Sync fails / time out

Question

Sync fails / time out

I've seen various posts about this on various sites, but no solutions =(

Whenever I try to sync content TO my iPhone, it will do a little, then the iPhone will lose the 'sync in progress' and go back to the normal screen and after a while iTunes will pop up with two messages,
'iTunes could not sync to 'iPhone's name'. The device timed out.'
'iTunes could not find the correct hard drive.'
Or along similar lines.

I've messed about with various solutions, such as uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes, restoring my phone, using a powered USB hub, etc, pretty much everything any of thread suggests. I was hoping that someone has encountered and then tackled this problem.

Thank you in advance, Phil

Iphone 3G, iPhone OS 3.1.2

Posted on Jan 21, 2010 4:20 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jan 21, 2010 5:54 PM in response to philipjamesbowen

Apple recommends connecting the iPhone direct to a USB 2.0 port on your computer - not connected to a USB hub that is powered or especially otherwise.

This link may be helpful.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1207

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Answer 2

Jan 21, 2010 6:15 PM in response to philipjamesbowen

Thanks for the reply, I've read that article already and other than reformatting my computer I've done everything! As for the USB suggestion, I have tried in every USB and then it was suggested that it was a power issue so I tried a powered USB hub, to no avail! I've spent weeks trying to solve this and just spent the last four hours on the Internet trying many 'solutions' yet nothing seems
to work!

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Answer 3

Jan 21, 2010 6:38 PM in response to philipjamesbowen

Which operating system are you running on your computer?

How long have you had your iPhone?

Has this always been a problem since day one - your iPhone has never been synced with iTunes on your computer, or was this working previously and this is a recent development?

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Answer 4

Jan 22, 2010 2:18 AM in response to philipjamesbowen

I'm on a dell laptop with vista.
Well, I had a 2G iPhone and I did the same thing with that, and I just assumed it was the iPhone as it was
one a friend gave me and had seen better days.
Now I'm using
a 3G that I bought three days ago. It seemed to be syncing fine for the day or so, thenwhen I tried to put some
more music on I started getting the problems and now I can barely get one song on it.....

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Answer 5

b noir

Level 9

72,324 points

Jan 25, 2010 1:21 PM in response to philipjamesbowen

'iTunes could not sync to 'iPhone's name'. The device timed out.'
'iTunes could not find the correct hard drive.'

By any chance, do you have a PC with an nVidia chipset? If so, are you running Windows 7?

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Answer 6

Jan 25, 2010 1:33 PM in response to philipjamesbowen

It's an Intel chipset and I'm on Vista.

I have however managed to fix this issue.

I restored my computer to factory settings and it now syncs fine.

Don't know whether it was a driver problem that is now fixed or an iTunes library problem. Either way, I can now happily sync as much content to my iPhone as I want.

Just need to hope it stays that way!

Thanks for all the help!

Phil

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Answer 7

Apr 24, 2010 2:27 AM in response to philipjamesbowen

I have exactly the same problem. After reading this topic i think I know what causes the time out error. I have two PCs, an laptop and a PC. Both with updated Windows 7. In my opinion the latest update for Win 7 causes the problem. Ive never had any problems with syncing, but since ive updated both computders it doesnt work. I`m going to restore my laptop win 7 to a point before updating. Gonna post it here if it worked. Maybe someone else had realised what the problem is and could post what update exactly is the bad one. I think it would be helpful for others.

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Answer 8

May 6, 2010 9:07 AM in response to nikischlicki

I have Vista and a 1st gen iPod Touch. Everything was fine until the new version of iTunes and now if I plug it in it needs to be restored and as it nears the end says 'device timed out'. I have no music on it, the apps are on it but don't work (they open and then shut down again instantly), and Im sick to death of Apple. I was due to upgrade my phone to an iPhone in July and instead will choose htc.

It seems that every time a new version of iTunes is released its bugged to f*ck and there is no technical support to speak of (unless its less than a year old).

Can anyone help with this?

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