Level 1

0 points

iPhone not charging/syncing on Mac/PC - but charging/playing in iHome docks

I have a 1st-gen 16GB iPhone that has been working fine. I performed a complete restore and upgrade to the 2.0 software pack when it was released (this was performed on a Windows XP Home laptop) and had no problems for the first few days. However, after a few days, my iPhone quit being recognized by my Mac Mini (running 10.5.4) at home. Whenever I would plug in the iPhone to my Mac Mini (using a cable I got from my iPod touch -- my iPhone cable is in Parts Unknown) nothing would happen: No charging, no beeps, nothing in System Profiler.

I then tried my wife's iPod nano cable thinking the cable was bad. I couldn't get it working with that cable either. Wondering if the cables were bad, I tried syncing my iPod touch with both cables -- both cables worked. Fearing that my iPhone's connector had gone bad, I rebooted both the PC and my Mac, I restarted the iPhone itself numerous times. Nothing worked -- at no point could I get the iPhone or the PC/Mac to do anything when it was connected by either cable.

At this point, on a desperate whim, I connected the iPhone to our iHome IH36W iPod dock. Lo and behold -- the iPhone starts charging! (I also tried it in our iHome iH6 alarm clock) The weird part is (even though the iPhone says these are unsupported accessories) if I hit play on the dock, it starts playing music from the iPhone through the speakers!

Seeing that the iHome docks can charge and read music through the connector tells me the connector is working in the iPhone. I would take this to an Apple Store, but the nearest Apple Store is 3 hours away. I have tried resetting the iPhone numerous times (hold both buttons in until you see the Apple logo) but I cannot get a connection. I can't restore the iPhone since I can't get it to be recognized by a PC or Mac. Even if iTunes 7.7 was corrupted, the device should be showing up in System Profiler, right?

If anyone has any suggestions, I'm willing to try them. Any thoughts at all?

Thanks in advance,
Josh Hogan

1st-gen iPhone 2.0, 1.5 Core Solo Mac Mini, WinXP Home, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Jul 24, 2008 8:16 PM

44 replies

Jane Knox

Level 3

691 points

Jul 27, 2008 1:39 PM in response to odineye

in my experience an iPhone (and iPod Touch) will sync with older 30-Pin USB cables.

In my experience you can use duct tape to secure your feet in a pair of Birkenstocks. But the shoes no longer function the way they were designed to function; they will not be comfortable; and they will give you blisters.

The OP on this thread was having trouble getting his iPhone to work with non-iphone cables and said, "using a cable I got from my iPod touch -- my iPhone cable is in Parts Unknown". I suggested he obtain an Apple branded OEM cable approved to work with iPhone which is what Apple recommends. Several of the KB trouble shooting articles recommend using "the supplied USB cable".

For example see - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1665

So, I am going to drop out of this thread, now. I need to go clean the duct tape glue off my sandals and soak my blisters ....

Jul 29, 2008 6:44 AM in response to Joshua Hogan

my original iPhone (out of warranty) updated to 2.0 has same symptom - only charges from car charger and not from the wall or several different macs using original iPhone USB cable. i tried resetting the settings (but not full reset erasing data) with no effect. However, I left it plugged into the wall overnight (i figured there was nothing to lose). there was no icon indication that the battery was charging, but in the morning my phone was indeed charged! so at least i can use it, but i'm not able to sync to iTunes.

I'm optimistically hoping that software update will fix this?

Jul 29, 2008 8:44 AM in response to Joshua Hogan

i had the same problem. i re installed itunes and it worked fine again. hope it helps.

Jane Knox

Level 3

691 points

Jul 29, 2008 12:33 PM in response to SkeeterFalls

Remove and Reinstall iTunes. Download the latest version of iTunes before you do the reinstall.

(It is a good idea to update all the system software and check for any firmware updates for your MacBook Pro. You might need to check the Support site for any firmware updates; sometimes those do not all show up in Software Update.)

There is nothing wrong with your phone. If it is charging and connecting to other devices, the phone and the cable are probably ok. the problem is _most likely_ with the mobile device support module in iTunes.

Hope that works for you.

Jul 29, 2008 1:02 PM in response to Jane Knox

thanks for your thoughts. i am currently running 7.7 but will give it a try.

do i have to separately remove the mobile device support module manually in addition to trashing the iTunes app?

Jane Knox

Level 3

691 points

Jul 29, 2008 1:15 PM in response to SkeeterFalls

do i have to separately remove the mobile device support

I think (not sure) that reinstalling iTunes will also reinstall the Mobile Device Support.

You can move the file /system/Library/Extensions/AppleMobileDevice.kext to a safe place, then reinstall iTunes. Then check the /system/Library/Extensions/ folder to make sure that the iTunes installer has placed a new clean copy of the AppleMobileDevice.kext into the directory.

Did you find any firmware updates for your MacBook Pro? My MBP is a 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo and the firmware updates have solved some serious problems with various peripherals.

Good luck. (jk)

Jul 29, 2008 4:02 PM in response to Jane Knox

Again, thanks much for your thoughtful reply.

the firmware on my 2.4 GHz matches the table on Apple support ( http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1237)

i deleted iTunes and reinstalled without success. i then repeated the process and also deleted (moved) the AppleMobileDevice.kext file. when i then reinstalled, it took longer to run through the applemobiledevice script, which made me hopeful. However, that also did not solve the problem.

it would be interesting to know how iTunes detects the phone's presence - does the iphone notify iTunes when it detects being attached to the cable? the phone behaves as if it doesn't realize it is attached, even though it charges, on 3 different Macs (including my friends MBP on which his phone is recognized). However it readily recognizes and gives me the charging battery icon on the Belkin iPod car charger.

i'm afraid to do a total reset because i don't think it will be usable then since it may not be recognized by iTunes. i'm planning to upgrade to 3G when the lines here in NYC get less crazy, so i guess i am stuck living with this for now...

Soarion

Level 1

0 points

Jul 29, 2008 6:34 PM in response to SkeeterFalls

If the issue is exactly like mine nothing will resolve the issue. I've tried my phone on 4 different machines and NONE of them find the phone. My new phone I had to get works just fine on the exact same machines the older model isn't working on. In some cases it could be iTunes but for me, that isn't the case at all...

And also the tech at the Apple Store said it was dead so if he isn't right then there are serious issues 🙂

Like a few other people, I believe it is the 2.0 software and somehow it was working fine and then something broke along the way. Maybe more people will end up with this issue. I'm counting at least 5 people in two different discussions so far and that number seems to be growing...

Right now if it is the software, unless the tech at the store has a backdoor for installing software on the phone, all the phones would have to be sent back for the software repair.

If iTunes can't detect the phone, you can't install a software update...

Soarion

Level 1

0 points

Jul 29, 2008 6:39 PM in response to SkeeterFalls

The tech at the apple store thought it was a hardware issue. I don't believe that is the case either. I had absolutely no problems until the 2.0 software.

My phone had the exact same issues as yours. You can charge from the car and docks but once you plug it into the computer, the charging stops and you can't sync at all.

This isn't a bad cable or a back kernel extension like some keep saying - its the SOFTWARE...

Soarion

Level 1

0 points

Jul 29, 2008 6:44 PM in response to Jane Knox

The Apple stock in your IRA won't be going up if they have to do a recall on any older iPhones that have this issue. This stuff has happened before. Look at the Xbox 360 and PS3 issues for updating the software and then they have to fix the device....

Jane Knox

Level 3

691 points

Jul 30, 2008 8:18 AM in response to Soarion

Question (for everybody watching this thread):

I have an original iPhone running version 2.0 and I have no problems.

So, it appears to me that everyone having this problem "not recognized in iTunes" also is using third party accessories, iPod cables, Belkin docks, etc ....

Is it possible that the problem is only occurring with:
- Original iPhone, and
- Version 2.0 software, and
- Third party docks, accessories, or non-iPhone cables.

There are not hundreds of people having this problem, so I just wonder if the problem is something other than the version 2.0 software or if it created by version 2.0 and "something else".

(jk)

Jane Knox

Level 3

691 points

Jul 30, 2008 8:31 AM in response to SkeeterFalls

Gee, dang. I am sorry the iTunes reinstall did not work for you.

i'm planning to upgrade to 3G when the lines here in NYC get less crazy

Still long lines for the 3G iPhone? Wow...

Have you seen the comments about GPS "issues" in NYC? I lived on the Lower East Side about 40 years ago. My thought about GPS in NYC was "Tourists!" Any native already knows the streets and the subways better than any GPS system, "we don't need no stinkin' GPS!". (But I sure needed the GPS when we got lost on those weekend motorcycle rides to Connecticut ...)

Did you know you can avoid the lines? You can make an appointment on-line with a Genius at the store of your choice so you don't need to wait in line.

This link is for the store on West 14th -> http://concierge.apple.com/store/R250

or you can go here to find other stores in NYC and make an appointment -> http://www.apple.com/retail/

Sorry my suggestion was not helpful. Good luck with the next steps. (jk)

Jul 30, 2008 11:49 AM in response to Jane Knox

The common thread in this thread is third party, or non-standard cables, being used with, and causing problems with, iPhones.

What would possess anyone to plug an iPhone into a cable from another device. If one pin is misaligned, or serves a different function, you run the very real risk of frying the iPhone.

...and, no matter what the third party vendors try to tell you, there is no Apple endorsed, approved, or supported car charger for the iPhone. That single accessory is probably responsible for more cooked iPhones than any other.

Jane Knox

Level 3

691 points

Jul 30, 2008 1:21 PM in response to ITpro4Mac

The common thread in this thread is third party, or non-standard cables

... and I noticed some iPod docks for playing music at home.

I wanted to shine a spotlight on the "third party" equipment and on the non-iPhone cables as a potential culprit. What I am curious to know is if the problem is"

- Third party, non-standard equipment and cables AND Version 2.0
OR
- Third party, non-standard equipment alone ...

Just because I am curious. 😉

gmizzell

Level 1

22 points

Jul 30, 2008 11:24 PM in response to Joshua Hogan

I think something is definitely wrong as well. I do not have any 3rd party charging devices and I just "upgraded" over a week ago and just yesterday my iPhone stopped charging. I have not tried my car charger but it does not charge from either my macPro or macBook Pro(the macbook is what it syncs with). Usually I plug it into the cradle next to my bed which is the AC-USB convertor and is not plugged into a computer. I only sync every few days. It stopped charging on the AC adapter and will not charge on any means I have found so far. I am interested in the 3G but it will depend a lot on how Apple handles this problem. If they handle it with total disregard for their customers then the 3G is not for me. Our AT&T service is so bad that most of the iPhone features are not even usable most of the time.

Anyway - I thought I would add my details to the thread and see if anyone with more knowledge about the iPhone can put the pieces together and help all of us out.

Thanks

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iPhone not charging/syncing on Mac/PC - but charging/playing in iHome docks