An iPhone has been detected, but it could not be identified properly

I'm struggling with the same problem. In addition, iTunes is slow to the point of cataclysmic and it's dragging my entire PC down to it's doggy level. I'm not impressed. C'mon Apple- where's the fix? This is getting ridiculous!

I was wrong as once again iTunes 8.2 is back with error. Iphone detected but cannot be identified. I tried multiple shutdown and start up combinations between PC, iTunes and iPhone all to no avail. There has got to be some conflict here and it seems to be Apple software with the issue not my iPhone or my PC. They can and did work once since the upgrade nothing changed to fix it Saturday and again nothing done that should cause it to fail Sunday and Monday.

I have been dealing with the same issue for the past week. I was on OS 2.2.1 when I upgraded to iTunes 8.2. I immediately saw this error message. Then I tried all of the following:

- downgraded iTunes
- reset iphone without connecting to iTunes
- restore by connecting to iTunes
- went to genius bar and had them bring my phone to factory default and OS 3.0 ... the error comes up as soon as I plug it back to iTunes 8.2 back home
- disabled wifi on the PC
- unplugged all other USB devices

I have yet to see Apple achknowledge this issue. Anyone saw any offical work from Apple about this error?

I had this problem previously with iPhone 2.2.1. Thought the upgrade to 3.0 would fix, but it didn't. I sync with Outlook on an Exchange server and iTunes. Have uninstalled and clean re-installed all iTunes, Apple software, Quicktime, etc. to no avail.
Here's a work-around that works for me - most of the time.
1. Plug in iPhone, get the "iPhone detected..." error message.
2. Open the Device Manager and uninstall Apple Mobile device USB Driver.
3. Unplug the iPhone, then re-plug it in. Windows will go through its "found new hardware" routine. After this, iTunes usually recognizes the iPhone. (about 90% of the time)
I'd like a more elegant solution, though.
Hope this helps.

I had the same problem and finally solved it. I have a Dell running Windows XP and I would only get the error message on my Dell and not on my Macbook so I knew it was related to the PC. I removed my Logitech USB mouse and switched to the rear USB port and the problem cleared. I had the same issue a month later and did the same trick but in reverse. So I am not sure if it is the other USB devices that interfered with the connection or the changing or the ports from the side ports to the rear ports but for sure doing both (removing the mouse USB receiver and moving to the rear USB port) worked.

Good point. I was fine with iTunes 8.1.1 everything worked. My only change, by error, was updating to 8.2. In 5 days I had iTunes identify iPhone twice. It has failed to do so dozens of times. Apple has not been much help, I reported problem and spent hours on phone to no avail. They get back to me 5 days later and 3rd level engineer wants repeat of log already provided days ago. I tried to roll back to 8.1.1 and it failed, a Vista restore point was successful in windows but iTunes still failed to identify iPhone. The Phone failed once just over a month ago and replaced. iTunes fails and no one seems to know why or acknowledge the problem. Anyone in the market for an iPhone? Problems seem to match number of months owned, I replaced defective USB cable too. Nothing cracked or hijacked, only loaded 6 apps from iTunes all free and small. Great when it works, why do some seem to find so little of that time? I have recent backup and 3.0 upgrade now on iTunes but, iTunes cannot identify my iPhone. By the way 3.0 upgrade does NOT resolve this problem nor will New 3G S both suggested by Apple.

i've also got the same problem with my iTouch...have been searching this forum for weeks to try and find a solution....the problem is clearly the software as that's the only consistent change in all of this...an upgrade to iTunes 8.2.

I'm very disappointed......

amazing...i tried the disconnect from the internet suggestion and it works! my iTouch has been recognized and everything seems fine. Not sure if i'll have to do this each and every time i want to connect the iTouch but it's a good enough work around for now.

rgds
will

I went ahead and installed Vista SP2 tonight figured nothing to lose. I also moved USB cable to rear panel unplugging a USB Mouse cable. Vista installed new driver and recognizes iPhone. Vista sees it clearly to include Serial # & Firmware Version.
iTunes came up with same error detected but, could not be identified. I used Device Manager as noted disabling Apple Mobile Device Driver which was under Portable Devices. Vista reinstalled it and Apple iPhone and again correctly identifies iPhone. I do see that Apple Mobile Device USB Driver (AMDD) is now under USB controllers instead of Portable Devices. So, your solution did not work for me nor did moving cable to a back panel connection. Here is error from DebugView:

[5460] MobileDevice: receivemessage: Could not securely receive message size: SSL ERROR_ZERORETURN
[5460] MobileDevice: AMDeviceCopyValue: There was an error getting the value for []:[DeviceClass] from lockdown: InvalidResponse
[5460] MobileDevice: sendmessage: Could not securely send message size 372: SSL ERRORSYSCALL errno (No error)
[5460]
[5460] MobileDevice: AMDeviceStopSession: Could not stop session with device: kAMDUndefinedError
[5460] MobileDevice: MobileDeviceConnectlocked: Connection 083D8168 already exists and is still valid.
[5460] MobileDevice: sendmessage: Could not securely send message size 4503: SSL ERRORSSL (error:1409F07F:SSL routines:SSL3 WRITEPENDING:bad write retry)
[5460]
[5460] MobileDevice: AMDeviceValidatePairing: Could not validate pairing with device: kAMDUndefinedError
[5460] MobileDevice: sendmessage: Could not securely send message size 342: SSL ERRORSSL (error:1409F07F:SSL routines:SSL3 WRITEPENDING:bad write retry)
[5460]
[5460] MobileDevice: MobileDevicePairlocked: Could not get public key from device: kAMDUndefinedError
[5460] MobileDevice: sendmessage: Could not securely send message size 291: SSL ERRORSSL (error:1409F07F:SSL routines:SSL3 WRITEPENDING:bad write retry)
[5460]
I have sent this to Apple and this is same as what we saw 5 days ago. I was fine with iTunes Version 8.1.1. iTunes 8.2.023 did identify it twice in last 5 days. I did a backup the first time 4 days ago and yesterday downloaded 3.0 Firmware but, have not been able to reconnect. The phone works fine but its scary as I have already replaced one iPhone that failed within 90 days of purchase and that was only a couple months ago.

Hi peeps, am a noob so please layman terms.

I’m one seriously peed off person, I went to update to 8.2 last week to update my iphone, done the normal software update – downloaded and installed.
Plugged my iphone is and got a error mobile device support needs updating please reinstall.
So I did this again and then again and then again, you get the message.
I have read through lots of forums and can’t make sense of it.
Reading through this one I have tried to uninstall it then delete the file from the common file in my c drive, rename etc etc

I have also tried to reinstall 8.1 but that now says this was created by a newer version please install.
Also I have extracted the files from the installer and manually installed them.
They all install fine apart from the AMDS, this rolls back every time.
I uninstalled the all and restarted my laptop then tried to uninstall the AMDS, this rolls back and does not allow me to uninstall, so I used smarty uninstaller and that does not work either!

I then used windows installer program to delete the AMDS and tried to reinstall.
Now am getting can not recognise iphone please uninstall and reinstall

I have been doing this for a week now and am about to go crazy, so any help would be so much appreciated.
Am running on window vista premium 32 bit (me thinks )

I had the same problem. It wouldn't recognize the iPhone. It is now fixed.

I kept reading the posts here and the solutions were all over the place. I figured it has to do with the phone itself.

All I did was a hard reboot on my iPhone, plugged it in and it worked. To do this, hold down the Power button on top and at the same time the main function button, keep holding even when it says "slide to power down" and you see the apple icon. Wait for it to reboot and plug it back in.

Hope that helps someone here.

My hopes were high. I tried it twice and iTunes still fails to identify iPhone. Apple wants me to find another computer with iTunes to see if it is the phone. I repeated to tech at Apple it did work fine 2 days ago once and last Saturday 5 days ago once. I have not been able to find another computer to use, I may stop at an AT&T store to see if they have one. I need it to work on my computer not somewhere else.

I had this same problem on a older version of iTunes. But, after a few upgrades in iTunes, the problem eventually went away and I was able to stop having to disconnect my wireless every time I plugged in my iPod.

It's unbelievable that upgrading to the newest version of iTunes would recreate a terrible bug that seemed to be fixed in previous versions.

Now, I'm forced to turn off wireless AND I get the Apple camera dialog every time I need to sync. So annoying.

How can Apple and their users continually bad mouth Microsoft? It seems this problem has been around since the iPhone was introduced. iTunes upgrades caused problems with iPod users years ago. Solutions are all over the place; drivers, network connection, USB ports or devices, reset or reboot PC/iTunes/iPhone, Unplug PC, Turn Off Wi-Fi, disable Skype, etc. etc. They are tried and some found they worked and for others they all failed. I have spents days now looking at and trying most, all have failed yet for unknown reson the iPhone was identified 2 times in 5 days. Apple support admits a lot of people are having problems but they have no answers. The latest from Apple to me was go find another Computer with iTunes and see if your iPhone will conncet. If it does then what? Even the Apple Tech I am working with questions this demand by an engineer. My phone needs to be identified by iTunes 8.2.023 on my computer. I cannot restore phone if it is not seen by iTunes. iTunes and its entire collection exists only for my iPhone! There are way to many variables here and no reliable solution. Apple wrote 8.1.1 and it worked for most of us on this forum who find that 8.2.023 does not work. Why can't Apple not find out or tell us why? It goes back to Version 7.#.# people were having problems then too. Will Version 8.3.# be introduced and fix these problems. Why should I be expected to try dozens of different solutions or buy new Hardware just to get iTunes to work with a 6 month old iPhone 3G? Tonight I will go home and play around with drivers & USB Devices to see if that is why 8.2.023 fails to work for me. Keep suggesting though as I would like to find out which way the wind has to blow for me to get this all to work as it did once not too long ago.

I feel that apple will do anything to sell you one of thier products but not so keen in fixing any issues that arise. Come on apple , admit there's an issue and release a fix. I'm currently seriously thinking about getting a zune and a seperate phone just to make this issue go away. Get a grip apple. Your frustrating alot of customers.