How to Jailbreak Apple TV 2G on iOS 4.1 Using PwnageTool 4.1 [ipsw download included]

howard1 · 10-21-2010, 10:48 AM

The all new PwnageTool 4.1 brings support for the 2nd-generation Apple TV. You can use it to cook custom firmware for Apple TV 2G which in future will allow you to install third party apps from Cydia.

From the official blog:

Quote:

AppleTV 2G users: Welcome to the JB family! Right now, about all you can do is command-line stuff via ssh. You also have afc2 available, so you can use tools like ifunbox to move files around. These are the *very* early days of AppleTV 2G jailbreaking, so it’ll take some time for JB app developers to come up with methods to use your AppleTV 2G from the remote, versus the command line. PS: Your ssh password is “alpine”…please change it when you can

Follow the instructions posted below to jailbreak Apple TV 2G running on iOS 4.1 with PwnageTool.

Download PwnageTool 4.1 for Mac
Download iTunes 10.0.1 for Windows and Mac OS X
Download iOS 4.1 for Apple TV 2G

Step 1: Download and install the latest version of iTunes.

Step 2: Download PwnageTool 4.1 and the original iOS 4.1 for Apple TV 2G. (download links given below). Move all these files to your desktop.

Step 3: Start PwnageTool and select Apple TV 2G as shown in the screenshot below:

Step 4: PwnageTool will now automatically detect the correct firmware for your device as shown in the screenshot below:

Step 5: Click on "Yes" when iTunes shows the following prompt:

Step 6: PwnageTool will now create the custom .ipsw file for your Apple TV 2G which will be jailbroken.

Step 7: Now follow the following steps to enter DFU mode:

* Connect your Apple TV with your Computer via microUSB.
* Now reboot your Apple TV by holding down Menu + Down buttons together for around 6 seconds.
* After reboot, immediately hold Menu + Play until you see the message in iTunes saying that Apple TV in recovery mode is detected.

Step 8: You will now have to restore your Apple TV 2G to this custom firmware 4.1 file. Start iTunes, click on your device icon from the sidebar in iTunes. Now press and hold left “alt” button (“Shift” button on Windows) on the keyboard and then click on “Restore” (Not “Update” or “Check for Update”) button in the iTunes and then release the “Shift” button.

This will make iTunes prompt you to select the location for your custom firmware 4.1 file. Select the required custom .ipsw file and click on “Open”.

Step 9: Now sit back and enjoy as iTunes does the rest for you. This will involve a series of automated steps. Be patient at this stage and don’t do anything silly. Just wait while iTunes installs the new firmware 4.1 on your Apple TV 2G. After the installation is done, your Apple TV 2G will restart automatically and you should now have a jailbroken Apple TV with full root access, running on iOS 4.1.

Original Text

Here is my custom firmware 4.1 for AppleTV made with pwnagetool for you guys without a mac:

##################
~AppleTV Custom ipsw~
##################

Her072 · 10-21-2010, 11:45 AM

can you post a custom firmware for appletv 2g. I don't have mac

thank

howard1 · 10-21-2010, 12:06 PM

done

thread updated

RXDI · 10-21-2010, 02:29 PM

I still can't get my aTV2 to go into DFU mode!! Been trying for 2 days on 2 different computers.

I plug in the aTV via mircro USB and iTunes opens automatically, but does not show the aTV on the left.

I then hold the menu+down for 6 secs (white light starts to blink rapidly at 6secs)

Then i immediately hold the menu+play and the light blinks a bunch but nothing happens. Nothing more shows up on iTunes.

Been jailbreaking idevices since day one, i am frusrated here.

howard1 · 10-21-2010, 02:34 PM

are u running the latest itunes?
i had to have a couple attempts, but just followed pwnagetools instructions and it was all good.
suprisingly easy to get it into dfu, just pulled out the power cable at the rite time and held the menu and play buttons

RXDI · 10-21-2010, 02:42 PM

Thanks Howard!! I pulled the power and that worked instead of holding Menu+Down.

Her072 · 10-21-2010, 02:56 PM

getting error 21 and 1600 trying to restore custom firmware. Any help appreciate.

RXDI · 10-21-2010, 03:16 PM

I'm getting error 1600 too.

Looking for another custom file to try.

howard1 · 10-21-2010, 10:48 PM

You need the latest version of iTunes or u will get errors

armenis · 10-23-2010, 07:23 PM

I have latest iTunes version. Using pwnagetools 4.1.2, Apple TV 4.1 firmware. Getting 1600 at the first jailbrake attempt. Error 21 appearing at the second attempt. Any idea?

inewphone · 10-24-2010, 01:01 AM

I have jailbroken it, but any idea why the TV SHOWS TAB is not there...I have only Movies, Internet, Computers and Settings...

Also, I installed nito TV, but as soon as I clik on Weather theApple TV resprings, but I can access the RSS feed fine.

i tried uninstalling and re installing still same.

Any help wud be much appreciated

MrChris · 10-24-2010, 11:09 AM

I for the life of me can not seem to get my ATV2 to go into DFU mode so I can grab my SHSH for it. Even if I don't jailbreak right now I just wana grab the shsh blob before its too late.

What is the steps that include pulling the power cable while trying to enter DFU mode?

~MC

armenis · 10-24-2010, 01:43 PM

I read also on dev team site that not necessary to hold Menu + Down buttons. Just use Menu + Play buttons to enter DFU mode. Although i didn't test that method.

MrChris · 10-24-2010, 02:11 PM

Finly I was able to get my pc (win7 x64) to see the damn thing and install drivers ect.. Then TinyUmbrella seen it and I was able to get my SHSH. Well at least now I feel a lot better.

Come to find out for me it was either the cable or the micrUSB port on the ATV2. I had to hold the microusb cable coming out of the back of it up at an angle as if I was pulling up on the cable while it was flat on desk. Maybe a bad cable or microusb port or something.

now the trick is to find some good tuts on using LR or GP on a windows pc to JB my ATV2.

~MC

MrChris · 10-24-2010, 10:27 PM

Still cant get the damn little bugger to do into DFU mode so I can attempt to restore the above CFW. Is it all about the timing of the LED on the front of the unit?

~MC

howard1 · 10-24-2010, 10:40 PM

Yeh I had to have a couple attempts, I followed the pwnagetool instructions, but shudnt be that hard without, just have iTunes open so it will tell you if Uve done it. Try pulling out the power cable after iTunes has recognised it and then just holding menu and play for 10 secs

MrChris · 10-25-2010, 12:10 AM

Hope the below helps someone else out down the line.

Finlay got the little fucker into DFU mode. For me it was all about timing. Before I was pressing and holding MENU and PLAY at the same time immediately after rebooting my ATV2 before the white LED would come back on. This time I waited until the white led came on before pressing and holding MENU and PLAY for about 6 secs. As for the initial reboot I don't think it matters if you reboot by pressing MENU and Down for 6 seconds or just plug in the AC Power cable to provide the ATV2 power. But I used Menu and DOWN for 6 seconds.

To verify that I was in DFU mode (Windows 7 x86) I went into Windows Device Manager and seen that the "Apple Mobile Device USB Driver" under "Universal Serial Bus controllers" properties shows as follows. iTunes 10.0.1 shows it as in recovery mode showing a name only of "Apple TV" and everything else "N/A". I also had AC Power being provided to the ATV2. For what its worth I had a 5pin microUSB cable, that I used from my 500GB WD Passport external USB Drive. So I think its rather safe to say the ATV2 is in UDF Mode.

~MC

sole2000 · 10-26-2010, 09:08 PM

Hey guys, thanks for the details on the Jailbreak. I just have a couple of questions to make sure I do it right:

1. My HDTV cable doesn't fit at the same time when I try to connect my Micro-USB cable. So I guess I don't connect the HDTV cable at all when JBing?

2. When you first begin to process DFU mode, should I have the power cable plugged in or unplugged?

3. My Western Digital Passport cable doesn't go in 100% into the micro-USB slot. Is this OK or am I doing something wrong?

Thanks for the help!!

romeoz · 10-27-2010, 10:35 AM

The WDP cable should fit..thats what I used..its a micro..make sure its not bent...

howard1 · 10-27-2010, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sole2000

Hey guys, thanks for the details on the Jailbreak. I just have a couple of questions to make sure I do it right:

1. My HDTV cable doesn't fit at the same time when I try to connect my Micro-USB cable. So I guess I don't connect the HDTV cable at all when JBing?

2. When you first begin to process DFU mode, should I have the power cable plugged in or unplugged?

3. My Western Digital Passport cable doesn't go in 100% into the micro-USB slot. Is this OK or am I doing something wrong?

Thanks for the help!!

1. dont need the hdmi cable plugged at any point of the jailbreak
2. pull the power cable out before you put into dfu
3. cable will still work but personally id get one that fits!

f u use a mac, the easiest way to get into dfu mode is by using and following the pwnage tool instructions, if u dont own a mac just keep trying till u get ther