Apple TV 2 Untethered Jailbreak on Windows and XBMC media centre installation
Yesterday I got a new Apple TV 2 as a birthday gift and I decided to stick XBMC media centre on it since I already have one on the first generation of Xbox. I thought that would be perfect fanless replacement.
I read a lot of post how to jailbreak it with Pwnage Tool and Seas0nPass but all these methods have two huge disadvantages.
1. These programs come only for Mac computer for now. (I don’t have one)
2. They are tethered, which means everytime you shutdown Apple TV you will have to connect it to the Mac to boot it in jailbreaked mode.
I found little program that is called GreenPois0n and it comes for Mac, Linux and Windows and very little reference on the internet on how to use it. I thought I will give it a go. Program can be downloaded here: http://greenpois0n.com/
What you need:
1. Micro USB cable – unfortunately it is not supplied with Apple TV 2 so you need to get one or ask your friends. I had one as it came with my Blackberry.
2. iTunes software on your computer. http://www.apple.com/itunes/
3. GreenPois0n program http://greenpois0n.com/ (latest version RC6)
4. Find out which version your Apple TV 2 is running (Settings > General > About) Ideally should be 4.1.1. Mine came with 4.1 and I had updated it via iTunes to 4.1.1
UPDATE: 06.04.2011
If you have version 4.1 update your Apple TV with this firmware http://appldnld.apple.com/AppleTV/061-8940.20100926.Tvtnz/AppleTV2,1_4.1_8M89_Restore.ipsw
as doing it via iTunes now will update to 4.2.1.
If you already have 4.2.1 do not upgrade or downgrade. Just follow instructions below. I haven’t tested it but apparently it works.
Ok let’s do the magic:
Important! I do not take responsibility to any damage you do to your Apple TV 2. Remember, you are doing it at your own risk.
*It is highly unlikely to brick it or break it. Never heard of anyone messing up Apple TV 2 yet. You can always restore the firmware to its original state through iTunes.
1. Unplug all cable from Apple TV 2
2. Run the GreenPois0n program and follow instructions
If Jailbreak! button is not active that means you failed to put Apple TV 2 in DFU mode. Try again. When Apple TV 2 goes into DFU mode the LED light on the front panel flashes rapidly. Make sure that your timing is ok. I managed to put it in DFU mode on 3rd attempt.
3. Once GreenPois0n is done. Disconnect it and hook it back to your TV.
*When I did mine for the first time it didn’t boot properly. I have noticed that before jailbreaking my version was 4.1. I connected Apple TV 2 back to my PC and did the Restore process through the iTunes. Restore process updated latest Apple TV 2 firmware to 4.1.1. I run Green Pois0n again and it did work.
* Although I haven’t experienced any problems and all worked well once I had 4.1.1 user Fluxx has recommended to wait 40 seconds after the jailbreak is done.
4. Now you should get this option:
5. Click on Inject Software and than Install . Your Apple TV 2 will automatically restart and you will get this new menu item called NitoTV. Select NitoTV and in the submenu select Install Software. Find XBMC-ATV2 and hit install it.
6. It will automatically download and install XBMC. After install Apple TV 2 will automatically reboot.
* If you don’t see XBMC in menu option after the installation.
Reboot Apple TV 2 and install again.
It happend to me while jailbreaking aptv2 of one of my friends. If you still get the problems such as:
E: dkg was interrupted, you must manually run ‘dpkg –configure –a’ to correct the problem
Skins I have tried that work well on Apple TV 2:
Alaska Revisited
Night
I will be trying to install these too:
Rapier – I used to use in XBMC on my xbox – very responsive
Aeon – my favorite
* You can also log in via SSH to your Apple TV2 
1. Find out what IP is assigned to the box: Settings >Network
2. Use program such as Putty http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html to login
Username: root
Password: alpine
*Also since the TV I hooked up Apple TV 2 to doesn’t have HDMI input I used a converter from HD Fury (version 1) to convert HDMI to VGA. It works perefectly without any additional power supply.
UPDATE: 21.03.2010
Solutions to some common problems:
1. Changing time zone / setting up date and time:
http://arturito.net/2011/03/21/how-to-change-configure-time-zone-on-apple-tv-2g-xbmc-time/
2. XBMC exiting/crashing is due to the Apple TV 2 updates
This fixes it and gets a rid off the annoying update prompt.
http://arturito.net/2011/03/21/how-to-fix-xbmc-that-quits-exits-on-apple-tv-2g-disable-update/
Good Luck!!!
Thanks for putting this together.
Will try it when i get home.
x-boxer
February 14, 2011 at 10:27 am
My pleasure.
arturito
February 14, 2011 at 10:45 am
Where did you get hdfury from?
Alex
February 20, 2011 at 2:05 pm
I got HD Fury here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HDfury-1080P-HDMI-Converter-Transcoder/dp/B000SOPWS8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298231958&sr=8-1
HD Fury has DVI-D input and VGA output so you will need to get HDMI to DVI-D
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HDMI-DVI-2m-Cable-GOLD/dp/B000OOMRKS/ref=pd_bxgy_ce_img_b
Then you can either connect VGA output from HD Fury directly to the screen.
(That worked with my plasma screen, and for some reason it didn’t for my PC monitor)
or you can get vga to component cable like this one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TRIXES-1-5m-Component-Cable-Laptop/dp/B002NPZSSO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1298232037&sr=1-1
I would recommend find one of a better quality somewhere else.
arturito
February 20, 2011 at 8:08 pm
y como sacas el audio si transformas a VGA?
Gnzl
February 14, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Optical audio a amplificador y no hay ningun problema con sincronía de labios (lipsync)
arturito
February 14, 2011 at 8:00 pm
This may be a stupid question but I’m new to jailbreaking. Does this add allow me to play all of the formats supported by xbmc? Does airplay still work? I have to say I can’t wait to get home now and try this out. My apple TV has been gathering dust because I don’t get my content from iTunes.
sparkly1982
February 15, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Yes this will allow you to play all formats supported by xmbc. (Haven’t found yet video or audio format that xbmc doesn’t support)
I tried airplay and it seems to be working ok. I only used it for about an hour as I’ve got my Apple TV 2 hard wired to my router, so I don’t know if it’s stable in the long term. Remember that once you get xbmc installed it will appear as an item in the Apple TV menu so you will still have an access to Apple TV services.
arturito
February 15, 2011 at 8:00 pm
By the way, I love this thing and it makes great media centre in my living room.
arturito
February 15, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Remarkable information and facts! I have been searching for anything like this for quite a while these days. With thanks!
Constance
February 15, 2011 at 9:02 pm
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February 16, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Will this break all iTunes/movie rental functionality when you jailbreak it?
Josh
February 16, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Nope. Xbmc will appear as an option in the original menu.
Anytime you can exit XBMC and enjoy original functionality of Apple TV.
arturito
February 22, 2011 at 11:12 am
Thanks for posting this helpful guide! Just jail broken mine and downloading xbmc…took 5 tries to get it in dfu mode.
CellBlockB
February 17, 2011 at 7:43 pm
How did you install the Aeon skin? The XBMC installed on my ATV 2 is Dharma RC2 and it doesn’t allow me to load any skin that is not on the addon section.
Tigga
February 19, 2011 at 3:45 am
I haven’t installed Aeon yet. I mentioned in this article that I will try it….but I haven’t had a chance yet.
Shouldn’t be that complicated since this jailbreak gives you full access to files system via ssh.
I guess there is a possibility to upload it manually.
arturito
February 20, 2011 at 8:06 pm
Hello
Did I something wrong?
I just did the Jailbreak (it took me a few times to enter DFU Mode) but finally, Greenpois0n made it. After that I connected my ATV to the TV but there showed up no new menu.
My Firmware is: 4.1.1
Help me please.
Fluxx
February 22, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Finally it worked! Attention! It’s very important, that you really wait the 40Seconds after the Jailbreak is finished.
btw: Nice Tutorial! Keep on going.
Fluxx
February 22, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Thanks. I haven’t experienced this problem but I updated this article with your hint.
arturito
February 23, 2011 at 8:40 am
I just tried this with my Apple TV 2 – near instant success. One thing that I believe deserves mention, though – NO HI DEF STREAMING. I’m willing to believe it’s the fault of the teeny-tiny ATV2, not XMBC, but I tried to stream 1080p .wmv, .avi, and .mp4 files. .avi was slow as hell, .wmv crashed xmbc every time, and it completely destroyed the audio on the .mp4 (tho it was the only file type where the video didn’t lag).
Besides that, great guide, great programs, great success. Have to take the ATV2 back to the store though, because of the 1080p issue.
Looks like I’ll dish out ~500$ for an HTPC
Steve
February 24, 2011 at 11:30 pm
Unfortunately, that’s true. 1080p is slow but 720p is ok. I guess Apple TV 2 is good for people that:
1. Don’t have space or like the size of APTV2
2. Normally watch Divx, Xvid encoded videos or 720p mkv’s.
3. Stream from Internet
And yes if you are looking for 1080p this product won’t give you what you want.
arturito
February 25, 2011 at 8:10 am
After jail breaking ATV2, can I do the video streaming of Internet live video (say a live soccer game) from my laptop PC onto a jail broken ATV2. Will my PC laptop and ATV “talk” wirelessly (via router) – I don’t have Mac but PC. Tks
Kokushka
February 25, 2011 at 8:43 am
You can connect your Apple TV 2 via wireless to any PC or laptop that is on the same network to play video, music or view photos that any PC has in the shared folder, whether it is mac, windows or linux. For example today I was showing off capabilities of Apple TV 2 and XBMC to my friends at work. We tried this configuration: We connected Apple TV2 to 1 laptop and 2 PC over wireless. We played movies from laptop, music from the 1st PC and photos from the 2nd PC.
Regarding streaming TV you would need to search in add-ons a plugin that will stream content directly to Apple TV without needing any PC. I don’t know if you can find plugin that will give you live football but if you can watch it on the website, surely someone made a plugin for it.
For example here in Spain a lot of people use website like http://www.seriesyonkis.com/ where you have published links to TV Shows uploaded to megaupload.com you can go to their website and watch the TV show in the browser. Not many knows that there is a plugin called pelisalacarta that allows you to stream all content from this website to XBMC and view it on your TV.
arturito
February 25, 2011 at 10:43 am
Arturito, many thanks for your earlier clarification to my post regarding playing an Internet video streaming such as football to Apple TV2. Since I am very new to this scene of streaming into Apple TV2, do you happen to have any guide or instruction how to trigger on PC to select Apple TV and to start streaming whatever is on the laptop/PC screen onto Apple TV and via HDMI cable onto TV. I would greatly appreciate your help. Is it necessary to install Apple TV client software on PC and then click Apple tv icon on PC in order to start streaming the URL stream to Apple TV2 or is there any other mechanism to do this. Tks much and cheers
Kokushka
February 26, 2011 at 7:42 am
Also, would this streaming of URL from PC to Apple TV2 require jailbreak of Apple TV or could this streaming be done without jail breaking? Many thanks again
Kokushka
February 26, 2011 at 7:45 am
Unfortunately original software that comes with Apple TV 2 does not allow you to watch your own movies or stream whatever you like. It only allows you to watch rented movies from iTunes.
To get it to do a lot more stuff you have to:
1. Jailbreak Apple TV 2.
2. Install XBMC which is a software that installs in Apple TV 2:)
3. Connect Apple TV 2 to your wifi or home network
Now if you have mac computer or PC, create shared folder on it for example Videos and Music. You don’t need any Apple client. Simply share your media files.
Turn on Apple TV 2 and start XBMC. Once you are in XBMC watch this video below it explains how to make shared media on your pc visible in XBMC:
If you want to watch content stream for internet, XBMC in its menu has “Add-ons” . You ho there and it explains you what Add-ons it has and what they do. For example you haver Cartoon Network add-on that streams free animations, etc.
By the way, one of my friends got some free football through Poma TV add-on.
Hope this helps!
arturito
February 27, 2011 at 3:31 pm
Tks again, Arthurito.
Making a Movie folder on my PC is not an issue as, while having my Samsung LED TV, I have a Samsung Share Manager client installed on my PC. That is essentially a repository of all potential video files I want to watch. PC and Samsung TV are both part of the network (TV has a wireless USB dongle on it), so watching the stored movies wirelessly is not an issue and for that I don’t need Apple TV2. Hence my ONLY focus for which I thought ATV2would be useful, was for Internet streaming ONLY. If you get some additional ideas in the future to solve my problem, as the Apple TV evolves in the future (perhaps with new software release for ATV), your suggestions would be invaluable. Many thanks again
Kokushka
February 28, 2011 at 6:30 am
Check these:
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Official_Add-on_Repository#The_Repositories
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Unofficial_Add-on_Repositories
http://code.google.com/p/xbmc-addons/source/browse/trunk
It lists repos for most xbmc add-ons official and unoffical. See if there are things that might interest you.
arturito
March 7, 2011 at 7:51 am
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February 25, 2011 at 8:42 am
I’m so lost, I have XBMC up and running on the ATV. But I want to connect it to my Windows computer (on Vista…. yes, Vista, lol) and play files from there. I enabled sharing on the folder that has some videos. So how do I view that in XBMC?
Any help would be great for a newcomer like me.
JDub
February 26, 2011 at 4:18 am
Never mind, totally figured it out now.
Only other issue is that when I play a downloaded .avi movie, it has this slight hissing sound ever so often. Pretty noticeable. I
JDub
February 26, 2011 at 5:21 am
The issue I had with adding network share on Vista was the firewall. When adding source I went to Windows Network (SMB) and it didn’t see Vista PC. If that happens you can always go to “Add network location” and you specify “Server” which will be name or IP of you Vista machine “Share Name” for example “videos” and it is good idea to put username and password to access these shares.
Do you get the hissing sound playing this avi file on your PC?
To be honest I have never had any problems with audio or video and I’ve been using XBMC for a long time. Issues I had were normally related to corrupted video files.
arturito
February 27, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Awesome stuff! Would love to see a tutorial on how to install skin son the XBMC for ATV2
Jason
March 2, 2011 at 4:16 am
In the menu of XBMC search for add-ons. At the bottom there are skins that are pre-configured and ready to download.
arturito
March 2, 2011 at 8:06 am
Fantastic post. Exactly what I was looking for before ordering the Apple TV2. Once XBMC is installed can the USB port be used for an external hard drive or are you still confined to NAS? I have an external hard drive (which requires it’s own power cord) that I would like to attach to the Apple TV2.
Thanks again for this great post.
Jarrod
March 7, 2011 at 2:19 am
The idea of Apple TV 2 is to stream video over the network so yes you have to either have pc/mac/linux with shared directories or NAS. USB port is available only for maintenance purposes.
arturito
March 7, 2011 at 7:44 am
Ok. Thanks Arturito.
Jarrod
March 7, 2011 at 2:29 pm
What about live TV recorded within windows media center via TV tuner? Does that content stream to apple tv xbmc? If that works, I’m buying one tomorrow!
Sosachin
March 9, 2011 at 6:14 am
I’ve never tried it but from what I have read WMC records TV in DVR-MS format and according to various forums it works with XBMC. Not perfectly but it does… as discussed on this forum:
http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/p/32173/132426.aspx
Mind that this post is from 2006 so by now it should be supported. I will dig out my tv tuner, install WMC and try it out this weekend.
Will let you know about my findings.
arturito
March 10, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Thanks! I’m curious to know..I have media center going but want to see if this works with appletv2 prior to purchasing.
sachin
March 11, 2011 at 5:40 am
I will know it tomorrow. Will let you know.
arturito
March 11, 2011 at 2:23 pm
Sorry didn’t get a chance to install WMC. Will try this weekend.
arturito
March 15, 2011 at 11:25 am
How about doing the apple updates on a jailbroken Apple Tv? So far I have just said NO when it asks, but I am wondering what will happen if I click yes.
Jokkis
March 15, 2011 at 10:10 pm
Soon I will add some section to this post with problems I found and their solutions.
My answer to your question is: Do not update Apple TV as it will update firmware and might ‘break’ the jailbreak. You can turn off Apple TV updates by going to NitoTV>Settings and set iOS updates to ‘Disabled’. Also select ‘Update NitoTV’ and when it is all done hard reboot Apple TV by pulling the power cable out. Did that yesterday and Apple TV stopped asking to update. I will check again today to confirm this problem has been resolved.
arturito
March 16, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Thanks for that, I will turn off updates.
Jokkis
March 16, 2011 at 3:29 pm
I tried jailbreaking my atv2 using Seas0npass several times without success. I am excited to try your method. Do I have to restore my atv2 back to the original OS, or can I just run your install?
rdcaruana
March 16, 2011 at 7:31 pm
Run my install and see what’s going to happen. You can always restore it via iTunes. If you break something and have to restore, download Apple TV 2 firmware first. You will need file:
AppleTV2,1_4.2.1_8C154_Restore.ipsw
This is the latest one that can be jailbroken (I haven’t tried any newer)
…than open this file with iTunes in order to start restore process.
This file can be downloaded here:
http://www.multiupload.com/DFDSY0MA36
If they remove it for some reason use google to find it. Its size should be around 267.02 MB.
After restore, just follow instructions in this post
Good Luck!
arturito
March 16, 2011 at 11:36 pm
hi there, great guide!
so is AppleTV2,1_4.2.1_8C154_Restore.ipsw a stock version of iOS? i’m curious as to if there’s a problem with ATV and i need to take it to apple support, would this un-jailbreak ATV and get it to be serviceable? does this method require GP or is it just straight via iTunes?
also, i’m guessing reading some of the other comments that when a new update comes out for iOS, you would want to wait till dev teams to come up with jailbreak version for that? in that case, do you always need to restore to stock version then re-jailbreak, or can you just apply the jailbroken version of the new iOS?
thanks in advance!
davo
March 17, 2011 at 12:57 am
AppleTV2,1_4.2.1_8C154_Restore.ipsw is a stock version of iOS.
It is the same one that iTunes downloads when you do Restore. So If you somehow fail to jailbreak it, you can always restore firmware and try again and yes …. once restored it is serviceable by Apple.
This article explains it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_jailbreaking
Your guess is right about new iOS updates. You have to wait for dev teams to release jailbreaking program
that works on a particular version of iOS. At the moment GreenP0ison works for 1_4.2.1 and I have no idea if it works for any higher version.
So it is recommendable to restore to 1_4.2.1 in case you need to re-jailbreak it.
arturito
March 17, 2011 at 1:10 pm
Great info!
One question, I just got my Apple TV and it has software version 4.1, so it needs to be updated.
I downloaded 4.2.1, but I can’t seem to figure out a way to restore that version of the OS to the Apple TV. Any time I try to open that file, or restore from within iTunes, it starts downloading what I assume is 4.3.
I’m running iTunes 10.0.1.22. Maybe an older version won’t force a download of the latest IOS??
Any ideas? Thanks!
Alex
March 19, 2011 at 9:30 am
Never tried it so I can’t really comment on it. Check it out and let us know.
arturito
March 21, 2011 at 8:14 pm
oh snap, i didn’t realize 4.2 (2060) as shown on ATV General About is actually 4.3, which GP doesn’t jailbreak atm… and i don’t have the SHSH saved
i guess i have to wait till jailbreak for 4.3 comes out (or are there any way to restore to 4.2.1 without SHSH?)
davo
March 18, 2011 at 6:36 am
Thanks for reminding me about SHSH. Forgot to save mine.
I see that a lot of people have problem with 4.3 and this jailbreak might not be working for this version.
If I get time this weekend I get to update my Apple TV and try to jailbreak again. I will post results here.
arturito
March 21, 2011 at 8:18 pm
I tried jailbreaking twice using the instructions. It says it completed, I wait 40 seconds, unplug usb and plug into tv. it takes a minute or two to boot up, but no greenpois0n on the menu. Any ideas where I’m going wrong?
rdcaruana
March 17, 2011 at 6:21 pm
I forgot to mention I bought my atv2 a couple of days ago. It came with 4.3. I restored to AppleTV2,1_4.2.1_8C154_Restore.ipsw. I can boot up after the restore and it shows 4.2, but after completing the jailbreak, no greenpois0n. I wonder if 40 seconds isn’t enough time.
rdcaruana
March 17, 2011 at 7:14 pm
I had the same Problem. Maybe wait up to 60Secs.
Good Luck.
Fluxx
March 20, 2011 at 12:38 pm
Try to restore to this one:
http://appldnld.apple.com/AppleTV/061-8940.20100926.Tvtnz/AppleTV2,1_4.1_8M89_Restore.ipsw
arturito
March 21, 2011 at 8:21 pm
Hello,
thanks for that Guide – it works great.
I have only the Problem, that i cant see any covers or backround pictures on XBMC.
I have tried: “movie-name”.tbn, “movie-name”.jpg, fanart.jpg, backdrop.jpg. Also extrathumbs\thumb1.jpg.
I get no pictures – have anybody ideas
thanks – michel73
michel73
March 20, 2011 at 10:04 am
Create folder for each movie for example “Inception”. Inside place video file and cover named “folder.jpg”.
This should do.
arturito
March 21, 2011 at 8:23 pm
And how can i create Background-Pictures?
Thanks Michel73
michel73
March 22, 2011 at 2:31 pm
To get this working you need to enable library mode. This way movie covers, info and backgrounds will be downloaded automatically using scrappers. I believe you can also do the same thing as with folder.jpg but stick backdrop.jpg. I will try this tonight and will let you know.
arturito
March 22, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Hello,
it doesen’t work – i see no pictures.
I have also tried using the scrappers – no pictures
Any ideas?
Thanks Michel73
michel73
March 23, 2011 at 7:14 am
Sticking backdrop.jpg didn’t help.
But if you activate Library Mode it should do. Remember to set scrappers in the option “Set Content”.
1. Go to Video – > Files
2. Highlight your shared folder with movies for example “Videos”
3. Press and hold Menu
4. From the pop up menu select “Set Content”
5. Set content scrapper to IMDB for example and configure options below such as “scan folder names” etc.
Also in check config in System settings Video>Library
Let me know if you got this right, otherwise I will post some screenshots.
arturito
March 25, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Hello
Since a few days, I got Problems watching Movies over XBMC.
When I start the Movie I can watch it for about 2-3Mins and after this, it stops.
Does someone has the same Problem or a solution?
Regards – Fluxx
Fluxx
March 21, 2011 at 7:13 pm
I’ve been having exactly the same problem. I blamed updates. In NitoTV>Settings I set iOS updates to Disabled but updates still show up and XBMC exists. It must be related to updates as it wasn’t behaving this way before.
arturito
March 21, 2011 at 8:26 pm
This fixes it:
http://arturito.net/2011/03/21/how-to-fix-xbmc-that-quits-exits-on-apple-tv-2g/
arturito
March 21, 2011 at 10:44 pm
Sorry above link is incorrect. Try this one:
http://arturito.net/2011/03/21/how-to-fix-xbmc-that-quits-exits-on-apple-tv-2g-disable-update/
arturito
March 22, 2011 at 8:17 am
Great! I’ll check this tonight.
Thank you!
Fluxx
March 22, 2011 at 9:30 am
I can confirm that the problem goes away. XBMC has been working flawlessly since yesterday.
arturito
March 22, 2011 at 12:57 pm
It worked fine!
Thank you.
Fluxx
March 22, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Figured it out courtesy of this page: http://osxdaily.com/2010/11/23/how-to-use-ipsw-files/!
You’ll first need to google and download the ipsw file of your choice (4.2.1).
Then, after downloading, when in itunes with your Apple TV connected, if on a PC, hold “SHIFT” and click restore and then locate the IPSW file you downloaded and it will restore you to 4.2.1.
Then run greenpoison as directed.
Alex
March 29, 2011 at 8:24 am
Has just done this, also in 3rd go with the jailbreak, and it works perfekt, no problems what so ever…
thank you from sweden
morten
March 31, 2011 at 6:31 pm
I must be an idiot, because I cant get it to go into DFU mode. I have tried about 40 times.
However I did manage to get jailbreak it using Limera1n, which has no instructions at all by randomly connecting/disconnecting, but unfortunately it does not allow you to do anything else, it does not install Cydia for you.
the blake
April 5, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Try again and follow exact instructions that gives you GreenPois0n:
1. Disconnect power
2. Connect usb
3. Connect power
3. Press at the dame time MENU and Play/Pause buttons for 7 seconds
4. Release all buttons.
Apple TV’s LED should be blinking rapidly.
As I said some people had tried 7 times to get it done. Try 41, 42 …. I’m sure you will get it done. Make sure you get the timing right.
Good luck.
arturito
April 5, 2011 at 9:42 pm
Thanks, was not a problem to get the light to flash rapidly, still no luck. I gave up an used Pwnage instead and worked first time, so easy.
the blake
April 6, 2011 at 9:15 pm
I have ATV 2. VER 4.1 Tried to jail break it with greenp0is0n rc6.1. Followed exact instructions, it Failed every time. I gave up and went Updated to VER 4.2.1 (2100). Can this VER be JB with RC6.1, or do I have to wait for a new RC7 ? What else can I do ?
I killed my anti-virus, disabled WIN firewall, started RC6.1 as Admin. Help!
Ned
April 6, 2011 at 5:28 am
Would be a lot safer to have version 4.1.1 that can be downloaded here:
http://appldnld.apple.com/AppleTV/061-8940.20100926.Tvtnz/AppleTV2,1_4.1_8M89_Restore.ipsw
But since you upgraded to 4.2.1 there is no point downgrading. It won’t work anyway.
I haven’t tried to jailbreak with 4.2.1 but according to the comment of Alex and what I have read on the Internet it works.
arturito
April 6, 2011 at 8:51 am
Remember that if you update via iTunes or through the Apple TV, even though the ATV will show you having 4.2.1, you’re actually getting 4.3, which doesn’t work with the current greenpoison. I believe there is a new jailbreak method available that works with 4.3 (red snow, I think…search engadget) but I haven’t tried it.
If you upgraded, you will need to restore down to 4.2.1 (4.1.1 indicated on the ATV) by separately downloading the actual 4.2.1 ipsw file and then restoring to that file from iTunes by holding SHIFT and then clicking restore, and then selecting the file you downloaded.
I can verify that I was able to downgrade after first upgrading to 4.3
Alex Wong
April 6, 2011 at 7:10 pm
3 The weird thing is that when the firmware was 4.1.1, the jailbreak with greenpoison failed every time, when I upgraded to 4.2.1, ran jailbreak and at the end it said COMPLETED!, waited 5 min, then unplugged it but nothing was installed on ATV2. It’s kind of confusing.
Which one is better to try red snow or seas0npass?
ned
April 6, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Well, I have come to the conclusion that something so simple that would take 20 min to do, has taken me days is due to me Running Windows 7 64Bit. I see people of youtube with MACs flying through the whole process in 10 min. On MAC’s – itunes and whole systems works beautifully with Apple TV.
Win 7 and ATV just don’t jive together.
-Tried GreenP0ison didn’t work. A the end of the process it said ”Complete” but did not hack it.
- Tried Seas0nPass – went through the motions etc, at first it gave me an error message at the end. Re-did a couple for time it went through the process – no erros, it said ”Complete”, However when I plugged ATV into TV, there waw no change in the menu, exactly the same as before. It’s like the hack was not there.
- Last resort, tried iREB RC4- to jailbreak it and then sn0wbreeze to hack it. It was nice and easy.
http://ih8sn0w.com/index.php/welcome.snow
Hooked up ATV and see the NitoTV in the menu. Now I have to update it and do Install Software –XBMC.
ned
April 7, 2011 at 7:43 pm