, nothing listed. So that, combined with recent issues of Safari crashing, and some new App Store apps I'm interested in needing iOS 6.1, have me wanting to finally upgrade and re-jailbreak.

So given that I've been out of the loop for awhile I decided to google/YouTube any tutorials for how to JB 6.1.3 on a 4S. I can't find anything SPECIFICALLY for the 4s though, a lot of it is either general, or says iPhone 5 in the title. I don't want to mess anything up and do a wrong method, so I figured I'd come back to the trusty MacRumors community for a point in the right direction as these forums have been helping me with questions and knowledge since the iPhone 3G days.

So I'm asking for either instructions or a point in the direction to the best tutorial to upgrade my 4S to the newest FW (well, that part is pretty easy, as I can do it right on phone or iTunes lol) and then re-jailbreak it. I don't even know what the new JB methods are called anymore I've been away so long haha. I've always used the "Ra1n" methods in the past, be it purple-, lime-, black- etc.

**EDIT** I just saw from old threads of mine that the JB I'm on right now is Absinthe, not one kf the Ra1ns, if that makes any difference

I don't want/ever need to unlock, just a jailbreak. Also, I'm still on iTunes 10.5.3.3 and it tells me I need to upgrade to the newest version before updating my software, but I didn't do it (yet) because I remember awhile back for one of the jailbreaks you had to NOT be on te most current version, and again, haven't followed the "scene" in almost a year so I don't know if this still applies. So if anyone could help me out it'd be MUCH appreciated.

TL;DR: I've been away from the JB scene for almost a year and need help/direction to a tutorial on how to JB (no need to unlock now or ever in future) 6.3.1 on a 4S that's currently running 5.0.1 jailbroken. Searched Google and YouTube but didn't find 4s-specific instructions/vids, so I want to be positive I'm using the proper method.

My "specs" are:
- launch-day 4s currently running 5.0.1 jailbroken *EDIT* with Absinthe
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
- iTunes 10.5.3.3

Any other needed info I can provide ASAP.

Thanks in advance

for the cydia error, just remove your sources one by one until it works again. You just have more packages than cydia is designed to handle

There is no software unlock for the 4S so not sure what you mean by "safe proofing yourself for unlock"

And yes, all those jailbreaks about 6.1.3 are FALSE. Only 6.0-6.1.2 are jailbreakable for iOS 6 using evasi0n. Jailbreaks are only available for a small period of time (for the most part and will become more increasing so as jailbreaking is harder and harder to come by, unless a bootrom exploit is discovered which is not very likely) so you have to jump on it right away before apple patches the jailbreak

If you have 5.0.1 SHSH blobs and are still on iOS 5.0.1, you are eligible for a re-restore to 5.0.1, nothing else

 

[Agent 21]

Thanks for the info. I don't recall mentioning "safe proofing myself for future unlocks", as I have no intention of ever unlocking the phone lol. Maybe I worded it wrong, but I was trying to say I dont ever need/want to unlock, so if there are still multiple JB methods I don't need to worry about using one that will preserve that ability. Like I said, been "out of the loop" for awhile, and last I was active in it there were multiple JB methods and some ruined your chances at ever unlocking in the future so people who DID want to unlock avoided those methods. I was just trying to say, if it's still like that, I don't need to worry about that.

And I'm glad I decided to come back and ask here first before just upgrading real quick lol, that woulda sucked. I'm pretty sure I do have my blobs stored though. So would you recommend just deleting Cydia sources to see if it works or should I totally restore to 5.0.1 and re-jailbreak that?

Also, is there any news of a potential 6.1.3 JB coming, or even being worked on, or are JBs becoming less and less lately? I know last time I was following it a lot of the major JBers were calling it quits (GeoHot, and someone else who's name/group name I can't recall). Is there a new generation of breakers taking over, or is it a dying scene? I used to go to the Dev Team blog a lot, but now all the stuff seems to be about redsn0w, and the posts have a lot of technical lingo that I'm not even familiar with now haha.

 

[darricksailo]

Thanks for the info. I don't recall mentioning "safe proofing myself for future unlocks", as I have no intention of ever unlocking the phone lol. Maybe I worded it wrong, but I was trying to say I dont ever need/want to unlock, so if there are still multiple JB methods I don't need to worry about using one that will preserve that ability. Like I said, been "out of the loop" for awhile, and last I was active in it there were multiple JB methods and some ruined your chances at ever unlocking in the future so people who DID want to unlock avoided those methods. I was just trying to say, if it's still like that, I don't need to worry about that.

And I'm glad I decided to come back and ask here first before just upgrading real quick lol, that woulda sucked. I'm pretty sure I do have my blobs stored though. So would you recommend just deleting Cydia sources to see if it works or should I totally restore to 5.0.1 and re-jailbreak that?

Also, is there any news of a potential 6.1.3 JB coming, or even being worked on, or are JBs becoming less and less lately? I know last time I was following it a lot of the major JBers were calling it quits (GeoHot, and someone else who's name/group name I can't recall). Is there a new generation of breakers taking over, or is it a dying scene? I used to go to the Dev Team blog a lot, but now all the stuff seems to be about redsn0w, and the posts have a lot of technical lingo that I'm not even familiar with now haha.

it will work for sure. you just need to remove some of your sources for cydia to work again. that is a common problem most people run into but the solution to it is very simple

removing a source will not uninstall the tweaks from that source (as far as i'm aware of)

nope, i'd say there's a 99.9% chance there won't be another jailbreak until iOS 7 comes out. Jailbreaks are indeed becoming less and less often as they are much more harder to find than before (utilizing userland based exploits)

 

[Agent 21]

Damn, that sucks. Apple should just let us use our phones like that from the getgo and we'd be all set haha. They're OUR phones after all, that we pay $400+ dollars for. I get not wanting stuff like Installous (which has been dead awhile anyway), that's definitely bad for business, but for people who don't use it (I've dabbled in it in the past, but used it more like "demo'ing" and I would buy the app/game if I liked it, and have the app store bills to prove it haha) and like the other JB features like SBSettings and all the other cool utilities, THAT is stuff we should just be able to do. Then they wouldn't need to really worry so much about JBs, cause we'd already be able to do the stuff we want.

Thanks again for the info. I'll definitely go delete some sources and see where that gets me.

 

[TriJetHero]

You own the hardware, but you 'lease' the software...

 

[TC25]

Kudos to spyguy10709 and darricksailo for quoting the huge original post. :thumbsup: