Jailbroken: Can't go back?

I jailbroke my iPhone 4 (iOS 4.2.1), but, aside from running VLC, there's nothing particularly compelling about keeping it. So I went to restore the system, and got an error message, "This iphone 'Shikarnov's iPhone' could not be restored. This device isn't eligible for the requested build."

Anybody have any suggestions?

What ipsw are you pointing to? 4.3 released are you trying to point to that?

Secondly look up Quick Reply,, SBSettings, Folder Enhancer, Open-SSH, Veency, Bluetooth Profile Selector, Five Icon Dock, Five Icon Switcher, IntelliScreen, WeatherIcon, and Infinidock before you make up your mind that there isn't anything compelling.

Oh come on Ivan.. what could possibly be compelling about not having to pay your phone provider an extra $30-$60 a month for the ability to use your phone or iPad as an ad hoc (or full) network connection for unlimited and free tethering ? Pfft... I'd have to agree.. that is not compelling at ALL! ;D

Doug

Oh yeah - pdanet - good point doug. Yeah - I have issue with having an unlimited plan - and paying an extra $20 for the same pipe - but only allowed 2GB when using it a certain way. That just seems like corporate greed to me. I mean if you are going to charge me $20 at least give me the same unlimited data.

I actually don't have the ipsw files anymore. The Mac on which I originally jailbroke the phone (and then needed to have with me in order to reboot the phone with the tethered break) died, and now I'm on a new system...

You will need to restore to 4.3. You should be able to just plug into iTunes and hit restore. iTunes will download the 4.3 firmware and then install.

I tried that first, Jaygray, and got the same error message.

You should be able to find an ipsw here
iClarified - iPhone - Where To Download iPhone Firmware Files From

Then you can use shift-restore (alt-restore on the mac) to pick the ipsw.

Sadly, IvanLasston, that also didn't work. I downloaded the firmware file from the site you suggested, and did an ALT+Restore. iTunes asked me to locate the file, which I did, but still iTunes reached out to talk to Apple and declared my phone ineligible - again.

I even denied iTunes access to the Internet via Little Snitch, and it still have the same error.

Do you have the Verizon iPhone or the AT&T iPhone? If you have the Verizon iPhone - are you trying to use 4.3? I don't believe that 4.3 is out for Verizon yet - you have to use 4.2.6.

It's AT&T. And I tried with both 4.2.1 and 4.3

It's finally restoring... I had to put it into recovery mode first, and then restore to iOS 4.3.

Thanks for the help everybody.

ETA: After working with it for most of today, I have to admit that the phone is noticeably faster than it was before my restore last night. It almost feels new.