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3GS Jailbroken and Unlocked on 3.1.3 - How do I go up?

V

voodooca

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 17, 2010
9
0
Ok,

I need some help...

I have searched the web and this site and I am trying to find out what I need to do to take this phone into a 4.?.? world...

I have a Windows Computer
I have a 3GS that is Jailborken and Unlocked
It has 3.1.3 loaded currently
It has 5.12.01 modem baseband loaded
The phone is from the UK - (I am in Canada) so I cannot use the phone without the unlock.


I dont know where to start...
I have saved the SHSH Blobs, but I dont understand the next steps, or if I even need them...

Can someone help me please?
 
Ok, I have found something... someone let me know if I am on the right track...

I found an old download for 4.0.1 and saw on the jailbreakme.com website that as long as you are not above this version, you can still use the jailbreakme.com site to jailbreak the phone...

Sooooo - do I install 4.0.1 using the file that I phone (and the iTunes restore deal?), then jailbreak using jailbreakme.com, then unlock using the ultrasnow?

I just dont want to lose the unlock - cause I will not be able to use this phone if I cannot keep it off the O2 network in the UK.
 
Ok, one other thing...

Everything I am finding seems to tell me that this should work - EXCEPT...

Can I ACTIVATE the phone on my computer when I install 4.0.1 - the phone will be back to O2 network in the UK and I do not have access to a SIM card from them at all...

Can I just activate it?
 
Beg or borrow an AT&T sim to activate. Edit; or whatever carrier your phone is locked to? We are all AT&T over here.

Alternative is hacktivation which has big drawbacks. A new method is SAM, subscriber activation module in cydia.
 
Thanks Max - I was replying while you were...

Can I just install that custom IPSW file and do nothing else?
I am just a little unclear as to the series of events and how everything should be done...

I have modem firmware 5.12.01 - I am assuming that means the "old" version?

Thanks again...
 
Max - This baby is locked to O2 from the UK - I am in Canada and will assume that I have NO access to the SIM card from that area...

So am I right in thinking that once I upgrade to 4.0.1 from the file that I found I wont be able to activate the phone unless I have an O2 SIM?

Can I just use this custom IPSW and not have to worry about activating again?
I dont quite understand what will happen when I install the custom IPSW.
 
What do you mean localboy? I can call o2 from Canada and tell them to unlock my phone? I have no plan with them... I just happen to have on of their phones...
 
voodooca said:
What do you mean localboy? I can call o2 from Canada and tell them to unlock my phone? I have no plan with them... I just happen to have on of their phones...
Click to expand...

Contact them and find out details.
You might be able to buy a prepaid o2 $15 sim card and use that to pay for the unlock. And then you will have a factory unlocked iphone with no basebands or unlocks to worry about.
 
Absolutely Pursue a factory unlock if you can, you won't have to worry about anything after that. Just use the latest official firmware and use whatever carrier you want, living the dream.
 
Well I read about the o2 idea as much as I could - but it seems like a long shot to get it to work. They have a page dedicated to iPhone unlock requests, but I can't even access it cause I am not in the uk. I also read that you needed to be the original owner of the phone for this to work...

I started looking at the sn0wbreeze method for upgrading and maintaining as much as I could.

I tried using it (2.1) to upgrade to 4.1
I was able to build a custom firmware
Then i got a 3194 error in iTunes while trying to restore using the custom firmware
Apparently it is because that version of the firmware is no longer signed

I have a 4.2.1 custom firmware version that i downloaded - I am afraid to use that and have a locked phone after.

How do i get this phone to 4.0 or higher without the original sim?
 
voodooca said:
I have a 4.2.1 custom firmware version that i downloaded - I am afraid to use that and have a locked phone after.

How do i get this phone to 4.0 or higher without the original sim?
Click to expand...

If it is the ipsw that I pointed you to at the top of this thread that is the one I used and it is fine. Others here are using it too. It won't update your baseband which is what you want.

If you can't get the legit carrier sim you can try SAM (subscriber activation module). The old method for hactivation has issues but it works.

To see if you have old boot rom look for iDetector, it will tell you what you have for sure but sounds like you are set.
 
Yeah - that's the one I have.
So you have a 3GS and used that file?

I have contacted o2 and their initial comment is that the original owner of the phone has to contact then for the unlock - that is going to be close to impossible for me to find that person and get them to do that.

If I use that custom firmware and something goes wrong - how do I go back to 3.1.3?
 
My notes from when I did this.

OK. I tested it out it works.

Things have gotten too complicated with this 4.2.1 firmware but if your on one of the older 3GS its pretty simple to preserve your baseband.

Do it like the old way..

1. Enter DFU mode with any method you like. iReb / Redsnow / Manually
redsn0w needs to see official ipsw file to work.
stored in C:\Users\Jimmy Hoffa\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes

2. iTunes Shift+Restore and select that custom firmware you downloaded.
Be very careful, it should ask for the IPSW file, if it doesn't unplug the phone to abort.


Stop here if you don't want to jailbreak


However their is one problem, that custom firmware does not contain cydia.. so after you've finished running it run redsnow and select the option "install cydia".
I had big problems with redsc0w, had to restore as new instead of backup. Other things like XP mode or setting CPU affinity to 1 may help according to fora.

BTW, that custom firmware does not hactivate so you must do it using SAM (Subscriber Activation Module) I think - im on offical release so haven't tried.
ME=ATT SIM so no hactivation/SAM needed. Even old/no contract AT&T SIMs work, also seems to activate fine with ipad sim too.


ultrasnow = cydia app to unlock

??

profit
Click to expand...
 
Just noticed that you said it does not contain hacktivation...
Not going to try that yet...

Waiting to see what o2 comes back with... Told them original owner cannot be found.

What happens if you use 4.2.1 in sn0wbreeze?
 
voodooca said:
Just noticed that you said it does not contain hacktivation...
Not going to try that yet...
Click to expand...

Yes, that ipsw is clean and open to whatever you wan to do. From what I read I wouldn't want to hactivate either, SAM sounds much better.

voodooca said:
Waiting to see what o2 comes back with... Told them original owner cannot be found.
Click to expand...

This would be the best, keep at it. Everything is irrelevant with factory unlock.

voodooca said:
What happens if you use 4.2.1 in sn0wbreeze?
Click to expand...

I assume it fails or errors, not supported. Redsn0w is all there is at the moment for 4.2.1.
 
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