iphone 4s-had water damage-After that keeps seraching for cellphone network

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iphone 4s-had water damage-After that keeps seraching for cellphone network

As soon as Iphone had water contact, turned off immediately and backed on after 3-4 hours.It happend on Sunday afternoon...turned on in the evening on the same Sunday... everything works like camera, sound,wi-fi, imessag etc., except does not connect to att network. Took it to att store and tried changing the sim..no use..took to apple store..expalined had water damage ..so they tried to restore , the whole isnatllation takes place..then the intial set up screen starts showing to choose country, lanaguage, connect to wi-fi ..after that it tries to activate phone then displays message saying that phone is damaged and cannot be activated. I just wanted the phone to be same as when I took to the store so that atleast I can use it as ipod. The software seems like it is not allowing me to use the other features of the phone and only does if I am able to connect to the network. I had been to att store as well and told that I am not chaning my plan or breaking the contract but we buy a new phone and continue with att. Since as a owner of the iphone I should be able use the other features though it is not able to connect to cell phone provider network. Can some please help me to some how bypass the activation step and takes me beyond that point so that atleast I can use it as ipod. Looks like apple software is restricting the use of the other features of the iphone if not used for making calls.

iPhone 4S, iOS 5.1.1

Posted on Jun 24, 2012 10:07 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 24, 2012 10:09 AM in response to cshekri

It cannot be activated without a SIM card that it can recognize. No doubt that the SIM card tray or the SIM itself suffered water damage. I wouldn't expect it to work properly again after facing that type of abuse. Sorry.

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Answer 2

deggie

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Jun 24, 2012 10:11 AM in response to cshekri

You can do an out-of-warranty replacement at the Apple Store for $199. $49 if you have AppleCare +

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Answer 3

cshekri Author

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Jun 24, 2012 10:33 AM in response to stevejobsfan0123

As said I agree the damage..my idea was to use other features of the phone. The software is kind of stopping me to do anything else like I mentioned everything else was working except conenction to cell phone service. Like if my laptop wifi is not working atleast I try to wire to modem and browse inernet. Here it is kind of stopping the whole use of the laptop since the wi-fi in laptop is damaged.

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Answer 4

deggie

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Jun 24, 2012 10:39 AM in response to cshekri

I doubt that other features of the iPhone would have lasted my longer as the fact it cannot be initialized would indicate more water damage on the logic board and has nothing to do with trying to get cell service. It is doubtful you would be able to even restore the iPhone if it became required.

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Answer 5

cshekri Author

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Jun 24, 2012 10:44 AM in response to deggie

I am sure everything else is working..as while doing set I hear sounds, and if I click home button trice it says voice over is runing..able to connect to my wi-fi....it is the software whihc is enforcing to have cell phone provider before we even start to use the other features of the phone

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Answer 6

deggie

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Jun 24, 2012 10:46 AM in response to cshekri

You don't have to have a cell provider. Put your old microSIM in it or borrow someones microSIM.

But the message you are getting would indicate more damage than just the cell antenna/SIM.

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Answer 7

modular747

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Jun 24, 2012 10:53 AM in response to cshekri

it is the software whihc is enforcing to have cell phone provider before we even start to use the other features of the phone

Even if it were true that the "rest of the phone" is completely functional (highly unlikely), there's no way to circumvent the activation process, which is in the firmware.

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Answer 8

cshekri Author

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Jun 24, 2012 10:53 AM in response to deggie

I agree..since it seems the sofware tries to activate the phone connectiing to cell phone service and since it is not able to do that it is allowing going beyond that point. My point it should sa at this point coukd not activate phone but continue to set up remaining steps whihc helps me use as ipod.

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Answer 9

deggie

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Jun 24, 2012 10:55 AM in response to cshekri

It does NOT try to activate by going to the cell phone service, it tries to contact AT&Ts activation server via the internet connection on your computer.

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Answer 10

cshekri Author

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Jun 24, 2012 11:02 AM in response to modular747

Basically it is like saying if you cannot make calls from iphone..you cannot use it for anything else. If I did not had restored atleast I would have used it as Ipod. But anyways it would have stopped me using probaby when OS updates kick in.

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Answer 11

cshekri Author

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Jun 24, 2012 11:04 AM in response to deggie

Exactly...why stop the set up right there when not able to connect to att activation server, thro error and brng up everything else untill if there are other issues while proceeding further set up.

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Answer 12

deggie

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Jun 24, 2012 11:05 AM in response to cshekri

No, it is not saying that. You can even Restore an older iPhone with a SIM that is no longer activated. What it is telling you is there is more damage to the logic board than the cell phone part.

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Answer 13

deggie

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Jun 24, 2012 11:09 AM in response to cshekri

And as far as your next post, because that is how the iPhone is designed. But since during the setup it is recognizing that your iPhone is damaged I doubt removing this step would help, it apparently also cannot connect to the Apple activation server.

Bottom line, you damaged it, you apparently don't want to pay to repair it, it is too damaged to activate, so sell it for parts.

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Answer 14

cshekri Author

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Jun 24, 2012 11:12 AM in response to deggie

Is that I have to have SIM (activated or not activated) in iphone while restoring..if that is the case then iphone is enforcing to activate the cell phone service before we even go further. Can you tell me is that possible to restore a orking condition iphone with out sim card

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Answer 15

Jun 24, 2012 11:15 AM in response to cshekri

Restoring would not cure a damaged logic board. But no, a SIM card is not required to restore but then you would not be able to re-activate or use the phone without it.

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