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What happens to iPhone data after jailbreaking/unlocking?

U

umiwangu

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 4, 2006
478
0
Malawi
I know this sounds like an extremely simple question, but I haven't been able to find an answer for it after browsing around these forums and Google for a short time, so I thought I'd just go ahead and ask it.

I have a friend with 2G iPhone on AT&T. She still wants to use AT&T while she is in the US, but while traveling overseas, she wants to use other providers. If she does unlock the iPhone with, say, PwnageTool (she has 3.0 f/w), what happens to all of her texts, contacts, etc. Do they stay there?

Thanks guys!

(and apologies if this has been addressed before or if the answer is blindingly obvious)
 
umiwangu said:
I know this sounds like an extremely simple question, but I haven't been able to find an answer for it after browsing around these forums and Google for a short time, so I thought I'd just go ahead and ask it.

I have a friend with 2G iPhone on AT&T. She still wants to use AT&T while she is in the US, but while traveling overseas, she wants to use other providers. If she does unlock the iPhone with, say, PwnageTool (she has 3.0 f/w), what happens to all of her texts, contacts, etc. Do they stay there?

Thanks guys!

(and apologies if this has been addressed before or if the answer is blindingly obvious)
Click to expand...

If you choose set up as new phone, I don't believe her texts will survive, since they do not sync with iTunes.

When applying the custom IPSW in iTunes, you can choose set up as new phone or set up as previous phone (phone name provided by iTunes).

The custom_restore IPSW is going to write over all the old firmware. You sync back your contacts, calendar, apps, etc. and the rest comes from your previous profile if you choose that.
 
dhlizard said:
If you choose set up as new phone, I don't believe her texts will survive, since they do not sync with iTunes.

When applying the custom IPSW in iTunes, you can choose set up as new phone or set up as previous phone (phone name provided by iTunes).

The custom_restore IPSW is going to write over all the old firmware. You sync back your contacts, calendar, apps, etc. and the rest comes from your previous profile if you choose that.
Click to expand...

I know that iTunes doesn't explicitly sync texts, but what about during the backup process when you sync? I heard somewhere that it stores a database of your text messages - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2163483&tstart=0 or http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766 (yes, iTunes backs up everything).

Seriously though, did everyone else just unlock their iPhone straight out of the box (like I did) and not worry about the data?
 
umiwangu said:
I know that iTunes doesn't explicitly sync texts, but what about during the backup process when you sync? I heard somewhere that it stores a database of your text messages - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2163483&tstart=0 or http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766 (yes, iTunes backs up everything).
Click to expand...

I don't know about text messages, because I've never cared about preserving them, but if you can confirm that they are saved during backup, then you should get them back after jailbreak by doing:
1. backup
2. jailbreak
3. restore from backup you made in step 1
 
dhlizard said:
If you choose set up as new phone, I don't believe her texts will survive, since they do not sync with iTunes.

When applying the custom IPSW in iTunes, you can choose set up as new phone or set up as previous phone (phone name provided by iTunes).

The custom_restore IPSW is going to write over all the old firmware. You sync back your contacts, calendar, apps, etc. and the rest comes from your previous profile if you choose that.
Click to expand...

Hang on everyone...

OP just wants to Jailbreak/unlock a 3.0 phone...

Can't they just use redsn0w? That doesn't require losing ANY data does it?
 
Night Spring said:
I don't know about text messages, because I've never cared about preserving them, but if you can confirm that they are saved during backup, then you should get them back after jailbreak by doing:
1. backup
2. jailbreak
3. restore from backup you made in step 1
Click to expand...

He can also...
1. Jailbreak
2. Copy the SMS folder to his computer
3. Restore and set up as new
4. Jailbreak
5. Copy the SMS folder back.

Its a couple of extra steps but if you want the benefits of setting up as new while preserving old Texts then its the way to go.
 
darngooddesign said:
He can also...
1. Jailbreak
2. Copy the SMS folder to his computer
3. Restore and set up as new
4. Jailbreak
5. Copy the SMS folder back.

Its a couple of extra steps but if you want the benefits of setting up as new while preserving old Texts then its the way to go.
Click to expand...

... WHY?!?!?

They only want to unlock their phone...

They can also just STOP after Step 1.
 
My apologies for not replying sooner. For some reason I didn't think there had been any more replies. Here goes.

darngooddesign said:
Some of us don't care about old text messages.
Click to expand...

And some of us do.

Night Spring said:
I don't know about text messages, because I've never cared about preserving them, but if you can confirm that they are saved during backup, then you should get them back after jailbreak by doing:
1. backup
2. jailbreak
3. restore from backup you made in step 1
Click to expand...

Won't iTunes treat the iPhone as a new iPhone? And therefore rendering the backup useless? Yes, you could still sync contacts with Address Book/Outlook and calendars with iCal/Outlook, but would it still restore the right data?

ViViDboarder said:
Hang on everyone...

OP just wants to Jailbreak/unlock a 3.0 phone...

Can't they just use redsn0w? That doesn't require losing ANY data does it?
Click to expand...

Redsn0w? I'll have to look at it. I do like the Dev Team's work, but sometimes there documentation leaves a lot to be desired, or doesn't use plain English.

darngooddesign said:
He can also...
1. Jailbreak
2. Copy the SMS folder to his computer
3. Restore and set up as new
4. Jailbreak
5. Copy the SMS folder back.

Its a couple of extra steps but if you want the benefits of setting up as new while preserving old Texts then its the way to go.
Click to expand...

ViViDboarder said:
... WHY?!?!?

They only want to unlock their phone...

They can also just STOP after Step 1.
Click to expand...

Yeah, what the heck?
 
ViViDboarder said:
Hang on everyone...

OP just wants to Jailbreak/unlock a 3.0 phone...

Can't they just use redsn0w? That doesn't require losing ANY data does it?
Click to expand...

Looking at this link here, first they say that you can use Redsn0w to jb/unlock 2G/3G/3GS, but then at the end, they say, it only unlocks the 2G! Which is it?

"redsn0w is an easy to use, multi-platform, multi-device jailbreaking and unlocking tool for the iPhone 2G (original iPhone), the iPhone 3G/3GS and also the iPod touch (first and second generation). It is available for Linux, Mac OS X and Windows."

and then

"To use redsn0w simply upgrade the device in iTunes to firmware version 3.0 and run redsn0w to activate and jailbreak the device (and if you are using an original iPhone 2G, it will unlock it too!)"

This shouldn't be such a hard question!
 
umiwangu said:
My apologies for not replying sooner. For some reason I didn't think there had been any more replies. Here goes.

<snip>
Yeah, what the heck?
Click to expand...

Haha. Yea... redsn0w is here http://blog.iphone-dev.org/post/126908912/redsn0w-in-june and you will need to download a 3.0.0 IPSW (even if you are running 3.0.1) from somewhere (You'll find it if you google it) and then plug your phone in and run redsn0w and follow the directions. It'll ask you to point to the IPSW and you just point it to the one you downloaded.

That should be all you need for directions. :D

Information on using 3.0.0 IPSW for 3.0.1 jailbreak is here if you're interested in knowing why I said to use 3.0.0 IPSW no matter what. http://blog.iphone-dev.org/post/153409604/recycling-goodness
 
ViViDboarder said:
Haha. Yea... redsn0w is here http://blog.iphone-dev.org/post/126908912/redsn0w-in-june and you will need to download a 3.0.0 IPSW (even if you are running 3.0.1) from somewhere (You'll find it if you google it) and then plug your phone in and run redsn0w and follow the directions. It'll ask you to point to the IPSW and you just point it to the one you downloaded.

That should be all you need for directions. :D

Information on using 3.0.0 IPSW for 3.0.1 jailbreak is here if you're interested in knowing why I said to use 3.0.0 IPSW no matter what. http://blog.iphone-dev.org/post/153409604/recycling-goodness
Click to expand...

Even for 3G? It looked like on the Redsn0w page it said it only 'unlocked' 2G iPhones...

Thanks for the links though.
 
umiwangu said:
Even for 3G? It looked like on the Redsn0w page it said it only 'unlocked' 2G iPhones...

Thanks for the links though.
Click to expand...

Nope. 3G and 2G and even 3Gs. Then you just DL Ultrasn0w in Cydia.

Just double checking that you're using 3.0.x right?
 
ViViDboarder said:
Nope. 3G and 2G and even 3Gs. Then you just DL Ultrasn0w in Cydia.

Just double checking that you're using 3.0.x right?
Click to expand...

Yes, I think it's 3.0.x. She said 3.0 (7A341).

Redsn0w > UltraSn0w via Cydia = jb/unlocked. So this is basically just a soft-unlock, not requiring a wipe... Awesome!
 
umiwangu said:
Looking at this link here, first they say that you can use Redsn0w to jb/unlock 2G/3G/3GS, but then at the end, they say, it only unlocks the 2G! Which is it?

"redsn0w is an easy to use, multi-platform, multi-device jailbreaking and unlocking tool for the iPhone 2G (original iPhone), the iPhone 3G/3GS and also the iPod touch (first and second generation). It is available for Linux, Mac OS X and Windows."

and then

"To use redsn0w simply upgrade the device in iTunes to firmware version 3.0 and run redsn0w to activate and jailbreak the device (and if you are using an original iPhone 2G, it will unlock it too!)"

This shouldn't be such a hard question!
Click to expand...

Not hard at all but you are quoting and copying exerpts out of context.

Redsn0w .0.8 will JB a 3G and 3GS for firmware 3.0 and 3.0.1

It will unlock and JB a 2G phone

For firmware 3.1, the only thing currently available is Pwnage Tool for Mac but only for 3G, not 3GS.

There is currently no JB tool for 3GS for firmware 3.1

Now, as far as for what is synced back. Everything you have enabled on the summary tabs will be synced back if it is enabled, even if you change phones.

There is no sync for texts but as stated, there are other ways to move them.
 
dhlizard said:
Not hard at all but you are quoting and copying exerpts out of context.

Redsn0w .0.8 will JB a 3G and 3GS for firmware 3.0 and 3.0.1

It will unlock and JB a 2G phone

For firmware 3.1, the only thing currently available is Pwnage Tool for Mac but only for 3G, not 3GS.

There is currently no JB tool for 3GS for firmware 3.1

Now, as far as for what is synced back. Everything you have enabled on the summary tabs will be synced back if it is enabled, even if you change phones.

There is no sync for texts but as stated, there are other ways to move them.
Click to expand...

OP is only trying to JB 3.0.x :D

So OP can use redsn0w just fine without restoring the iPhone. Just DL and run it with the IPSW like I mentioned, oh-so-many times already. :D
 
ViViDboarder said:
OP is only trying to JB 3.0.x :D

So OP can use redsn0w just fine without restoring the iPhone. Just DL and run it with the IPSW like I mentioned, oh-so-many times already. :D
Click to expand...

No, actually I do want to unlock the iPhone as well. But as you said, I can just do redsn0w and then follow up with ultrasn0w.
 
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