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Level 1

4 points

Anyway to activate old 2G iPhone with dummy SIM card?

Hello all, I just had a quick question that I can't seem to find the answer to. Currently, I have an old 2G iphone that is in "Emergency Mode Only." I was wondering, I have plenty of dummy sim cards lying around (used to be an RSA rep, ended up collecting several old, un-activated sim's) and was wondering if there was anyway to use one of these sim cards to at least get to the home screen of the iPhone so I could use it for music, movies and when I enter wifi. When I try and do this, all I get is the "Activate your iPhone" screen in iTunes. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.6), iPhone 3G 16gb (White)

Posted on Jul 18, 2009 4:55 PM

36 replies

Jul 19, 2009 3:24 PM in response to Allan Sampson

Allan Sampson wrote:
With the SIM card inserted, try restoring the iPhone with iTunes to see if this makes any difference regarding being provided the prompt to activate the iPhone with AT&T.

Right, tried that many times before and once again right now. No luck, because I can't get to the "Restore" button; the only thing iTunes will let me try now is an activation. Right clicking on device only offers "Eject."
I thought maybe I only got the "Activate" page and not a "Restore" option because this iPhone was never backed up to the computer I'm using. If that were the case, then the lesson would be to perform a backup before an update. I regretfully am hazy whether I completed a backup before updating. I wonder where the backup file would be found, so that I can check that possibility. Aha, iTunes folder in ~/Library has a folder "Mobile Backups" containing folder with my iPhone's serial number, containing file "Manifest.plist" containing information:
Backupdate: Jul 5, 2009 etc.
Device Name: XXXXX's iPhone
New OS Version: 3.0
Old OS Version: 1.1.2
And a folder containing all the backup data called "Structured." How tantalizing, that it is all right there. So, when I do get this sorted out, I could revert the phone and repeat this process, in the name of science.
So I did back up, and yet iTunes hates me and won't allow the restore. Or, the phone, despite having a good SIM card, having a matching serial number, and having an IMEI that matches its case, not the "lockdown" IMEI, is not letting iTunes provide restore.
My options are probably to call Apple (I can't think of what they might do, though) or to go to an AT&T store, or to go through the temporary activation I mentioned before. Or, I try finding iTunes 7, see if it allows a restore.

I should mention I'm a happy Touch2 owner, I just would like to spread the love by completing this conversion and giving it to someone.

Jul 19, 2009 4:26 PM in response to Shawn Reeves1

Found where to download iTunes 7.7 from Apple:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/ipod_itunes/itunes771.html
Ha ha, when I plug my (3.0, but de-activated) iPhone into a computer running iTunes 7.71, iTunes announces that this iPhone only connects with iTunes 8.2.
Nix that option.

nickgeno Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 24, 2009 6:25 PM in response to Shawn Reeves1

I found a way to activate my 2G as an iPod Touch without having to switch contract plans, or even contacting AT&T. I will list my steps, but also must list my source. ipk316 originally posted these steps in response to a similar query on the AT&T forum. Although everything I did was about 99 % identical to what he describes, I did do one step extra, but the method and credit should still go to ipk316. Anyway, here's what I did per his instructions on the other board...:

1. Take out any sim card in the 2G iPhone (The sim tray should be empty) and power off the phone. Hold the home button and plug the iPhone into the computer. iTunes will bring up a message saying it has detected an iPhone in recovery mode and it would like to update and restore it. Click Yes, or OK, whichever it is.

2. After the update and restore are complete, the iPhone will restart, and iTunes will give you a message saying "please keep your iPhone connected to the computer, etc..." This is where you DISCONNECT the iPhone before it can restart.

3. Now, I took my activated sim card out of my 3G, and put it in the 2G and plugged it back into iTunes. This allowed the 2G iPhone to get past the "Connect to iTunes" screen. Once past this screen, go to settings and put the phone into airplane mode.

4. Now, take out the sim card and put it into the original phone (sim goes back into my 3G so I have service there still)

5. As long as airplane mode is turned on, information (apps, email, bookmarks, contacts, etc) can be synced to the phone without it being activated. Once you have everything you want on the iPhone, unplug it and turn airplane mode off to use the phone as an iPod Touch on WiFi.

The important thing to remember is that every time you are about to plug the iPhone in, turn airplane mode on first.

I have used this method, and it works. I have several apps, bookmarks, movies, music, and an email account that are all usable on my home WiFi network. Hope this helps some people, and a big thanks to ipk316 for the great steps!

I do want to thank everybody that replied (especially allan) for their replies, advice, and patience. It is always much appreciated!

Jul 25, 2009 12:29 AM in response to nickgeno

I'm surprised this topic is stii live on this site! It wasn't that long ago that if you even discussed any kind of hacking your post would be deleted and your account suspended. Have times changed on the Apple forums?

Jul 25, 2009 4:39 AM in response to Dayvidpriddy

What is being discussed here does not involve any kind or type of hacking an iPhone.

Violating the terms of use here once will get your post deleted if the post/violation is brought to the attention of a moderator along with an email sent indicating the reason why your post was deleted, but does not get your account suspended or banned. Continuing to post the same and/or continuing to violate the terms of use will get your account suspended.

What is being discussed in this thread does not involve hacking an iPhone in any shape, form, or fashion, and is not a violation of the terms of use for these discussions or posts would have been removed, or the entire thread removed.

Jul 25, 2009 7:23 AM in response to nickgeno

nickgenowrote:
I found a way to activate my 2G as an iPod Touch without having to switch contract plans, or even contacting AT&T. I will list my steps, but also must list my source. ipk316 originally posted these steps in response to a similar query on the AT&T forum. Although everything I did was about 99 % identical to what he describes, I did do one step extra, but the method and credit should still go to ipk316. Anyway, here's what I did per his instructions on the other board...:

1. Take out any sim card in the 2G iPhone (The sim tray should be empty) and power off the phone. If the Sim card was originally used in that iphone, leave it in. Hold the home button and plug the iPhone into the computer. iTunes will bring up a message saying it has detected an iPhone in recovery mode and it would like to update and restore it. +You don't need to put it into DFU mode to restore/update. My iphone has no sim card installed in it and can be restored/updated fine, but will be a brick after.+ Click Yes, or OK, whichever it is.

2. After the update and restore are complete, the iPhone will restart, and iTunes will give you a message saying "please keep your iPhone connected to the computer, etc..." This is where you DISCONNECT the iPhone before it can restart. +You can leave it connected, iTunes will just tell you to put the original or activated at&t sim in it.+

3. Now, I took my activated sim card out of my 3G, and put it in the 2G and plugged it back into iTunes. This allowed the 2G iPhone to get past the "Connect to iTunes" screen. +Or you can put the sim card that was used in the Original iPhone back in. It didn't have to be removed.+ Once past this screen, go to settings and put the phone into airplane mode. Why Air plane mode?

4. Now, take out the sim card and put it into the original phone (sim goes back into my 3G so I have service there still)

5. As long as airplane mode is turned on, information (apps, email, bookmarks, contacts, etc) can be synced to the phone without it being activated. Once you have everything you want on the iPhone, unplug it and turn airplane mode off to use the phone as an iPod Touch on WiFi. In Air plane mode, WiFi can be enabled. +I don't have a Sim card in my iPhone. It just says no sim where it used to say AT&T. I can sync it fine. I doesn't have to be in air plane mode.+

The important thing to remember is that every time you are about to plug the iPhone in, turn airplane mode on first.

I have used this method, and it works. I have several apps, bookmarks, movies, music, and an email account that are all usable on my home WiFi network. Hope this helps some people, and a big thanks to ipk316 for the great steps!

I do want to thank everybody that replied (especially allan) for their replies, advice, and patience. It is always much appreciated!

nickgeno,
I added the following comments:
You don't need to put it into DFU mode to restore/update. My iphone has no sim card installed in it and can be restored/updated fine, but will be a brick after.

You can leave it connected, iTunes will just tell you to put the sim in it.
Or you can put the sim card that was used in the Original iPhone back in. It didn't have to be removed.
Why Air Plane mode?

I don't have a Sim card in my iPhone. It just says no sim where it used to say AT&T. I can sync it fine. I doesn't have to be in air plane mode.

The iPhone doesn’t need a Sim Card installed in it to sync with iTunes.

Message was edited by: ouimetnick

Anyway to activate old 2G iPhone with dummy SIM card?