pfff i have tried for 100 times to restore my iphone i tried in dfu mode recovery mode everything pffff can you help me?

i'm running it on my macboock laptop i tried with 5 other computer windows xp, vista, osx stil give's 1604 or 2001, 6.....

I'm struggling with this issue right now. It seems to alternate between error 1604 and 20.

Ha ha - I have the Same problem - have tried to solve it for hours and still no luck :( if anyone has solved it please send me an email link or smth. Thank you all :)

nonsense. I've encountered a number of 2004 and 1604 errors. Even had a few iPhone (non 3G) totally go blank on me while giving these iTunes fits.

In most all cases, resetting by pulling the sim card out of the top, resetting with the two-button hold, and allowing sufficient time for the firmware update to install (35 minutes was the longest -- waiting while that spinner under the apple ran). In all cases -- and I mean all cases, the phone revived. Insert the sim card, reactivate the phone via iTunes and it's up-to-date after a sync.

People tend to get too impatient and pull cords or force-quit too early. Take your time, have something good to do (book, music, girlfriend, movie, whatever) and give the iPhone and your Mac time to work.

Hi Paul,
will try it your way now after all other suggestions I found where not working. If this runs fine I owe you something man....

I finally restored my iPhone today after trying to install software version 2.0 and dealing with the dreaded "unknown error (1604)", as well as error code (6), (13) and (2003), for nearly half a week; there are tons of ways to troubleshoot these problems and i've probably tried the majority of them. I tried creating new user accounts on my PC, updating the drivers on my USB ports, uninstalling and reinstalling my USB ports, reinstalling iTunes on my PC (Windows XP), holding down the 'home' button on my iPhone while attempting to restore it..none of these worked for me.

THE one trick that finally worked for me was simply restoring my iPhone with freshly downloaded iTunes on another computer. It worked the first try. After finally getting my iPhone back from brickdom, my own computer, which had all the problems actually restoring the thing, worked fine for resyncing all of my music, videos and pictures..i had to re-enter all my contacts and e-mail accounts for some reason but i'm just happy to have my phone back.

one solid tip is that you should definitely always make sure that you are plugging your iPhone up to a USB 2.0 port..don't use any USB ports that are on your keyboard or on the front of your PC. they may not be powerful enough to handle the process. always use ports in the back of your computer.

yh i have had the same problem with the 1604 error and nothing seems to work. i have tried using a new computer and fresh itunes but it doesnt help any ideas

So today, I just encountered another iPhone v1. -- trying the v2.0.2 update. Bricked the phone with a 1604. Tried to reset by holding both the power and front button (untethered to the computer, a powerbook g4/1.5GHz running Tiger 10.4.11 with the latest iTunes 7.7.1. Reattached USB cable and when iTunes attempted to restore, the iPhone 1604'd on me again.

Unplug, pull SIM card, reset, plug back in. After the restore, 1604.

Once again, unplug, reset -- but this time, I restarted the laptop, too. Plugged back in. Phone restore runs. And success. iTunes told me I needed to reinsert the SIM card, but after that, the reactivation and sync went well.

What I failed to do this time was to pull the SIM card before any attempt to update. I don't think that will work -- won't the iPhone need a SIM card for the update? Well, when 2.0.3 comes out, we can try it that way. Hope this helps someone.

Oh -- and the laptop wasn't even on AC :)

so far ive encountered errors 1604, 5, 1601.. list goes on.. spent and still spending hrs tryna fix it, and yet somehow i cant let it go

My iphone has just crashed with the 1604 error - 2nd time in few months I have had it. (BTW I use a PC).

1st time I spent hours trying all the fixes, youtube help etc etc and in the end mad an appointment with the Genius bar (2 hours away), went up and was fixed within 5 mins. The guy said I was the first 1604 error he had seen (THE Apple Store in Sydney, Australia).

So - a couple of months down the track and I am in the same boat. Will only try a few unplugging, uninstalling, rebooting tonight - can't be stuffed really. Guess I am up for a visit to the Apple store again.

Mind you - when I asked the guy at the Genius bar how I could prevent it he did go the way of "well if you get a Mac and chuck the PC that might help"...guess I can't blame him for trying a sale on.

If the Genius guys are able to fix it, why don't they post something "useful" on the troubleshooting page, i went trough all the steps twice already, with no luck. Guess i know where I'll be spending my day OFF. =*/

I had the same problem.
I created a new user account in windows, started itunes and iphone restored.
Hope this helps

I found on apple forum genius solution.
Just double click on your update firmware file, it worked perfectly for me. It is in "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates"
I don't know why it works, but it does.

Great...so simpel...ad it really works! Just tried what "Tin" said, and it seem to help: No error!

I have the same problem. Every Time I need update Every Time I need Restore :(
But now I have differetn problem after try install the new 3.0 os. First when intent install hang up with an unknow error 1602. I need restore and when the restore process begin have a window "preparing the iphone to restore..." and another error this time 1604. I try update usb drivers, I try plug the usb in different usb ports, I try install from with other user in my computer (here a error 2002 if I don´t bad rememeber). I Try the solution by Tin Executing the file iPhone1,2_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw but I obtain again 1604 error.
Another solution? before try install in other computer?
If I make a clean install of iTunes I loose all my data stored here no?

cheers and sorry for my bad english

help i need help my i phone has a code error 1604 tried to restore but same thing also that stupid symbol of a cd and usb cord on screen can any one help i have not the time to go into apple due to work but any help would be apprieciated thanks

Tim, Great Find, the fix worked perfect on my 3G iPhone after trying to perform the 3.0 software update.

My phone was originally setup with a Mac, but I've been a Windows user since that original setup. When I tried to upgrade to ver 3, I got the 1604 message. Nothing on any forum or Youtube videos helped, except for the advice to try the upgrade on another machine with iTunes. I tried it on a Mac & it recognized it & worked, but had to upgrade to ver 3 on the Mac. No more 1604. When I connected back to the PC, I had to rename the device to it's PC name (my iPhone), and do a restore. Freaked me out, but if the iPhone is going to be so unpredictable & freaky, may as well run it in jailbreak mode (another topic...)

EXCUSE ME?,. what about for ipod touch?,. Can someone please tell me how to prevent such enigmatic error?,. I'm in such an AUSTERE DESPAIR,. I really regret installing that jailbreak software,. HOW STUPID of me for making no considerations for the dangers it may cause on the later part,. huhu,. Your replies and help would make a 15 year old girl EXTREMELY BLISSFUL,. T-T hope hear from you,. ASAP,. sorry for being OFF topic,. from iphone,. then me intruding,. and diverted this reply to itouch,. you won't mind wouldn't you?,. THANKS!,.

This worked for me as well so thanks!

Tin said:
I found on apple forum genius solution.
Just double click on your update firmware file, it worked perfectly for me. It is in "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates"
I don't know why it works, but it does.

Tried LOZZA's Method of Creating new user in the control panel and resoring it from there, WORKED A TREAT,

FYI I am using a pc with vista on a 16gb iPhone 3GS

Hope this helps

Best damn thing I ever heard.... Been trying to restore my iphone to the original settings and kept getting error 1604..... I had been trying to restore it for two days then I came to your site..... all I had to do was take the SIM card out of my iphone uninstall Apple Mobile Device Support and iTunes then reinstall iTunes. Then plug in my iphone and select restore... It worked fine no errors... took about 25 minutes but its back running fine. If iTunes doesn't open, open it, it will find your phone then click restore.

freaking 1604 error code, i tryed everything except putting it on another pc, thats cuz my moms is the only one that will run itunes 8, my dad hates xp vista 7 and we dont own any macs, so all our pcs except my moms laptop has 2000, any ideas, please post them

well, i found an xp cd that my bro had, put that and itunes 8 on another computer and now my ipod works, thankyou whomever it was that put that on here, you have made a teen VERY HAPPY! not gonna mess w/ the os3 anymore, im stickin w/ what ive got.

All,
I'm on WinXP...I've been trying to solve this error ever since the 1st time I tried to update my wife's Iphone 3G OS to the 3.0 OS. Every single damn time I tried to update her OS, it would hang, EVERY TIME, until finally timing out with a 1604 error. I TRIED EVERYTHING: reinstalling my usb drivers, reinstalling Itunes, making a new user and trying there, trying every single damn usb port, and always always always the same thing: the update hangs and then times out with the 1604, or even 1601, 1603, 160x whatever!

Then, I got the Iphone 3GS. And when Itunes patched that SMS hack, I thought "eh no biggie, should be no problem for me". I was dead wrong. Same thing for me!!!! I bricked my brand new Iphone 3 GS!!!! And worst part: When I tried to reinstall the original 3.0 OS, SAME THING, so I couldn't resurrect my Iphone at all!

Until...

I found a seemingly vague small post from 1 million google searches saying "Hey, if it hangs, before it goes to the 1604 error, just simply bring up your Task Manager and close the Itunes process...then, relaunch Itunes, it should see your Iphone, go through the restore again and wallah, it should work".

I thought: yeah right. And I was wrong...

IT WORKED. And it worked for my wife's Iphone too!! IT WORKS EVERY DAMN TIME!!!!!!

I will never brick a damn Iphone on my winxp AGAIN!!!

Bry,

Thank you so much for that, I've been working on restoring my Iphone for the last 3 hours and just about gave up until I read your post. I ended the task and restarted Itunes while the phone was still 'hanging' and it worked! The restore actually finished.

Thanks again!

Happy to hear it helped you!!!!

@Tin - you were right man! Well done and thank you!

I just half-bricked my 3GS, trying to update it.

I tried loads of things - usb related, rebooted, etc. etc.. Nothing.

Tried your suggestion of double-clicking iPhone2,1_3.0.1_7A400_Restore.ipsw and it's now going straight in :-)

Thanks a lot.
(winXP sp3, by the way)

Thanks Bry, I'd tried every conceivable option until I read your post, was about to take it back to the store - have only had it for a day!!!

Thankfully your suggestion worked. I think I may have lost all my contacts though which I'm pretty bummed about!

Bry,

You're the man!!! I tried updating my Iphone software, and it bricked out with the 1604 error. Tried removing the sim card, different USB ports, all of the crap you see on Google... Then I found this site, and tried your trick... It worked!!!

Thanks a lot!! I was heading to the Apple store.

Jerry

hey guys.. i had the same problem and i solved it 15min ago. i wanted to to the same as bry explained. but before, i unistalled apple mobile device support and itunes. then, restarted my pc and reinstaled itunes. the plan was, to put iphone in dfu mode and than to end process with task manager. but, surprisingly, it didn´t hang at all. everything went normally and i restored my iphone :)

Bry, I am about to try your suggestion now. My wife's phone updates with no problem, but mine, every time I try, it is a 4-5 hour and 3 computer effort to.

The question I have is this: This is happening to literally thousands of people and it has been a problem since day 1. Why is Apple not doing anything about this? This should be a top priority to fix this. This is absolutely rediculous that every time you want to update your phone, you are pushed to the limit to not chuck the thing across the room. I have a blackberry and I reset it all the time without a problem. Not one single problem, but my iPhone is a disaster.

I use itunes to only update my phone since the software is horrible and runs anough processes to render the fastest machine down to a 486. It is a shame that an absolutely wonderful device like the iPhone is basically a POS every time you plug it in and update. Sad really.

My zune always works btw, except for the extra day in a leap year, but that is expected!

Owner - iTouch 1G & 30-day old iPhone 3G S. Have bricked both devices; been to hell and back - "1604" on the way there... "1602" on the return trip.

With the 'Touch' Apple support helped me get thru the first two updates (spent hours on my own first) but an Apple retailer had to restore & update 3.0 for me.

Just acquired the beautiful and elegant iPhone 3G S spec only to brick that the same Friday night I purchased it. Can you imagine the frustration?!

As soon as I set it up in iTunes, I received the prompt "A new update is available for your device. Would you like to update to version 3.0.1 now?"

Apple support again to the rescue. Between the two devices, the same solution doesn't work twice.
Back to the store!

On the 'Touch' I spent all day trying to get 3.1.1 installed to no avail; spent hours trying the usual stuff - delete; uninstall; reboot ect. Honestly, of ALL the solutions tried and tested, Bry's tip worked immediately!!! No more deletions-reboots-uninstall/reinstall steps.

Plugged in iTouch; opened Task Mgr; dbl-clicked on iPod 3.1.1 restore in iTunes folder. iTunes opened and I clicked update & restore. AS soon as it went from "extracting software" to "preparing iPod for restore" I killed the process for iTunes in the Task Mgr.

Then immediately launched iTunes again without disconnecting or anything else and voila! (see there!) His tip should definitely be moved up to the top of the blog.

Bry, I can't thank you enough man! I tried so many "solutions" to try to get past this stupid 1604 error and NOTHING WORKED..... UNTIL I found your post here. Your solution worked PERFECTLY the first time! Thank you! You saved me a lot of time and money!!

Bry, your solution worked perfectly. Thanks. I was about to throw "the brick" into the wall. :) Thank you for your post.

Bry,

Thanks so much. I've wasted 4 hour trying to get 3.1.1 on my iPod Touch on my WinXP. Tried unplugging other USB drives, reboots, other usb ports, etc - no luck. Then I saw your post and killed 'itunes' during the 'preparing for restore' progress bar, immediately reloaded iTunes, chose Restore, and it magically worked. That is freaking amazing. Thank you so much.

And I agree, why has Apple not just fixed this problem yet? Or at least post a message with more detail (better than "unknown error has occurred 1604". Seriously.

Bry is literally a legend. felt like i was loosing my mind with this 1604 error but ending itunes with the task manager worked perfectly. Thank you so much

Bry, you're THE MAN!! I just bought new iPhone for my wife and got stuck in this 1604 error. Googled everything, wasted many hours until I read your post, it worked like a dream, you're the best.
I HATE Apple: why don't they fix this?!

Thanks a lot, Bry!

It's a pitty that I lost so much time searching for the answer, not to mention that Apple is not doing anything to (really) help.

For those who tried Bry's solution and did not work, try it twice - like me - and will work! Trust me.

Just wait for "preparing to restore" message and if the screen goes black and restoring process blocked, try Bry's magic the second time and then "Restore and update". You will a nice progress bar indicator on your iphone soon.

After three hours of the dreaded 1604 error and pulling out every hair on my head I finally followed Bry's advice and the world is good once more ( and so is my touch!) You are my new G-D!

Thank you so much!

Wendy

Yes, thanks a bunch, Bry. Spent an hour looking around and that solution appears to be working. 1604 error on the new 3.1.2 update.

Is this fix somewhere on the Apple website? (I spent the last hour googling and finally made my way here, to the only place I could find that actually had useful advice - thanks Bry.)

Same for me - Bry's fix worked when nothing else would - including an hour on the phone with Apple. I knew immediately it was different b/c my phone actually showed a progress bar underneath the Apple logo.

Makes me never want to update anything on the phone ever.

Bry,

Thanks a bunch for sharing your solution. Like everybody else here, I spent hours and tried many ways and none of them worked. Now I'm watching my iPod Touch 1G "Sync in Progress" to get restored with the 3.1.2 update.

OMG thank you bry!!

Of all the millions of different things i have tried to restore but got all the errors (2002,1604 etc) the ctrl+alt+delete-trick worked. I am soo happy!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Bryan!! saviour!!