"No sim card installed" message after replacing screen and home button

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iPhone 4

Fourth generation iPhone. Repair is straightforward, but the front glass and LCD must be replaced as a unit. GSM / 8, 16, or 32 GB capacity / Model A1332 / Black and White. This page aims to help users troubleshoot, fix, and seek help for the iPhone 4.

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Aquarius @aquarius52317

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Posted: Dec 27, 2012

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"No sim card installed" message after replacing screen and home button

Hi everybody. I see you have a solution for many problems so I’m really hoping you’ll be able to help me. Where do I start lol. I got an iphone 4 from a friend and the home button wasn’t working well, so i decided to replace it with a new one,but, after doing that, the new button wasn’t working at all, so I had to buy another one, i replaced that one, but while putting the phone together I damaged the touch screen digitizer lol so I replaced that as well and now finally the phone is working except for one problem. After asking tesco network for the unlock code i restored the iphone and now on the startup when i go through the steps it says "No SIM card installed. Insert a valid sim with no PIN lock to activate iPhone". Now I’ve seen many people had problems with the signal or the sim and they offer solutions, but because of all the things that happened inbetween i cant detirmine what exactly the problem is, if its the antenna or the motherboard, or installing the newest ios etc… hope you’ll be able to help me. Thanks

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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John Savio, I did receive an email from tesco, and not one, but two , because after the first one i recieved from them I thought there was a problem with the activation and phoned them again, got a new one, but still the same problem. I did contact them and they said to contact apple, I didnt. The phone says No SIM at the top left corner, and it's stuck on the activation screen cos I tried restoring it after the email I got from tesco. And on the middle of the screen it says "No SIM card installed. Insert a valid sim with no PIN lock to activate iPhone". And finally, I've tried tesco, O2 and Vodafone, but without success, it still comes up with the same message :s

Jan 4, 2013 by Aquarius

And also, I've seen that video and tried that trick with the tape, that didn't work either :/

Jan 4, 2013 by Aquarius

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Mitch Rush @mitchrush

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Posted: Dec 27, 2012

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I would restore it without the unlock and see if that fixes it.

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Mitch, what do you mean "without the unlock". Tesco didn't give me a code, they sent me an email saying "your unlocking is ready, connect to itunes to unlock your iphone" but, when I try to do that, itunes says "we are unable to continue with your activation at this time" and I think it's because the phone can't read the sim. I even tried a Tesco sim card, won't read that either :/

Dec 28, 2012 by Aquarius

Reading your first question I was thinking you had already unlocked your phone, my answer to restore it was meaning to put it back to normal factory settings, unlocking Iphones can cause problems, I wont do it on a customer's phone for fear I'll brick it and be responsible so don't have a lot of experience to guide you with your problem except to say try to restore it to see if your problem stops, one thing though, you might try cleaning the sims reader with alcohol and a toothbrush in case that's your problem, I would like to hear how you make out, good luck.

Dec 28, 2012 by Mitch Rush

Are u sure the phone has been unlocked? Did u get a confirmation email or msg from tesco or O2 that the phone has been unlocked? Did u contact their customer service? Does the phone say no service or no sim card? Does it work with an O2 or tesco sim card?

Jan 3, 2013 by John Savio

Have u watched this video and did u try this??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Deip-_ZWH...

Jan 3, 2013 by John Savio

Yes I've seen the video and tried the tape,still nothing. It seems like this is going to remain a mistery. Unless I take it to be repaired and see what they say.

Jan 22, 2013 by Aquarius

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John Savio, I did receive an email from tesco, and not one, but two , because after the first one i recieved from them I thought there was a problem with the activation and phoned them again, got a new one, but still the same problem. I did contact them and they said to contact apple, I didnt. The phone says No SIM at the top left corner, and it's stuck on the activation screen cos I tried restoring it after the email I got from tesco. And on the middle of the screen it says "No SIM card installed. Insert a valid sim with no PIN lock to activate iPhone". And finally, I've tried tesco, O2 and Vodafone, but without success, it still comes up with the same message :s — Aquarius
And also, I've seen that video and tried that trick with the tape, that didn't work either :/ — Aquarius
Mitch, what do you mean "without the unlock". Tesco didn't give me a code, they sent me an email saying "your unlocking is ready, connect to itunes to unlock your iphone" but, when I try to do that, itunes says "we are unable to continue with your activation at this time" and I think it's because the phone can't read the sim. I even tried a Tesco sim card, won't read that either :/ — Aquarius
Reading your first question I was thinking you had already unlocked your phone, my answer to restore it was meaning to put it back to normal factory settings, unlocking Iphones can cause problems, I wont do it on a customer's phone for fear I'll brick it and be responsible so don't have a lot of experience to guide you with your problem except to say try to restore it to see if your problem stops, one thing though, you might try cleaning the sims reader with alcohol and a toothbrush in case that's your problem, I would like to hear how you make out, good luck. — Mitch Rush
Are u sure the phone has been unlocked? Did u get a confirmation email or msg from tesco or O2 that the phone has been unlocked? Did u contact their customer service? Does the phone say no service or no sim card? Does it work with an O2 or tesco sim card? — John Savio
Have u watched this video and did u try this??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Deip-_ZWH... — John Savio
Yes I've seen the video and tried the tape,still nothing. It seems like this is going to remain a mistery. Unless I take it to be repaired and see what they say. — Aquarius

John Savio @johnsavio1185 Rep: 1.5k 4 4 2 · Answer 1 · 2012-12-28T01:47:56-07:00

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John Savio @johnsavio1185

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Posted: Dec 28, 2012

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Hi, firstly I would recommend that u disassemble the whole phone. Be careful with the lcd, especially with the digitizer cable and also the display ic. I hope u have isopropyl alcohol with u. Take a q-tip and use isopropyl alcohol to clean all the metal parts. Do this very carefully. Take ur time. And finally reassemble. Second, to unlock ur phone from O2/Tesco u need to put another network sim for the unlock to work. Maybe all u need to do is use another sim and not open the phone up again. Hope this helped. Write back on what u did. Good luck.

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Hi John Savio. I've not got isopropyl alcohol with me but I've got Serviol super 10 switch cleaning lubricant and I was wondering if I could clean it with that, instead of isopropyl alcohol? PS: I've tried Vodafone sim card, still won't work :/ Thanks for your suggestion

Jan 2, 2013 by Aquarius

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