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iPhone "This device isn't eligible for the requested build"

D

daniscool99

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 30, 2010
9
0
I know this topic has come up a lot, but I feel like my case of it might be slightly different and wondering if anyone else has found a fix to my scenario.

I cannot update my phone, (or another phone that I tried), to any ios, not even the same one. I'm trying to restore to a custom ipsw, not that it's super important.

I've tried updating to the newest version of iTunes, though I'm just trying to restore to ios 5.1.1 anyway, so I don't think it's required.

I've tried editing the host file a billion times as described. adding # before the apple lines at the end, or just deleting the apple lines and saving and replacing the file.

I have done jailbreak related stuff on my desktop mac and my macbook, but I get the same error when trying to update on a friend's macbook pro who has never had any kind of jailbreak related programs opened.

I've used tinyumbrella in the past but the option about getting files from Cydia is unchecked. The phone I'm currently trying to make useful has never been jailbroken and I can't update it still.

I've been researching this for hours and hours, and still can't get anything to work.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
 
you can't restore to any other firmware except the latest version for that particular device

in most cases, that'll be 7.1.2 (7.1.1 at the time of posting still being signed)
 
darricksailo said:
you can't restore to any other firmware except the latest version for that particular device

in most cases, that'll be 7.1.2 (7.1.1 at the time of posting still being signed)
Click to expand...


Thanks for the response. As stated earlier, I can't update to ANY ios, i've used iTunes to download the newest version available for any phone at the given time and neither of them can install it. On any computer.
 
daniscool99 said:
Thanks for the response. As stated earlier, I can't update to ANY ios, i've used iTunes to download the newest version available for any phone at the given time and neither of them can install it. On any computer.
Click to expand...

There is a lot that is being left out here.

Which iPhone are you using?

You say you are running 5.1.1, which could be used on a 3GS and newer, so that gives us a broad range of phones that you could have, which doesn't help. We'll need to know that to be able to help further.

BL.
 
daniscool99 said:
Thanks for the response. As stated earlier, I can't update to ANY ios, i've used iTunes to download the newest version available for any phone at the given time and neither of them can install it. On any computer.
Click to expand...

what device are you trying to restore to 5.1.1?

As stated previously, most devices will ONLY allow you to restore to 7.1.2

the only devices being signed for 5.1.1 restore at the moment is the ipod touch 3rd generation and the original iPad

even the 3GS's latest firmware is 6.1.6
 
"This device isn't eligible for the requested build"

Wrong build, plain and simple. Get the correct one for your phone.
 
Carlanga said:
"This device isn't eligible for the requested build"

Wrong build, plain and simple. Get the correct one for your phone.
Click to expand...

I got this message when I had the right build for my iPhone and iPad. It turned out though i already had the 7.1.1 ipsw already through iTunes so the installation/downgrade to 7.1.1 went smoothly once i put in DFU mode.

(Just saying)
 
You can't restore to anything but the latest iOS version.
Try using another computer with the latest iTunes version installed.
All that needs to be done is plug it in and hit update. iTunes will download and install the correct iOS version for your device.
 
bradl said:
There is a lot that is being left out here.

Which iPhone are you using?

You say you are running 5.1.1, which could be used on a 3GS and newer, so that gives us a broad range of phones that you could have, which doesn't help. We'll need to know that to be able to help further.

BL.
Click to expand...


I have 2 iPhones in my possession at the moment. I have my iPhone 4, which the problem is still yet to be assessed. It works for maybe 15 minutes at at time maybe 3 times a day. If I plug it in the battery says empty and then immediately has it's real charge at 90%+. during the other 95% of the day, it only works when plugged in and is in permanent boot loop. When it does work, it bypasses the boot loop and works perfectly! Very odd.


I have that phone on ios 6.x.x, jailbroken.

I also have a 3GS (on 5.1.1) that a friend gave to me to use until I can upgrade to an iPhone 6 in September(ish).

I tried updating the iphone 4 and received the message in the title using the UPDATE button in iTunes, after letting it download the most recent firmware.
 
daniscool99 said:
I have 2 iPhones in my possession at the moment. I have my iPhone 4, which the problem is still yet to be assessed. It works for maybe 15 minutes at at time maybe 3 times a day. If I plug it in the battery says empty and then immediately has it's real charge at 90%+. during the other 95% of the day, it only works when plugged in and is in permanent boot loop. When it does work, it bypasses the boot loop and works perfectly! Very odd.


I have that phone on ios 6.x.x, jailbroken.

I also have a 3GS (on 5.1.1) that a friend gave to me to use until I can upgrade to an iPhone 6 in September(ish).

I tried updating the iphone 4 and received the message in the title using the UPDATE button in iTunes, after letting it download the most recent firmware.
Click to expand...

so it is the 3GS that is the problem. That, IIRC, got dropped for support for IOS 7.1.x. Since Apple is signing 7.1.x, you will not be able to upgrade that phone to any OS other than the one that it already has on it. You are effectively stuck on 5.1.1.

BL.
 
darricksailo said:
the latest version for the 3GS is 6.1.6 at the time of this post
Click to expand...

Is Apple *signing* that version? IF not, when you go to update the OS on the phone, The update process checks in with Apple to see if it is the latest one that they are deploying. IF it isn't, they will direct you to the latest one they are deploying.

In this case, the latest one they are deploying is 7.1.2, which is not supported on the iPhone 3GS. So while the latest may be 6.1.6, Apple is not signing that release.

BL.
 
bradl said:
Is Apple *signing* that version? IF not, when you go to update the OS on the phone, The update process checks in with Apple to see if it is the latest one that they are deploying. IF it isn't, they will direct you to the latest one they are deploying.

In this case, the latest one they are deploying is 7.1.2, which is not supported on the iPhone 3GS. So while the latest may be 6.1.6, Apple is not signing that release.

BL.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am well aware of apple signing a firmware to be allowed before you can restore to that version

why would apple not be signing 6.1.6 for the 3GS when it is the latest version for that device?

What other version would apple be signing if not 6.1.6?
 
darricksailo said:
Yes, I am well aware of apple signing a firmware to be allowed before you can restore to that version

why would apple not be signing 6.1.6 for the 3GS when it is the latest version for that device?
Click to expand...

Because they have deprecated that device from their lineup. As of the IOS 7.0 release, the 3GS is no longer supported. So you are stuck. They are not going to keep up and maintain older versions of their software in parallel with what the newer devices are able to support. Way too much work and overhead to maintain. What you are asking for is akin to Microsoft having to maintain the codebase for Windows 98 along with Windows 7 and 8, Windows Server 2008, and Windows server 2012.

They did the same thing with IOS 4, when they deprecated the iPhone and iPhone 3G.

What other version would apple be signing if not 6.1.6?
Click to expand...

7.1.2 is the one they are currently signing. IF you're lucky and they haven't stopped signing it yet, you may find 7.1.1. But nothing more than that.

BL.
 
bradl said:
Because they have deprecated that device from their lineup. As of the IOS 7.0 release, the 3GS is no longer supported. So you are stuck. They are not going to keep up and maintain older versions of their software in parallel with what the newer devices are able to support. Way too much work and overhead to maintain. What you are asking for is akin to Microsoft having to maintain the codebase for Windows 98 along with Windows 7 and 8, Windows Server 2008, and Windows server 2012.

They did the same thing with IOS 4, when they deprecated the iPhone and iPhone 3G.



7.1.2 is the one they are currently signing. IF you're lucky and they haven't stopped signing it yet, you may find 7.1.1. But nothing more than that.

BL.
Click to expand...


Sorry. You are incorrect. Apple still signs the latest builds for devices that have been dropped from support (like the 3GS). Since 6.1.6 is the latest version, apple still signs 6.1.6 for that device only. Devices that support iOS 7, must update to the latest signed firmware (7.1.2) at the moment.
 
bradl said:
Because they have deprecated that device from their lineup. As of the IOS 7.0 release, the 3GS is no longer supported. So you are stuck. They are not going to keep up and maintain older versions of their software in parallel with what the newer devices are able to support. Way too much work and overhead to maintain. What you are asking for is akin to Microsoft having to maintain the codebase for Windows 98 along with Windows 7 and 8, Windows Server 2008, and Windows server 2012.

They did the same thing with IOS 4, when they deprecated the iPhone and iPhone 3G.



7.1.2 is the one they are currently signing. IF you're lucky and they haven't stopped signing it yet, you may find 7.1.1. But nothing more than that.

BL.
Click to expand...

as said by the previous poster, you are wrong. apple still signs the latest version for each particular device

for example, iOS 4.2.1 is still being signed for the original iPhone and iPod Touch 2nd Gen. 5.1.1 for the original iPad and iPod Touch 3rd Gen. 6.1.6 for the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 4th Gen


microsoft still does maintain support for windows 7 at the moment though (I assume the same for windows vista but i'm not sure since i don't use that OS)

it was only until april of this year that microsoft completely dropped support for windows xp (which was well over 10 years)

Although they're not huge overhauls, they're usually bugs and security fixes through windows update

edit: I messed up and it's actually the iPhone 3G that is 4.2.1, not the original iPhone
the original iPhone's latest version is 3.1.3
 
Last edited:
darricksailo said:
as said by the previous poster, you are wrong. apple still signs the latest version for each particular device

for example, iOS 4.2.1 is still being signed for the original iPhone and iPod Touch 2nd Gen. 5.1.1 for the original iPad and iPod Touch 3rd Gen. 6.1.6 for the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 4th Gen


microsoft still does maintain support for windows 7 at the moment though (I assume the same for windows vista but i'm not sure since i don't use that OS)

it was only until april of this year that microsoft completely dropped support for windows xp (which was well over 10 years)

Although they're not huge overhauls, they're usually bugs and security fixes through windows update
Click to expand...

Tell me then. Why can I not upgrade my 3G to 3.1.3?

BL.
 
dhlizard said:
Due to the basic technology employed in 3G and the age of some of the firmware, it does not contain the same restrictions which thwart restores in newer devices and firmwares.
Click to expand...

the restrictions only apply to the iphone 3gs and ipod touch 4th gen and above, right? basically, those with an A4 chip or above
 
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