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Update/Jailbreak iPhone 3GS to 3.1.2 on Windows

By arkingmark

I originally jailbroke my 3GS on version 3.0 using purplera1n. It was a very simple jailbreak. When iPhone OS 3.1 hit, apple included a baseband update that would no longer be unlockable using the current unlock hacks. Eventually, there where two ways to keep the jailbreak with or without unlock on your iPhone. The Dev Team create a pwnage tool on the Mac that could create a custom .ipsw that would have the latest 3.1 with the old baseband or one could use Geohot’s blackra1n solution, but lose their baseband. (Geohot now has unlocked for the latest baseband, due out Nov 4 2009, so going forward either way is fine.) I wanted to keep my baseband and upgrade my iPhone 3GS. Without a Mac you have to download custom .ipsw. I did this for 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 so here are the steps and some notes so you can do it too:

  1. Update to latest iTunes if you don’t already have it. I updated to 9.0.2.25.
  2. If you are using a jailbroken iPhone, I recommend installing rockmyi and using their backup manager to backup your jailbroken apps. This just keeps a list of jailbreak app to install. Also install SpringSorter and backup your app layout. (The SpringSorter app did not really work all that great…but you may have better luck.)
  3. If you are using a jailbroken iphone and want to keep your baseband, download a custom .ipsw created by pwnage tool. I got mine from here: http://mahmood1.com/jailbreak.aspx
  4. Backup your iPhone on itunes.
  5. If you are using a jailbroken iPhone, hit and the restore button on iTunes summary page for your iPhone and select the custom .ipsw that you downloaded. Otherwise, just upgrade to latest iPhone OS and go to http://blackra1n.com/ and follow instructions after hitting the windows image button.
  6. If you are restoring a custom .ipsw and you encounter an ‘unknown error’, do not panic. Just enter DFU mode for your iphone by holding the Power and Home button for ten seconds then just releasing the power button. After a few second while still holding the home button, your iPhone should show the connect to iTunes information. Then do step 5 again. (I got a unknown error (5).)
  7. Wait….it will take awhile. When done you should have a factory fresh iPhone with Cydia on it.
  8. Now just restore your backup to get all your old stuff back.
  9. If you used rockmyi and SpringSorter restore your jailbroken apps and layout.

This entry was posted on November 2, 2009 at 4:04 pm and is filed under Jailbreak, iPhone. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “Update/Jailbreak iPhone 3GS to 3.1.2 on Windows”

  1. SSA Says:
    November 3, 2009 at 2:49 am | Reply

    (The SpringSorter app did not really work all that great…but you may have better luck.)
    How so ?

    • Mark Arking Says:
      November 3, 2009 at 3:02 am | Reply

      My experience was that the restore from iTunes put most apps close to where they were. I then put in the jailbreak apps and restored from SpringSorter. I beleive that it did not move apps to their right pages…just reordered in the page they were in. I really didn’t take the time to analyze what the restore did…I just noted that many things never made it to their correct page placement. Sorry I don’t have more info.

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