vB Easy Archive - Someone trying to sell me bricked iphone, is it a scam?? safe??

Pages: 1

Someone trying to sell me bricked iphone, is it a scam?? safe??
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: yalag

A not so close friend of mine says hes got a deal for me, an iphone for only 250!!! But then he told me, currently right now it's sorta "bricked", he said something about upgraded to 1.1.1 after using an unlock but he assured me that it can be fixed in the coming weeks. My questions is, it this true? If so, is there anything I should check, like the version etc? How would I go about to fix it?

Thank you!!

Posted by: dhendriksen

Quote:

Originally Posted by yalag

A not so close friend of mine says hes got a deal for me, an iphone for only 250!!! But then he told me, currently right now it's sorta "bricked", he said something about upgraded to 1.1.1 after using an unlock but he assured me that it can be fixed in the coming weeks. My questions is, it this true? If so, is there anything I should check, like the version etc? How would I go about to fix it?

Thank you!!

If you do any searching at all, even just reading through the threads on the main hacking and unlocking page, you will find the answers to all your questions.

Posted by: normy1024

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhendriksen

If you do any searching at all, even just reading through the threads on the main hacking and unlocking page, you will find the answers to all your questions.

I dont think that was the answer he was looking for...

For now, it is better to stick with an iPhone with v. 1.0.2 until a mainstream way of unlocking v. 1.1.1 is out.

If you buy your friend's phone right now, you would have to read up on the threads to find out how to unbrick, downgrade, and so on. If you dont want to go through the trouble, don't buy it

Posted by: Drakkhen

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhendriksen

If you do any searching at all, even just reading through the threads on the main hacking and unlocking page, you will find the answers to all your questions.

I know this has nothing to do with hacking...but...

I don't get why people will go out of their way and use their own time to write a reply to a post only to point out the fact that the answer is on the BBS already. You could've probably saved time in just answering him straight. I agree that people SHOULD do a search in the forums already, but there's always going to be people who don't. Are you going to take time to write a reply to each of them to just do a search? We're here to help each other out, and to antagonize someone who has a question that can be answered in two or three sentences makes you seem like a snobby jerk. This is obviously not the only case, as negative and unhelpful sarcastic rhetoric is found all over this place. We are all on the same side here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yalag

Yalag,

Currently, there are several different options to unbrick a bricked iPhone by means of downgrading and installing the appropriate software. Look up iPhoneSimFree and have a read over their tutorials - It'll cost ya around $60 if you go this route, but if you've paid only $250, you should have tonnes of cash left over

Next time, do a search in the forums for these things as they are very popular topics, and you'll be able to find what you need in minutes!

Hope this helps!

D.

Posted by: yalag

I'm sorry guys! I did attempt a search however, there are way too many different guides out there, one for bricked 1.0.2 phones, one for virgin 1.1.1, one for straight 1.0.2 upgrades, one for ipsf etc etc

Drakkhen appreciate your answer, however a few more small questions if I may. I hear there is a unlock count, will this affect me? Is there a way to check the count?

Suppose I want to shell out the 60$, is this fool proof? Under what circumstances will I end up with a 250$ brick?

Posted by: Red Setter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drakkhen

Mainly because, if some of the repetitive threads aren't stopped early on, and the posters pushed to search for their own solutions (especially to something as opvious as this - c'mon... it's been front page news for a week now - every other thread is about restoring bricked phones) then the cycle never ends. And those who do actually try to be helpful get disgusted and stop reading or replying.

It gets old replying to the same questions 10-15 times a day on 10-15 threads when all the poster has to do is READ a few lines. If they had at least posted at the end of one of the unbricking posts - stead of making yet another thread - it wouldn't be as bad. At least you can see they found the thread to reply to....

Posted by: Drakkhen

Quote:

Originally Posted by yalag

I'm sorry guys! I did attempt a search however, there are way too many different guides out there, one for bricked 1.0.2 phones, one for virgin 1.1.1, one for straight 1.0.2 upgrades, one for ipsf etc etc

Drakkhen appreciate your answer, however a few more small questions if I may. I hear there is a unlock count, will this affect me? Is there a way to check the count?

Suppose I want to shell out the 60$, is this fool proof? Under what circumstances will I end up with a 250$ brick?

The $60 you shell out will get your phone unlocked up to and including 1.1.1 - This is also the same software/service that will un-brick your iphone. Of course, you'll have to do some preliminary ground work - I haven't read too much on how to unbrick an iPhone, but I'm quite certain that the iPhoneSimFree is essential to that process. I'm probably not the best person to ask, since I haven't even received my iPhone yet (tomorrow, baby!!!), but it seems like every bricked iPhone (that was bricked because of a botched unlock / firmware upgrade) can now be restored.

Hey, out of curiosity, is that iPhone a 4 or 8GB?

L.

Posted by: Red Setter

Quote:

Originally Posted by yalag

In short: yes it's true. You don't need to check for anything other than that he phone turns on. The assumption is already that it's a 1.0.2 phone, unlocked with AnySIM and upgraded to 1.1.1. Welcome to September 2007

My best suggestion, since you're buying the phone for $250, is to spend another $60 and buy the IPSF unlock license. At this time it's pretty much the best/simplest/only sure way to restore a bricked phone to full functionality.

Posted by: Red Setter

Nothing about a hack or unlock is ever guaranteed. You have to know that going into the deal. All APple needs to do is tweak something in the next update and all bets are off across the board

What seems to keep IPSF ahead of the pack is the fact that it uses a more 'legit' means of unlcoking. In other words: it doesnt so much hack the phone as tap into the same scripts that Apple or AT&T would if they were to sell you an unlock code. And as such it isn't as susceptible to firmware or software updates.

Will it remain that way? Who knows. If it becoems an issue soemwhere down the road Apple may in fact make some changes that would relock it. But the bottom line is, even if they did, the phone wouldn't be a brick (if it wasn't before IPSF that is.) unlike the AnySIM iBricks.

To date, there is no way to completely reverse the damage AnySIM caused to the baseband firmware. All the downgrade and virginizing methods you will find will tell you: It does not erase the damage AnySIM did to the phone.

Posted by: Drakkhen

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Setter

Nothing about a hack or unlock is ever guaranteed. You have to know that going into the deal. All APple needs to do is tweak something in the next update and all bets are off across the board

What seems to keep IPSF ahead of the pack is the fact that it uses a more 'legit' means of unlcoking. In other words: it doesnt so much hack the phone as tap into the same scripts that Apple or AT&T would if they were to sell you an unlock code. And as such it isn't as susceptible to firmware or software updates.

Will it remain that way? Who knows. If it becoems an issue soemwhere down the road Apple may in fact make some changes that would relock it. But the bottom line is, even if they did, the phone wouldn't be a brick (if it wasn't before IPSF that is.) unlike the AnySIM iBricks.

To date, there is no way to completely reverse the damage AnySIM caused to the baseband firmware. All the downgrade and virginizing methods you will find will tell you: It does not erase the damage AnySIM did to the phone.

Oh, and what he means by that is...DON'T USE ANYSIM

Sorry...just in case that didn't come across clear enough

Posted by: Red Setter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drakkhen

Oh, and what he means by that is...DON'T USE ANYSIM

Sorry...just in case that didn't come across clear enough

Sigh... It's SHE demmit!!!!

Posted by: yalag

Drakkhen: its an 8gig so I suppose it not bad a deal provided I can make it work.

I thought IPSF can cure the anysim damage? I'm basically counting on this for my strategy arent I?

Posted by: Drakkhen

Yeah right...that's un-possible...only no-life single nerd-dudes who pop their own pimples and still live with their parents like to hack around w/ iPhones!!!

Posted by: Red Setter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drakkhen

Yeah right...that's un-possible...only no-life single nerd-dudes who pop their own pimples and still live with their parents like to hack around w/ iPhones!!!

Gah!!! Busted!!!

Posted by: Red Setter

Quote:

Originally Posted by yalag

Drakkhen: its an 8gig so I suppose it not bad a deal provided I can make it work.

I thought IPSF can cure the anysim damage? I'm basically counting on this for my strategy arent I?

IPSF can cure the AnySIM damage. That's what I've been saying.

Quote:

October 10th, 2007:
Worlds First Unlock for iPhone 1.1.1 / 04.01.13_G Firmware

Our sincere congratulations, to the iPhone/ iTouch Dev Team for their brilliant work in finding an ingenious way to jailbreak the 1.1.1 system. This exciting news means we are now able to gladly welcome all SIMFREE unlocked phone owners to UPGRADE to 1.1.1 if they so wish

Further to this, we are very proud to announce, (after some very difficult and lengthy hardware hackery), we were able to retrieve the necessary info to create the world first 1.1.1 unlock solution. We have now tested SimFree v1.6 with phones that have the new Baseband version 04.01.13_G with full success. This now means that SimFree v1.6 release, is now capable of completely restoring/repairing software unlocked "bricked" iPhone. Those of you wishing to repair your phone, please read the following steps.

Steps for "un-bricking" your anySim or iUnock iPhones:

1. Follow the iPhone/iTouch dev team steps to bring your phone back to 1.0.2 system (your baseband firmware will still be the newer 04.01.13_G)

2. Register your true IMEI (found engraved on the back of your phone) with our servers through one of our trusted resellers.

3. Power down your phone and REMOVE your sim

4. Power up with the sim removed and Install SimFree.app 1.6 (simplest method is through apptapp installer, see post below)

5. Follow this tutorial to execute the Simfree. app.

Read the entire thing HERE complete with links to the tutorials

Posted by: yalag

Thanks Red Setter, so in other words, in summary when I buy the IPSF I will be able to use that iphone no matter what

Posted by: Drakkhen

yes!!!

Want a cookie?

hey - If you have any 2nd thoughts on that iPhone, I'll buy it off you for $250..hehehe

Posted by: Red Setter

Quote:

Originally Posted by yalag

Thanks Red Setter, so in other words, in summary when I buy the IPSF I will be able to use that iphone no matter what

That's the way I read it.

You'll have a few steps to take - downgrading the software back to 1.0.2 then jailbreaking it but it's a straightforward process and (once you get past the "OMG not another post about that same thing again" flames) we're pretty good at helping folks get through the procedure with minimal scarring....

Posted by: sloan47

First of all you need to trust that 1.1.1 "bricked" the phone. It is possible there's another hardware problem with the phone and he's trying to pawn it off on someone else. It's one of the reasons I don't trust Craigslist for electronics. :/

Posted by: Red Setter

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloan47

First of all you need to trust that 1.1.1 "bricked" the phone. It is possible there's another hardware problem with the phone and he's trying to pawn it off on someone else. It's one of the reasons I don't trust Craigslist for electronics. :/

very valid point

But on the flip side, if it wasn't 1.1.1 that bricked it then he's not out of compliance with the EULA and can bring it to Apple for support, no? And I'm assuming the original owner would have tried that as well

Given that he knows the guy he can look at the phone, make sure it turns on and check the symptoms (what IMEI does it show with a SIM inserted vs when powered on with no SIM)

Posted by: sloan47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Setter

But on the flip side, if it wasn't 1.1.1 that bricked it then he's not out of compliance with the EULA and can bring it to Apple for support, no? And I'm assuming the original owner would have tried that as well

Very true, but I do think you need to prove you're the original owner via receipt and activation through AT&T. If it's never been activated and you lost the receipt, your SOL.

EDIT: It could have also been dunked in the sink or toilet... it might still power on but the internal hardware freaks out due to water damage. This happened to a friends phone once. Apple won't cover that kind of damage even with valid receipts.

Posted by: Red Setter

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloan47

Very true, but I do think you need to prove you're the original owner via receipt and activation through AT&T. If it's never been activated and you lost the receipt, your SOL.

Both valid points. I believe they check Serial numbers and IMEI's against purchase records. Does the fact you're not the original purchaser matter? I dunno - it may or it may not. I didn't think transferring the phone was a violation, since you still have the option of activating it as per the EULA

Water damage is a whole nuther story. I know ALLLLLL about that one. Was stacking towels in the cupboard over the john one day, bent to retrieve one I dropped next to the bowl and as I bent over - with my phone in my shirt pocket - I knew it was a mistake. Even as I registered that thought I heard the SPLUNK.... Now you know why I have 3 phones.... When that one finally dried out I brought it back to Apple for help restoring it (I do the confused housewife routine very well when I need to) and the very kind Genius at the bar decided that my charger must have fried the phone somehow and replaced it for me.

Since he knows the guy, I'd say best bet would be to make a deal - maybe a portion of the price up front and the balance when he's sure the process (and the phone) works