Unknown Error 28

When restoring my iPhone, the message comes up that the iPhone could not be restored, unknown error (28).

What's the problem?

iPhone, iPhone OS 2.x

Posted on Jun 17, 2009 5:02 PM

Reply
68 replies

Jun 20, 2009 9:06 AM in response to edavis8

I had mega problems too. Try following the steps in my posting as below after creating a new user account on your computer with ADMIN priviledges also. See my posting on 20/06/2009 22:33 titled "Upgrade Error number 4 and Restore Error 1603 when going to OS 3.0 - Solved" And turn off any antivirus and firewall software too, before doing so. In ITunes, highlight your iphone icon and then click the Restore Button on the ITunes Summary tab which seems to force the iphone into an update. Dont try using the Check for update button. Good Luck...........
If i was doing my upgrade again i would first do a backup in ITunes, and then On the phone go to Setting > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. And then restore the backup after the OS 3.0 upgrade

Jun 18, 2009 8:01 AM in response to edavis8

This happened to me as well.

I updated my iPhone 3G to software 3.0 and later that evening it turned itself off and tried to restart. It kept freezing however at the apple sign. I tried everything i could think off! My last resort was to force it into recovery mode and try restoring it on iTunes (8.2). But after the software is extracted a message box appears saying "The iPhone "iPhone" could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (28)".

Any help or advice?!

Nik

Jun 25, 2009 12:47 AM in response to edavis8

I also have the same problem. I upgraded to OS 3.0. The other day my phone just froze up and now its stuck in recovery mode. I've tried pretty much everything i can. Set up a new user, uninstalled every apple application on my pc, re-installed itunes etc, still no joy. Whenever i go to restore i get the same message, "an unknown error occurred (28)", during the phase 'preparing iphone for restore'. I've tried the various other tricks like setting the phone into DFU and trying on a different computer but nothing seems to work. Has anyone had any joy in solving this problem? I'm booked in at the Genius Bar on Saturday so i'll post a solution if they fix it.

Jun 25, 2009 5:54 AM in response to Bradlaw

My iPhone 3G was wiped out during the upgrade to 3.0. Apple has three subdomains that should be allowed through the firewall but because I was impatient I just put my computer in a DMZ for a long enough to complete the update. A DMZ for those who don't know just puts your computer outside the router's firewall. Just make sure your bring it back behind the firewall when you're done if you go this route. My router is a 2Wire which I don't find very easy to manage the firewall in. Hope that helps someone.

[EDIT] I did make a backup before had, which I forgot to mention in the original post. When I had the phone in the DMZ it successfully updated to 3.0 and restored my previous data on top of that, so I did not lose any information. In case I set any hearts to worrying.

Message was edited by: michirojo

Jul 12, 2009 4:56 PM in response to birkof

Same problem over here... upgraded firmware 3.0... i was listening music and the ipod just forze... now it is in DFU mode... and Itunes wont restore it due to the error 28..

APPLE STAFF MAKE SOMETHING... this is not a HW problem... obviously this is a malfunction of the firmware... and why you put number to the errors.. if we all have error 28... then you must know what error 28 is...

Sorry about my english :S...

Jul 14, 2009 3:21 AM in response to edavis8

Hi
Me to i have a problem when upgrade my iphone. I have unknown error 14. Afther 3 days now , i realy unlock mine iphone. Erease all apple software and itunes off your computer even inthe registeredit file and erease all the keys of apple en itunes.Look to your file user (your name) and look inthe file music delite map itunes libberry . Reinstall a old itunes software 8.1.1.10.Before install close yhe anti-virus program .When its good installed, go in the menubar from itunes store and log off your account . In the menubar prefences sut off syncronising and restore your iphone. Good luck . Mine iphone works good now

Jul 17, 2009 10:10 PM in response to edavis8

Have a 3g with 3.0. Brand new phone - just replaced by Apple Genius on July 11, 2009. Have been in Boston this week and have been attempting to recover from the "black out" persistent "connect to iTunes" image as the only thing on my iPhone. Same attempt to restore and receiving the error 28 just like everyone else on this thread. I must say, I am horrified that Apple is hosting this discussion thread and has yet to respond to any of the many requests for help. I believe in Apple and their service, but how can we be sure they even look at this stuff?

From what I can tell, no one has come across an answer yet - not even Apple. Given that my 3GS is operating in stellar fashion, I would argue that 3.0 has overrun the 3G hardware, or that Apple has turned out an enormous batch of bad 3G phones that need replacing. I'll be going to the Apple store when I get home on Sunday, and get this 3G replaced. And I will find out why Apple is not responding to our pleas for help, and then post what I learn.

Steve

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Unknown Error 28

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