3gs screen wont turn on and failing restore (21)

[DashCunning]

I have an iPhone 3gs that seems to be stuck in recovery mode. Holding down the power button for an extended period of time does nothing, and holding power+home, home does nothing either, at least as far as the screen is concerned. Always black.


If I open iTunes and plug-in the phone it tells me it has found a device in recovery mode. For the phone details iTunes shows:
Name: iPhone
Capacity: n/A
Software version: n/a
Serial number: n/a


If I attempt to recover using iTunes I usually get an error 21. The screen will turn on and show blank white when this happens, but nothing more. I have tried various versions of iTunes on both PC and Mac as well as various firmware versions. Most of the time I get error 21. I think I got a 16xx somewhere along the way but I can't reproduce it now.


I want to make it perfectly clear that this was NOT a jailbreaking issue. When the phone stopped working it was not jailbroken nor had it ever been. It was running iOS 4.x (don't recall which specific version and can't check now). One day I was listening to music via bluetooth headphones. I turned off the headphones and picked up my phone and the screen wouldn't turn on. I did not drop or physically damage it in some way.


HOWEVER, after the many failed attempts to restore (as described above), I did attempt various jailbreaking methods to see if I had any better luck. They never seem to get any farther than the iTunes restore did. Interestingly though, when some of the jailbreaking tools ask me to hold down home+power, then release power while holding home, the tool seems to recognize the phone going into DFU mode (though the screen never does anything during this process).


Any thoughts or suggestions? I've done a lot of searching and the first thing everyone seems to suggest is turning the phone off, but I can't even do that (as far as I can tell).

 

[iGaz]

If you can get you phone back into DFU mode try restoring then. You will have much better luck.

The screen supposed to be blank in DFU that's how you tell it apart from recovery...

 

[DashCunning]

Tried putting into DFU first, though I really don't know if I am succeeding.

Also, here is the restore log:

2011-03-05 21:35:27.601 [3788:16f4]: restore library built Feb 7 2011 at 06:28:58
2011-03-05 21:35:27.601 [3788:16f4]: iTunes: iTunes 10.2.0.34
2011-03-05 21:35:27.601 [3788:16f4]: iTunes: Software payload version: 8C148a
2011-03-05 21:35:45.373 [3788:640]: iTunes: Specifying UOI boot image
2011-03-05 21:35:45.374 [3788:640]: AppleDevice::GetDeviceID: failed for iBoot
2011-03-05 21:35:45.374 [3788:640]: _AMRUSBDeviceGetManufacturerStringIndex: unable to get device descriptor: 2001
2011-03-05 21:35:45.374 [3788:640]: unable to get manufacturer string index: 2001
2011-03-05 21:35:45.405 [3788:640]: *** UUID 12997F38-B194-FA4F-A3AF-AF56EF00FDB3 ***
2011-03-05 21:35:45.405 [3788:640]: requested restore behavior: Erase
2011-03-05 21:35:45.434 [3788:640]: amai: AMAuthInstallDebugWriteObject: debug object written: C:\Users\mlm\AppData\Local\Temp\Per2BED.tmp\amai\debug\tss-request.plist
2011-03-05 21:35:46.432 [3788:640]: amai: tss_submit_job: HttpQueryInfo returned 200
2011-03-05 21:35:46.836 [3788:640]: amai: AMAuthInstallRequestSendSync: received tss response (server version: 0.6.31-b2)
2011-03-05 21:35:46.838 [3788:640]: amai: AMAuthInstallDebugWriteObject: debug object written: C:\Users\mlm\AppData\Local\Temp\Per2BED.tmp\amai\debug\tss-response.plist
2011-03-05 21:35:47.175 [3788:1668]: AppleDevice::GetDeviceID: failed for iBoot
2011-03-05 21:35:47.175 [3788:1668]: _AMRUSBDeviceGetManufacturerStringIndex: unable to get device descriptor: 2001
2011-03-05 21:35:47.175 [3788:1668]: unable to get manufacturer string index: 2001
2011-03-05 21:35:47.175 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: production fused device
2011-03-05 21:35:47.175 [3788:1668]: unable to open device_map.txt: No such file or directory
2011-03-05 21:35:47.175 [3788:1668]: WinDFU::OpenDFUDevice: path: \\?\USB#VID_05AC&PID_1227#{B8085869-FEB9-404B-8CB1-1E5C14FA8C54}\0000#1c13ef33
2011-03-05 21:35:47.175 [3788:1668]: WinDFU::OpenDeviceByPath: \\?\USB#VID_05AC&PID_1227#{B8085869-FEB9-404B-8CB1-1E5C14FA8C54}\0000#1c13ef33
2011-03-05 21:35:47.192 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 1
2011-03-05 21:35:47.208 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 3
2011-03-05 21:35:47.224 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 5
2011-03-05 21:35:47.240 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 7
2011-03-05 21:35:47.256 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 9
2011-03-05 21:35:47.272 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 11
2011-03-05 21:35:47.288 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 13
2011-03-05 21:35:47.304 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 15
2011-03-05 21:35:47.320 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 16
2011-03-05 21:35:47.336 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 18
2011-03-05 21:35:47.352 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 20
2011-03-05 21:35:47.368 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 22
2011-03-05 21:35:47.384 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 24
2011-03-05 21:35:47.400 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 26
2011-03-05 21:35:47.416 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 28
2011-03-05 21:35:47.432 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 30
2011-03-05 21:35:47.448 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 31
2011-03-05 21:35:47.464 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 33
2011-03-05 21:35:47.480 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 35
2011-03-05 21:35:47.496 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 37
2011-03-05 21:35:47.512 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 39
2011-03-05 21:35:47.528 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 41
2011-03-05 21:35:47.544 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 43
2011-03-05 21:35:47.560 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 45
2011-03-05 21:35:47.576 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 46
2011-03-05 21:35:47.592 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 48
2011-03-05 21:35:47.608 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 50
2011-03-05 21:35:47.624 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 52
2011-03-05 21:35:47.640 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 54
2011-03-05 21:35:47.656 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 56
2011-03-05 21:35:47.672 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 58
2011-03-05 21:35:47.688 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 60
2011-03-05 21:35:47.704 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 62
2011-03-05 21:35:47.720 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 63
2011-03-05 21:35:47.736 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 65
2011-03-05 21:35:47.752 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 67
2011-03-05 21:35:47.768 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 69
2011-03-05 21:35:47.784 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 71
2011-03-05 21:35:47.800 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 73
2011-03-05 21:35:47.816 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 75
2011-03-05 21:35:47.832 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 77
2011-03-05 21:35:47.848 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 78
2011-03-05 21:35:47.864 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 80
2011-03-05 21:35:47.880 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 82
2011-03-05 21:35:47.896 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 84
2011-03-05 21:35:47.912 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 86
2011-03-05 21:35:47.928 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 88
2011-03-05 21:35:47.945 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 90
2011-03-05 21:35:47.961 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 92
2011-03-05 21:35:47.977 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 93
2011-03-05 21:35:47.993 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 95
2011-03-05 21:35:48.009 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 97
2011-03-05 21:35:48.025 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 99
2011-03-05 21:35:48.026 [3788:1668]: WinDFU::UploadData: EOF, cbRead: 425
2011-03-05 21:35:48.030 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: operation 0 progress 100
2011-03-05 21:35:48.031 [3788:1668]: WinDFU::UploadData: ZLP
2011-03-05 21:35:48.033 [3788:1668]: WinDFU::FinalizeDfuUpdate: GetStatus: status: 0, state: 6
2011-03-05 21:35:48.033 [3788:1668]: WinDFU:rocessUpdateState: status.bState == DFU_STATE_MANIFEST_SYNC
2011-03-05 21:35:48.035 [3788:1668]: WinDFU::FinalizeDfuUpdate: GetStatus: status: 0, state: 7
2011-03-05 21:35:48.035 [3788:1668]: WinDFU:rocessUpdateState: status.bState == DFU_STATE_MANIFEST, PollTimeout: 3000
2011-03-05 21:35:51.036 [3788:1668]: WinDFU::FinalizeDfuUpdate: GetStatus: status: 0, state: 8
2011-03-05 21:35:51.036 [3788:1668]: WinDFU:rocessUpdateState: status.bState == DFU_STATE_MANIFEST_WAIT_RESET
2011-03-05 21:35:51.036 [3788:1668]: WinDFU::ResetDevice: resetting...
2011-03-05 21:35:51.102 [3788:1668]: WinDFU::FinalizeDfuUpdate: success
2011-03-05 21:35:51.102 [3788:1668]: <DFU Device 07D0D988>: DFU succeeded
2011-03-05 21:35:51.185 [3788:1430]: WinAMRestore::OnInterfaceRemoval: \\?\USB#VID_05AC&PID_1227#{B8085869-FEB9-404B-8CB1-1E5C14FA8C54}\0000#1c13ef33
2011-03-05 21:35:51.185 [3788:1430]: WinAMRestore:rocessDevNodesChanges: device: 0x00d9dc40, notify: 2, connected: 1
2011-03-05 21:35:51.185 [3788:1430]: AppleDevice::NotifyDisconnect: DFU \\?\USB#VID_05AC&PID_1227#{B8085869-FEB9-404B-8CB1-1E5C14FA8C54}\0000#1c13ef33, inst: 0xd9dc40
2011-03-05 21:35:51.186 [3788:1430]: _AMDFUModeDeviceFinalize: 07D0D988
2011-03-05 21:35:56.453 [3788:1430]: WinAMRestore::OnInterfaceArrival: \\?\USB#VID_05AC&PID_1281#{ED82A167-D61A-4AF6-9AB6-11E52236C576}\IB0000#285b5f47
2011-03-05 21:35:56.453 [3788:1430]: WinAMRestore::AddAppleDeviceToDeviceList: \\?\USB#VID_05AC&PID_1281#{ED82A167-D61A-4AF6-9AB6-11E52236C576}\IB0000#285b5f47
2011-03-05 21:35:56.470 [3788:1430]: AppleDevice::EnumerateHubPorts: DoesDriverNameMatchDeviceID failed
2011-03-05 21:35:56.485 [3788:1430]: AppleDevice::EnumerateHubPorts: DoesDriverNameMatchDeviceID failed
2011-03-05 21:35:56.495 [3788:1430]: AppleDevice::SetNotification: CONNECT, interface type: 1, id: \\?\USB#VID_05AC&PID_1281#{ED82A167-D61A-4AF6-9AB6-11E52236C576}\IB0000#285b5f47, inst: 0x12b05160
2011-03-05 21:35:56.495 [3788:1430]: WinAMRestore::AddAppleDeviceToDeviceList, new device
2011-03-05 21:35:56.495 [3788:1430]: WinAMRestore:rocessDevNodesChanges: device: 0x00d9dc40, notify: 0, connected: 0
2011-03-05 21:35:56.495 [3788:1430]: WinAMRestore:rocessDevNodesChanges: device: 0x12b05160, notify: 1, connected: 0
2011-03-05 21:35:56.495 [3788:1430]: AppleDevice::NotifyConnect: Device type: 2, Interfaces total: 2, arrived: 1
2011-03-05 21:35:56.495 [3788:1430]: AppleDevice::NotifyConnect: Interfaces total != arrived, no notification
2011-03-05 21:35:56.496 [3788:1430]: WinAMRestore::OnInterfaceArrival: \\?\USB#VID_05AC&PID_1281#{B8085869-FEB9-404B-8CB1-1E5C14FA8C54}\0000#285b5f47
2011-03-05 21:35:56.496 [3788:1430]: WinAMRestore::AddAppleDeviceToDeviceList: \\?\USB#VID_05AC&PID_1281#{B8085869-FEB9-404B-8CB1-1E5C14FA8C54}\0000#285b5f47
2011-03-05 21:35:56.513 [3788:1430]: AppleDevice::EnumerateHubPorts: DoesDriverNameMatchDeviceID failed
2011-03-05 21:35:56.529 [3788:1430]: AppleDevice::EnumerateHubPorts: DoesDriverNameMatchDeviceID failed
2011-03-05 21:35:56.538 [3788:1430]: WinAMRestore::AddAppleDeviceToDeviceList, device already connected, new interface
2011-03-05 21:35:56.538 [3788:1430]: AppleDevice::SetDeviceID: AMD_INTERFACE_DFU \\?\USB#VID_05AC&PID_1281#{B8085869-FEB9-404B-8CB1-1E5C14FA8C54}\0000#285b5f47, inst: 0x12b05160
2011-03-05 21:35:56.538 [3788:1430]: AppleDevice::SetNotification: CONNECT, interface type: 1, id: \\?\USB#VID_05AC&PID_1281#{B8085869-FEB9-404B-8CB1-1E5C14FA8C54}\0000#285b5f47, inst: 0x12b05160
2011-03-05 21:35:56.538 [3788:1430]: WinAMRestore:rocessDevNodesChanges: device: 0x00d9dc40, notify: 0, connected: 0
2011-03-05 21:35:56.538 [3788:1430]: WinAMRestore:rocessDevNodesChanges: device: 0x12b05160, notify: 1, connected: 1
2011-03-05 21:35:56.538 [3788:1430]: AppleDevice::NotifyConnect: Device type: 2, Interfaces total: 2, arrived: 2
2011-03-05 21:35:56.538 [3788:1430]: AppleDevice::NotifyConnect: IBOOT, IBOOT \\?\USB#VID_05AC&PID_1281#{ED82A167-D61A-4AF6-9AB6-11E52236C576}\IB0000#285b5f47, inst: 0x12b05160
2011-03-05 21:35:56.538 [3788:1430]: IBOOT, DFU \\?\USB#VID_05AC&PID_1281#{B8085869-FEB9-404B-8CB1-1E5C14FA8C54}\0000#285b5f47, inst: 0x12b05160
2011-03-05 21:35:56.539 [3788:16f4]: device software does not support nonce generation
2011-03-05 21:35:56.539 [3788:16f4]: device software does not support nonce generation
2011-03-05 21:35:56.540 [3788:16f4]: iTunes: SCEP 3
2011-03-05 21:35:56.577 [3788:1080]: iBoot build-version = iBoot-931.71.16
2011-03-05 21:35:56.578 [3788:1080]: iBoot build-style = RELEASE
2011-03-05 21:35:56.579 [3788:1080]: AMDeviceIoControl: GetOverlappedResult failed
2011-03-05 21:35:56.580 [3788:1080]: AMDeviceIoControl: pipe stall
2011-03-05 21:35:56.580 [3788:1080]: USBControlTransfer: error 31, usbd status c0000004
2011-03-05 21:35:56.580 [3788:1080]: command device request for 'getenv radio-error' failed: 2008
2011-03-05 21:35:56.580 [3788:1080]: radio-error not set
2011-03-05 21:35:56.580 [3788:1080]: <Recovery Mode Device 07DC4A10>: operation 44 progress -1
2011-03-05 21:35:56.580 [3788:1080]: requested restore behavior: Erase
2011-03-05 21:35:56.581 [3788:1080]: amai: _AMAuthInstallBundleCreateServerRequestDictionary: nothing to be done
2011-03-05 21:35:56.582 [3788:1080]: unable to open device_map.txt: No such file or directory
2011-03-05 21:35:56.582 [3788:1080]: <Recovery Mode Device 07DC4A10>: production fused device
2011-03-05 21:35:56.582 [3788:1080]: interface has 1 endpoints, file pipe = 1

2011-03-05 21:35:56.582 [3788:1080]: <Recovery Mode Device 07DC4A10>: operation 4 progress -1
2011-03-05 21:35:56.584 [3788:1080]: AMDeviceIoControl: GetOverlappedResult failed
2011-03-05 21:35:56.584 [3788:1080]: AMDeviceIoControl: pipe stall
2011-03-05 21:35:56.584 [3788:1080]: USBControlTransfer: error 31, usbd status c0000004
2011-03-05 21:35:56.584 [3788:1080]: command device request for 'saveenv' failed: 2008
2011-03-05 21:35:56.584 [3788:1080]: AMRAuthInstallDeletePersonalizedBundle
2011-03-05 21:35:56.966 [3788:1080]: removed personalized bundle
2011-03-05 21:35:56.966 [3788:1080]: <Recovery Mode Device 07DC4A10>: Recovery mode failed (result = 21)
2011-03-05 21:35:57.097 [3788:16f4]: iTunes: Restore error 21

 

[iGaz]

I have no idea what any of that means. Lol.

iTunes should recognise if your iPhone is in DFaveRted jailbreaking tools have you used? Have you tried greenpoision? It has a step by step guide on how to get your phone into DFU.

Also if you stuck in recovery (when you see the connect to iTunes screen) you could try tinyumbrella to 'kick' it out of recovery. You may get stuck in a recovery 'loop' a few times but after a good few try's it may work.

Your best bet is to somehow get your phone in DFU then try restoring in iTunes...

 

[DashCunning]

Tried greenpois0n. Right away I can't really follow the instructions since I can't actually turn the device off (well maybe I can but I have no idea if it is actually turning off). However it seems to recognize when i do the holding Home+Power, then releasing Power while holding home sequence and continue with the rest of the process. It finishes and then shows "Please power off your device and connect it to begin" and a quit button. The device at this point shows a black screen with the following text:

Unable to find gBdevList
Unable to find fs_mount
Unable to find fs_load_file
Greenpois0n initialized

After that holding home+power will turn off the screen again and I'm back to where I started.

TinyUmbrella gives message box:

"Canot start TSS Service
DO NOT TRY RESTORING YOUR DEVICE!!
System(PID:4) must be killed!!"

It does show a device number under "Recovery Devices" with the Device Model "-INVALID" and the "Exit Recovery" button enabled, though clicking it doesn't seem to do anything.

That's on my windows machine. Will try on OS X later.

Pretty sure I have tried using Sn0wbreeze, Pwnage, and redsn0w, and QuicPwn. I'll probably go through them all again later and document specific results with each.

You mentioned the "connect to iTunes" screen. I assume you mean on the iPhone. I never see that. It is always black, except when a recovery fails (when it is blank white), or the text from the greepois0n message.

Does the holding home+power for 10 seconds, then releasing power while holding home for another 10 put it in DFU? If so, I have tried that numerous times before restoring (both with standard firmware and custom firmware), always fails.

 

[DashCunning]

Freeing up port 80 fixed the initial TinyUmbrella error message though every thing else is the same. I'm guessing the TSS Server stuff isn't going to be helpful since I'm not trying to downgrade and I never backed up my SHSH anyhow.

 

[iGaz]

The connect to iTunes (recovery mode) screen is when you see a USB cable pointing towards the iTunes logo. You'll know it when you see it.

Don't run the jailbreak on greenpoision just use the steps to try get it into DFU. When you think your in DFU exit greenpoision open iTunes and it should tell you it's found an iPhone in DFU mode and you need to restore it.

Tinyumbrella has many uses. The kick out of recovery button it's quite helpful sometimes. You really need to be in recovery mode (connect to iTunes screen) for it to be of much use...

 

[DashCunning]

Tried that. Still get the same thing (error 21).

I opened greenpois0n, clicked "Prepare to Jailbreak (DFU)", followed the instructions. Greenpoins0n seems to think the device got into DFU because it moves past the instructions screen and enables the "Jailbreak!" button. At this point I closed greenpois0n, opened iTunes, and performed a restore. Same error 21 as usual.

Will iTunes give a different message if the device is in DFU? Because it is still saying "iTunes has detected a phone in recovery mode."

 

[DashCunning]

I have VMWare running on my machine and I just noticed something.

When I am running a machine it shows a description of USB devices connected so that you can attach them to the virtual machine if you want. It usually shows my iPhone as "apple mobile device (recovery)". If I perform the DFU sequence it shows the iPhone as "apple recovery (dfu) usb driver". After running a failed iTunes restore (on actual machine, not VM), it goes back to showing "apple mobile device (recovery)".

(I didn't actually connect the device to the VM or run the restore on the VM, just pointing out that it shows the device as being in DFU).

 

[iGaz]

iTunes has detected a phone in recovery mode, that's iTunes recognising it's in DFU.

Try this,

Go to windows/system32/drivers/etc/hosts on your PC and open it with notepad.

Remove the line that has gs.apple.com completely and save the file and reboot your computer. Then uninstall iTunes completely and reboot again.

Create a new user account on your PC and download the latest iTunes to that. Get your phone in DFU and try restoring again...

 

[DashCunning]

Just tried it out on a laptop with Windows XP that had never had iTunes previously installed. Same error.

I'll give it a try on some other machines at my office tomorrow but I'm beginning to think the phone is just hosed.

Thanks for all help anyhow. I really appreciate it.

 

[iGaz]

Can't brick an iPhone since the 2g. There's always a way out. Don't give up.

If you were in the UK and you finally did give up I would buy it off you because I know one way or another it's can be fixed...