iPhone - Stuck "Preparing to sync" when trying to sync with iTunes via USB cable
I've seen this be an issue for some for many versions of iPhones back (old threads), and from that I've been able to identify the culprit and a work-around to the problem (as Apple isn't fixing the underlying issue).
The problem is, when I plug in my iPhone (currently an 15 ) via USB cable to my computer running iTunes, iTunes sees the phone and starts with the "Preparing to sync..." message and then just sits there for a loooonngg time.
The issue appears to be the Apple program MDCrashReporter.exe which is found at the following location on an MS Windows PC (Windows 10 in my case):
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\MDCrashReportTool.exe
You can find it in the list of running processes when the sync is hanging.
You can unstick the sync by killing that process: Task Manager->Details->find it in the list->End Task
A more usefull solution is to disable it. What I did, that seems to work is:
Rename the executable: I renamed it to
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\MDCrashReportTool.exe-orig
So the extension now is .exe-orig (note: you must have admin rights to the machine to rename the file)
That keeps it from running and hanging up the sync process. Works great so far.
All I use iTunes for is to sync my work exchange calendar with my iPhone calendar - that's it. Now that I've disabled the ability for running MDCrashReporterTool, that sync takes a few seconds and done.
If Apple ever fixes its crash reporter tool then this won't be necessary. Or if Apple ever produces an application for managing and syncing the devices and ONLY that, maybe better still.
--
For completeness - the problem isn't the cable (its Apples own USB-C cable), its not the phone needing a reboot - it is bugs in iTunes and its support applications via-a-vis its drivers.
