depending on the computer operating system of the user, they should open one of the following folders:
- Mac OS: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup
- Windows XP: %AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup
- Windows Vista: %AppData%\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup
- Windows 7: %AppData%\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup
Then move the backup folder inside it to their desktop (move, not copy it).
The next step is to restart the restore process for with the iOS 4.0 ipsw. It will go through seamlessly.
Once it's done as iTunes and the phone will let them know, they should unplug it from iTunes and unplug the USB cable from their PC / Mac
Next, they should move the backup folder that was inside the directory above back to its original location. Replug the iPhone and it will restore their data from iPhone OS 3.y.x.
Hope this helps as it took me 2 days to figure this out and googling did not help at the time.
I just found this post via Google and gave it a shot. There are three folders (all jumbled names and all empty) in my MobileSync Backup folder. I've moved the Backup to desktop tried to restore again and I'm stuck at that magical place again. Been 6 times now ... thinking the 3GS is dead.
ReplyDeleteHi Jonathan, you shouldn't have moved the Backup folder itself. Maybe the above wasn't as clear as I'd wanted to make it sound but what needs to be moved are those folders with the jumbled up names as you put it. e.g.: the folders probably have a name such as "wert2648860452a11f94f118bf543d46ba32d3i2". Move those away, not their container/parent "Backup" folder. A couple of friends of mine followed the above and got their iPhones restored flawlessly although they started with the same issue.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I've learned this over many upgrades and time and time again, your iPhone is not dead as long as iTunes can and tries to restore the Operating System on it. The moment iTunes gives up on you (e.g.: cannot recognize the device and such, then maybe it's dead). In the end it's important to remember that after all the iPhone is just a computer and they don't die so easily.
Let me know how it goes this time and good luck!
OK - will have to try that again tonight then. I have 3 folders and they are all empty interestingly enough.
ReplyDeleteMy iPhone 4 arrives tomorrow so I won't be using it much after then, but it would certainly be nice to retire the device appropriately.
I'm still stuck ... tried twice. :(
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely... Hmmm.... Not sure what's next. If you do take it to an Apple Store chances are they will tell you that the device is dead even if it's not. There may be other issues with iTunes that are forcing it into "stuck" mode. If I think of something I'll post it here.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, do enjoy your iPhone 4. I can't wait to get mine when it reaches South Africa in September (ugh, what a long time to wait!).
thanks for your help!
ReplyDeleteHi Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteif you're still following this thread and still want to try and get your phone back to an operational mode, make sure that you do not have an iTunes plugin install that works with mobile devices, whether it be iPhones or iPods, etc...
I had the same issue when updating to iOS 4.0.1 (AGAIN). After a couple of days I realized that I had quite a number of mobile devices plugins running. Once I uninstalled them, it all worked like a dream.
Let me know how it goes if this by any chance is the issue.
Cheers!
I would strongly suggest trying another computer to update. I have had problems updating my phone (two different iPhone 4s) but was able to easily update it using my husband's iMac.
ReplyDelete