Enter passcode with dead screen?

kristin. wrote:

Michael: When restoring an iPhone, is it a secure erase? Or, would it be possible to restore the iPhone and then run data recovery on the device?

That I am not sure. Prior to the use of an encrypted file system, yes, erase all content on the device or restore as new in iTunes actually over-wrote the file system with zeroes. With the inclusion of data encryption as part of iOS, I don't know if that still applies but I think not (I think it just deletes the encryption key). Either way, I would not count on the data being recoverable, and certainly not with simply consumer level tools. Not all user data is encrypted, but much is, and you would want someone who really understands iOS file system structure to try it.

If they really want to pay for data recovery - I would find a company (I do not know of any myself) and take it to them without doing ANYTHING further to it. The more anyone tries to mess with it, the less likely data recovery would be I'd expect. And I cannot imagine it will be cheap.

P.S. there may be a more recent version of this document, but this is from last year:

http://images.apple.com/iphone/business/docs/iOS_Security_Oct12.pdf

That would be a first... Good luck with that. I'm willing to bet money that having a third party toro and recover the photos did NOT include having a third party open the device.

Odds are they misunderstood badly, or whoever told them that was mistaken.

I really don't think that you were. Apple does not honor warranties after a non-Apple certified tech has worked on the device. If you are not Apple certified, then the warranty is voided. Someone gave you incorrect information, I'm sorry to say.

I really hope they can get their photos back. But, Apple doesn't just 'discount' devices. It has to be under the Out-of-Warranty program.

Some company like this - http://www.flashfixers.com/Articles.asp?ID=277 is the only solution I can think of.

And I know nothing about this particular company - they were just the first hit in a google search. I'm just saying that a professional data recovery service like this is likely the only viable option at this point.

Fair enough. Just going off of my years of experience as well, and I've never heard of Apple allowing a non-Apple authorized tech to work on a device without it voiding the warranty. And, with respect, Macs are treated differently than iOS devices in a lot of ways. And I've got about 6 years experience with iPhones myself; about triple that with Macs (Man, I just realized how old I am, lol.) It's all good.

Yes, that was what caught my attention in that FlashFixers link:

"Yes, all this content can be recovered even if the iPhone is disabled and the passcode is unknown!"

They have a toll free number, so it might be worth calling a couple of these sorts of places and see how much it might be? Anyhow, good luck with it.

Just so long as the 'right people' have the authority to change/suspend policies, of course. Like I was saying, I've never hear of your situation before, but I hope it all works out for them. As a prior professional pgotographer, I know how important those kinds of pictures are. I wish you, and them, the best!

Is the screen black and completely dead or is it still touch sensitive? I had the screen on my IPhone 5 go black on me yesterday and freaked out when the Apple Store told me that I lost everything since my last back up which was almost a year ago and that there was NOTHING they could do, since I couldn't enter the password. Siri still worked on my phone and I realized that the phone was still touch sensitive when I answered an incoming phone call by tapping the screen where the "Answer button" would have been. So I took the phone back home with me, I took a screen shot of somebody else's IPhone's Password screen, resized and printed it so I had a template showing me exactly where the numbers on the phone would be. I pushed the "power down" button at the top, did a swish at the top of the screen where it would normally say "slide to power down", so the phone shut off. I then turned it back on, did a swish on the bottom of the screen where it would normally stay "slide to unlock" and then entered the password keeping a close eye on the template that I had created. It actually worked on my 7th try, after I finally disconnected the phone from my PC, so make sure it's disconnected. You first need to unlock the phone and then connect to your PC/ITunes for your back-up. I got the phone unlocked and was able to recover ALL of my data, including 2000 picutures. Rather disappointing that nobody at the Apple Store mentioned this trick.

Hi Kristin,

I certainly can sympatize with your frustration from many 'off topic' replies you received due to you opening/working on device. ***********

Anyway, though I'm sure you've found some solution to the passcode problem by now- I'll offer this info for what it's worth;

THE GOOD NEWS;

I was easily able to enter a passcode on a lit screen w/o digitizer via an old Apple iPad/iPhone 30 pin keyboard dock device I bought ca. iPad1. I'm sure it could also work on a black screen this qualification [from observation]; the first keystroke only brings up the 4 digit code input screen. No code input takes place, so it'll mess you up even w/ proper code by by entering 3 of 4 digits . [IE: My passcode 5776 when entered immediately only fulfilled 3 digits- 776 in places 1,2,3- NOT 5776 in places 1,2,3,4. After visual verification [which luxury your black screen cannot afford], I noticed the error and just added an extra keystroke before the proper code.

THE BAD NEWS;

I found no way to get past the Trust/Don't Trust touch choice w/ the same keyboard. Without that final selection, I think saving data becomes near impossible. I'm not saying it can't be done. I'll just say it wasn't as important to my situation as it was/is to yours.

***********

<Edited by Host>

that was so so helpful. Really feel so comforted that there are people like you ready to administer these words of wisdom.