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Laughing Water

Q: 4s phone shows only Apple icon & black screen.

4s phone shows only Apple icon & black screen. Computer message says my phone can not be updated and I should remove data to create space,

but how if it will not activate?

iPhone 4S

Posted on Aug 16, 2016 2:53 PM

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Q: 4s phone shows only Apple icon & black screen.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by elcpu,Apple recommended

    elcpu elcpu Aug 16, 2016 3:00 PM in response to Laughing Water
    Level 6 (15,941 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 16, 2016 3:00 PM in response to Laughing Water

    If your iPhone or iPad is not responding try the steps here:

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201412

  • by sberman,Apple recommended

    sberman sberman Aug 16, 2016 3:03 PM in response to Laughing Water
    Level 8 (39,090 points)
    Aug 16, 2016 3:03 PM in response to Laughing Water

    Place your iPhone into recovery mode as described here.  You may have to try to enter recovery mode more than once to succeed.

     

    If you can't update or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

  • by Laughing Water,

    Laughing Water Laughing Water Aug 16, 2016 3:03 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 16, 2016 3:03 PM in response to sberman

    Followed steps. Message now says I have to restore my phone which I will not do since I have not been able to back it up and cannot afford to lose 1000 work related photos. Will try the Genius bar at Apple unless some other idea can be safely attempted.

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Aug 16, 2016 3:06 PM in response to Laughing Water
    Level 8 (39,090 points)
    Aug 16, 2016 3:06 PM in response to Laughing Water

    Well, you have a real problem.  You do not wish to lose these photos, yet they are not backed up, and your iPhone is full.

     

    I hope they can help you at the Genius Bar.  It sounds as if the genius will have a challenge.

  • by Laughing Water,

    Laughing Water Laughing Water Aug 16, 2016 3:12 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 16, 2016 3:12 PM in response to sberman

    I had not been able to back up my phone for months due to a message saying it was 'locked' which it was not, not by intention at least. I am the sole user and have no idea how it became inaccessible to my computer. A few days ago it was suddenly not locked and I did transfer a few photos but saved the rest for later. A poor decision in light of the recent black out.

    Thanks so much for your advice.

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Aug 16, 2016 3:15 PM in response to Laughing Water
    Level 8 (39,090 points)
    Aug 16, 2016 3:15 PM in response to Laughing Water

    Laughing Water wrote:

     

    due to a message saying it was 'locked' which it was not

    Not sure what "it" means.

     

    Might the previous backup be "locked" (encrypted)?

  • by Laughing Water,

    Laughing Water Laughing Water Aug 16, 2016 3:36 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 16, 2016 3:36 PM in response to sberman

    Apologies for any ambiguity. 'It' refers to my iPhone 4S. When connected to my computer a message appeared indicating it was 'locked'. I was unable to back it up as a result.  A few days ago I connected the phone thinking only of charging it. Suddenly all my photos appeared on the computer screen; it was clearly allowing them to be downloaded to my computer's iPhoto. Did this also back up my iPhone? I doubt it and have not a clue how to find out.

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Aug 16, 2016 3:41 PM in response to Laughing Water
    Level 8 (39,090 points)
    Aug 16, 2016 3:41 PM in response to Laughing Water

    "... downloaded to my computer's iPhoto"?

     

    Hmmm, iPhoto has not been the Mac's current photo-handling application for about a year and a half now.  Photos is the currently maintained application on the Mac for this.

     

    So you can check in iPhoto (or Photos, if that's what you meant) to see if photos from the iPhone are there.

     

    You can check your latest backup time in iTunes by going to iTunes > Preferences > Devices from iTunes' menu and you will see the backup status there.  If you see a padlock on the backup, that would mean the backup is encrypted and you need to supply an encryption key to proceed.