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iPhone 3GS boot loop & battery charge problem

K

Kokiron

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 29, 2013
13
0
I recently picked up a 3GS from ebay that has a boot loop issue. I picked it up figuring it wouldn't be too much of an issue to just restore it to factory via recovery mode + itunes, but now that I've got it here my computer doesn't seem to be picking it up. When I plug it up it gives me the low battery icon and then goes to the apple logo after a bit, but then if you just leave it like that after a while it ends up going back to the dead battery icon for a minute or two and then goes back to the apple logo again (obviously since it's stuck in a boot loop it wont go past the apple logo). I can get it into recovery mode too, but my computer still doesn't pick it up (no new hardware sound, it doesn't show up in device manager even though it's getting enough power to get to the boot screen, itunes doesn't start up). If you leave it sitting in recovery mode it does the same deal after a while and goes back to the low battery icon, then to the apple logo again.

I suspect it might just have a bad battery that i'll need to replace, but in the photos from the ebay auction the phone is sitting outside with no hookup and sitting on the apple logo, and the seller mentions only that it would go to the apple logo and then shut off after a while, no mention of any trouble getting it to charge/hold power.
 
Does decive manager pop up at all showing device connected? Have you tried resetting the iPhone or putting it into DFU mode?
 
MrMacMack said:
Does decive manager pop up at all showing device connected? Have you tried resetting the iPhone or putting it into DFU mode?
Click to expand...

Device manager shows nothing, there's no trace of it showing up on my computer at all outside of the fact that it seems to get some power by being plugged in. Resetting it is impossible b/c the computer nor itunes pick it up at all. I think I got it into DFU mode a time or two but it still didn't show up anywhere. I cant be sure if it went into DFU though of course because of the fact that it's not registering at all on my computer, so all I have to go in is the fact that my screen stayed black instead of going into restore mode
 
Did you try other USB ports? You have another computer to test it on. What happens when you plug it into the wall adaptor?
 
MrMacMack said:
Did you try other USB ports? You have another computer to test it on. What happens when you plug it into the wall adaptor?
Click to expand...

I tried all the USB ports, no dice. I also tried the cable that goes to my ipod touch and got the same thing. As for a wall adapter, the only thing I have is one that came with an LG, but when I used it I got the same result as plugging it into my computer's USB ports. I tried plugging it into our other computer and it seemingly didn't do anything at all, but it's an older computer (as in it came with windows XP old).
 
Do you have another iOS device you can plug into your computers to see if they recognize it. This will help rule out the computers as being part of the issue.
 
MrMacMack said:
Do you have another iOS device you can plug into your computers to see if they recognize it. This will help rule out the computers as being part of the issue.
Click to expand...

Only my ipod touch and it picks up fine, though when I hooked it up just now it did a "found new hardware" and installed the apple mobile device USB driver that should already be on here because i've had this ipod for ages?? haha. Still no dice if I plug the iphone in, even in recovery mode.
 
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MrMacMack said:
That's a good sign. Follow the steps here and let me know:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1538
Click to expand...
I actually found this earlier today and tried all of it. There was an update for itunes that I got this morning but now if I tell it to check for updates it tells me it cant connect to apple's servers.

If I could even just get the phone to register in the device manager or something I'd feel better about it
 
MrMacMack said:
Bummer. I really wanted this to work for you too. I'm at a loss.
Click to expand...

Yeah. At this point i'm almost sure it has to be an issue with the battery and it's just not holding enough of a charge for the computer to recognize it or something (though it's strange that it gets enough power for me to get it into recovery mode).
 
MrMacMack said:
How much did you pay for the phone on eBay?

If its worth it, you could dump just another $10 to $15 on a battery to see.

iPhone 3GS Batteries
Click to expand...

58$ plus another 5$ or so for shipping. I'm considering just reselling it tbh, though i'm completely phoneless atm and was hoping I could get this one up and running, make sure it's unlocked, and use it. It's in really great cosmetic condition :( lol

I'm not sure about changing the battery myself, either. Popping it open is a little scary!

UPDATE: The screws next to the charger port are missing???? Someone's been inside it before and changed the battery, I bet.
 
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Another update: I pulled the screen assembly off and the "do not remove" sticker that's over the screw near ribbon cable 7 is missing, so someone has def removed the mainboard in this iphone before. It looks like the screws on the left hand side of the mainboard haven't been properly put back in, either. Anyone think it might be worth pulling it completely apart and checking things out? Would the battery being loose or something cause it to take some charge but not charge properly?
 
Are you able to post some pics. Do be careful with it opened up. Any chance for a return with the eBay seller?
 
MrMacMack said:
Are you able to post some pics. Do be careful with it opened up. Any chance for a return with the eBay seller?
Click to expand...

Nah it was an as-is sale, I figure if I cant do anything with it I can always just re-ebay for parts. I'll try to get some pics, gimme a few minutes.
 
I dont know if you can really see it well in either of these pics b/c my only camera atm isn't exactly the grandest:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/blazecheetah/100_0525.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/blazecheetah/100_0527.jpg

But the heads of these two screws directly above connector 4 are UNDER the mainboard instead of over it holding it down. I'm suspicious that they may be at least part of the problem since they may be disrupting something with connector 4 and I think it's the one that works the home button and the charger port?

Also sorry if those link into my photobucket album idk what it's doing. There's nothing all that interesting in there anyway!
 
Took it apart today and put those two screws back up where they're supposed to be, gonna see what happens. I'm afraid i'm going to have to get a new battery, though.
 
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