USB on Mac Mini not working with iPhone

[doebtown]

I'm trying to connect an iPhone to a Mac Mini via USB. The cable is known to be good. The USB ports all work with other USB devices. The iPhone works with USB devices on other computers AND if I plug it directly into the wall.

HERE'S the crazy part. When restart the computer with the iPhone plugged in, it CONNECTS while the OS is not in the ROM. As soon, however, as the OS starts to boot again, the iPhone disconnects.

Let me say that more clearly.

I plug the iPhone in and nothing happens, including not indicating that it's charging (this is the problem).

With the iPhone still plugged in, I restart the Mac.

After all the open applications quit and the finder disappears, the iPhone chirps indicating that it's connected and charging.

It STAYS charging while the Mac cycles through the rest of the restart.

When, however, the Mac gets to the point where it starts booting the OS, the iPhone chirps again indicating that it's been disconnected.

Crazy, right?

[indg]

sounds odd. and this happens with all the usb ports? some usb ports output more power than others.

[doebtown]

Nope. All USB ports.

And ALL the USB ports work with other devices.

AND I've tried taking out all the other devices, thinking that perhaps the whole chain was pulling out more power than the computer could deliver. Not the case, though.

And once it goes through the restart, it snaps RIGHT into power delivery.

[indg]

so after your mac has booted up, you connect your iphone via usb and open up itunes and your iphone doesn't even show up as being connected? the iphone should be listed in the system profiler under usb, along with any other usb connected devices. if not, there's something funky going on.

[dubhe]

is it an iPhone usb cable (shorter connector) or an older iPod cable?
Just an idea...

[Ubele]

I'm having a very similar problem, and it started after I installed Snow Leopard on my wife's 2nd-generation single-core Intel Mac Mini. When I connect her iPhone 3G, it makes its usual chiming sound, and the display comes on briefly, and then goes off. iTunes 8 doesn't open like it's supposed to. System Profiler indicates that the iPhone is indeed connected. When I connect her iPhone to my MacBook Pro, it works fine, and with the same cable. Any suggestions?

[the vj]

Early Snow Leopard users will face this sort of problem. I said it before and I will say it again... do never buy the first release of anything. Wait a few month until all the revisions are made by the naive people who tried the OS at the early stages.

[Ubele]

I installed iTunes 9 last night, and it fixed the problem.

[alphaod]

Does your phone show up in System Profiler under USB?