Hello.
I just bought a used iPhone 3GS with old bootrom.
I was told the iPhone was jailbroken with blackra1n(RC1) and unlocked with Pwnage tool.
I havent connected the phone to my Mac yet, because I am afraid of iTunes updating and bricking the phone.
1. Can I connect the phone to my Mac without the danger of bricking it?
2. Should I make a Backup of something? If yes, what & how?
3. Can I update my unlock/jailbreak? (I have an old blackra1n version with wifi problems)
4. Or should I rather make a fresh install? ( Reset everything to Factory settings and using the latest blackra1n/blacksnow to unlock/jailbreak)

Originally Posted by Threedee

Hello.
I just bought a used iPhone 3GS with old bootrom.
I was told the iPhone was jailbroken with blackra1n(RC1) and unlocked with Pwnage tool.
I havent connected the phone to my Mac yet, because I am afraid of iTunes updating and bricking the phone.
1. Can I connect the phone to my Mac without the danger of bricking it?
2. Should I make a Backup of something? If yes, what & how?
3. Can I update my unlock/jailbreak? (I have an old blackra1n version with wifi problems)
4. Or should I rather make a fresh install? ( Reset everything to Factory settings and using the latest blackra1n/blacksnow to unlock/jailbreak)

http://www.hackint0sh.org/f137/32703.htm

Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the correct terms and what each tool supports before you go further. Otherwise you could make a costly mistake due to a misunderstanding.

Pwnagetool = jailbreak (also hacktivation if you chose to enable this). It is NOT an unlock
Blackra1n = jailbreak and hacktivation (hacktivation support was added in RC3) ). It is NOT an unlock
Blacksn0w = unlock. Blacksn0w is an unstable unlock that causes problems with wifi. There are OTHER reasons for wifi problems also, mostly these other causes are hardware related.

As you have a mac and you don't require any of the data on the iPhone, I would suggest that you start from scratch with a Pwnagetool custom IPSW and use ultrasn0w to unlock.

For 4.1
iClarified - iPhone - How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3G Using PwnageTool (Mac) [4.1]
or for 3.1.2 / 3.1.3
iClarified - iPhone - How to Jailbreak Your iPhone 3GS Using PwnageTool [Mac]

and unlock
iClarified - iPhone - How to Unlock the iPhone 4, 3GS, 3G Using UltraSn0w

as you have wifi problem, you may need to look at other solutions to get the ultrasn0w unlock installed. The simplest solution is to bundle ultrasn0w (and mobilesubstrate) into the custom IPSW (via expert mode). Other solutions also are also possible.

Originally Posted by Olethros

http://www.hackint0sh.org/f137/32703.htm

...
As you have a mac and you don't require any of the data on the iPhone, I would suggest that you start from scratch with a Pwnagetool custom IPSW and use ultrasn0w to unlock.
.

Thank you very much for your quick and helpful information!
Just one more thing: What did you exactly mean by "from scratch"?
1. Should I connect the iPhone to my Macbook and use iTunes to set it to factory settings?
2. Or does it suffice to use the iPhone itself (the button delete content & settings) ?

I have "Little Snitch" should I forbid iTunes from connecting?

Oh... wait a minute.... does Pwnagetool reset everything automatically? I dont have to delete anything by hand?

Originally Posted by Threedee

Thank you very much for your quick and helpful information!
Just one more thing: What did you exactly mean by "from scratch"?
1. Should I connect the iPhone to my Macbook and use iTunes to set it to factory settings?
2. Or does it suffice to use the iPhone itself (the button delete content & settings) ?

I have "Little Snitch" should I forbid iTunes from connecting?

Oh... wait a minute.... does Pwnagetool reset everything automatically? I dont have to delete anything by hand?

Yes pwnagetool makes a pre-jailbroken IPSW which you then restore with iTunes, that resets everything to factory defaults (plus jailbroken). Pwnagetool runs you through the whole preparation process. Then you option-click restore in iTunes and select the IPSW you made with pwnagetool.

Once the restore is finished, you choose "set up as a new iPhone" then launch Cydia and install ultrasn0w. I gave you all the guides in a prior post.

You need to let iTunes talk to Apple (at least with gs.apple.com) to validate the restore - so don't go playing with little snitch and blocking iTunes.