iPhone 3GS stuck on Recovery

JohnR · « **on:** 7 Jan 2013, 02:37 am »

Me old iPhone 3GS came up with a "connect to iTunes" message, and after going through the steps iTunes says it's waiting for the phone, and the phone has an Apple with what looks like it should be a progress bar but it isn't moving. The downloaded OS was 6.0.1 I think.

I'd been happy using this on the Pure i20 for headphones, so I'd kinda like to make it work again. Would anyone happen to know if there's a way to install an older version of the OS on it? (On the assumption that might work better, whether it would or not, I don't know...)

medium jim · « **Reply #1 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 03:43 am »

JohnR:

I also have a 3GS and initially had a problem loading 6.0.1. I had to do a restore and then was able to load it onto my phone. I'm sure that there is a tutorial somewhere online that would walk you through the steps to remove the latest software and then install an older version of OS.

Jim

Chromisdesigns · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 03:57 am »

How long did you wait? Even with the latest iPhones and iPads, IOS 6 is a very large, very time-consuming upgrade. It appears to be hung at several points, but it is still going.

One way to know is if you have an indicator on your PC that lights with disk activity -- as long as nothing else major is going on, if the disk light is flashing madly, iTunes is still working on your update.

I think it took a couple hours when we did our iPad, even with a very fast internet connection, before it got completely finished.

medium jim · « **Reply #3 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 04:16 am »

Quote from: Chromisdesigns on 7 Jan 2013, 03:57 am

How long did you wait? Even with the latest iPhones and iPads, IOS 6 is a very large, very time-consuming upgrade. It appears to be hung at several points, but it is still going.

One way to know is if you have an indicator on your PC that lights with disk activity -- as long as nothing else major is going on, if the disk light is flashing madly, iTunes is still working on your update.

I think it took a couple hours when we did our iPad, even with a very fast internet connection, before it got completely finished.

Very true, it took about 4 hours. But again, mine crashed the 1st time I tried to upload OS 6.0.1, so it is entirely possible that John is experiencing the same problems I did. I stopped the download, did a restore and then was able to upload it, which did take about 4 hours.

Jim

JohnR · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 02:40 pm »

I let it go several hours. I can't restore from backups because I don't have one - changed computers. Never occurred to me that the OS itself would need a backup.

avta · « **Reply #5 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 03:19 pm »

I don't want to assume anything but should we accept that you have your phone connected to your computer and you are running iTunes for the upgrade? If so, there is a button to restore to an earlier version of the OS. You might try that if you haven't done so. If you're still having problems the Apple Discussion Groups have excellent help available. https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os?view=overview

decal · « **Reply #6 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 03:33 pm »

Anytime I have a problem with my phone I get my 17 year old nephew to fix it, go figure.

decal · « **Reply #7 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 03:34 pm »

Quote from: decal on 7 Jan 2013, 03:33 pm

Anytime I have a problem with my phone,Ipod or Itunes I get my 17 year old nephew to fix it, go figure.

JohnR · « **Reply #8 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 03:38 pm »

Quote from: avta on 7 Jan 2013, 03:19 pm

I don't want to assume anything but should we accept that you have your phone connected to your computer and you are running iTunes for the upgrade? If so, there is a button to restore to an earlier version of the OS.

No, there is no button to restore an earlier version of the OS, the only option is to restore the phone, which downloads the current version of iOS and attempts to install it. iTunes 11, Mountain Lion.

avta · « **Reply #9 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 03:45 pm »

I found this: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US Not sure if that is of any help but you can review the suggestions.

JohnR · « **Reply #10 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 04:04 pm »

Thanks - it hangs between step 3 and 4.

Installing an older OS apparently requires that I jailbroke the phone when it was working, so I had stored something called an shsh blob.

I'll try on my SL laptop tomorrow. You never know.

avta · « **Reply #11 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 04:12 pm »

would this help? http://www.idownloadblog.com/2009/09/09/iphone-stuck-apple-logo/

Phil A · « **Reply #12 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 05:07 pm »

IOS 6 (or whatever the lastest) seems to be a problem with my iPhone 4. It is not a big deal at this point as in about 10 days I'm eligible for an upgrade. It shows up on the settings and about 3 months ago I tried it and it would not download to the phone. I tried it again. Thought it might be the old Windows XP machine so about 2 months ago I tried it on the newer PC twice to no avail a couple of times. I'm probably just going to leave it is and just use the old phone as an iPod in a secondary room. I thought it might be that I did not set iTunes as a default player but that's just a wild guess.

avta · « **Reply #13 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 08:38 pm »

Phil are you using a wired connection to your computer for the upgrade?

Phil A · « **Reply #14 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 09:14 pm »

Quote from: avta on 7 Jan 2013, 08:38 pm

Phil are you using a wired connection to your computer for the upgrade?

Yes - it tell's you that you need to be connected to the network if you try to upgrade from the phone. I actually forgot the exact error message I got. I did Google it and what I found suggested disconnecting other USB devices which I did and it still would not work. I initially thought it might be the old Windows XP machine, although it does have 3G of RAM. When I first got the phone, I downloaded iTunes on my MAC G5 Tower (which is about the same vintage as the old Dell XPS) only to find out (from Apple) that the MAC won't work with the version of iTunes I needed (which I found interesting that they would support Windows of around the same time frame but not their own OS) so I downloaded iTunes on the old Dell XPS and had no problem until the OS that came out late last summer. I think it was Sept/Oct when I first tried it. I don't use the Dell XPS much. It is in the basement as a back-up and the MAC G5 Tower is also a back-up that I keep upstairs. I update the Virus Protection the Dell once a week and occasionaly use it or the MAC (I think I have Harmony Remote software on both of them and I'll update the basement system remote with the Dell XPS as it is down there already). Mostly I use my newer Windows 7 Machine on the main level. So after a few unsuccesful tries, I put iTunes on the newer PC and tried it a couple of times and it still does not work. I tried it a couple of times. That was about 90 days ago and at that point, I figured I'd just leave it and get the iPhone 5 when I'm due for an upgrade (I think it is Jan. 16). The iPhone 4 will probably just be used as an iPod once I get the 5 up and running. I have an Alarm Clock/Dock and mainly use the Radio with the alarm, as I usually leave the iPod Classic in the car. It's more than good enough to wake up to. I may eventually just put the Squeezebox Touch in the bedroom system when I upgrade in 2-3 months and I can just put the iPhone 4 on the iPod dock I have for the Onkyo basement system receiver. If I was going to use the iPhone 4 longer term for a phone, I might bother to try more.

avta · « **Reply #15 on:** 7 Jan 2013, 09:18 pm »

Have you tried downloading the update using wifi?

JohnR · « **Reply #16 on:** 8 Jan 2013, 05:02 am »

Well, no luck with mine on the other machine. I did have a backup of the iPhone on that machine but you can't restore from it until after you do the update. Bleah. Maybe it's hammer time for this one.

At least I was able to get an iTunes remote onto my Nokia N9. So it's not a complete disaster. Hi ho.

medium jim · « **Reply #17 on:** 8 Jan 2013, 06:53 am »

Quote from: JohnR on 8 Jan 2013, 05:02 am

Well, no luck with mine on the other machine. I did have a backup of the iPhone on that machine but you can't restore from it until after you do the update. Bleah. Maybe it's hammer time for this one.

At least I was able to get an iTunes remote onto my Nokia N9. So it's not a complete disaster. Hi ho.

JohnR:

This might help...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCia5HK6dHs

Good luck,

Jim

decal · « **Reply #18 on:** 8 Jan 2013, 01:09 pm »

Quote from: JohnR on 8 Jan 2013, 05:02 am

This looks like my solution to most electronics problems!!!!!!

JerryM · « **Reply #19 on:** 9 Jan 2013, 02:03 am »

Hi John,

My brother is a big swinger with Apple; he's been with them for years. He says you need to go into "DFU Mode". After I laughed hysterically about what "DFU Mode" really means, he advised that following the steps on this website should work. He has other thoughts, but this step was his starting point. At his suggestion, I'll shoot you a PM with his email address. Please feel free to reach out to him as needed.

Best of luck,

Jerry