Q: Mysterious random total shut downs following 3.1 update

Thanks for the suggestions. Tonight I used a completely different computer to reboot the iphone and restore it back to factory settings. It was looking good until about 20 minutes ago. Back into a coma. So Apple cannot continue to blame it on me and make me feel so dumb. My problem is that I can't get it to do a hard reboot with holding down both keys for 20 seconds. That does NOTHING for me which is why this has become a safety issue since I travel so much. Thanks Apple for leaving me stranded. I have a 9am appt tomorrow and I'm hoping to walk away problem free. Doubt it...

I wonder how many of the folks who have had problems with 3.1.2 actually used DFU before doing a Restore. Or even whether they have done any kind of restore.

I've been having exactly the same freezes as everyone else. I first did a straight restore of 3.1.2; this seemed to work for about 30 minutes, then the troubles all started again.

I then put it into DFU mode, and did another Restore. Bingo. Although it's early days, it seems to have worked.

I liken it to the difference between using an Apple system updater from, say, 10.5.7 to 10.5.8, versus using the Apple combo updater which does a fresh install of everything from 10.5.0 to 10.5.8. In other words, it doesn't just leave existing, possible corrupt, files intact.

Could this be a solution?

JayMC; did you get the phone into DFU? The confirmation of DFU mode since to start with it looks the same as 'recovery' mode, is that once the restore begins the iPhone's screen will go dark and stay that way until the install image has been moved to the iPhone where it re-boots and starts to actually install (i may have the exact tech lingo wrong, it's a bit of a mystery exactly what goes on).

in any event, it's a good analogy above about an update (patch) vs a full-install even though that's not exactly what is going on.. clearly if the iPHone can display and image on the screen, some software is running on it and logically that sw can't be replaced.. if there is nothing running (as in DFU), all sw can be replaced and a boot-loader pointing to the installer package.

it is critical from my understanding to get the phone into DFU.., it sure won't work if you don't. also my understanding.. so...

If, while the firmware is sending to the phone the phone is lit-up with a graphic.. not gonna happen (cure the coma).. it needs to be dark from DFU.

Now.. normally, it would seem DFU is not required, but if your phone were 'normal' you wouldn't be reading this thread!

I created a follow-up thread for post-3.1.2 upgraders to share success/failures here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2193390 in case people would be interested in sharing their POST upgrade situations.

-awr

Big problem: Underwent the download and install process for the new 3.1 upgrade. After the software downloaded I got a message saying 'unknown error installing, restore phone settings'. This I did. Then I got a dialogue saying 'Unknown error restoring' and everything stopped! My phone is sitting here with the Apple logo displaying, an empty progress bar and no way of resetting: Even the sleep button does not work. I have tried re-starting the computer: No response. My iTunes is fully updated. Got any clues?

OK! Two hours later and nothing bad has happened yet. I pressed both buttons for a while and the phone came out of it's coma. Then I had to restore everything and dump all my back-up stuff onto the phone.
Three and a half hours of my life that Apple won't be paying me for but at least my phone is back online for the moment.
To be honest, with the exception of MIDI triggers I have had a lot of problems with all things that involve USB ports on my MacBook. However, I have a new MacBookPro 15" waiting in my cupboard and I imagine I will have less problems with that.
Peace to all.

LCG1 wrote:
OK! Two hours later and nothing bad has happened yet. I pressed both buttons for a while and the phone came out of it's coma. Then I had to restore everything and dump all my back-up stuff onto the phone.
Three and a half hours of my life that Apple won't be paying me for but at least my phone is back online for the moment.
To be honest, with the exception of MIDI triggers I have had a lot of problems with all things that involve USB ports on my MacBook. However, I have a new MacBookPro 15" waiting in my cupboard and I imagine I will have less problems with that.
Peace to all.

glad you figured it out; let us know about 'speediness' with that upgrade. When MY phone crashed just like you describe (only i knew it was borked and had to hard-reset after only 10 minutes), when i re-did the install with DFU, that was the best my phone ever ever performed. it still was 3.1 so had the coma bug, but that happend twice in 5 days.. i could live with that for the speed boost.

I am still having sluggish response to finger commands; (maybe i need to use a longer finger?), but not always and definitely NOT as bad as my video; youwch!

USB is total crap in my opinion; i think i may have actually preferred the old-school SCSI with the 'termination' and all; i had far fewer problems with that.

In addition; i do not know exactly why or how, but the iTunes install paradigm just bites; it's so unreliable it's stunning! out of maybe 30 or 40 firmware updates (and NOT including the 20 or so just with 3.1); i would say at LEAST half of those did NOT work the first try! batting .500 is GREAT in baseball but ***** in the 'installing your OS' world; imagine if you had to re-install Leopard twice and every 0.1 upgrade; if you had to install; reformat your drive and re-install and restore the HD from a backup; that's what we are doing with the iPhone all the time! it's amazing!

-awr

Not that I have anything to add to the conversation except to say I'm glad I'm not alone.
My Iphone 3GS crashes constantly since the last update. A few minutes ago just scrolling through my app screen after reseting the phone caused a hard crash. I've noticed after some crashes it takes a lot longer (lot lot longer) to come back to life.

One thing I've noticed is that after my phone goes on standby, I loose connectivity and have to reset before I can get email or use the net at all. I'm sure someone else has had this problem but I'm not thrilled by the idea of going back through a few million posts to find out.

I normally hate "me to" posts but I figure the more of us who make noise the more likely Apple will take notice and actually do something to fix this. The quality control on this is as bad as I've come to expect from Microsoft... and thats not saying much. Since I've lowered my expectations I might as well watch "Atomic Twister" on scifi...coff coff..sorry...syfy today. (why doesn't syfy just show my pretty pony cartoons and be done with it?)

all thats to say ... me too.

Alright. So I went into the store this morning and the guy who helped me replaced the hardware and updated the phone using the in-store network. So far so good. I'm just nervous to use my computers to load anything on it...

I asked him what I should do in case it happens again considering I can't drive 45+ minutes every time the phone crashes. I was told to call Apple support and let them know what's going on because it's indicative of the problems not being solved.

Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

Just wanted to add my experience....

I put my 3G in DFU mode before installing 3.1.2, and did not restore from backup. I have not had a coma since (been almost 48 hours). I'm not sure if it's in my head, but the phone also seems slightly more responsive.

If you're still having trouble, try using DFU mode, and set your phone up as a new phone rather than restoring from backup.

Good luck.

having the same issues as everyone else. trying a restore now. I don't have any faith that it's going to work though.

Same issues with what?

Have you upgraded to 3.1 and are expreiencing "Mysterious random total shut downs following 3.1 update"

Or, have you installed the 3.1.2 upgrade and are expreiencing the "same problems as everyone else", which remains to be seen?

My new 3GS V3.1 out of the box officially unlocked . and having the " Coma " every 15 minutes after going to sleep mode , can't get calls messages alarms , when i call my phone it rings in the other phone , but nothing on Iphone ! no ring , no received/missed call !

When i saw 3.1.2 and the description that it will fix it , i was so happy and did the update with clean restore .

Well , it did not help at all . phone still having the Coma ! googled the problem , did everything people suggested , nothing seems to fix it . Now am disabling the Auto lock all the time , that's the ONLY way i can rest assure that i get calls and messages .

Too bad having an expensive mobile phone with great touch screen and nice OS , but can't get calls and messages !

Q8tallica wrote:
My new 3GS V3.1 out of the box officially unlocked . and having the " Coma " every 15 minutes after going to sleep mode , can't get calls messages alarms , when i call my phone it rings in the other phone , but nothing on Iphone ! no ring , no received/missed call !

When i saw 3.1.2 and the description that it will fix it , i was so happy and did the update with clean restore .

Well , it did not help at all . phone still having the Coma ! googled the problem , did everything people suggested , nothing seems to fix it . Now am disabling the Auto lock all the time , that's the ONLY way i can rest assure that i get calls and messages .

I had a similar issue. Did you try a clean install using 3.1.2? Make sure you setup the phone as a new device than sync you apps, music, and contacts. Make sure you don't restore from backup because you might have a corrupt file in the backup like I did.

Too bad having an expensive mobile phone with great touch screen and nice OS , but can't get calls and messages !

how can u restore it? mine has been doing this and the screen absolutely wont respond and it wont show up in itunes?????

I would suggest you bring the phone into Apple, have them replace the hardware and update it using their system. I did that yesterday after 2+ weeks of frustration and it's been working fine. I'm just nervous to load anything on it from my computer. I don't want a repeat of this disaster...