here are a few trivial things i would have liked to know before H/W unlocking my iphone
some are pretty common, some you will only know until you experience them

1. download all the necessary files and follow the guide you feel comfortable with.
2. opening the antenna cover is the easy part
3. the back cover is the most difficult part, but also having an expensive ipod is difficult, you have to choose your grounds
4. there aren't exactly the right tool to open the back cover, its pretty tough, and most "ipod repair tools" wont help
5. the iphone will lose it's innocence after opening the case, you wont be worried about getting it scratched anymore, but at least you can make calls with it
6. opening the iphone will make you bleed, "sweat, blood and tears" is pretty accurate here, sweat because of the pressure, blood because of the inadequate tools, and tears when something goes horribly wrong
7. a knife or metal tool is the way to go, scratches are imminent, but refer to point 4
8. you need to use a lot of force, be in a position where you can get good leverage and grip - work on a desk while standing
9. start with the side where the volumes buttons are, since it has few clips, and no antenna wire
10. when you pop the first clip, you're good to go, no turning back from here
11. after opening the volume buttons side, walk your way through to the top, then to the left side
12. take it out slowly not to snap the ribbon cable
13. the BB shield is right about the battery, start from the right side - no glue there
14. pop the shield clips one by one using a pin, don't worry about bending it, it takes shape when you put it back on
15. the chip and test point are VERY small, the pictures you see don;t justify the actual size
16. magnifying glass isn't exactly necessary, unless your vision is fading
17. use mobile terminal, don't relay on SSH, there are a big chance you will lose wifi connection when you run "ienew"
18. getting the test point is quite frustrating, took me over 8 times
19. after running "sleep 20; iunew" watch the screen and see how convenient that timing is for you, sometimes you can hold the pins that long
20. take break between failing attempts
21. touch the trace with the first pin, and the top right of the capacitor where the soldering is extended on the second pin, that attempt was successful to me
22. grab a beer and celebrate when you get the test points right, because from here on it;s easy, there is always a way around software, but hardware is very tricky
23. don't close the case until you're done from the unlock, just in case, you don't wanna go through the horrible experience of opening the iphone twice a day
24. don't unload all your software and music on the iphone until you're absolutely sure everything is functioning properly, restoring can be frustrating
25. when you're sure that everything is functioning properly, clean the edges of the case with a q-tip, and close that iphone

feel free to add anything to the list or ask questions

cheers

Good!
Can I scratch the testpoint and the chip and turn it on and run this command:
cd/usr/bin
launchctl unload /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.CommCenter.plist
ienew

Then run sleep 30; iunew
Turn the iPhone around and connect the needels to the testpoints for 35 seconds?

Regards Andbert

Excellent points. There's just one missing:

26. Even though everything appeared to go fine, discover that in fact the baseband didn't upload and now you have no seczone and no backup of it. Your seczone is empty and nothing brings it back. You now have an iPod except it can't play any sound and has no WiFi. **cry**

i'm going to receive my ipod opener tools later today in the mail. i also have a guitar pick (thank god i learned to play the guitar!)

going to manhattan now and will attempt it later tonight. i will post my result later. hopefully it's a good and happy one!

I can absolutely confirm what you are saying.
Knives, screwdrivers etc leave severe scratches. Credit cards do hardly any damage even if you slip off, but most of them are too soft to open it up completely.
The back cover is not aluminium but some kind of magnesium stuff... extremely brittle...

I concur with the blood, sweat and tears bit too. I have a horrible gash in one of my fingers from getting frustrated, pressing too hard, slipping and jamming a too-hard-but-some-how-also-too-soft opening tool into my hand.

It's a shame we can't all meet up in real life to try and unlock our phones. At least we wouldn't feel so alone as we destroy/repair our expensive new toys.

How to check the bootloader version after iunew is done?

i laughed when i read that the iphone will lose it's innocence, i don't think i'm ready to deflower it yet.

I don't usually post on these forums but I would recommend using a feeler gauge.

They are incredibly strong, metal and if your careful will do little damage.

If you do not have the tools to open the case, I would say "go and buy them". I went with a range of tools- some custom made (cut up strong PVC as wedges) but I still bent the case out of shape- mostly out of frustration. It's really that bad.

The 20 attempts at needle point trace touching left me with a feeling that if anyone had said something "funny" to me, then I would have shorted out their brain with the test points and an axe.

But it can be done- even by n00bs (hello, I am one) but you have to go extra slow and treat it like you are performing an operation on one of your relatives (lets go with a relative you like).

Once done, you will feel well pleased with yourself, though I don't have youtube working (and have no idea what to do about it either)

But such is life