These instructions will walk you through jailbreaking your iPhone on your PC using the Dev-Teams official Redsn0w software for Windows. This will not jailbreak the new iPhone 3G S. Redsn0w is also available for Mac (Intel only) You can follow the same instructions.  I used Redsn0w on a Vista PC but it should work with XP as well.

Use Redsn0w to:

• Jailbreak and unlock OG iPhone
• Jailbreak iPhone 3G
• Jailbreak iPod Touch 1st Gen
• Jailbreak iPod Touch 2nd Gen

To begin, you will need to download the following: (all downloads require login)

• Redsn0w for Windows: Redsn0w for Windows (4858)
  
• Redsn0w for Mac (Intel only): Redsn0w for Mac OS X official torrent
• Official firmware for your device: iPhone OG 3.0 restore firmware .ipsw (1968)
• Bootloaders (Only if unlocking): iPhone 3.9 Bootloader (1368) iPhone 4.6 Bootloader (830)

Save these to your desktop for easy access.

1. Make sure you have updated your device officially to OS 3.0 through iTunes.

2. Make sure your iPhone is off.  Do this by holding the power button (top of phone) then slide to power off.

3. Connect your iPhone via USB.

4. Start Redsn0w.exe

5. Browse for your firmware that you downloaded. (Make sure you have the correct firmware for your device) Then click next.

6. If you want to unlock your OG iPhone then check both Cydia and Unlock.  If you do not need to Unlock then only have Cydia checked and proceed to step 7.

6 a. If you are unlocking your iPhone then you need to browse for the 3.9 and 4.6 Bootloaders that you should have downloaded and saved.  Then click next.

7. Redsn0w will ask you to make sure your iPhone is powered off but you should have done that already.  If you didn’t follow the directions to do it now.

8. Once your iPhone is off, be prepared for step 8 because it starts quickly, then click next.

9. This is where you will put your iPhone into DFU mode.  Follow the instructions in order to achieve this.

10. If you correctly put your iPhone into DFU mode you will see that Redsn0w will begin the jailbreak process.  Let it do it’s thing, which should take about 5 minutes.  (Redsn0w crashed the first time I tried to jailbreak and left me with the “Running PwnApple” on my phone.  Don’t worry, just power off your phone again and start the process from the beginning.  It worked perfectly the 2nd time for me.)

Redsn0w gives you instructions through the entire process so you should not have any problems as long as you follow everything exactly.  If you have any problems please leave a comment so we can help.

If you feel like it’s worth it

My laptop always gets really hot while I’m writing for the site.  I always forego pulling out my Targus laptop stand because it is a bit bulky, so I just lay my HP laptop on my coffee table in front of the couch and I type away.  The upside, I don’t have to deal with that clunker of a stand; the downside, I get sweaty palms and the table gets blazing hot.  Am I really getting that lazy I can’t pull out a laptop stand?  Well, a little searching and I found a great solution that is totally portable, lightweight, cheap to make, and very functional.  On Instructables the user TyBeau has come up with a great solution using just a few items you can find around the house.

You will need:

PVC (about 1 inch size)

Grippy pad (not sure what it’s called – you will recognize it in the picture)

Hot glue gun

Hack saw (or similar)

Tape measure

Basically, you use the grippy pad, typically used to line kitchen cabinets and drawers, as a non-slip pad and the PVC as a riser so air can flow freely through your laptop fans.  This is great not only because it will help keep your laptop, hands, and table cool, but it is also really easy to just roll up and stick in or pull out of your laptop bag.  Please check out Instructables for a full walk-through on how to make this yourself.