Can't jailbreak my iPhone 3

[slbarrus]

OK, I am absolutely going nuts! I have an iPhone 3, not 3G. It was jailbroken and unlocked when I was on iOS 3.1.2. The other day Cydia said that I had critical files that needed updating. So, I said OK. It totally killed my phone. So, I downloaded the latest iOS version for my phone from iClarified (iOS 4.2.1). Restored my phone with that and downloaded Redsn0w. From that point onward it has been crazy. While I successfully put my phone into DFU mode, Redsn0w states that it can't work with 1st generation phones. So, I tried Green pois0n and got the same response. So, now what do I do

I'd really would love to jailbreak it and unlock it.

My phone is an iPhone 3, iOS 4.2.1 (8C148), baseband 5.14.04.

Yes, I've all through this to the point I am now crossed eyed.

Any help/direction will be greatly appreciated.

[veriztd]

There is a 3g (2nd generation) and a 3gs (3rd generation), no iphone 3. Which model do you have?

Sent from my DROIDX using HowardForums

[slbarrus]

Thank You for responding so quickly.

OK, I just pulled out the original box and on the back it states iPhone 3G. You said that there is a 3g (2nd generation) but when I attempt to jailbreak with either redsn0w or greenpois0n, I get something about my phone being a 1st generation.

[efparri]

Boxes are meaningless. Use this link to identify the model from the exterior:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3939

[slbarrus]

On the back of the phone the Model # is: A1241

[efparri]

So you have an iPhone 3G. The jailbreaking software no longer works with the iPhone 3G. The error message generated by the jailbreaking software is in error as to the iPhone model.

[slbarrus]

So, I will never be able to jailbreak my phone? That's the pits! What if I was to downgrade my baseband and iOS could I do it then?

[Howmander]

Well the phone is 3+ years old, maybe it's just time to get a new phone. I think most carriers sell the 3GS for $0 now, and since you're already familiar with jailbreaking I would say just bite the bullet and upgrade to the next model at least and then jailbreak that. (although if I were you, I would personally upgrade at least to the iPhone 4 if you're gonna go onto a contract)

[slbarrus]

Rats! Guess I will have to go looking for a new model.

Thanks!

[larryganz]

Doesn't www.jailbreakme.com still work?

[tontodiesel]

Yes I know, yeah right. I searched every forum on the internet I swear and none of those combinations put my iPhone 3g into DFU mode. You can do the trick where you rename files in the package and that will boot it to DFU mode but then I was unable to restore and have probably seen every error code iTunes has.
I hope posting this does not cause apple to close the loophole because nothing else worked but this is what I had to do.
Restore to 3.1.2
Jailbreak with blackra1n (I might have used Spirit also)
Create custom 4.2.1 using sn0wbreeze
Kick into recovery using TinyUmbrella (possibly unnecessary)
Hold Alt-Shift and Click Restore
Select your custom ipsw
You have to use iTunes 9
After you restore iTunes 9 will not recognize your phone and you will have to revert to a more current version to work with 4.2.1
I feel obligated to share this since nothing online helped me and I'm sure there are others.
No need to thank me, just don't tell apple they are nazis, I hate iTunes so much

[eastercat]

You can't unlock it. Your bb is too high. You should've installed 3.1.3.