All Cydia apps & Safari & Mail app Crash after installing theme.

[Paul.ryan]

I'm very comfortable with Android root and modification but very new to iPhone jail break and modification.
I jail broke my iPhone 4 ios 5.1.1 a couple of weeks ago and installed several apps and tweaks from Cydia. It's very different but so was Android when I started. I decided to try installing a theme 2 days ago but didn't like the ones in the Cydia store. After a Quick Google search "best iPhone themes" I chose "Leg1on HD". I found it at iThemesky.com, installed their app, & followed instructions to download and install the theme. Yes I read those. I know it's weird but that's just me.
I tried to apply the the theme with Winterboard & nothing changed. So I thought maybe it just needs a respring. Still nothing. Ok maybe a reboot. Still nothing. Then I tried to open iFile to see if I could find the files & that's when I found that none of my Cydia apps would open. A quick look in settings found that all of their settings were gone. I've since found that iPhone Mail app and Safari will not work either. I've installed iSpirit on my desktop and browsed through the files on my phone and found that the apps are still there obviously they just won't launch. The icons are still on my screen but when I touch them they only blink like something is about to happen then nothing.
My google searches have turned up similar problems but all are related to a failed jail break or a semi tether jail break issue. It's seems as if my jail break has come undone. I have iFaith and my blobs so I can restore and start over if I have to but if I don't have to that would be great.
I'm open to all suggestions just keep in mind I'm still a noob.
If I've posted in the wrong place I'm sorry but since my problem started with the theme this seemed the most likely place to start.

 

[Paul.ryan]

[Update]
So it's been 3 days and no response. Apparently this has never happened to anyone here or maybe this is a do it yourself forum where you answer your own questions.

After more digging around the web and prodding my phone I decided to run Redsn0w (redsn0w_win_0.9.15b3) again and what do you know I'm Jailbroke again. I rebooted the phone while connected to my laptop and all went well. Reboot again while disconnected and now no Jailbreak, reconnect to laptop and reboot and Jailbreak returns. I think this is the classic tethered Jailbreak response but I'm not certain.

So it wasn't the theme that broke the Jailbreak it was the reboot. The theme still doesn't work but I downloaded one from Cydia just to try it and that worked. I don't know why the first theme didn't work. Maybe it just didn't download or install correctly or maybe the "iThemesky" app or webpage didn't function as advertised.
Also I still don't know why my Jailbreak isn't sticking. Did I just use the wrong version of Redsn0w?

One last question if anyone besides me reads this. Is the iThemesky website good or bad?

 

[zig9449]

Whenever you go to install tweaks and themes on your device it is very very very important that you check that that tweak/theme is compatible with your iOS version and device model.

You cannot just install any theme/tweak on any device. Some are made specifically for older versions of iOS...some are made specifically for iPad(not iPhone) some are made specifically for iPhone 3GS (not iPhone 4) and so on. Always check compatibility.

It is generally a pretty bad idea to just go through Cydia and install whatever seems cool all in one sitting. This is what gives jailbreaking a bad name. Users jailbreak their device, start installing tweaks and themes without doing any research at all, their device starts acting all screwed up, and they blame the jailbreak, when really it was their carelessness.

Honestly I would check and see if you have blobs for iOS 6.0.1-6.0.2. Jailbreak is very stable and basically every new tweak is made for iOS 6+ now. But that up to you. Most tweaks should still work in 5.1.1. Just make sure you check compatibility check compatibility check compatibility. Just like a computer...you cannot just install whatever has has a co description without reading up on when it was last updated and what changes were made.

Within Cydia always tap the "Recent Changes" tab to see *when* the last update was made and other relate my info. If you see a packages last update was sometime in 2010....you probably shouldn't install it.

If you are on iOS 5.1.1 and used the latest redsn0w then you should have an untethered jailbreak.

Honestly if I were you I would just create an SHSH blob iPSW and restore to that and this time....install things one at a time, and wait a while to make sure the tweak or whatever hasn't caused any problems before installing any more. I only suggest you restore because you said you installed many tweaks and themes...and themes may look cool, but I personally don't think they are worth the minor performance decrease. I would rather have more functionality then a cool look, but that's just me. I love the way iOS looks(except I think iOS 7 is completely hideous). But that's why I'm staying on 6.1.3....for a long time most likely.

Btw, you should *always* use the latest redsn0w if that is the tool you wish to use. Pretty much all jailbreak tools are only updated to "add" support for more iOS versions, and older version support is generally not taken away. At least not with iFaith, Sn0wbreeze, and redsn0w anyway.

I love using Sn0wbreeze. It builds an iPSW file that is already jailbroken, so you don't have to bother jailbreaking after the restore. It's done. Just make sure you use iFaith's SHSH blobs to build a Sn0wbreeze iPSW should you choose that route. Always download the *latest* version from ih8sn0w.com.

Now about your theme that wouldn't work...i would not trust anything from some website that has no information about what iOS version the that theme was specifically made for. It didn't work for a reason. Cydia has a ridiculous amount of themes available. There are literally thousands of themes within Cydia. Only trust those ones(check compatibility, check compatibility).

In Cydia, tap the "Sections" tab at the bottom of the page...there you will see the hundreds and hundreds of different theme sections to choose from. I'm sure if you take the time you will find something you like. I highly highly recommend you do not download any themes from anywhere else but Cydia.

Did I mention how important it is to check compatibility before installing anything? Make sure you do that.

Also,...don't update iTunes past version 10.7.

 

[Paul.ryan]

Thank you zig9449 for your kind and informative reply.
While I am new the jailbreak scene I've been rooting and modifying android phones starting with an original Droid when there was no 1- click root and it was in done via command prompt and ADB.
I test each tweak precisely so that I know it works correctly. The theme was the last thing I installed before I lost the jailbreak. That's why it got the blame. Most of the apps and tweaks I've applied were taken from recommendations in links directly from the redmondpie tutorial on Redsn0w. Some are from research I've already done and my reason to jailbreak because of my frustration with things iOS should do but Apple doesn't think I need. ( iFile, FolderCloser, SBSettings, PasswordPilot, SwipeBack, SwypeSelection.) I actually don't hate my phone now. If I could find an app that allows me to have a one touch "screen off button" on my screen & figure out how to get a "back button" at the bottom of the screen where my thumbs are all would be well.
The website where I found the theme actually has very good documentation on which model of phone and version of iOS the theme is for.

I have searched google with word combinations that should show complaints about them and entered the web address into scam alert search engines. They seem legit and have lots of positive reviews. I know those can be faked but I've not found much negative so far. Their iPhone app is a very easy to use, has great previews of the themes and a handy feature to search themes by phone model and free or paid themes.
I have since discovered that iOS is themed with multiple file packages that are not always installed all at once and what I downloaded was actually only an add on for "Leg1on" to theme the notification center. I had been searching for that theme because it had made several top theme lists, I liked the pics and I wanted a free one for my first time. Just to get my feet wet. I think it used to be in Cydia under ModMyi.com but is gone now and even the devs links are dead.

I can only wish I had SHSH blobs for iOS 6. I never updated my phone since I got it last year so the only ones I have came directly from the phone a few weeks ago with iFaith which I used to create a custom iPSW when I restored after my first attempt to jailbreak with Redsn0w failed.
(Likely due to the previously stated reboot issue. I didn't know that the pictures in the icons for jailbreak apps don't load right away and then I rebooted before the Cydia icon filled in thinking that might help.)
Oh and I've already been to iTunes 11 and back. It was the most recent version when I first installed iTunes on my computer. Yes I'm that new to iTunes. My phone is not a music player. This is a work phone and backup has always been iCloud.

I only started jailbreaking when I knew there was a backup plan if something went wrong. I try to do at least some research before adding something my phone. (Google is my friend.) And when something doesn't work or goes wrong I do a lot more research before I post. I don't want to be that guy who asks a question that's already been answered if I can help it.

I will definitely get Sn0wbreeze and use it to build the jailbroken iPSW. That is a great feature I did not know was available. I will do that restore right after I figure out how to backup the tweaks I have so don't have to try to remember them all. I've seen some conversations talking about it but just haven't track them down and read the whole thing.
One step at a time.

Sent from my cm_tenderloin using Tapatalk 4

 

[zig9449]

Thank you zig9449 for your kind and informative reply.
While I am new the jailbreak scene I've been rooting and modifying android phones starting with an original Droid when there was no 1- click root and it was in done via command prompt and ADB.
I test each tweak precisely so that I know it works correctly. The theme was the last thing I installed before I lost the jailbreak. That's why it got the blame. Most of the apps and tweaks I've applied were taken from recommendations in links directly from the redmondpie tutorial on Redsn0w. Some are from research I've already done and my reason to jailbreak because of my frustration with things iOS should do but Apple doesn't think I need. ( iFile, FolderCloser, SBSettings, PasswordPilot, SwipeBack, SwypeSelection.) I actually don't hate my phone now. If I could find an app that allows me to have a one touch "screen off button" on my screen & figure out how to get a "back button" at the bottom of the screen where my thumbs are all would be well.
The website where I found the theme actually has very good documentation on which model of phone and version of iOS the theme is for.
<img src="http://www.iphoneforums.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=13846"/>
I have searched google with word combinations that should show complaints about them and entered the web address into scam alert search engines. They seem legit and have lots of positive reviews. I know those can be faked but I've not found much negative so far. Their iPhone app is a very easy to use, has great previews of the themes and a handy feature to search themes by phone model and free or paid themes.
I have since discovered that iOS is themed with multiple file packages that are not always installed all at once and what I downloaded was actually only an add on for "Leg1on" to theme the notification center. I had been searching for that theme because it had made several top theme lists, I liked the pics and I wanted a free one for my first time. Just to get my feet wet. I think it used to be in Cydia under ModMyi.com but is gone now and even the devs links are dead.

I can only wish I had SHSH blobs for iOS 6. I never updated my phone since I got it last year so the only ones I have came directly from the phone a few weeks ago with iFaith which I used to create a custom iPSW when I restored after my first attempt to jailbreak with Redsn0w failed.
(Likely due to the previously stated reboot issue. I didn't know that the pictures in the icons for jailbreak apps don't load right away and then I rebooted before the Cydia icon filled in thinking that might help.)
Oh and I've already been to iTunes 11 and back. It was the most recent version when I first installed iTunes on my computer. Yes I'm that new to iTunes. My phone is not a music player. This is a work phone and backup has always been iCloud.

I only started jailbreaking when I knew there was a backup plan if something went wrong. I try to do at least some research before adding something my phone. (Google is my friend.) And when something doesn't work or goes wrong I do a lot more research before I post. I don't want to be that guy who asks a question that's already been answered if I can help it.

I will definitely get Sn0wbreeze and use it to build the jailbroken iPSW. That is a great feature I did not know was available. I will do that restore right after I figure out how to backup the tweaks I have so don't have to try to remember them all. I've seen some conversations talking about it but just haven't track them down and read the whole thing.
One step at a time.

Sent from my cm_tenderloin using Tapatalk 4

It is so refreshing to help someone who is iPhone competent when it comes to hacking. I'm glad you take the right precautions....a lot of users just don't do that.

Here are some tips to help you out.

There are ways to backup your Cydia tweaks, like xBackup from Cydia. It works pretty well.

Also there is an application from Cydia called AppInfo. It is an app that provides information of what data is located within each and every app on your phone and it even provided a list of every tweak from Cydia that you have installed. You can email this list to yourself.

My suggestion....don't backup your tweaks(yet). I would start over. I know it sucks, but doing this removes basically all possibilities for error.

Use AppInfo to email yourself a list of tweaks you have installed from Cydia so you don't have to bother searching.

When you restore to your jailbroken Sn0wbreezs iPSW, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT restore to a backup. Choose "setup as new device" when the restore finishes instead of restoring to a backup. Restoring to a backup is usually the #1 cause of problem (when your restoring to fix a problem in the first place). If you think about it....your phone is having problems, so you restore it, then restore a backup from iTunes...all seems well until you install a few tweaks then start having the same problems again. What's the point of restoring to fix a problem if your going to restore from a backup and put all those "problem files" rite back on the phone right?

Don't worry...when you setup as new device, you won't use anything that is toggled on in the iCloud tab in the Settings.app like Contacts, Notes, Calendars, Photos, etc. that stuff will always be available even if you choose "setup as new device". You also won't lose anything that is toggled on in Settings> Mail, Contacts, Calendars> "xx email account". That info is automatically added back to the phone once those email accounts are added again after the restore.

If you do it this way, and are careful with everything you install...then next time you need to restore you will be able to use a Cydia tweak backup package and install all tweaks at once.

You should only have to do this process once if everything goes well.

On an unrelated note....here are some great tweaks that I use that I personally think are better then the ones you listed above.

FolderEnhancer (way better then FolderCloser)

Springtomize 2 (Also has the folder closing function plus an array of setting and modifications easily accessible)

QuickDo (it's Activator on steroids and has the "swipe back" option available, and can disable in whichever app you choose if you like)

SBSettings (this is a great tweak I think everyone should have....but there are also other tweaks that integrate into Notification Center way better the SBS does. Like "NCSettings" and my favorite, "IntelliScreenX")

KBShortcuts (can easily replace PasswordPilot by turning whichever key on the keyboard you want to type in your set word. When I need to type my email address I simply slide from the space bar to the "@" key, let go, and my email address is entered. When I need to type in a my usual password I slide from the space bar to the "9" key, let go and my password is entered. You can set literally any key to type in whatever you want by sliding from the space bar to that key. Just use the ".?123" tab for Quick Text so you don't get rid of the adds functions on the "abc" keyboard. For example, a lot of functions are added like slide from space bar to "A" to highlight all text; slide from space bar to "C" to copy highlighted words; slide from space bar to "V" to paste; slide from space bat to "F" to search for a word on the page....and way way way more actions. Too many for me to name. I cannot live with this tweak)

iFile (Nothing beats iFile. Every single jailbroken iPhone should have iFile installed.)

 

[Paul.ryan]

WOOHOO
My iPhone retains jailbreak after reboot.
Thank you zig9449 for suggesting sn0wbreeze. I was able to build a restore file that gave me a jailbreak that survives a reboot and I was able to restore all of my tweaks with out breaking anything. I'm temped by the advanced features in Sn0wbreeze too.
iFile is awesome and allowed me to edit a lockscreen weather theme per the designers instructions to activate installed but inactive features. Wow theming the iPhone is a lot more complicated and more flexible than Android on the user side. (-:
SBSetting is very useful too. I'll probably install intelliScreenX next but I've been busy just trying to understand all of the settings I have at my disposal now.
Thanks again.