Ok, if you are one of these people that has an iPhone that only boots up into recovery mode when on the Mains Supply but powers off as soon as you disconnect thus preventing you from being able to connect to a computer, I have a theory:

Most devices force you to plug into the mains before it will allow for a firmware update because the update will be fatal if the device loses power during the flashing.

Now whilst this doesn't make sense on iphone because you cannot connect it to the power and the computer at the same time, it may well be a safety measure not documented!!

The iPhone may be measuring the battery charge in recovery mode and if its below a certain level, shutting the phone down when removed from the power!

If your phones in recovery mode, the next step will probably involve flashing, so its thinking I'm not going to let that happen with the battery in this state!

In addition to this, there have been reports that the osx power monitoring done in the iphone does sometimes do strange things. People have reported strange battery readings since upgrading to 1.0.2 so whilst you may have thought your iphone was fully charged (before this happened) and this doesn't apply to you, it might be these strange conditions that is crippling the phone!

Another possibility is if your one of the people that this happened to when you were attempting the hardware unlock and your sure you didn't damage the phone (e.g. you never even got your soldering iron or needles out), this would make sense too!

One final thing that crossed my mind is the metal shield on the comm board is glued right next to the battery points. If you had problems getting this cover off, you may have shorted the battery solder points without even noticing. This in turn might have completely discharged the battery and if my theory about battery power checks in recovery mode is correct, you may simply need to make sure the battery is charged on the mains for 24 hours before the phone will let you run it in recovery mode (off the mains).

Ok, its all theory, but if this does help anyone please let me know!

Seems like a plausible theory.

Originally Posted by healeydave

Now whilst this doesn't make sense on iphone because you cannot connect it to the power and the computer at the same time, it may well be a safety measure not documented!!

It does not make sense inasmuch as Apple does not expect most users to merrily go flashing their devices' firmware on a regualr basis, thus the iPhone does not come with a Y cable such as the one that came with older iPods (those that could only connect to iTunes vie Firewire came with a cable of which one side connects to the iPod, and from there two cables, a USB and a Firewire, stem) which would allow for a simultaneous connection both to the mains and to a computer... I am currently looking for such a cable. I am sure the phone can be flashed with the proper equipment.

The iPhone may be measuring the battery charge in recovery mode and if its below a certain level, shutting the phone down when removed from the power!

If your phones in recovery mode, the next step will probably involve flashing, so its thinking I'm not going to let that happen with the battery in this state!

In addition to this, there have been reports that the osx power monitoring done in the iphone does sometimes do strange things. People have reported strange battery readings since upgrading to 1.0.2 so whilst you may have thought your iphone was fully charged (before this happened) and this doesn't apply to you, it might be these strange conditions that is crippling the phone!

Another possibility is if your one of the people that this happened to when you were attempting the hardware unlock and your sure you didn't damage the phone (e.g. you never even got your soldering iron or needles out), this would make sense too!

Interesting...

One final thing that crossed my mind is the metal shield on the comm board is glued right next to the battery points. If you had problems getting this cover off, you may have shorted the battery solder points without even noticing. This in turn might have completely discharged the battery and if my theory about battery power checks in recovery mode is correct, you may simply need to make sure the battery is charged on the mains for 24 hours before the phone will let you run it in recovery mode (off the mains).

How can you know if that has happened? I am guessing this implies getting a voltimeter and measuring the state of the battery and traces. How exactly would you measure that?

Something I am currently experiencing is that while the phone sits in the cradle, it turns off after some fifteen minutes, and does not appear to charge when off, so I have to constantly turn it on again (all the while displayig the Yellow Traingle of Death). If your conjecture is correct, then no matter how long I leave it in the cradle 'charging', the OS will not reckon that charge to be enough to let the phone be flashed, rendering all this an exercise in futility until we find a way to simultaneously connect the phone to the mains and to a computer.

Originally Posted by iPwn3d

How can you know if that has happened? I am guessing this implies getting a voltimeter and measuring the state of the battery and traces. How exactly would you measure that?

Not sure, you could check the battery with a volt meter, but I would persevere with the options you mentioned below

Originally Posted by iPwn3d

Something I am currently experiencing is that while the phone sits in the cradle, it turns off after some fifteen minutes, and does not appear to charge when off, so I have to constantly turn it on again (all the while displayig the Yellow Traingle of Death). If your conjecture is correct, then no matter how long I leave it in the cradle 'charging', the OS will not reckon that charge to be enough to let the phone be flashed, rendering all this an exercise in futility until we find a way to simultaneously connect the phone to the mains and to a computer.

Possibly, but if the phones display looks like its making progress, maybe the monitoring status will eventually see it at 100% anyway. If it does check the level, and I was setting the parameters, I would go for something like >80%

The Y-Cable sounds like a good option, post back here, if you find something suitable, it sounds like something useful to have on hand :-)

just search for "apple usb firewire cable" on ebay, you'll find tons of 3rd party Y cables with a dock connector joining to a USB and a firewire plug.

same thing happens to me. Sometimes phone wants to charge, but I unplug it and shuts down. Phone was working fine, I dont know what's happening

On a slightly different note but related issue:

I spoke to Geohot last night about idea's regarding phones being stuck in "Recovery Mode" and the 1011 error.

If anyone wants to donate a phone in this state to help investigate the problem, PM me.

If the phone is operational at the end, you will get it back H/W unlocked.

Regs
Dave.

but.. i think GetHot maybe experience this problem but he didnt comment us about this.. its quite bad from him, cause just send us the unlocking guide, but not a little Q&A/FAQ guide

i know this thread is outdated but a google search led me here.

I recently dropped my iphone 2g and am stuck with the same situation of only being able to boot my iphone in recovery mode when connected to the main supply. one thing i noticed is that the mains supply adapter gives an output of 5V at 1A while a USB port is only designed to output 5V at 0.5A. this is also why the phone takes longer to charge through pc.

I thought maybe the iphone needs the higher current requirement to boot up so in theory using a powered USB hub should provide the necessary current right? has anyone tried and been succesful with this by any chance?