iPhone lock down file problem

[tina38]

Is this iphone worth buying and fixing?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200190354111&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010

The owner apparently deleted the lock down file and now it isn't working 100%
How can you get that back on the phone?
Thanks!

[jhollington]

If all he did was delete the lockdown file, then you should be able to restore it to working order simply by connecting it to iTunes and doing a "Restore" since this is strictly a software problem. A "Restore" will wipe it clean and return it completely back to a factory state.

Of course, the phone will be returned to a state where activation is required with a valid Apple-approved SIM card via iTunes, but you can go through the jailbreaking and activation procedures yourself once you've done a basic restore.

Keep in mind, however, that since the phone has been SIM-unlocked (apparently), a "restore" does run the risk of creating other issues, depending upon what tool was used to unlock it and what version of firmware is currently on it.

The bottom line is that if you're comfortable hacking about a bit, it may be worth the risk. If you're not, I'd suggest giving it a pass, as it may not be a simple thing to deal with.

[Dean C]

If he's smart enough to look into unlocking, he's also smart enough to at least try restoring! I suspect there's more wrong with this phone than it seems...

[tina38]

Thanks for the help guys. I don't think i will get it.

[jhollington]

If he's smart enough to look into unlocking, he's also smart enough to at least try restoring! I suspect there's more wrong with this phone than it seems...
Yes, to try restoring certainly... To deal with the "bricking" issues that might occur if the phone were SIM-unlocked with an older version of iUnlock or AnySIM (ie, from the v1.0.2 days) is somewhat more complicated. The problem would still very likely be fixable, but it requires some additional hacking with SIM unlocking tools to rewrite the baseband seczone properly.

However, I do agree that either the person selling this iPhone is an idiot (somebody [i]else[/] may have jailbroken and unlocked it for them, to be fair, however), or there is something more than is being said in the auction description.