Install valid sim with no pin lock to activate iPhone

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Install valid sim with no pin lock to activate iPhone

I'll give everyone the back story. I live in the UK and ordered an iPhone from the US, it arrived here 3 days ago.

Today my iPhone froze with just the apple logo showing. So after searching the internet I found out that I need to restore it. So I connected it to iTunes and restored it to 4.0.1 from 3.0.1. However, once it started up again I got the error. It simply tells me 'Install valid sim with no pin lock to activate iPhone'. If I slide it open I get an emergency number.

What is going on? Im quite new to all this so could someone explain.

Thanks

3 GS, Windows 7

Posted on Jul 25, 2010 3:13 PM

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Answer 1

roaminggnome

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Jul 25, 2010 3:20 PM in response to Cee_D

ALL U.S. iphones are carrier locked to AT&T in the U.S. and CANNOT be activated with any other carrier in any other country.

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Answer 2

Cee_D Author

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Jul 25, 2010 3:26 PM in response to roaminggnome

So what do I do?

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Answer 3

roaminggnome

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Jul 25, 2010 3:28 PM in response to Cee_D

Return it if you can and buy one from the U.K.

You can also try to sell it if you like.

It is no secret that the iphones from the U.S. and many other countries are carrier locked.

Also, the warranty is ONLY good in the country of original purchase.

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Answer 4

Cee_D Author

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Jul 25, 2010 3:34 PM in response to roaminggnome

Is AT&T a sim card? Cant I just import it from the US and activate my iPhone with it?

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Answer 5

gdgmacguy

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Jul 25, 2010 3:37 PM in response to Cee_D

No. You need an account with AT&T to activate it's SIM card.

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Answer 6

Cee_D Author

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Jul 25, 2010 3:44 PM in response to gdgmacguy

No but surely even a dead AT&T sim can at least activate my iPhone so that I can actually access the menus?

At this moment in time Im stuck on the message.

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Answer 7

roaminggnome

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Jul 25, 2010 4:00 PM in response to Cee_D

No.

Nothing will work on a new U.S. iphone unless it is activated with AT&T.

ALL U.S. iphone MUST be activated with AT&T and cannot be unlocked to work with any other SIM from any other country or carrier.

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Answer 8

Cee_D Author

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Jul 25, 2010 4:23 PM in response to roaminggnome

But I've been using O2 for the last few days?

Does that mean my iPhone was activated with AT&T before? Wouldnt that mean that i could do it again?

Sorry, I dont really understand all this technical stuff.

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Answer 9

roaminggnome

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Jul 25, 2010 4:25 PM in response to Cee_D

No. If it worked on O2 it means that it was hacked and was locked back ( as it should be) when restored or upgraded.

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Answer 10

Cee_D Author

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Jul 25, 2010 4:31 PM in response to roaminggnome

That does make sense

My uncle sent it to me from the US so if I send it back to him could he then use AT&T to activate my iPhone?

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Answer 11

roaminggnome

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Jul 25, 2010 4:33 PM in response to Cee_D

He could activate with AT&T, but you could still not use it with any other carrier. In order for it to work it has to be with AT&T.

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Answer 12

deggie

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167,177 points

Jul 25, 2010 4:35 PM in response to Cee_D

He would need to restore it to version 3.0.1 and the have someone hack it to unlock it. If the problem happened again you would have to go through the same steps again.

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Answer 13

Cee_D Author

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Jul 25, 2010 4:41 PM in response to deggie

But you cant restore it to any other version except the latest one (4.0.1) I dont think. Its what I had to do today when my iPhone froze on the apple logo

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