iPhone 3Gs iOS 5 update Error (-1)

This error code is always security software.

There is something blocking the connection between the computer and the servers that it is trying to connect to.

If you have a solid internet connection and can browse to websites fine it's either an anti-virus program or a firewall on the computer OR a firewall in the router's settings that you use to connect to the internet.

Reconfigure any security software to allow Apple's servers to pass.

Useful information for configuring your security software:

IMPORTANT: iTunes must be allowed to contact Apple using the following ports and servers:

▪ port 80

▪ port 443

▪ phobos.apple.com, deimos3.apple.com, albert.apple.com, gs.apple.com, itunes.apple.com, ax.itunes.apple.com, ax.init.itunes.apple.com, ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net

iTunes uses well known ports and these ports may need to be opened for iTunes: 80, 443, 3689, 5297, 5298, 5353, 8000-8999, and 42000-42999.

iTunes also contacts VeriSign servers during an iPhone restore and activation:

▪ evintl-ocsp.verisign.com

▪ evsecure-ocsp.verisign.com

For more information see Update and restore alert messages on iPhone and iPod touch

Temporarily disable or uninstall your security software

If the current available version of your security software is incompatible with iTunes, you can disable the security software and test if it is the source of the issue. It might also be necessary to temporarily uninstall security software after making sure you can reinstall it and note any required licenses. A temporary deinstallation might be required because parts of some security software remain active in the background though they appear to be deactivated.

To reduce any security risks that security software is designed to prevent, consider making sure all files needed to reinstall it are available and disconnect network connections before uninstalling security software. Should this not be possible, such as if a download without active security software is required, that required step should be the only process completed without security software. For assistance in checking your configuration, disabling, or uninstalling your security software, please contact the manufacturer.

Once disabled or uninstalled, perform only the steps required to verify your issue has been resolved. Complete whatever update, restore, syncing, back up, activation, or other task you were troubleshooting. Once that task is complete, install and configure compatible security software to ensure your PC is protected.

If it isn't a program or software on the computer contact your Internet Service Provider and/or Router Company for help to configure or disable the firewall in the router settings.

To isolate the issue to this you can also try disconnecting the router and plugging your computer directly in to the modem but this does not help for troubleshooting time-out issues directly on any apple mobile devices only if you are syncing or going through iTunes on the computer.

i don't think you can..

does the error come up immediately or during a certain stage of the install?

if it downloaded all the way to the computer when you plug it in it should start by saying "extracting software"

if it freezes on the stage that shows "verifying software with apple" or whatever then something is still blocking connections.

if it freezes on a different step then it could be a connection issue with the cord, the device, or software blocking the Bonjour program.

Hi,

I have the exact same problem. My iphone 3GS was working fine till I tried to download OS5. Now my iphone is totally out of commission. The only thing I can get on the screen is a picture of the itunes icon plus the white usb (which the Apple support person told me was the screen indicating you need to restore). When I plug the phone in to my computer, itunes does recognize that it's an iphone, but not MY iphone, just a generic iphone, no details. It says I need to restore. I say OK and it goes through about 7 minutes worth of preparation for restoring (extracting, veryifying, etc.) and then at the end says it can't be restored because of error [-1]. I also tried plugging it into my husband's computer. When I did that, itunes prompted me to download OS5 and I did that successfully. I got all excited, thinking my problems were over. But then I got the same old message about needing to restore, and when I told it to go ahead, it did the exact same song and dance ending with that error message [-1]. Argggh.

I called Apple about this a week ago, and they are working on it. The tech guy I spoke to called me back after a day and collected some data from my computer (info about my hardware and software) to give to researchers who are working on this problem. Apparently lots of people are having it. My sister told me she heard two guys on the street discussing the same problem. I hope they figure it out soon. I am missing my phone!

Has anyone had any success in fixing this? I updated to iOS5 as well and now just keep getting the (-1) error. I want my pictures apps messages...etc...back. 😢

zepepk,

My iphone 3GS is out of warranty too, but the support people said they would make an exception for this one situation because it was clear that the phone was screwed up by the IOS5 download. It was working perfectly until I responded to an email from Apple and did as they told me (downloading new itunes and new ios). And clearly many people are having this problem. If you call back and complain that your phone was fine before you did the download they told you to do, they should make an exception.

Having said that, I am not sure how much good it's done me. Apple has not contacted me for days, and I still have an unusable phone. I do have a case number, but that's not getting me very far.

PS If and when I hear anything helpful from Apple, I will post here immediately!

It's not always security software. Error 1 and error -1 are because people have Jailbroken phones and/or backups. Type in " error 1 iPhone " in google, and see how many jailbroken phone threads come up.

I have never jailbroken my phone. I wouldn't even know how to do that. All I do is, besides downloading the occasional audiobook, is download stuff Apple tells me to.

APPLE broke my phone with their new OS, and they apparently don't care.

APPLE put out a new IOS5 update today. I think it's intended mainly to fix the battery problem IOS5 was causing, but I am going to try restoring again on the off chance it might fix my problem. I will let you know if it does, but I guess everyone with totally nonfunctional phones might as well try it (since even if it doesn't work for me, it might work for you, who knows?).