If blackra1n fails, try these steps

KabaModern · 10-12-2009, 11:01 AM

OK,

I spent a very long time yesterday trying to get blackra1n to work. I tried three different Windows operating systems: Win 7, Win Vista and Win XP. At first none of them worked. The biggest problem a lot of people see (including myself) was getting to the DFU mode screen (iTunes icon and USB plug) and then nothing. The blackra1n application says "running..." but nothing happens. Here are a couple steps to try:

Preliminary work:

Ensure you are not running blackra1n.exe through a VMware workstation, as this is known to cause failures. There is really no way around it.

Win 7/Win Vista:

1. Plug your iPhone into iTunes and update to 3.1.2
2. Go to: www.blackra1n.com, click the Windows logo at the bottom and save "blackra1n.exe" to the root of your C:/ drive.
3. Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
4. Click the Processes tab
5. Close anything with iTunes in the name (i.e., iTunes.exe/iTunesHelper.exe, etc.)
6. Navigate to the root of C:/ and right-click on "blackra1n.exe"
7. Select 'Run as Administrator'
8. Ensure your iPhone is plugged into the computer
9. Click 'make it ra1n'

IF THIS FAILS, try restoring your iPhone as 'New iPhone' and repeat steps 2-9.

Win XP:

1. Repeat steps 1-5 from "Win 7/Win Vista" guide above
2. Repeat steps 8-9

Again, IF THIS FAILS, try restoring your iPhone as 'New iPhone' and repeat steps 1 and 2.

Other suggestions (may or may not work):

1. When stuck on the DFU screen, quickly unplug your USB cable and plug it back in (this worked for some users on purplera1n).
2. Disable your Anti-Virus software!
3. Try it on another Windows PC, different operating system or not.
4. Go into your Settings and disable Passcode Lock (if you have one).

IF ALL THE ABOVE STILL DOES NOT WORK, TRY THIS METHOD, IT SEEMS TO WORK FOR MOST:

1. Plug in your iPhone
2. iTunes opens, performs sync, etc.
3. Close iTunes
4. Open blackra1n (from root of C:/ - Run as Administrator)
5. It will get stuck in DFU mode here while "running..." in blackra1n
6. Close blackra1n
7. Open blackra1n back up (DO NOT MAKE IT RAIN YET)
8. Press and hold Home/Power on your iPhone until the screen turns black
9. Wait a second and turn it on
10. As the Apple logo comes up, press "make it ra1n"
11. Wait...

If you have any other suggestions for troubleshooting blackra1n, feel free to post them and I will update this initial post. I cannot say that this will fix all your problems; however, these are a couple things that have gotten users who were stuck to work.

I hope this helps out a little bit, anyway.

Thanks!

iphonewarrior · 10-12-2009, 11:12 AM

Where is the Mac guide?

Joke.

Nice Guide, I've bookmarked it for when I steal my GF's xp laptop, otherwise i'll be making it ra1n all day long.

KabaModern · 10-12-2009, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by iphonewarrior

Where is the Mac guide?

Joke.

Nice Guide, I've bookmarked it for when I steal my GF's xp laptop, otherwise i'll be making it ra1n all day long.

Haha! Give it a go, John, I hope it's seamless for you!

iphonewarrior · 10-12-2009, 11:20 AM

I've not even had chance get near a PC (apart from work PC's which are mega secure), I'm going to borrow my mates netbook and do it throught that. He wants his 3GS doing as well. I'd rather do my first so I know what I'm doing. From what I've read on the web it doesn't take long at all.

I'm just dreading another FW release from apple, stopping Geohot's work and hindering another update for us all.

jnrandall · 10-12-2009, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by KabaModern

OK,

Win 7/Win Vista:

1. Plug your iPhone into iTunes and update to 3.1.2
2. Go to: www.blackra1n.com, click the Windows logo at the bottom and save "blackra1n.exe" to the root of your C:/ drive.
3. Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
4. Click the Processes tab
5. Close anything with iTunes in the name (i.e., iTunes.exe/iTunesHelper.exe, etc.)
6. Navigate to the root of C:/ and right-click on "blackra1n.exe"
7. Select 'Run as Administrator'
8. Ensure your iPhone is plugged into the computer
9. Click 'make it ra1n'

These steps worked for me perfectly!

Thanks KabaModern!

iphonewarrior · 10-12-2009, 11:32 AM

^ Another happy customer

Squirtle · 10-12-2009, 11:48 AM

Hopefully this works for me gonna use windows 7 was on XP.

efuseakay · 10-12-2009, 12:08 PM

No go on Vista.

Everything I've tried just stops me at the iTunes/USB cable screen on the phone.

I'll just forget it for now.

Squirtle · 10-12-2009, 12:57 PM

Hmm. must be doing something wrong because it is not working for me. When I set up as new phone does it matter whether or not I sync my contacts,calendars, and so forth?

KabaModern · 10-12-2009, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by Squirtle

Hmm. must be doing something wrong because it is not working for me. When I set up as new phone does it matter whether or not I sync my contacts,calendars, and so forth?

No that should not matter. Again, unfortunately it does not work for everyone. There are a bunch of people that have followed what I've outlined above and still are unable to get it to work.

Try another computer, actually. See if that works...