Getting original iPhone (2G) working again..

[basehead617]

I found my original iPhone 1/2G and charger, and wanted to get into it again to look at old photos/texts/etc.

I let it charge all night just to make sure there were no power issues, but it's still having the same problem..

When trying to turn on normally, the apple logo comes up then after a few seconds shuts off.

The only thing I can seemingly do is press power and home for about 10 seconds and the recovery mode comes up with the 'plug and iTunes logo' on the Home Screen.

In current macOS Monterey, the phone now shows up in finder, and when I click on it it says Software: iPhone Recovery Mode - if you are experiencing problems with this iPhone you can restore its original settings by clicking Restore iPhone... when clicking that I get this:

I assume if I do that everything will be gone anyway so there's not much point - I don't really get the 'you will have the option to restore your data and settings' part - does that mean if you had an old iTunes backup of the phone? It's confusing because it almost makes it sound like it will backup your data then restore it.

Anything else I can try to get into this phone? I don't understand why it doesn't just boot normally.. I'm pretty sure it did a few years ago.

 

[eyoungren]

I assume if I do that everything will be gone anyway so there's not much point - I don't really get the 'you will have the option to restore your data and settings' part - does that mean if you had an old iTunes backup of the phone? It's confusing because it almost makes it sound like it will backup your data then restore it.

Anything else I can try to get into this phone? I don't understand why it doesn't just boot normally.. I'm pretty sure it did a few years ago.

It means what it has always meant. A restore to factory settings will occur first and it will be updated to the latest version of iOS that it can run. That means the device is wiped. You lose all data on the device.

When the restore and update is complete you will then be presented with the option to put back any data you may have had in a backup. If you have no backup then all you end up with is a factory restored and updated iPhone with no data.

As to why it won't boot normally…well that may just be down to age. Despite having booted normally a 'few years ago' it's been what? A few years now right?

 

[now i see it]

No iPhone ever made can boot or run off of a wall charger alone. All iPhones run off of their battery, and the battery gets charged by the charger.

If your ancient, neglected battery in your 12 year old phone is totally toast, the phone won’t be able to boot or run.
Batteries can a do fail completely.

If you really are keen on getting the data on that phone, replace the battery first. There’s no guarantee that will be the winning ticket, but it needs to be ruled out.

 

[basehead617]

No iPhone ever made can boot or run off of a wall charger alone. All iPhones run off of their battery, and the battery gets charged by the charger.

If your ancient, neglected battery in your 12 year old phone is totally toast, the phone won’t be able to boot or run.
Batteries can a do fail completely.

If you really are keen on getting the data on that phone, replace the battery first. There’s no guarantee that will be the winning ticket, but it needs to be ruled out.

Thanks, I wasn't actually aware the battery health still mattered when plugged in.

Now to attempt to get an ancient replacement battery 😂