A few questions about iPhones

[Battoe]

I've been using a 32GB 3GS the last year and a half or so. The other day I dropped it in the toilet (I'm really smart). I immediately turned it off of course, dried it as much as possible using a blow dryer and a rag, and let it sit for a few hours. Then I put it on a charger, and about 8 hours later it booted, looking like it functioned perfectly. The only hitch was that it said NO SIM, and had the "plug me into iTunes" screen. So I plugged it in, restored it, but it still didn't recognize the SIM card, and thus wouldn't activate. It was jailbroken, and I had SBSettings, which still worked despite not being able to get past the "plug me in" screen. After restoring, that was no longer working either, so it definitely restored fine. I tested my SIM card in my friends iPhone, and it worked fine. Their SIM card was also not recognized by my phone however.

In addition, I have an older iPhone, an 8GB 3G. I'd rather not downgrade, but whatever, I need a phone right now. So I put my SIM in there, restored and updated and it's working fine as my phone now. The reason I have this one, however, is that the power button doesn't function, which is why I got it for free from a friend when they replaced it. That's not a huge deal still, as I can just set it to autolock, but I'd like to jailbreak this one as well (and eventually dual boot with android, something a 3GS couldn't do).

So I guess I have a few questions. Anything I can do about getting the first phone to work again? If not, is there any way to jailbreak without having a functioning power button? And, if neither of those is a possibility, is there any way I could pilfer the power button from the 3GS, or any other fixes I could do? I'd appreciate your input.

EDIT: I also have an 8GB 2G I got at launch (I hate apple, and yet I'm on my third iPhone version... awkward). That got replaced by the 3GS when it started malfunctioning as well. After about a year and a half, and a few drops, the down volume button got stuck down, where it would occasionally act as if it was being constantly pressed down (highly annoying when trying to listen to music, or when you miss a bunch of phone calls). Anyways, figuring I was fairly tech savvy, I opened that up to try a fix I saw for the volume button (which did it's job), but when I closed it, the bottom portion of the phone didn't work (the home button, speaker, mic, USB port, and the bottom quarter inch or so of the screen was no longer touch sensitive). Anything I can use from that phone, or any way to fix it?

 

[vshah]

you should have waited longer before booting it.

try this. turn it off, and stick it in a bowl of rice for 24 hours. rice soaks up any remaining moisture

 

[Battoe]

It was never off. I could still see the screen dimly, and holding down the power button brought up the slider for power off, but I couldn't slide it. Switching between silent and not still vibrated and everything. When I plugged it in, it was still like that for a while, then went to a bright blank white screen, still vibrated and such but wouldn't power off. Then at 4AM (8 hours later) the chime of an iPhone being plugged into a charger woke me up, and it was just finishing booting to that "plug me in" screen.

 

[dpodblood]

I agree you should have turned it off, and left it in a bowl of rice overnight.

 

[Battoe]

First of all, I couldn't turn it off, as I explained. Second, I'm looking for advice going forward now. This guy lives next door, I don't need another few on here:

 

[dpodblood]

Un from your first post:

"I immediately turned it off of course"

Just sayin' ...

Anyway sorry I can't be a help. I am by no means an Iphone expert.

 

[Battoe]

Blagh, don't know why I wrote that. I meant my first instinct was to turn it off/take out the battery, but it's a closed case of course so that was no help.

 

[TheStu]

Blagh, don't know why I wrote that. I meant my first instinct was to turn it off/take out the battery, but it's a closed case of course so that was no help.

Ok, disregarding that you apparently didn't turn it off, if you can turn it off (since apparently one of your iPhones has a bad lock button) then do so, and then leave it in a bowl of rice for a while.

Or, if you are feeling adventurous, go to ifixit.com and get the instructions on how to dismantle it and then put the dismantled device in the rice.

I have never gotten the rice trick to work, but hey, it might for you. Personally I think the damage is done, and that there is nothing you can do save getting a new circuit board, but its not like it is working correctly right now anyway.

 

[NetGuySC]

I hear that "dropping the cell phone in the toilet" is the most common reason used when filing insurance claims.

 

[kaerflog]

Advertise the 3gs 32gb as water damage on Craigslist and see how high you can get it for.
You might be able to get $150 for it.
Lots of people know how to fix water damage.
I don't. I just know how to stick it in rice like everyone else

 

[Battoe]

Well it's been in the rice for a few hours, I'll check on it tomorrow.

EDIT: Also, the 3G doesn't detect any wifi networks. iPhones are just a load of fun. Can't wait to snag the atrix.

 

[dlock13]

Well it's been in the rice for a few hours, I'll check on it tomorrow.

EDIT: Also, the 3G doesn't detect any wifi networks. iPhones are just a load of fun. Can't wait to snag the atrix.

I know a bunch of people with iPhones who have never experienced any of these problems you speak of.

 

[Battoe]

Well I've had an iPhone since the original launch day, I was bound to run into problems with any electronics I use for hours daily for three and a half years.