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danpatel001

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Hi

Im having trouble syncing my iPhone 3GS after updating iTunes to 9.2 and to iOS 4.0

i don't know what this error means but backups are not able to save or load.

I took a screen shot and posted it below.

any help would be greatly appreciated
 

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I have this same issue and can't find anything to help fix it. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling. Hope there is someone out there that can help with this.
 
same here, it seems to me its an issue with iOS 4 because it only started after i installed it, it worked fine with the GM seed tho 😕
 
Found the fix

My issue was with the first back-up I did with the upgrade. For some reason, it didn't take and was bad. Found some advice on-line to delete my last back-up and after I did that, it worked fine.

Good luck!
 
hi need some more help with this error -20 , still cant back my iphone up !?!?!
any help would be pukka !🙁
 
thanks but its not wot i was lloking for still got error -20 and it wont back up my iphone still !!!🙁 help please !!!!!
 
Make a new user. Log in as the new user. Plug in your iPhone. Restore it. Log off and back into your usual user account. Plug in and restore. This should sort out the problem. You can then delete the new user account.
 
Error (-20) here as well. Worked out its failing on final phase of sync.

Hi there,

Yes I am also receiving the same "-20" error.

I am not using a Mac but it appears to be across the board using different OS's

My specs are:-

PC OS - Windows 7
iTunes: 9.2.1.5
iPhone: 3Gs
iPhone OS : 4.0.1 (but had a similar problem with OS 4.0)

I have tried to work out what part of the Sync process was failing.
* I tried just backing up the iPhone and guess what it failed. Same error (-20).
* I tried to action "Transfer purchases", this worked.
* I obviously tried the sync again:-
- Backup appeared to work
- Syncing <iPhone name> (Phase 1) - Appeared to work
- Syncing contacts - Appeared to work
- Syncing Calendars - Appeared to work
- Syncing Applications - Appeared to work
- Syncing <iPhone name> (Phase 2)- This took about 15 minutes and then received the -20 Error.

I have also gone to the extreme to roll back to a previous backup- This took absolute ages ( I eventually went to bed and left it to carry on. ) In the morning - guess what the same error (-20).

Does anyone have any idea how to resolve this. Apple appears to recognise the Error 20 but there is nothing about the Error "-20".

Cheers
 
A Fix!

So, after looking high and low for a resolution to the "iTunes Backup Error (-20), I found a resolution.

Delete the backups under "MobileSync"

Mac Users
username>library>application support>MobileSync

After deleting all files under this folder, i reconnected my iPhone and it completed a sync w/o any issues. Problem solved!
 
this worked for me...

I hope this helps. I have been receiving the (-20) Backup error as well.

My iPhone: 3GS 16GB OS 4.0.1

Using a PC (Windows 7)

Open up iTunes.
Click Edit >> Preferences.
Choose the "Devices" Tab.
Select and delete all present backups. You can click to choose, then hit the "Delete Backup" button to execute.

Try to SYNC your iPhone. The above worked for me.

Good luck!
 
(-20) iTunes Error Issue resolved

Hi mring5150 and orionmessier42,

Thank you for your help. I can also confirm that it worked for me using the following:-

iPhone: 3Gs 32GB with OS 4.0.2
iTunes: 9.2.1.5
PC OS: Windows 7


Cheers again.
 
It worked!!

Dude,

You are my saviour! I did follow your instruction and the error message was gone instantly. Thank you so very much!!!


I hope this helps. I have been receiving the (-20) Backup error as well.

My iPhone: 3GS 16GB OS 4.0.1

Using a PC (Windows 7)

Open up iTunes.
Click Edit >> Preferences.
Choose the "Devices" Tab.
Select and delete all present backups. You can click to choose, then hit the "Delete Backup" button to execute.

Try to SYNC your iPhone. The above worked for me.

Good luck!
 
Backup problems: Error -20

Suddenly after upgrading iTunes to Ver.10.1.17 I keep getting the following error message: “iTunescould not back up the iPhone “Antoine Chalhoub’s iPhone” because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with iPhone. Delete the backup for this iPhone then try again”.
I have deleted and downloaded iTunes many times, but always gives the same error. Now also with Ver 10.2.0.34.
Synchronization is fine, but no backup.
Now I cannot upgrade to iOS 4.3 because the upgrading requires a backup, and I cannot do a backup.
Anyone with similar problems? Any suggestions on how to fix?

UPDATE: On 3/12, I called Apple support in Japan. Excellent service. I explained the problem, and after a few minutes, told me to check if any previous backups were erroneously left in the computer. They told me where to look, I found a backup that had been corrupted. They told me what to remove, then went back to iTunes and did a backup, and it worked perfectly.
 
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