"Error -50". Can't update iphone 4 to iOS 5.

Question

Level 1

1 points

"Error -50". Can't update iphone 4 to iOS 5.

I'm trying to update to iOS 5 on my Mac (10.6.8). My iTunes is the most recent version. After iOS 5 dowloaded, I got a message saying:

"An error occurred while backing up this iPhone (-50). Would you like to continue to update this iPhone?

Continuing will result in loss of all contents on this iPhone"

Heck no I don't want to lose all contents on the iPhone.

If anyone else is experiencing this and has a solution, I'd much appreciate it.

Cheers,

Travis

iPhone 4, iOS 4.2

Posted on Oct 12, 2011 11:17 AM

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Answer 1

tensider Author

Level 1

1 points

Oct 12, 2011 11:29 AM in response to tensider

If it helps the analysis, I'm getting the same error while trying to update my iPad 1 to the new OS. Sounds like iTunes is the culprit?

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Answer 2

zxfiles

Level 1

5 points

Oct 12, 2011 12:03 PM in response to tensider

Same problem here on my iPhone 4 running 4.3.5 on my MBP (10.7.2 & iTunes 10.5).

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Answer 3

Oct 12, 2011 6:47 PM in response to tensider

Same problem - iphone 4 with IOS 4.3.3 to IOS 5 won't work with the -50 error on sync AND iPad 1 with IOS 4.3.4 won't sync.

iTunes 10.5, Mac OS 10.6.8, all updates installed via SW Update

Can't get to the install of IOS 5 because the devices won't sync. I can download the IOS update but can't install it.

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Answer 4

chad515

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2011 6:47 PM in response to tensider

I've gotten the same error perhaps 10 times in a row. iPad 2 4.3.5, MBP 10.7.2. Looking at the logs on my machine shows nothing unusual (though there's so much noise I could be missing something), and the logs on the iPad actually say the backup completed if I'm reading them right. Interestingly, if I just sync it works fine. It's just trying to update that fails. If I can't get it to work pretty soon, I'll just click continue and then restore the backup after it installs.

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Answer 5

Oct 12, 2011 7:02 PM in response to tensider

I just Force Quit iTunes (DO NOT do a regular quit because it might save whatever setting is causing the problem) and immediately Hard Reset after (Held down the Power and Home buttons for 15 seconds and then let go when the Apple Logo came up). Hit "Update" and it started backing up my data successfully! Hope this helps at least someone!

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Answer 6

chad515

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2011 7:24 PM in response to Annoyance134

Sadly, this didn't work for me. Thanks for trying though.

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Answer 7

tensider Author

Level 1

1 points

Oct 12, 2011 7:32 PM in response to chad515

Some folks in other forums are saying it might be connected to the other errors that are plaguing people trying to upgrade, in that it has to do with communicating back to the (completely melted down) Apple servers.

I did find the explanation of the error -50 and it was a "timed out" error. The recommended solutions were not terribly helpful or effective. They referenced another error's fixes that started with "check your link cable" and ended with "reformat your device".

I think I'll let the problem go for tonight and try again in the morrow. Good luck, everyone!

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Answer 8

zxfiles

Level 1

5 points

Oct 12, 2011 9:25 PM in response to tensider

Figured it out for mine. Seems to be when the MobileSync folder is symlinked to another drive. I have an SSD+HDD in my MacBook Pro and kept my backup data on the HDD. After deleting the symlink and copying the MobileSync folder back to the SSD, it worked. I should have updated this earlier, but the Apple forums were extremely slow for me today.

Please see my thread at MacRumors if you want more detail:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=13569431

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Answer 9

tensider Author

Level 1

1 points

Oct 13, 2011 11:21 AM in response to tensider

I may have figured it out. The problem seemed to be connected to a lack of backup ability on the device (maybe a bad preference file?). I found this line that re-enables the functionality (first close itunes!):

defaults write com.apple.iTunes DeviceBackupsDisabled -bool false

Then re-open itunes and try the update. It hopefully then allows the backup, update, and restore. It was scary as heck during the delete, update, and restore. Everything seems to be here, though.

Good luck. Hope this helps some folks.

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