Itunes unknown error (-4)

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Itunes unknown error (-4)

Sorry if this has posted before. Hope someone can help/guide as to what to do.

I've been having problems with safari crashing on me ever 5-10 mins, even after clearing history, cache, blah blah blah. So I decided to restore my touch. The restore went fine... except for one thing, I had purchased the January ipod touch software upgrade, so everytime to go to sync my touch, itunes shows installing software upgrade then a windows pops up with the following message:

"Itunes could not install the Ipod Touch Software upgrade on the ipod because an unknown error occured (-4)"

Im running Vista, Itunes 7.7. Itunes shows my touch as having the 1.14 software but i dont have any of the upgrade on the touch itself. Ive tried to manually select the 1.14 software (Shift+update, C:\Users\Adminstrator\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPod Software Updates).. Still nothing happens..

Any help?

Funny thing now is Itunes is linking me to the 2.0 firmware page to buy the update.. I just want my 1.14..
/cry

Ipod Touch 8GB, Windows Vista

Posted on Jul 11, 2008 10:44 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 12, 2008 12:36 PM in response to bubba123

The exact same thing happened to me, i had to restore my ipod because it told me too idk what was wrong with it and now my january sofware upgrade is gone and im getting the same error message. to say the least im so ****** ive sent apple like 3 messages and im waiting for a reply, if anyone has any solution im all ears, lol im so glad im not the only one with this problem cause i couldnt find any webpage anywhere where someone had the same problem. Apple you owe me!

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Answer 2

bubba123 Author

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Jul 12, 2008 12:56 PM in response to 0piumRenegade

Get this..
I called Apple support hoping to find an answer and they tell me that i "have" to purchase the 2.0 software to be able to get the January Software Update.. What?!?! so I have to pay an extra 9.99 just to be able to get the January update... wow... just wow.. They also said, keep trying for a few days, our servers have been busy with the iphone 2 launch and software launch...lets see..

very frustrating.. grrrr

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Answer 3

Jul 12, 2008 3:50 PM in response to bubba123

well then ill wait for a little while then see if they give me a fix (unlikely) other wise i think i deserve to be credited $20 on my itunes account because this is there software problem not mine, or atleast the new upgrade free. I dont even feel like buying the new upgrade incase that doesnt work.

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Answer 4

bubba123 Author

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Jul 16, 2008 3:41 AM in response to 0piumRenegade

Well after spending 4-6 hrs on the phone with apple tech support.. I am happy to say.. nothings been resolved. They themselves don't know how to resolve the issue.. I'm sorta getting ****** now that I cant use the jan update... They have put the issue on escalated alert with upper level apple tech support. I was supposed to get a reply back from them within 24 hrs.. now its been close to 2 days... Yippee!!

Is it possible to get a refund of the jan update at this stage?

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Answer 5

Jul 16, 2008 5:23 AM in response to bubba123

I did the restore to get the free update 1.1.5 today and now my Jan update is gone with the same error -4. I guess they are forcing us into buying the 2.0 software. It's a shame that 2.0 is $10 when the Jan update was $20 and the 2.0 includes all the features of the Jan update.

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Answer 6

rdsouza

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Jul 17, 2008 12:23 PM in response to bubba123

I have the same issue. I tried multiple computers. Anyone know anything? Did they give anyone a refund or a free upgrade to 2.0?

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Answer 7

Jul 17, 2008 12:42 PM in response to bubba123

I've had the same problem! I don't know how to solve this! I called Apple and they don't know what the error code (-4) means!!! So then what? We should get a refund after spending 20 freaking dollars on that update and now we can't use it? Unfair!

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Answer 8

Jul 17, 2008 12:43 PM in response to bubba123

Actually... I talked to a representative.. they said that because it's more than 60 days old... they are not going to give us a refund! We have to look for some kind of loop!

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Answer 9

bubba123 Author

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Jul 22, 2008 9:14 AM in response to bubba123

Well after talking to a Itune software specialist and Ipod Touch product specialist and after numerous email exchanges, they have informed me:

"Error -4 is a time out error caused by high server traffic. However, synching software to an iPod doesn't require any server contact. As the problem resides with the iPod Touch and not on the iTunes Store, you will need to contact technical support for further assistance with this error. To find the appropriate phone number, please visit:

http://www.apple.com/support/contact/phone_contacts.html"

So I have to go through the same process again.. never ending cycle.
Sigh..

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Answer 10

spriggig

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Jul 22, 2008 5:22 PM in response to bubba123

Same problem here. My Touch shipped with 1.1.3 so I paid $20 for the January update (really, only to get the nag screen to go away since the "No Thanks" button didn't work for the January update). Am I too cynical to imagine they're doing this intentionally to persuade us to update to 2.0? Well, you know if it walks like a duck...

I do plan to update to 2.0, but I'm broke ATM, so I wanted to wait until next paycheck, assuming that 2.0 installs and the January update comes back I'll eventually get this fixed.

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Answer 11

bubba123 Author

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Jul 25, 2008 2:05 PM in response to spriggig

Well after talking to the Apple Tech support.. all they could do was tell me to get the 2.0 update, so spending 10 bucks to "solving" their problem which they cant solve.. and giving me a 10 song credit. I couldn't use the 10 song credit to pay for the 2.0 update because of some "issue/policy" related to software..

So there you go people.. those who paid 19.99 for the Jan upgrade and had to and or will restore their touch, you will NOT get your jan upgrade again.. I dont think Apple will solve the issue..so you will be forced in some sort of way to get the 2.0 update.. Win Win for Apple..

I am really disappointed with apple, not the apple tech support agent who helped me.. just Apple the company and their shenanigans..

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Answer 12

Jul 30, 2008 4:20 PM in response to bubba123

What I've been able to glean from the net is as follows...you need to update the itouch firmware to 2.0. They are giving this free to iphone users, but the itouch people have to pay. You can find it on the Internet. I'm going to put it on when I get some time and see what happens.

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Answer 13

JDDistef

Level 1

8 points

Jul 30, 2008 4:45 PM in response to SteelHorseComputers

So you were able to update to the 1.1.5 software? I am sick of apple's inattention to it's customers. This is sad. I swear, why release these products if they are not ready to stand behind their products>?

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Answer 14

Aug 2, 2008 9:55 AM in response to bubba123

My Wife and I are sooo ****** about this that we are actually thinking about giving our touches to our 8 and 9 year olds then go out and get Zunes!!!
CRAPple/MacinCRAP can kiss my hairy BUTT! Their not forcing me into buying anything...

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Answer 15

Oct 6, 2008 7:22 AM in response to bubba123

I had to restore my Ipod Touch this morning. It will not let me update to the January software upgrade. The upgrade is in my Itunes store...I purchased it about 6 months ago. I just get 'an unknown error occurred (-4).

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