iphone 3GS failed to update and restore. Now I have iphone asking to be connected to itunes but itunes doesnt detect the iphone. Tried all support suggestions. Please Help!

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Level 1

8 points

iphone 3GS failed to update and restore. Now I have iphone asking to be connected to itunes but itunes doesnt detect the iphone. Tried all support suggestions. Please Help!

I had my old iphone 3GS unlocked and put in my partner's SIM card. All was going ok. It was running iOS 4.**something. So when prompted to update it I backed up the iphone and said yes. Download went ok, but got error message saying restore had failed. itunes no longer detects the 3GS (but still detects my 4S). The 3GS iphone just displays the picture asking to be plugged into itunes.

I've followed all the support suggestions:

I tried many hard restarts, checked the Apple Mobile Device player and restarted it anyway. itunes is up to date, restarted computer etc. basically, all the things the support pages say.

Can anyone help please?

I've never had this problem before with any of my other devices.

Any help will be gratefully received!

Cheers. Mike

iPhone 3GS, iOS 4.3.3

Posted on Mar 5, 2013 12:51 AM

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Answer 1

AnaMusic

Level 9

57,562 points

Mar 5, 2013 12:52 AM in response to mpriestnall

See Here > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1808

You may need to try this More than Once...

Be sure to Follow ALL the Steps..

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Answer 2

mpriestnall Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 5, 2013 1:14 AM in response to AnaMusic

Thanks for the prompt reply. I've tried the steps on HT1808 3 times, with no success. what should I do now?

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Answer 3

mpriestnall Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 5, 2013 1:19 AM in response to AnaMusic

to clarify, I have to turn the phone off by pressing the sleep & home buttons. I hold the home button whilst plugging in the USB as directed and it goes to the "connect to itunes" picture as shown in step 4, but I never get the message in step 5 saying itunes has detected a phone in recovery mode.

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Answer 4

AnaMusic

Level 9

57,562 points

Mar 5, 2013 1:28 AM in response to mpriestnall

You appear to be doing it correctly... Keep trying...

Some users have reported that as many as 8 or 9 attempts were necessary before success.

If the issue does not resolve...

Then a Visit to an Apple Store or AASP (Authorized Apple Service Provider) is the Next Step...

But keep trying and Don't Rush steps 3 and 4...

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Answer 5

RajaRani

Level 4

1,473 points

Mar 5, 2013 1:45 AM in response to mpriestnall

Use DFU mode.

Step One

Open iTunes and connect the iPhone to your Mac/PC.

Step Two

Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time.

Step Three

After exactly 10 seconds release the Sleep/Wake button. Continue holding the home button until iTunes pops up a message telling you that it has detected an iPhone in recovery mode.

The iPhone screen will remain black.

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Answer 6

mpriestnall Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 5, 2013 1:46 AM in response to AnaMusic

Tried it a dozen times with different times holding the hold button etc. still get the same. how much does a trip to the Apple store cost?

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Answer 7

AnaMusic

Level 9

57,562 points

Mar 5, 2013 1:46 AM in response to mpriestnall

Evaluation is Free

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Answer 8

mpriestnall Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 5, 2013 1:53 AM in response to RajaRani

Hi Raja, I tried your suggestion. I timed 10 seconds exactly, when i released the sleep/wake button I got a message on my PC that the Apple Mobile Device driver has successfully installed but got no message from itunes. After about 4 minutes holding the home button my finger slipped off. Any ideas?

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Answer 9

RajaRani

Level 4

1,473 points

Mar 5, 2013 1:58 AM in response to mpriestnall

Google "How to put the iPhone in DFU mode"

NOTE: It may take a few attempts to get your iPhone into DFU mode. If you are still holding both buttons down and you see the Apple logo you are holding them down for too long!

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Answer 10

mpriestnall Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 5, 2013 2:01 AM in response to RajaRani

I tried raja. Same instructions as you gave. I get a couple of audible tones, iphone remains black, but itunes still doesnt detect the phone. I've reinstalled itunes, tried it with security disabled. cant think of anything else to try.

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Answer 11

RajaRani

Level 4

1,473 points

Mar 5, 2013 6:19 AM in response to mpriestnall

Reinstallation of iTunes is an involved process.

See

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1538

You can change computer.

This can also happen if iPhone was jailbroken/hacked.

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