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Level 1

5 points

Potential solution to iPhones bricked following 4.0.1 update

At this point, this solution has only been tested on a Mac. It doesn't appear to be working for everyone, but it's worth a shot. If you can get it working on a Windows machine please post a reply.

Here's the method:

Download RecBoot 1.0.2
I found it here: http://www.sebby.net/659-released-recboot-1-0-2/
Plug in your iPhone.
Close iTunes.
Run "RecBoot Exit Only"
Click the "Exit Recovery Mode" button.
The screen on the iPhone will go black. At this point, UNPLUG the iPhone (before it starts back up)
It will boot up correctly after finishing the firmware install.
Now plug your iPhone back in and complete a normal restore.

That's it. I spent over 4 hours trying to fix my phone before someone else came up with this solution. Prior to trying this I tried restoring about 20 times. I attempted on both OS X and Windows 7, different USB cables, reinstalled iTunes, and various other solutions people have been suggesting. This one works. Right now my phone's just finishing syncing my music and apps. Good luck!

Posted on Jul 15, 2010 9:15 PM

64 replies

Jul 16, 2010 4:21 AM in response to akabenlee

I tried something else that also worked for me. I just plugged it into a windows machine and that got me out of dfu mode and completed the upgrade within iTunes on that machine. Then I plugged it back into my mac and restored and re-synced and all was well.

Jul 16, 2010 9:31 AM in response to ChowderCrab

Just did 4.0.1 update on macbook pro to iphone 4 and it worked perfect.
with other updates on my 3g i have lost emails,favorites in phone....ringtones..
you name it over and over this for me was the quickest and seamless one yet..
I wish everyone to have the same luck as i did..

Jul 16, 2010 11:36 AM in response to ChowderCrab

Thank you so much for posting this! Totally worked! I was this close to heading down to the Apple store for a new phone.

Jul 16, 2010 12:11 PM in response to ChowderCrab

Used TinyUmbrella to *kick device out of recovery* and it rebooted with 4.0.1 on it. Restored from last night's backup. Only issue: folders were gone and had to be recreated.

Jul 16, 2010 5:04 PM in response to ireadcomics

It's not the servers. I had the same problem when I restored my phone BEFORE they released the update. Apple has a serious problem.

Users should not be getting a USB error with a BRAND NEW 30 pin adapter on a mac that is less than 1 year old with a phone that was bought less than 30 days ago.

Recboot worked. iTunes doesn't.

Jul 16, 2010 5:33 PM in response to ChowderCrab

I must say that this solution worked for me too, I just completed my restore and I'm back up and running on the 4.0.1 version. One thing I did find is that all my apps didn't show back up frm the restore but I'm sync'ing it now and everything is loading.

I tried to perform the update 7 different times following all the different potential solutions that Apple recommends. This reboot kicked me right out of the endless loop and got the restore going. Looks like this is the magic bullet so if you are having this dreaded error 9 message over and over try this and I think you will find your self in a much better place.

pryoung

Level 1

14 points

Jul 16, 2010 7:41 PM in response to ChowderCrab

Add me to the list of those who found success with this method. Thanks for posting it.

Jul 16, 2010 7:46 PM in response to pryoung

It took awhile but it worked fine for me with an old windows xp pc. Only issue for me is what did the patch actually do? Nothing has changed for me other than it say OS 4.0.1 on iTunes.

Jul 16, 2010 9:22 PM in response to ChowderCrab

Worked for me!! 🙂

Jul 16, 2010 10:22 PM in response to ChowderCrab

Never posted a message before.
I wanted to add another confirmation RecBoot 1.0.2 exit only mode was successful in restoring my Phone 4 from error-9

Thank you for the help.

Jul 16, 2010 10:33 PM in response to ChowderCrab

It's 10:30pm PST and it just worked for me. Checked under settings in my iPhone 4 settings to double check the software version and it's 4.0.1. This was my fifth try after four failed attempts with error 9

rdavis24

Level 1

19 points

Jul 16, 2010 11:27 PM in response to ChowderCrab

THANKS! I tried to update to 4.0.1 tonight and got stuck in recovery mode due to error 9. After hours of frustration, I tried RecBoot and it worked!

ldwd0013

Level 1

0 points

Jul 17, 2010 9:15 AM in response to ChowderCrab

Can somebody help me on how to use this RecBoot program? For some reason I seem to be stupid and not know how to use this program yet I would like to unbrick my poor iPhone 4. So any help would be amazing and greatly appreciated!

Jul 17, 2010 10:57 AM in response to ChowderCrab

This works. Thanks for the tip!

Jul 17, 2010 11:44 AM in response to stevelatham

Recboot worked for me too, much appreciated as I was getting very frustrated. I had the unknown error 9 and was updating on a macbook pro, although I had tried on another laptop.

Thanks again

Potential solution to iPhones bricked following 4.0.1 update