"iTunes could not connect to the iPhone ("name") because an invalid response was received from the device"
phone: 5s, iOS 10.0.2
computer: 2006 MBP, OSX 10.6.8
iTunes: 11.4
Connecting to iTunes without error worked before iOS 10. Question is:
Given the specs above, am I screwed, or what? I read that iOS 10 requires iTunes12.5.1 on OSX 10.9.5
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
I would not say you are "screwed" ... but indeed your MacBook Pro cannot run any OS X version later than OS X 10.6.8, and iOS 10 requires iTunes 12.5.1 or later, which requires OS X 10.9.5 or later.
So you are not "screwed" as you got ten years' service from your computer. However, you need to purchase a new computer to proceed with an iTunes that communicates to iOS 10.
(old age/planned obsolescence style screwed, I'd say.)
Good thing I have a Late 2011 MBP running 10.11.6, (iTunes 12.5.1.21) huh? Problem is that, since I used the old computer flawlessly until iOS 10 (to manually manage my music), I fear the nebulous "if you sync to this newer computer's iTunes library, it will erase and replace..." syndrome. I don't really want the music on my iPhone to be replaced with the empty library on the newer computer. I also NEED my voice memos, wouldn't want them to disappear. I don't guess it would affect my contacts in any negative way. Maybe I'm paranoid.
Well, I would say it's important to have exactly one computer (one version of iTunes) to interface to your iOS devices. Think of that iTunes as being your "home base" for your iTunes library, apps, movies, etc. If you wish to move this function from the older machine to the newer one, you might consider migrating (using Migration Assistant) to move out of the old machine into the newer one.
As I recall, voice memos live in iTunes in the Songs area, so I think this migration would handle those as well.
What I really need is an application like DeTune, which used to work very well w/ my Macs and iPhones to drag-and-drop content from one to the other. I think DeTune is DeFunct, so I'd field recommendations for something similar that doesn't cost $40 (iExplorer) and can be "uninstalled" if it's useless (iExplorer can't be dragged to the trash on my box). Ultimate goal, make it easy to transfer mostly music and especially voice memos to my hard drive from my iPhone. And, yes, I DO realize that an iPhone has never been, and may never be, like an external disk. Sometimes I long for the days of my ancient Nokia.
My god, did I just type that out loud?
OK, I have an abacus and a fancy (Keuffel and Esser) slide rule handy as well. But I also install Apple software updates to all its products very quickly, usually within 24 hours of their being publicly released.
Progress happens. And each successive update builds on those that preceded it. And software updates bring new features, security improvements, and defect repairs.
If you're considering all possibilities, you may be able to run Windows 7 or later on the MacBook, using Boot Camp or a with virtual machine running under OS X. Install the latest iTunes for Windows, which requires Windows 7 or later.
In my "modding" of classic iPods, I needed to format an old iPod for Windows, but do not own a Window PC. But I do have a Windows XP virtual machine (for WMware Fusion) that I can run on my Mac mini, which already had an older version of iTunes for Window installed. Doing a Restore (on my iPod), using iTunes for Windows, running on a Windows VM, running under OS X, worked without any problems.
I have a PC running W-7, but I still don't see getting around the "this iPhone is associated with a different iTunes library" when I cable it to the windows machine. Maybe I just don't understand the Restore part of your advice. Don't know why I'm leaning towards a 3rd party kind of solution, preferably free, that will allow me to at least get the music OFF my phone in the hopes of being able to import it back into iTunes on the newer computer and re-associate the phone with the newer library, if that makes sense. Any recommendations would be welcome.
If that iPhone is associated with your Mac's iTunes library, that's why you get that message about being associated with a different iTunes library; your Windows PC has a different iTunes library. (The Restore part of my advice is not relevant... Just an example of why I needed to use iTunes for Windows with one of my iPods.) In your case, if you have a "real" Windows PC that runs Windows 7, you can run the latest iTunes there. I guess the question now is, how to get your iTunes library on the Windows PC.
Instead of off-loading songs from iPhone (which is not part of iTunes design), you should transfer your iTunes data (the iTunes folder) from Mac to Windows PC directly. That way, you get "everything," including supporting data such as playlists, ratings, play count, data added, etc... This document describes how to consolidate and backup your complete iTunes library data to an external drive.
Manage and back up your iTunes media library - Apple Support
You can then restore from the backup to the Windows PC. One additional consideration is format of the transfer drive. A Windows PC cannot use Mac's native disk format, but a Mac can read/write some Windows disk formats; choose something like Format - ExFAT and Scheme - Master Boot Record to set up transfer drive, which both Mac and Windows PC can access.
Alternately, if you know how to set up a network connection between Mac and Windows PC, you can transfer your iTunes data that way, instead of using an external drive.
If you want to off-load song files from iPhone instead, you'll need one of those third-party utilities. I have not used one, so do not have a specific recommendation. When I change computers, I transfer my complete iTunes library from old computer to new computer. Then, it's the same iTunes library on the new computer, so my Apple devices don't see it as a different iTunes library (you should not get that "associated with a different iTunes library" message).
NOTE: For songs (and other media) purchased from iTunes Store, you can download them again at no cost
iTunes/ iPhone no longer speak to each other
