My iPhone 3GS gives error 1603 when updating/restoring

Here's Apple's explaination of error 1603:

Error 1603: If you receive this error and the iOS device is not automatically placed into recovery mode, it may be necessary to do so manually. Refer to iPhone and iPod touch: Unable to restore for steps on placing iPhone into forced recovery mode. Also, remove the IPSW and attempt to restore again. If you do not want to remove the IPSW in the original user, try restoring in a new administrator user.

If it's running you might have to just back everything up and set it up as new, as described here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4137.

My 3GS phone is now a brick thanks to itunes!

After being forced to upgrade my iOs because I of an app I decided to upgrade to iOs 5.

The phone is in recovery mode but every time I tried it

Now it is a brick that is going to the pollution pile.

So I am in the Apple Brick club.

Yes I did the typical, Win XP reboot a few times. Changed USB port. Tried different PC.

I have administrator access on my computer.

The phone is out of warranty. Is Apple going to charge me for something that their software did?

I have a copy of the ipsw but have no way of verifying whether the backup file is corrupt.