Hi,i have an iphone 3gs that i cannot activate with any sim, have used 2 diff carriers before but i cannot activate any sim now from the set up pages so cant even get into my phone. Anyone know what i can do?

jax31 wrote:

(phone has been unlocked before as has been used by 2 diff carriers)

How, EXACTLY was it "unlocked"? Only the carrier it's locked to can authorize unlocking it. Anything else is a hack and renders the phone unsupportable.

jax31 wrote:

the phone is stuck on the set up pages and says i need a sim without a pin lock.

Seems extremely obvious, do exactly what it says and insert a SIM without a PIN lock.

Based on your non-answer as to how it was unlocked, it's probably a safe assumption that the phone was hacked to illegally unlock it. If that's the case, it's been bricked. It may be possible to get it working if you can get the original carrier to authorize unlocking it.

They don't need to ask. It will be locked or unlocked in exactly the same manner that the original was.

Make an appointment at the genius bar. They should be able to determine whether the phone is carrier locked and to whom, and/or whether the phone has physically failed.

So what exactly would you like from these user to user technical support forums at this time?

Take the device to Apple for evaluation.

jax31 wrote:

Hi thanks for that. i have found out that the original carrier was 3 and my last sim in it was with 3 but it wont accept a 3 sim card now, not even a new one. Cant use the last one i had in phone as i ported my number to a new sim for my new phone.

If it was at any point hacked to unlock it, then subsequently upgraded or restored, it may no longer be able to activate even on the original carrier. In that case, it's permanently bricked. Take it to the genius bar and see what they say.