Upgrade unlocked iPhone 3GS to IOS 5.0.1 baseband 06.15.00 untethered.
- December 27th, 2011
- Posted in Documentation
- Write comment
This is the process I used to upgrade an iPhone 3Gs running IOS 4.1 baseband 06.15.00 to IOS 5.0.1 while preserving the baseband and the carrier unlock.
Software installed/downloaded:
OS: MacOS Lion 10.7.2
iTunes: 10.5.2
redsn0w_mac_0.9.10b1.zip
iPhone2,1_5.0.1_9A405_Restore.ipsw
I plugged the phone into my computer and backed up from iTunes by right mouse clicking on the phone and selecting “Backup”.
I downloaded the redsn0w application and the IOS install into a folder called JB.
I unzipped the redsn0w_mac_0.9.10b1.zip and executed redsn0w.app from the redsn0w_mac_0.9.10b1 folder.
Clicked Extras.
Clicked Custom IPSW and browsed to the JB folder where I downloaded the iPhone2,1_5.0.1_9A405_Restore.ipsw from Apple.
Since I had an original 3Gs, I selected “No” on the “Will this custom IPSW be used on a newer (fixed) version of the iPhone3GS?”.
This created a custom NO_BB_OLDROM_iPhone2,1_5.0.1_9A405_Restore.ipsw file that will not attempt to update the baseband when IOS 5.0.1 is restored.
Once created, I needed to put the phone in DFU mode. For some reason, I had trouble using the method I had used before. This is what I did this time:
With device powered on,unlocked and connected via the USB cable with iTunes running:
Hold the Power and Home buttons.
When the screen goes black, count to 2.
Then, release the Power button, and hold the Home button for 10 – 15 seconds.
iTunes came up and displayed that it was in recover mode. I tried restoring my custom IPSW from here but I kept getting a 1600 error. So, once I had in recover mode, I fired up Redsn0w again and went into Extras and clicked on “Pwned DFU”.
This put it in DFU mode quickly.
Then, I was able to hold “alt/option” and click the “Restore” button in iTunes.
This allowed me to browse to the custom IPSW: NO_BB_OLDROM_iPhone2,1_5.0.1_9A405_Restore.ipsw.
This installed IOS 5.0.1 on the phone and preserved the baseband (06.15.00) with the applications and settings restored.
Once up, the phone still needed to be jailbroken and unlocked.
I closed iTunes, and brought up Redsn0w again. I needed to point redsn0w to the unchanged iPhone2,1_5.0.1_9A405_Restore.ipsw file. This time, I chose Jailbreak. The only option that I had selected was “Install Cydia”.
After rebooting and verifying the Cydia icon is installed, I needed to unlock the phone.
I launched Cydia and clicked on Manage and then Sources.
Then, I added the Ultrasn0w repository by clicking “Edit” and “Add”. Then, I added the repository: http://repo666.ultrasn0w.com. Note: this took me quite a few attempts on the 27th, due to server load some where along the line. Eventually, I was able to get the repository added.
Once added, I was able to search for and install Ultrasn0w.
I rebooted and the phone was updated, jailbroken and unlocked.
u didnt get any error? i’m getting 1600 error
I did get the 1600 error. I should have mentioned that, because I am not yet sure why what I did worked. I downloaded the file a third time and it worked. The last time I downloaded it, however, I did it from a linux machine. The previous two times I downloaded the file from MacOS. I was able to unzip the MacOS files and they looked fine, but I do not yet know why they did not work.
@Jgz
I compared the files I download on MacOS and linux, and found that they are exactly the same size, so I don’t think it is the file. I think that it has to be something with the mode (DFU vs recovery) or maybe server load.
I am going to try it on my jailbroken iPhone4 running IOS 4.3.3 baseband 04.10.01. I am going to try to preserve the baseband even though I don’t believe there is an unlock for 04.10.01.
does ur location service work? on 5.0.1 and 6.15 bb
Yes, it does seem to work. I have 3G off and I am using it on T-Mobile USA. The only thing I seem missing is MMS to non-iMessage users, which is an improvement since MMS was not working at all on 4.1.
were all your apps, settings, folders, etc left intact or was it like starting over?
It does wipe everything out when you recover using the NO_BB_OLDROM_iPhone2,1_5.0.1_9A405_Restore.ipsw image (or any other image in this mode). However, if you leave the your phone plugged into your computer, it will then restore it from the backup you made before you started. It is part of the recovery process. If it doesn’t, they you can manually restore it from the backup. I would just leave it connected to your computer until the process is complete. iTunes actually does a very good job of backing up your phone, you just need to make sure you do one before you start down this path.
Upgraded my iphone 3GS with 4.3.3 to 5.0.1. Works like a charm!! After upgrade installed UltraSn0w and everything is working.
Iphone 3GS BB 06.15.00
Perfect. Works like a charm. Used Redsnow 0.9.10b3 without the SIM_card in the phone and unactivated the location (gps) in the startup after install of iOS 5.0.1 before the jailbreak.
My old problems with losing network service when starting apps with location service from iOS 5.0 is also gone. My iPhone works now 100%
Thanks:-)
Hi,
Thanks a lot for the above tutorial. I have done exactly as you suggested above. But the phone does not activate. It give me an error “There is no Sim Card installed in the iPhone you are attempting to activate” Do you have any remedy for this??
Thanks! iphone 3GS (old bootrom) BB: 06.15.00
Only time I have seen that is when you really don’t have a SIM installed in the phone. I have even used AT&T and T-Mobile SIM cards that have no service, so if you really have a card installed I wonder if something is wrong the card itself.
Location services is causing my signal to drop. I have an old bootrom 3GS 5.0.1 on baseband 6.15.00. I jailbroke using redsn0w 0.9.10b1 and unlocked using ultrasn0w 1.2.5. I waited to enable location services after I unlocked. It’s very evident when I open maps or any other app that uses location services. The wifi drops completely and my cell network drops and says “searching…” If I disable location services entirely, my signal never drops.
I do see that too, however it connects right back up. Better than having no location services at all. It might be fixed in a later version of Redsn0w.
After doing some digging, I think I’ve come across a fix. Thanks to a post on jailbreakqa.com (http://jailbreakqa.com/questions/75187/network-crash-that-happens-each-time-location-services-is-used-in-ios-5)
Quote:
1) Use cydia to instal SAM even if you activated with official sim 2) De activate phone with sam 3) Re-run redsn0w b7 or newer JB with nothing checked- Redsn0w will hactivate and apply the fix during hactivation 3) De activate with sam 4) Re-activate with itunes and official sim or reactivate with sam.
I followed the steps (I used redsn0w 0.9.10b3) and haven’t lost signal since. So far so good. Like you said, hopefully they fix this in a later version of redsn0w.
Cydia repository for SAM: http://repo.bingner.com
yup. i did the same. updated my iphone 3gs old bootrom with custom ipsw created from redsn0w 0.9.10b1 and restored the firmware through itunes. Then jailbreaked the device using redsn0w 0.9.10b1 with checking cydia and ipad baseband. after few mins, i had untethered 5.0.1 running on my 3gs bb 06.15.00.
But have network problem sometimes. My network keep on searching at times when i open some apps.
Hi Jim,
Thanks very much or the tutorial above. I’ve tried to follow your steps exactly but unfortunately I’m getting either a “build” error or “1600” error after I try to perform the alt-restore. I’ve downloaded the file twice and don’t have any success with either. Any ideas?
so this is untethered right? does that mean after i jailbreak and unlock i can turn it off…then on again wit no problems?
Yes, this is untethered.
Try moving any files out of your iPhone Software Updates directory and try again,
Look at the comment mikemelancholic provided. I have not tried this yet, but I intend to try it as soon as I get a chance. I have seen this on my phone as well, but it is able to recover and restore the connection pretty quickly.
“Quote:
1) Use cydia to instal SAM even if you activated with official sim 2) De activate phone with sam 3) Re-run redsn0w b7 or newer JB with nothing checked- Redsn0w will hactivate and apply the fix during hactivation 3) De activate with sam 4) Re-activate with itunes and official sim or reactivate with sam.”
How do you do step 3? SAM cannot deactivate the hackivation on an iphone, does he mean deactivate Redsn0w?
I followed this process and still have location services problems (3GS 06.15.00 5.0.1)
1)Clear all activation in SAM “De-activate iPhone”
2)Run Redsn0w 0.9.10b3 with nothing checked.
3)Deactivate with Redsn0w
4)Run SAM to officially activate iPhone.
Any help? Thanks
@davedavedave
It doesn’t sound like you did something right. There is a Restore Activation and a De-Activate iPhone button under Utilities in the SAM application.
Hi Jim, No signal!
i downgraded my 3gs to 4.1 from 5.0.1 and reflashed the 06.15.00 BB because it got messed up when i tried to upgrade to the 5.0.1 FW. sorted! OS 4.1 with 06.15.00BB unlocked! working!
Then i followed your steps above to the letter with no errors at any stage. location services off in the iphone setup stage, but after installing ultrasnow i still get the searching for cellular network.
any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Hi Jim,
to retry, which part do i have to go back to? do i have to downgrade again to 4.1 and reflash the BB?
Thanks!
@andy
Have you tried rebooting the phone?
@andy
I don’t think I would mess with the baseband, especially it was working before. Mine was working with IOS 4.1 BB 06.15.00, so I had no interest in messing with the baseband. I would avoid that if at all possible.
Thanks everything worked perfect when I put all the information from this blog together first try. Thanks
Thanks for the information. I would like to report that I have successfully jailbroken my iPhone 3GS bb 6.15 on IOS 5.0.1 using the above instructions using redsn0w 0.9.10b3. I also used SAM to de-activate my iPhone after being jailbroken/hacktivated and re-activated it with SAM and itunes which improved battery life(since hactivating with redsn0w creates a daemon process that drains battery) and fixed my location services.
The steps I did to re-activate with SAM is a little bit different than the above poster. Here are the steps I did after jailbreaking to 5.0.1 with hactivation:
1. Disable iPhone with SAM.
1a. Select “Revert to Lockdownd Stock” in SAM Util Menu
1b. Select “De-activate Iphone” in SAM Util menu
2. Connect iPhone to Itunes. It should activate through itunes once you connect.
The other instructions had you install sam, disabled iphone with sam, hactivate with redsn0w, deactivate again with sam, then reactivate with sam. I’m not sure why the instructions listed disactivating with SAM twice but I guess it was for people that had activated the phone with an official carrier’s SIM card.
Anyway, it runs pretty smooth on IOS 5.0.1 and has pretty much the same battery life as what I had previously on IOS 4.1
@yomilayer3
Glad to hear it. Thanks for the information.
What will be my new baseband if I update my iphone 3gs to 5.0.1?
@Mikey
If you upgrade to IOS 5.0.1 without preserving the baseband, it will be upgraded to baseband 05.16.05.
Guys im getting an iTunes error 10 any help!?
@Jash
You might need to update your iTunes to the latest version.
just upgraded,everything went just great,
except i still dosn’t have gps signal,
any1 has a clue ?
THIS HELPED ME A LOT!!!! THANKS MUCH!! KUDOS!
@Ryan
GPS doesn’t work at all, or your network crashes and recovers and then the GPS application works?
@Jqz
GPS doesn’t work at all,wifi\3g\data\bt works well.
i tried to update my iphone 3gs with 5.0.1 ipsw thr redsn0w_win_0.9.10b3 and added source repo666 and installed ultrasnow 1.2.5..still my iphone’s network is not unlocked…
and my bb is 06.15
kindly help on this
@inba
Are you sure the baseband is 06.15.00? I have not seen this happen with Ultrasn0w when running it on a phone with a supported baseband.
@Ryan
I am not sure. Maybe you need to recover again using the NO_BB_OLDROM_iPhone2,1_5.0.1_9A405_Restore.ipsw?
I have an IPHONE 3gs on ios 5.0 bb 6.15.00. It is jailbroken and unluck but the jailbreak is tether. Can someone telt me the best way to upgrade to 5.0.1 without changing the bb.
@Carlos
The same approach in this post should apply. You will still need to create a NO_BB_OLDROM_iPhone2,1_5.0.1_9A405_Restore.ipsw, and will restore using the same procedures. I am not aware of anything else that would be different.
I’m a little confused about question “Will this custom IPSW be used on a newer (fixed) version of the iPhone3GS?”
I have an 3Gs 05.11.07 with 359.3.2. boot rom… and what’s the answer to the question then? (<-I'm with stupid)
Thnx
@Johnny
You have the newer bootrom: http://www.redmondpie.com/how-to-check-iphone-3gs-bootrom-iboot-version/
So i restored mine to the ios 5.0.1 custom restored , but its just a black screen , how can I boot it up ?
@beshoy Hanna
You need reboot the phone. Hold the power and Home button until see the Apple logo, and see what you have. I doubt your IOS was upgraded. Sounds like you were not in the right mode.
hi there
this method work’s as charm , well done .
and many many thanks to you jim
i pay you drink cheers!!
I AM GETTIN ERROR 14 ?PLZZ HELP
@rahhel
Check out these suggestions from the Apple website:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3694#error14