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coreybyrnes
Level 1 (2 points)

Q: could not restore : error -18

Please help!!! I'm trying to update to the latest firmware and iTunes is saying I must restore but when I try to restore it says "The iPhone "iPhone" could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (-18)." Has anyone seen this error code? I tried searching online everywhere and couldn't find anything. I also tried forcing my iPhone into recovery mode by pressing home + power but I never see the yellow triangle. I'm stuck and cannot update my dang phone and cannot sync it either because when I connect the iPhone it says "ITunes cannot read the contents of your iPhone. Go to the Summary tab in iPhone preferences and click Restore to restore this iPhone to factory settings." So I can't sync and I can't update. Argh... I'm desperate... please help! Thanks so much...

macbook pro 15" 2.33ghz duo, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Sep 28, 2007 8:58 AM

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coreybyrnes

Q: could not restore : error -18

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  • by rpmccauley,

    rpmccauley rpmccauley Sep 28, 2007 9:41 AM in response to coreybyrnes
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 28, 2007 9:41 AM in response to coreybyrnes
    I went through the same thing while trying to update last night. I first had to plug directly into the iPhone cable without the Dock to restore it. Then I found that I had to sync it with my laptop (the original synced computer) in order for it to work again. Everything seems fine now but I did lose all my notes, including some songs i wrote. Try syncing without the Dock first and see where that gets you.

  • by megamoog,

    megamoog megamoog Sep 28, 2007 9:58 AM in response to coreybyrnes
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 28, 2007 9:58 AM in response to coreybyrnes
    Yes,

    I got same error code. I was going nuts trying to figure this out (three hours)
    Finally I tried my IBM computer, No probs, Then I tried my mac mini with true usb 2.0 and connected directly with cable from computer to iphone, worked no prob, so I pluged my phone into my usb 2.0 pci adapter in G4 and worked no prob!
    Seems that usb must be 2.0 to connect and work properly!

    Good Luck!

  • by Bierkoenig,

    Bierkoenig Bierkoenig Sep 30, 2007 12:37 PM in response to coreybyrnes
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 30, 2007 12:37 PM in response to coreybyrnes
    I hope you've fixed it by now but for others out there: I had the exact same issue on my second sync following the 1.1.1 update and wasted hours surfing to find a resolution. I called Apple iPhone Support and now it's fixed. Phew!

    Undock, turn off the phone. Press home key and redock while home key is pressed. The phone will go into recovery mode [with an iTunes logo & a cable pictured on-screen] - follow the iTunes instructions and it'll recover properly and start sync:ing.

  • by jackusage,

    jackusage jackusage Oct 2, 2007 6:26 AM in response to Bierkoenig
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2007 6:26 AM in response to Bierkoenig
    Thanks so much Bierk, this fixed my problem when nothing else could.

  • by jd76nyc,

    jd76nyc jd76nyc Oct 3, 2007 7:56 AM in response to coreybyrnes
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2007 7:56 AM in response to coreybyrnes
    I had the same problem yesterday. Unplugged my iphone after it was connected overnight to my computer and looking to play music but all content on the ipod is gone (everything else on the iphone is there and working). Go back home, try to sync and get error (-18). Tried to restore, impossible. I was using the original USB cable the iPhone came with and tried to remover iTunes and re-install it but it didn't work. Called Apple who was helpful but could not fix the problem and they gave me an appointment at the Apple Store on 5th. There the genius went into settings, reset and erased everything on the iPhone then tried to restore and it worked.