Step-by-Step Guide to Jailbreak iPhone 3G and Preserve Baseband using PwnageTool

Apple released iPhone firmware 2.2.1 couple of weeks back which included some minor bugs and improvements. The Dev Team had warned against updating to firmware 2.2.1 as it also included a baseband update which breaks the "injection hole" that they had used in their application yellowsn0w to modify the firmware which had helped to successfully unlock iPhone 3G.

They released the updated version of their PwnageTool 2.2.5 which allows users to update their iPhone 3G to firmware 2.2.1 and also jailbreak it but at the same time preserve the baseband so they can unlock their iPhone.

This step-by-step guide will show you how to use Dev Team's PwnageTool 2.2.5.

Some important points to note before we start:

• Hacking your iPhone 3G could void its warranty. So please proceed with caution.
• This guide is applicable for iPhone 3G users. The 1st generation iPhone users don't have to worry about preserving their baseband, they can use the QuickPwn tool.
• This guide is applicable for all those who have iPhone firmware 2.2 or lower running on their iPhone 3G.
• This guide cannot be used to downgrade your baseband from 02.30.03 to 02.28.00 (currently there no method away to downgrade the baseband included in firmware 2.2.1).
• The only way to update to iPhone firmware 2.2.1 and preserve baseband is by using the PwnageTool 2.2.5. PwnageTool is only available for Mac users, so Windows users who want to unlock their iPhone 3G should either get the custom firmware created by the PwnageTool on a Mac from someone they trust or borrow their friend's Mac and follow this guide.
• If you don't care about unlocking your iPhone 3G now or anytime in the future then you can use QuickPwn 2.2.5 for Mac and QuickPwn 2.2.5-2 for Windows. We will be updating our step-by-step guides for Mac and Windows shortly for iPhone firmware 2.2.1.

• If you have upgraded to Mac OS X 10.5.6 (or using the new MacBooks) and facing a problem then it is because the latest update prevents your Mac from recognizing iPhone in DFU mode which is important to jailbreak iPhone 3G then use a USB hub in-between the iPhone 3G and the Mac and insert/reinsert the iPhone’s USB cable.

Preparatory steps before Jailbreaking your iPhone 3G and preserving its baseband:

1. Please take a backup of your iPhone, refer to this post for more details.
2. This guide is applicable only for iPhone 3G users who have iPhone firmware 2.2 or lower running on your iPhone 3G. You can check your firmware and modem firmware(baseband) versions via Settings->General->About and look for Version and Modem Firmware.
3. Please ensure that you have upgraded iTunes to iTunes 8.0.2.
4. Please download PwnageToo from any of these download links.

• http://iphone-dev.fgv6.net/PwnageTool_2.2.5.dmg
• http://iphone.schwarzmetall.cn/PwnageTool_2.2.5.dmg
• http://rabstalk.bplaced.net/mirrors/PwnageTool_2.2.5.dmg
• http://jmcoon.net/PwnageTool_2.2.5.dmg
• http://downloads2.ipod.backshot.eu/PwnageTool_2.2.5.dmg
• http://www.iphone-storage.de/PwnageTool_2.2.5.dmg
• http://miphone.ca/iphone-dev/PwnageTool_2.2.5.dmg

5. You need to download the iPhone firmware 2.2.1 file for iPhone 3G from this link.

Create Custom Firmware 2.2.1 using PwnageTool 2.2.5:

1. Launch PwnageTool 2.2.5. You will see the following warning message, click Ok.

2. Please select the Expert Mode from the menu bar in the next screen.

3. Then select iPhone 3G from the options presented and then click on the blue arrow button to continue.

4. You will see the "Browse for IPSW" screen. PwnageTool will automatically find the iPhone1,2_2.2.1_5H11_Restore.ipsw file that you had downloaded on your Mac. If PwnageTool doesn't automatically find the ipsw file you can click Browse and select the file.

5. Click iPhone1,2_2.2.1_5H11 to select the IPSW file, a checkmark will appear next to it. Then click the blue arrow button to continue.

6. In the next screen, select General and then click on the blue arrow button to continue.

7. The General settings allows you to decide the partition size (you have to increase the size of the root partition, 535 MB worked fine for us). Keep "Activate the phone" option checked if you want to unlock your iPhone or deselect it if you are using an official iPhone carrier. Keep "Disable partition wipe-out" option selected. Click the blue arrow button to continue.

8. In the next screen, you will see the Bootneuter settings greyed out for the 3G iPhone. Click the blue arrow button to continue.

9. In the next Cydia settings screen; you can pre-install the packages in the custom firmware so you don't have to manually install them later. Click the blue arrow button to continue.

10. The Custom Logos Settings screen allows you to change the boot and restore logos. Once you have selected the boot and restore logos, click the blue arrow button to continue.

11. In the next screen, select Build and then click on the blue arrow button to continue. You will be prompted to save the custom firmware file, save it as iPhone1,2_2.2.1_5H11_Custom_Restore.ipsw so that you differentiate the custom firmware file created by PwnageTool with the firmware file you had downloaded earlier.

12. While building the custom firmware, you will be prompted to enter a password. Enter your administrator password and then click OK.

13. You will then be prompted with following message:

Its safer to select "No".

14. PwnageTool will put your iPhone into DFU mode (Device Firmware Upgrade mode). It will prompt you to turn off your iPhone 3G (ensure that it is connected to your Mac).

15. Then you will be prompted to hold both the Home and Power buttons for 10 seconds.

16. Finally, you will prompted to release the Power button while you continue holding down the Home button for another 10 seconds.

17. If it is successful in putting your iPhone 3G in DFU mode, PwnageTool will display the following message:

18. iTunes will also pop-up with the following message:

Select "Ok".

Restore your iPhone 3G in DFU mode with Custom iPhone Firmware created using PwnageTool 2.2.5:

You can now use the custom iPhone firmware created using the PwnageTool 2.2.5 to restore your iPhone 3G in DFU on either Mac or Windows by following these steps.

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC and select your iPhone from the list of devices in iTunes.

2. In the Summary Tab, Hold down Option and press the "Restore"  button. If you are using Windows hold down Shift and press the Restore button. (This is a VERY IMPORTANT STEP as just pressing the "Restore" button will result in restoring your iPhone with the latest firmware which is firmware 2.2.1 currently, by holding down Option in case of Mac or Shift in case of Windows, allows you choose the custom iPhone firmware file.)

3. You should be able to see all the older iPhone firmware files you had downloaded so far, select the custom iPhone firmware (iPhone1,2_2.2.1_5H11_Custom_Restore.ipsw file) that was created earlier using PwnageTool to restore your iPhone 3G.

4. Once your iPhone 3G is restored, it will be jailbroken and updated with iPhone firmware 2.2.1 but the baseband will still be 02.28.00 (and not 02.30.03) so you can unlock your iPhone 3G. You can check it by going to Settings -> General -> About and looking for Version, it should be 2.2.1 (5H11) and Modem firmware should be 02.28.00.

5. The last step is to set up your iPhone 3G from a backup.

As always, don't forget to drop us a line to tell us how it goes.

[via iClarified]