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User profile for user: ChowderCrab
ChowderCrab Author
User level: 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

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64 replies
User profile for user: w7ox
w7ox
User level: Level 4
2,407 points

Jul 15, 2010 9:34 PM in response to ireadcomics

ireadcomics wrote:
The solution is to keep trying. The servers are busy and won't allow for the whole process to happen. Don't reinstall anything and don't download anything 3rd party. Just keep trying and it will work.


Exactly. Servers are very busy whenever there is an update. It took me several tries and I had to Restore the phone twice due to loss of server connection. But eventually I got it unbricked!

Phil
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User profile for user: ChowderCrab
ChowderCrab Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Jul 15, 2010 9:41 PM in response to ireadcomics

That's not exactly true. The problem is that the phone is getting stuck in a "restore" loop and can't get out. Like I said, I tried for over 4 hours with no luck. RecBoot forces the phone out of restore mode, and it is then able to complete the refresh of the firmware. Specifically, if it was a server issue like you said, then why did it work with RecBoot after I UNPLUGGED the phone from the computer? The phone reboots and the progress bar for firmware installation completes without being connected via USB. It's because the firmware was already fully installed on the phone. It came back up and logged onto the AT&T network prior to me plugging it back into the computer for the restore.

I don't usually like downloading third party software either, but in this case it ended several hours of pain, and I'm hoping it can help some others too.

Message was edited by: ChowderCrab
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User profile for user: chairmanmeow
chairmanmeow
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jul 15, 2010 10:20 PM in response to ChowderCrab

This worked for me as well. Method was a little bit different. For me it went:
- Try to do restore and update as normal.
- Phone hangs while progress bar is at about 2/3 and iTunes says "Verifying Firmware".
- Crash with Error 9.
- Run RecBoot Exit Only and use it to exit recovery mode (I was able to do this without unplugging my phone or closing iTunes)
- Phone reboots, progress bar comes up and goes all the way to the end. Reveal that the firmware update did in fact install, and phone is now up and running 4.0.1
- Restore from backup!
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User profile for user: stteve
stteve
User level: Level 1
19 points

Jul 16, 2010 1:56 AM in response to ChowderCrab

After spending hours trying to recover my phone - I was getting the error 9 - I tried this RecBoot solution. I generally don't like third party solutions especially with the iPhone; however, this worked! Follow the instructions and you should be able to recover your phone!

I'm beginning to loose trust in Apple. The one reason I liked iOS over Android was that it just worked. That I didn't have to think about things, or which version I had and download, installing and chasing after the software. I simply don't have time. For this reason, I picked iOS because - in the past - it just worked. I could trust Apple to release software updates that work. This has been a complete mess and waste of my time.
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User profile for user: n13ldo
n13ldo
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jul 16, 2010 3:56 AM in response to stteve

I'm a UK user, who attempted the 4.0.1 (iPhone 4) last night and gave up after about 15 attempts on a combination of Windows 7 PC, Windows Server 2008 PC and a Macbook running Leopard. Also used a variety of usb leads with no success.

My iPhone suffered this constant restore error 9 situation.

I resolved on a Windows XP 32bit pc (iTunes 9.2 present) using the RecBoot windows version by running the RecBoot tool exit restore button. Google for RecBoot Windows and you'll find its homepage. Unzip, install the Lib USB driver package and run the recboot exe. Phone came back to life almost immediately.

Well done Apple, grrr.
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Potential solution to iPhones bricked following 4.0.1 update

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