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

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Level 1

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

After upgrading to OS 3.0, I am now at the emergency call screen and when I sync my iPhone with iTunes 8.2 in Windows XP I get the following error:

"An iPhone has been detected, but it could not be identified properly. Please disconnect and reconnect the iPhone, then try again."

When I tried this on my older PowerBook G4 with iTunes 8.2, it gave me a different error message:

"iTunes could not connect to the iPhone, "Ken's iPhone", because it is locked with a passcode. You must enter your passcode on the iPhone before it can be used with iTunes."

I did have a passcode lock on the phone prior to upgrade, but I cannot enter it since I am only at the emergency call screen.

Any ideas?

iPhone & Dell (XP) & TiBook 1GHz, iPhone OS 3.0

Posted on Jun 18, 2009 5:35 AM

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Answer 1

Keri D

Level 1

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Jun 18, 2009 6:23 AM in response to kejaed

I am having the same problem!

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Answer 2

Jun 18, 2009 6:28 AM in response to kejaed

if you have a squared or another anti trojan program try shutting it down, re-conncet the iphone and see if it activates... seems the way the usb driver works in itunes 8.2 is different.

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Answer 3

Jun 18, 2009 5:58 PM in response to iphone3ger

I have had the same issue on XP. I de-installed itunes/quick time. I stopped my antivirus program and still no joy, other suggestions?

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Answer 4

ekobres

Level 1

5 points

Jun 18, 2009 8:00 PM in response to kejaed

I had the same issue and ran across the suggestion to disconnect the PC from the internet. I turned off the WiFi radio and unplugged my LAN cable. Lo and behold, iTunes 8.2 immediately recognized my iPhone. I then reconnected the LAN cable and was able to update as normal. This included upgrading to OS 3.0.

It's obviously a problem with iTunes 8.2 - but for me this workaround gets me over the hurdle, though it is a real pain.

Hopefully Apple will fix this quickly.

I have an Apple support ticket open for this and am supposed to get a call tomorrow.

Good luck - hopefully this will work for you as well.

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Answer 5

ojackiec

Level 1

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Jun 18, 2009 9:08 PM in response to kejaed

I really appreciate the info! I've been fighting this problem for awhile! All I had to do was shut down my wireless internet connection and voila! iTunes recognized my phone!

Thanks for the input! I hope it works for everyone else having the same problem.

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Answer 6

Jun 18, 2009 9:08 PM in response to ekobres

Can someone help me find out if there is anti-virus or anything so I can try that. And maybe walk me through the crap the last person did?

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Answer 7

thepeps

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Jun 18, 2009 9:27 PM in response to kejaed

Same problem. Can't get phone off emergency mode. Completely inoperable!

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Answer 8

Jun 18, 2009 9:28 PM in response to ojackiec

I'm not even using WiFi! :'(

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Answer 9

Jun 18, 2009 10:03 PM in response to shutter2think

Check it!
I gots the magic stuff make yo pain go 'way!
Now I gonna say this one mo' 'gain!
I gots the magic stuff make yo pain go 'way!
(Well, at least people with the same problem as me)

Hold down the sleep and home buttons at the same time until you see the iTunes icon with a USB cable while it is plugged up to iTunes. The iPhone will go into Recovery Mode and you can restore it 🙂

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Answer 10

Jun 19, 2009 2:34 AM in response to shutter2think

I have the same problem - your suggestion did not work.

I guess I need to call Apple today - what a mess!!!

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Answer 11

kejaed Author

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Jun 19, 2009 5:40 AM in response to kejaed

I finally got my iPhone 3G activated, here are the steps I followed:
- Get the iPhone to go into DFU mode, this forces iTunes to restore the phone when plugged in.
- iTunes on my XP machine detected the iPhone just fine when it was in DFU mode
- Restore the iPhone to OS 3.0 on my XP machine
- When the phone came back up and wanted to be activated, I plugged it into my old PowerBook and activated it there.
- This got me a working phone at least, but with none of my settings from before, which were back on the XP machine.
- I tried once more to sync with the XP machine, but I got the same "could not be identified properly" message again.
- The XP machine I'm using is a work laptop, and I was trying this at home. After I got into the office, I turned on the machine again, and the iPhone synced the first time.

Two of my coworkers (I really wish Apple had some sort of referral program) also had exactly the same issues with their iPhones. One fixed it by starting and stopping the "Apple Mobile Device" service in Windows, the other by just plugging and unplugging the phone from the computer many times until it worked.

Not a whole lot of helpful information I know, but this is all I've got.

Good luck.

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Answer 12

Jun 19, 2009 6:46 AM in response to ekobres

Thanks, you ROCK, it worked like a dream.

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Answer 13

kejaed Author

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Jun 19, 2009 7:52 AM in response to bill_the_cat

I'm glad turning off the internet connection worked for you (not that it was my suggestion) but it didn't work for me, iTunes complained about not being connected to the internet when I plugged in my phone when I did that.

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Answer 14

thepeps

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Jun 19, 2009 11:25 AM in response to thepeps

When I tried from home I got the same error as everyone else (phone has been detected...), but now when I try from work, where I am blocked from itunes on-line access, my phone shows up under devices. But, no info is associated with my device and I can't sync. My phone still shows the same USB/iTunes picture with emergency only access. I do get my calendar reminders though so it's still alive underneath!

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Answer 15

thepeps

Level 1

0 points

Jun 19, 2009 11:52 AM in response to kejaed

Just got off the phone with tech support. She said the first thing to try is disabling your VPN software. I am unable to do that so now I have to wait until I get home and can try on a computer without the VPN.

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