iPhone 3GS refuses to sync

I too am having so much trouble syncing both my 3GS and 3G iPhones. I have tried everything suggested in this thread with no luck. all problems started after updating to 4.0.1. Though the phones worked great on 4.0.1 until trying to backup and sync for the first time after using them on 4.0.1 for about a week. all kinds of crashing errors and can't read from the device, etc... some errors saying my music files or video are corrupt and can't be read, others say the apps are not signed and cant be synced even though I am logged into my itunes account on an authorized computer at that very moment, other times itunes just crashes and my laptop completely turns off with no error or bluescreening at all.

After a lengthy but useless trip the genius, where I asked them to look at the multiple error logs from itunes and was told only an engineer could read them, not apple store, their advice was to restore the phones as new and not using a backup! so i did that today, two brand new restored phones as new. just tried to sync with my music library and guess what - the same f**king crashing error can not read the device (the first time) and the laptop going berzerk and shutting off cold with no error screen. I THEN tried everything again on a clean install of Win7 and I just had the same error reading device and can not sync.

Please help Apple fans. I am going to search for alternatives to iTunes that can allow to sync music apps and photos. There must be something. I am so frustrated now.

Just adding one more voice -- exact same thing happening here. Did the "restart" fix, and the error messages and weird window are gone but it's just not syncing now, even though it says it has.

I too have been dealing with this synching issue for months now. Both with an iPhone 3G and now an iPhone 4. None of the recommended solutions on the web work. Just getting iTunes to recognize the phone is pure chance. I did get some useful information by running diagnostics in iTunes. "Help" > "Run Diagnostics". I read a while back that the processor in my laptop was an issue. I wouldn't know where to start to research that. Apple needs to step up to the plate on this one. We need some solid answers!

So I had tried absolutely everything. I had all the above problems combined and i was litterally losing my mind cause NOTHING worked. (Iphone 3Gs, with IOS4 installed, latest itunes, Windows 7, Dell, problems started when upgrading to IOS4 and Itunes 9.0.1.) And I swear I tried everything everyone recommended in this (and many other) forums. Then I found this link: http://chimac.net/2010/06/20/itunes-9-2-%E2%80%9Cthe-iphone-cannot-be-synced-a-d uplicate-file-name-was-specified-%E2%80%9D-appletoolbox-tools-and-fixes-for-mac- os-x-ipad-iphone-and-ipad/ and this is the only thing that has worked for me:
“Uninstalling all the components:

■Apple Application Support
■Apple Mobile Device Support
■Apple Software Update
■Bonjour
■iTunes
■Quicktime
and re-installing iTunes x64 did the trick. It´s working now!”

However, to clarify, before uninstalling the above programmes I deleted all Apps from itunes and my iphone (the apps tend to be the problem) and after uninstalling the above programmes I also deleted ALL apple files on my computer. Also hidden files such as C:/ -> Programdata -> Apple/apple computer etc. Litterally made sure I didn’t have any apple files whatsoever on the computer. Then I re-installed itunes, plugged my iphone (no backup, created new and unticked syncing). Then it started sync normally. I made sure I didn’t touch anything but let it do it’s job. Afterwards I started syncing music. That worked. So I started downloading apps again. Made sure not to download any dodgy. And now it works like charm. Few weeks later I downloaded some stupid ringtone app and same **** happened. I did the very same with my computer and it started working again. Pain in the *** cause you have to redownload everything, so just make sure you’ve backed up your contacts etc..

I’ve spent months trying to fix this miserable problem with getting my iPhone 3gs to sync with my new Gateway NV79. Gateway will not help. Their technical support is genuinely worthless. Microsoft blames Apple and Apple blames Gateway.
My old iPod Nano syncs to my Gateway NV79 without a problem. I’ve tried all of the proposed fixes but other posters with no success.
But I do believe I’ve discovered a real fix (for me at least). Here’s my setup:
• Gateway NV79 running Windows 7 64 bit edition
• iTunes 10
• iPhone 3gs running OS 4.02

The USB ports needs tweaking to get the iPhone 3gs to sync to the Gateway NV79. Follow these steps without your iPhone 3gs connected to the Gateway NV79:
1. Open Control Panel
2. Click Hardware & Sound
3. Click Power Options
4. Make sure Balanced is selected and click Change Plan Settings
5. Click Change advanced power settings
6. Expand USB Settings
7. Expand USB selective suspend setting
8. Change On Battery setting to Disabled.
9. Change Plugged in setting to Disabled
10. Click OK
11. Open Windows Explorer
12. Right-Click Computer (not your computer name)
13. Click Properties
14. Click Device Manager
15. Expand Universal Serial Bus Controllers
16. Right-click first Generic USB Hub
17. Click Properties
18. Click Power Management
19. Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power
20. Click OK
21. Right-click second Generic USB Hub
22. Click Properties
23. Click Power Management
24. Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power
25. Click OK
26. Restart your computer
After your computer restarts, login and connect your iPhone.

There are a few things that may happen. iTunes may start syncing immediately and fail with an error. Don’t worry. If the sync fails the first time, restart the computer with the iPhone still connected. Now, iTunes will either take you to setup screen to connect your iPhone or the sync may restart. In my case, the setup screen came up and I DID NOT CHOOSE TO RESTORE. Pick the first option to add your iPhone. The sync will restart and may or may not finish. Don’t worry, if the sync fails, restart your computer again with the iPhone still connected and this time the sync will work.

Here’s the problem: the iPhone 3gs will not sync with the power management enabled for the USB ports on the Gateway NV79.
Good luck.

Message was edited by: blive

Fix works with OS 4.1 too.

I'm having the same problem with the latest build of iTunes/iPhone software. Not syncing again. Last time it seemed to fix itself on it's own within a week or so. I'll be waiting again I guess.

Disabling power management on the USB ports on Windows 7 fixes the sync problem. Perhaps a similar work around exists on your Mac. Good luck.

This one worked for me,,,the solution where you restart the ipod and Apple functions through the computer control

OK so just like everyone here i have the same problem, i have restore my phone 4 times and it just wont sync,, the % number for the battery is not working and yeah its on, the phone is slower than ever and its a 3GS as soon i updated to 4.2.1 safari didn't want to open. Apple is there a way i can go back to 4.1 because i hate 4.2.1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! argggggghhhH

I just got a new laptop. I am having all these exact same issues with all the errors and sync problems. I have tried all the tips here on the forum and none of them have worked. It still doesn't sync correctly. I don't know what else to do. Hope that the next version of iTunes fixes these issues?
Let's hope so,
For now I have an iPhone that cannot be updated with new music or anything. Great...

Having the exact same problems. Every time I connect my iPhone 3gs it either asks me to backup or restore. Backup always fails miserably, and both options force me to reset my settings,music and apps over and over every time. I lost count on how many times I had to start copying stuff from scratch. Tried restoring to factory settings, that didnt seem to help much. Oh and iTunes also likes to duplicate my contacts for some reason.

Assistance would be much appreciated

Some other things I forgot to mention, frequent freezing and lots of error while syncing music. Its either an "internal device error has occurred" or "cannot find the file"

Just a quick question. I was having these issues and I noticed that every time my phone tried to sync with my photo library on my computer it would start giving me errors. Once I set up as new again after at least 4 times, of restoring and completely erasing everything, I decided not to sync any pictures. Since I did this it has been syncing fine and I have not been experiencing any errors as of yet *knock on wood*. This seems to have fixed the issues for me.

Do you happen to be trying to sync pictures?

Just thought I would say that the problem has just started happening again. It is very frustrating and I hope Apple fixes this!