iPhone 4 will not start

Question

Level 1

0 points

iPhone 4 will not start

I took my iPhone 4 to Apple the other day because it froze during a software update. Unfortunately, I had to complete a factory reset and lost all of my data. While I was in Apple, the Genus explained to me that my hardware was fine, and my phone would no longer work. After this discussion, I went home and completed the factory reset, and was able to get to the screen that requires Carrier information to be entered, which made me think the phone was in full working condition. I was wrong. The phone will not turn back on after it has been turned off. I can go through the factory reset process again and get the phone back to the "carrier information" screen. Any ideas how I can fix this iPhone 4?

iPhone 4

Posted on Apr 7, 2013 1:40 PM

Reply

Answer 1

sberman

Level 10

264,201 points

Apr 7, 2013 2:02 PM in response to Mikeydean

Mikeydean wrote:

While I was in Apple, the Genus explained to me that my hardware was fine, and my phone would no longer work.

Presumably the genius explained to you why the "phone would no longer work". Why is that exactly? Is that what's causing your current issue?

Reply

Answer 2

Mikeydean Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 7, 2013 2:05 PM in response to sberman

She told me that the hardware looked good, so there must be a software malfunction. She told me that there are ways to repair this, but is beyond what Apple will do. I do not understand why a factory reset would not solve the software issue.

Reply

Answer 3

sberman

Level 10

264,201 points

Apr 7, 2013 2:11 PM in response to Mikeydean

Has your iPhone been hacked or jailbroken?

Reply

Answer 4

Mikeydean Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 7, 2013 2:13 PM in response to sberman

No, but I was accused of it being jailbroken at the Apple store.

Reply

Answer 5

sberman

Level 10

264,201 points

Apr 7, 2013 2:15 PM in response to Mikeydean

Ah, OK, that would explain this type of behavior.

You certainly would see this behavior had your iPhone been hacked or jailbroken.

Here's an article:

Unauthorized modification of iOS can cause security vulnerabilities, instability, shortened battery life, and other issues

Reply

Answer 6

sberman

Level 10

264,201 points

Apr 7, 2013 2:16 PM in response to Mikeydean

... by the way, if you have, for example, downloaded a Cydia app, that would cause this behavior.

Reply

Answer 7

Mikeydean Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 7, 2013 2:17 PM in response to sberman

If the phone has NOT been jailbroken, then what could be the cause, and, more importantly, how can it be fixed?

Reply

Answer 8

Mikeydean Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 7, 2013 2:18 PM in response to sberman

If that app is strictly for use of a jailbroken phone, then it was not downloaded onto this iPhone.

Reply

Answer 9

sberman

Level 10

264,201 points

Apr 7, 2013 2:24 PM in response to Mikeydean

Well, short of going through every app you have downloaded, and asking about your SIM card (whether it is associated with a specific carrier, was the original SIM, etc.), it would be fairly impossible for any of us (Apple users) to contradict or amend the advice given to you from an Apple representative at the Genius Bar. She obviously had some reason to suspect an irregularity. I can't say for sure what that irregularity is, but the behavior you're describing sounds consistent with an irregularity having occurred, and would not be curable.

Sorry for the bad news.

Reply

Answer 10

Mikeydean Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 7, 2013 2:29 PM in response to sberman

If the hardware is intact, it seems like a waste of a good phone. Surely there is some way to reset the software.

Reply

Answer 11

sberman

Level 10

264,201 points

Apr 7, 2013 2:35 PM in response to Mikeydean

From the article I sent you earlier:

Inability to apply future software updates: Some unauthorized modifications have caused damage to iOS that is not repairable. This can result in the hacked iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch becoming permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iOS update is installed.

Reply

Answer 12

Mikeydean Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 7, 2013 2:38 PM in response to sberman

But there was no unauthorized modifications, so how does a phone go from working one day to being, essentially, garbage the next? Ever app that was on that phone was from the Apple App store.

Reply