Iphone 3G (1611) Restoring Error

[mooncow22]

"The iPhone "iPhone" could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (1611)."

Thats the error message I get every time I try to restore my phone through iTunes.

My phone has the connect to iTunes graphic and when I do I get the "iTunes has detected a blah blah blah you have to restore to use this device with iTunes"
I have iTunes 9.0.2.25
I have a PC
I have Windows Vista
I think my iPhone is updated to the most recent OS which I did recently. Not sure though.

I've tried to restore it multiple times on one computer and once or twice on another. Each time I got the same error message. I have tried multiple USB ports on my computer and nothing else is plugged in. I haven't gotten any bit of progress and I have tried putting my phone into what I believe was DFU mode and that failed as well.

This is a list of what would happen on my iPhone and what was happening on iTunes at the same time. Some are messages of what iTunes was telling more and some are just descriptions of what was happening. This is in just a single restore attempt.

- extracting Software (message on itunes)
- Loading Bar
- Iphone on connect screen
- iphone seems to restart/logo dissappears
- the loading bar fills
- new loading bar
- iphone disappeared on itunes 2 bars ago (happened earlier, itunes no longer shows the device as being present)
- bar fills up
- apple logo on iphone
- new bar
- fills up
- still apple logo on iphone
- now the phones seems to restart again
- apple logo on phone
- still loading/working
- now back to connect to itunes on iphone
- and error message comes up 1611

Kinda hard to udnerstand, I was writing it in real time as it was happening but it is what happens everytime.

The one thing I haven't done yet is take it in which is a bit of a last resort for me becuase I know I am going to get pissed when I am there so I'm trying to save myself the... issues.

If anyone can help even if I said I did something feel free to please repeat it and anything could be helpful.

I called Apple and they told me my call in service was expired and instead of providing me with help they tried to sell me a new plan or some s***. Very unhappy with apple, iphones, macs everything about them is pissing me off right now. This is just one of a host of problems but I'll save that rant for another time.

Again any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[duskandsummer]

this happened to me and it bricked my phone in recovery mode..so if it didn't brick your phone I suggest you unplug it from the computer and do not attempt another restore.

What is happening is your iTunes is corrupt. You need to uninstall iTunes and everything Apple off your computer..don't worry it won't delete your music..and then reinstall it and then try to restore..and see if that helped.

There is a certain order you have to go about this...
go into control panel..then add/remove programs..
1. iTunes
2. QuickTime
3. Apple Software Update
4. Apple Mobile Device Support
5. Bonjour
6. Apple Application Support (iTunes 9 or later)

After you uninstall/remove all of these programs..then restart the computer
after that..verify..go to the C drive..go to programs make sure there is no itunes quicktime apple bonjour folders..if so delete it..do the same for your common files and then go to the System 32 folder and check as well..

then reinstall iTunes.

all the info if I didn't explain it well enough is right here..
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1925

I had the same problem..except now my computer doesn't recognize my phone at all..but this happened before the uninstall/reinstall so don't worry!

good luck!

 

[mooncow22]

Okay cool that sounds like a pretty good plan. But will uninstalling iTunes and the related junk remove my backups as well? I think I'll lose my contacts and such right?

Either way, thank you for the reply and your help!

 

[duskandsummer]

save your contacts in outlook..I think that might keep them on the computer..I just know that when you reinstall itunes..it will bring back all your apps and your music for sure..I am not sure about the contacts..but if you save them in outlook you will be okay I am thinking.

 

[jav6454]

Error 16xx is USB mis communications, change USB port, or restart computer or simply change computer.

 

[mooncow22]

Thanks for the info about the 16XX meaning. Thats actual information. The Apple site has this to say

"The alert message in iTunes may also include one of the following numbers (but is not limited to): 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 13, 14, -18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 28, -48, -50, 1002, 1011, 1013, 1015, 1601, 1602, 1603, 1604, 1608, 1609, 1611, 1612, 1639, 2009, 3004, 3013, 3014, 3015, 9807, -9808, 9844."

...Thats it, no explanation of what each error message means (do they even know?!), no links to each type of error message or even a general idea of why they come up. Just here are YOUR problems, not that it has anything to do with us.


------UPDATE------

Uh just finished unintalling/clearing out iTunes, QuickTime, and all Apple related stuff from a different computer and downloaded and reinstalled the newest version of iTunes. Plugged in my iPhone and started the restore and it went through the exact same process and gave the same ending message. :\

Thanks for the suggestion though. It made sense and all. Dunno though didn't pan out.

Any different ideas?

 

[Moi un Mouton]

Is it a 64 bit computer that you are using? There are definitely some USB issues between Vista 64 and iTunes and iPhone drivers.

If it is, can you try it on a Mac or on a 32 bit system?

 

[mooncow22]

According to System under my control panel I am running on 32 bit : \

But maybe I'll see if one of my friends has a Mac that I could use. Thanks for the idea!

 

[kAoTiX]

I've had issues with Vista + restoring + 64bit (and 32bit as well)
I tend to have a machine with a fresh iTunes install on XP Pro SP3 just for restoring phones and iPods for this very reason.
I've had 4 iPods do this to me now for no apparent reason. Working units until I come to restore and update to 3.1.2 for a customer and then it kicks me out and I have literally no way to restore.

Many sleepless nights and no solutions so I've ditched even connecting an iPhone or iPod to a 64bit or Vista machine (Even Win7 for now as well).

 

[joeyjoey]

i tried reinstalling, updating itunes but still everytime i restore my iphone it just ends up saying error 1611, does that mean my iphone is bricked? how do i fix it? would apple store replace my iphone if that happens?

 

[jav6454]

Thanks for the info about the 16XX meaning. Thats actual information. The Apple site has this to say

"The alert message in iTunes may also include one of the following numbers (but is not limited to): 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 13, 14, -18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 28, -48, -50, 1002, 1011, 1013, 1015, 1601, 1602, 1603, 1604, 1608, 1609, 1611, 1612, 1639, 2009, 3004, 3013, 3014, 3015, 9807, -9808, 9844."

...Thats it, no explanation of what each error message means (do they even know?!), no links to each type of error message or even a general idea of why they come up. Just here are YOUR problems, not that it has anything to do with us.


------UPDATE------

Uh just finished unintalling/clearing out iTunes, QuickTime, and all Apple related stuff from a different computer and downloaded and reinstalled the newest version of iTunes. Plugged in my iPhone and started the restore and it went through the exact same process and gave the same ending message. :\

Thanks for the suggestion though. It made sense and all. Dunno though didn't pan out.

Any different ideas?

Mac or PC? It matter a lot which one you use. 16xx errors love to appear with Windows, but not with Mac.

Edit - Never mind the above statement, just re-read your 1st post. Do you have an Apple Store nearby? If so, go to them and tell them your Windows PC doesn't like to play nice and do the restore and you always get stuck at the 16xx error screens. They will happily do this for you.

Edit 2 - Info on errors. I have dealt with many of them, so here is a small list on the ones I know of.

Errors 1002, 1011, 1013, 1015 - Baseband and software version mismatch. These occur when you are downgrading software version the old fashion way.

Errors 1603, 1604, 1608, 1609, 1611, 1612, 1639 - All are USB related. Rebooting your computer, switching to another computer or using a different USB port solves this. These happen mostly on Windows computers. If not, visit Apple Store.

Error 9, 8, 7 - Fatal errors, these iPhones need to go back to Apple. No way you are fixing these. (missing files, endless reboot loops and such)

Error 20, 21 - Random write error. Try restoring again. Also linked to 16xx errors.

The rest I haven't encountered them.

 

[F1rE]

Help !!!

I tryed for ONE MONTH to restore it i got the same error 1611...tryed to restore it on diferent computer ,mac ,DFU mode ,recovery mode,hard reset,all versions of iTunes ,all usb ports ,other data cable , can someone had this error and fixed it ???? pls i`ll apreciate it so much !

 

[-aggie-]

I tryed for ONE MONTH to restore it i got the same error 1611...tryed to restore it on diferent computer ,mac ,DFU mode ,recovery mode,hard reset,all versions of iTunes ,all usb ports ,other data cable , can someone had this error and fixed it ???? pls i`ll apreciate it so much !

Nope, you'll need to go to the Apple Store.

 

[F1rE]

I bought the iphone from a guy who has it from France orange and i have no waranty...but the phone was like new ...i played with it 3 days do u know any other way to fix it ?? i sent it to 2 services and the guys told me is it from software !