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polaristar

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 14, 2011
7
0
Arizona
I set up a new acct with AT&T (no contract) yesterday... they put in the new SIM but could not activate at the kiosk because iTunes 10 won't do anything for a 2G phone, I guess. I brought my iPhone home, d/ld iTunes 8.2.1 got to the activation screen went through entire process and in the end was told the iTunes Store was busy or my network was down... Someone else had the same basic problem yesterday... figured it out and then did NOT post the fix... Anyone know how to get around this glitch?
 
The latest version of iTunes should work fine for activating and syncing any iPhone (even the original model).

The error you got with iTunes 8.2.1 might be because Apple no longer allows activations on a version of iTunes that old.

Have you tried activating the phone with iTunes 10.2.2 on your computer at home?
 
The iTunes 10.2.2 does absolutely nothing when we click on "submit", tried it numerous times there and here at home. After a few phone calls the tech at the kiosk was told iTunes 10 was not enabled to activate original iPhones. The 8.2.1 Ver. at least tried but gave that msg repeatedly.
 
Last edited:
After a few phone calls the tech at the kiosk was told iTunes 10 was not enabled to activate original iPhones.

That's nonsense.

I'd try going to an Apple Store.

They should be able to activate it at the Genius Bar. If they can't, then there's clearly something wrong with either iTunes, the Activation service or your device.
 
I had that issue too. I had to call AT&T because they have to get a manager to activate the unlimited data plan, the CSR said iTunes can't do that on it's own anymore. Try calling AT&T.
 
I had that issue too. I had to call AT&T because they have to get a manager to activate the unlimited data plan, the CSR said iTunes can't do that on it's own anymore. Try calling AT&T.

The plan has been activated by a CSR, I went to the Apple Store yesterday... First had new SIM installed at AT&T Store upstairs at the mall then went downstairs to the Apple Store... no go... went back to AT&T Store and had them re-do my plan and give me a new SIM... back to Apple Store... they wiped my iPhone and attempted 'clean' activation, still nothing. AT&T swears it's a problem with iTunes but Apple is not copping to it yet...
 
at&t says they have no idea,transfer to apple and the senior engineer says the currently have no solution to the problem, but they will be happy to call me when they figure out the issue. how can the call me when my phone wont activate????
 
Same problem

I have had this problem for 4 days now. Same story, back and forth between Apple and AT&T, finally got a senior account tech at 1-800-my-iphone to do some research and he just called to tell me he may have a fix. Says he need to talk to an "engineer" to get something done. Should hopefully have a fix today.... Will post if it works.
 
Why not just create a hacktivated IPSW with Pwange Tool? Don't have to jailbreak or unlock if you don't want. Would take no longer than 20 minutes. It's not like you'll be updating anyway :p
 
Fix....

Found this on another thread: It worked for me. Very relieved. Now I just have to type all my contacts AGAIN. Small price to pay....

"When you get to the itunes store log in, create a new account (different email adress and password). You should have to put in a new credit card also. Hit continue. It should come up "failed" hit continue and it should come up "failed" again. Again hit continue. The phone should now activate and the new account should not be created because it failed. If it does....change it back. I hope this works because after all the aggrevation I never had to do this. Please post if this works. Good luck!"
 
Found this on another thread: It worked for me. Very relieved. Now I just have to type all my contacts AGAIN. Small price to pay....

"When you get to the itunes store log in, create a new account (different email adress and password). You should have to put in a new credit card also. Hit continue. It should come up "failed" hit continue and it should come up "failed" again. Again hit continue. The phone should now activate and the new account should not be created because it failed. If it does....change it back. I hope this works because after all the aggrevation I never had to do this. Please post if this works. Good luck!"

Sorry to bump this thread but as I said on the earlier posted thread, this works!
 
finally got it

not sure if anyone is still having this problem. called up apple and they were able to tell me how to force itunes to activate my phone.

Note:*Activation-only mode is intended only for businesses and education institutions that activate devices for users.
If you are helping a friend or family member activate their new iOS device, choose Sign out from the Store menu in iTunes before connecting the device. If you share a computer, another option is to create or login to their user account before connecting the device, as suggested in How to use multiple iPods with one computer.
To turn on Activation-only Mode on Mac OS X:
1. Make sure iTunes isn’t running and then open Terminal.
2. In Terminal, enter a command:
▪ To turn activation-only mode on: defaults write com.apple.iTunes StoreActivationMode -integer 1
▪ To turn activation-only mode off: defaults delete com.apple.iTunes StoreActivationMode
To turn on Activation-only Mode on Windows:
1. Make sure iTunes isn’t running, and then open a Command Prompt window.
2. Enter a command:
▪ To turn activation-only mode on: "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe" /setPrefInt StoreActivationMode 1
▪ To turn activation-only mode off: "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe" /setPrefInt StoreActivationMode 0



i was able to do this and it gave me the option to activate my phone.
 
not sure if anyone is still having this problem. called up apple and they were able to tell me how to force itunes to activate my phone.

Note:*Activation-only mode is intended only for businesses and education institutions that activate devices for users.
If you are helping a friend or family member activate their new iOS device, choose Sign out from the Store menu in iTunes before connecting the device. If you share a computer, another option is to create or login to their user account before connecting the device, as suggested in How to use multiple iPods with one computer.
To turn on Activation-only Mode on Mac OS X:
1. Make sure iTunes isn’t running and then open Terminal.
2. In Terminal, enter a command:
▪ To turn activation-only mode on: defaults write com.apple.iTunes StoreActivationMode -integer 1
▪ To turn activation-only mode off: defaults delete com.apple.iTunes StoreActivationMode
To turn on Activation-only Mode on Windows:
1. Make sure iTunes isn’t running, and then open a Command Prompt window.
2. Enter a command:
▪ To turn activation-only mode on: "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe" /setPrefInt StoreActivationMode 1
▪ To turn activation-only mode off: "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe" /setPrefInt StoreActivationMode 0



i was able to do this and it gave me the option to activate my phone.


Even doing this will not get an activation screen to come up for me...i have tried just activation mode, no activation mode, activation mode signed out user, activation mode w/ the attempt to make a new account, non activation mode, activation mode with old sim, activation mode with new sim, non activation mode with sim, non activation mode without sim. activation mode JB, non activation mode with JB, restored, DFUd, etc etc etc....god damn nothing will make it come up. Even bought another iphone 2g...nothing.
 
Same problem here on 2 Phones.

We've been using original iPhones since 2007 when introduced.

Wife killed hers and we had a functional but scratched up one at home. Switched sims, no workie. 2 hours with ATT & Apple tier 2. No solution, they said must be a bad phone. (Must have gone bad just sitting in the box:rolleyes: ) We went to the Apple store and ordered a fix for her damaged phone. Waiting on that.

In the meantime, my iPhone had a buggy App so I decided to restore it. Itunes wipes my phone and when it goes to "restore" it, guess what? The dreaded "connect to iTunes" screen. No matter what it wont activate. Same as the previous phone we tried that Apple said must be bad. 3 hours of Apple tech support did not fix it.

So now we have 2 useless iPhones with no contacts, Apps, nothing. Seems the only fix is to upgrade and pay higher monthly fees. If this is planned obsolescence, Apple should come forward and warn people that 1st Gen iPhones will no longer be supported and to not try to restore.

The fix reported here about opening a separate account may work, but it sounds crazy to create an account you don't want.

Has a legitimate fix been found? Thanks folks!
 
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