itunes does not respond when iphone connected

iphone 3 does not show up under devices. If connected, and itunes open, casues spinning disk, program does not respond. Used succesfully previously, no known changes to computer or software. Started in safe mode, reset PRAM and SMC (too much disk spinning in Safari also). Can still sync phone to iphoto.

MacBook Pro

Intel Core Duo 2.16gz

OS X 10.4.11

itunes 8.2.1