[ximian]

So I just found a very slightly used 8GB 1st Gen iPhone on Craigslist for $200 (score!). I thought it was a good deal so I snatched it up. Problem is, I know nothing about iPhones, and I certainly don't want to commit to an expensive plan with AT&T.

Anyway, its a 1st Gen, 8GB iPhone. He said it has the latest firmware. Problem is, there is no Sim Card in the phone, and I can't get past the "Please insert a SIM card" screen.

How do I unlock it? Can I still jailbreak it? I have searched around a little bit, but didn't find an answer to this specific situation. Thanks in advance!

[redcard]

You've come to the right place! The way to get past the 'Please insert a SIM card screen' is......uhhhh....wait.....bugger......I've forgotten.

[IvanPK]

Jailbreak and Activate it will get past that screen,
look up at the top of the site under 'GUIDES', read a step-by-step way of how to do this

[ximian]

Thanks! Here I go....

Wait a second...

So I don't see a guide to unlock / jailbreak (by the way, what is the difference between "unlock" and "jailbreak"? Do they mean the same thing?) the iphone running on FW 2.1 for windows.

I have Vista (yuk, I know), and my iphone I'm going to assume has FW 2.1 (he said he upgraded it 10 days ago). I have NO SIM CARD, and currently can't get past the "insert SIM card" screen. Is there a guide to unlock / jailbreak my iphone for Windows Vista? Thanks again!

[MikeYuse0406]

Here is a terminology I found in the Big Boss Website about the differences between jaibreaking and unlocking. Terminology | iPhone News, Help and Guides

I also use vista and I jailbroke and unlocked my previous 2G iPhone using quickpwn. Search the guide section for the quickpwn guide.

[ximian]

Thanks! As an added bonus, I think I found the proper guide, yes? Jailbreak and Unlock 2.x on Windows

[MikeYuse0406]

I am not a fun of winpwn for personal reasons, which is why I use quickpwn. I have unlocked and jailbroken my 2G iPhone in just under 5 minutes.

Here is a step by step guide for using quickpwn Quickpwn OSX Guide | Sleepers.net

[ximian]

It would be nice to use that guide, but it seems to be exclusive to OS X. I have vista, so I guess I'm out of luck.

On a related note, the terminology guide suggests that I need to "activate" my iphone before I can unlock / jailbreak it. Will this guide Jailbreak and Unlock 2.x on Windows also activate the iphone? Thanks again!

[MikeYuse0406]

It should work but be sure to download the firmware file for 2.1 and not for 2.0.X. Once the whole process is done the phone should be activated, jailbroken, and unlocked.

[ximian]

awesome! out of curiosity, why is Quickpwn better than Winpwn?

[MikeYuse0406]

It is just a personal opinion. I had some trouble using WinPwn but some people have used it successfully. I have never encountered any issues with quickpwn.

Here is a 2.1 FW quickpwn guide for windows QuickPwn 2.1 Guide & Tutorial

[ximian]

Here's a potential problem. I'm looking over the QuickPwn guide, and it says that at the outset my iphone needs to be plugged in and recognized by itunes. However, itunes says "The iphone could not be loaded because the information needed to activate the iphone could not be found - please insert a valid Sim card." So I guess I can't use the QuickPwn guide?!

On a related note, I tried the Winpwn option, but the program crashed while loading the custom ispw file. I tried it again and the same thing happened. Ugh.

I didn't think my situation was that unique, but now I'm starting to feel like it is... any help?

[iPhoneMadness]

Originally Posted by ximian

Here's a potential problem. I'm looking over the QuickPwn guide, and it says that at the outset my iphone needs to be plugged in and recognized by itunes. However, itunes says "The iphone could not be loaded because the information needed to activate the iphone could not be found - please insert a valid Sim card." So I guess I can't use the QuickPwn guide?!

On a related note, I tried the Winpwn option, but the program crashed while loading the custom ispw file. I tried it again and the same thing happened. Ugh.

I didn't think my situation was that unique, but now I'm starting to feel like it is... any help?

Well iTunes actually is readying your iPhone, but it won't let you go past that screen since your not on an ATT sim card.

Try quickpwn if winpwn doesn't work for you. Make sure to read the guide thoroughly and follow them step by step.

Posting specific problems will get you more help then saying, "it won't work" as well.

Hope that helps. Good deal on the phone too.

[ximian]

So I'm using Quick Pwn now, but I can't get past the "select your firmware" screen. It asks me to browse for firmware, but the file they said to download won't allow me to continue. The "next" button never turns on.

[MikeYuse0406]

Did you download the right firmware file for your 2g iphone? Did you uploaded the file to quickpwn when prompted?