Updated iphone to os 4 messed everything up! Help!

[tupelohoney]

After updating my iphone 3g software to 4.2 everything off my phone is gone. I followed all the instructions and did a backup but I can't seem to load backup because mobile device helper is not working.... I've tried various solutions including:
Repairing the apple mobile device software;
Uninstalling itunes completely (followed instructions on apple site;
Reinstalling everything;
I've changed the apple mobile device settings to start automatically under the system options in my control panel

I'm really at my wits end and could really use some help. Thanks in advance

 

[celticpride678]

You should be able to just sync everything back onto your device without a backup. Just plug it into iTunes.

 

[tupelohoney]

Seems simple enough except...

It just syncs with nothing on it. Where are my contacts, apps, pictures, etc.? I don't care so much about the music seeing as my library is full of it, but I would like my contacts back. Like I said before, I keep getting this error message anytime I try to load the backup: mobile device helper has stopped working.

 

[celticpride678]

It just syncs with nothing on it. Where are my contacts, apps, pictures, etc.? I don't care so much about the music seeing as my library is full of it, but I would like my contacts back. Like I said before, I keep getting this error message anytime I try to load the backup: mobile device helper has stopped working.

Well, can you check if applications are set to be synced (by clicking the Apps tab in iTunes in your device's management section).

 

[tupelohoney]

I believe the are although when I go to edit>preferences>devices I get the same error message from the above post. Here are the deets on that:

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: AppleMobileDeviceHelper.exe
Application Version: 17.793.0.136
Application Timestamp: 4cb91bf4
Fault Module Name: CoreFoundation.dll
Fault Module Version: 1.550.36.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 4cca5e34
Exception Code: c0000094
Exception Offset: 00005dc9
OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 662f
Additional Information 2: 4d375dd3d8095d43d9f38487a789097c
Additional Information 3: 1f3d
Additional Information 4: 3c093438e5ebd68342982f98dc9595f1

 

[celticpride678]

Try a few of the suggestions here: http://windows7forums.com/software/10879-apple-mobile-device-helper-has-stopped-working-9.html

What OS are you on?

 

[tupelohoney]

my laptop runs on vista
the phone is 4.2

 

[celticpride678]

my laptop runs on vista
the phone is 4.2

64-bit of Vista? Can you right click on iTunes and then make the app run in compatibility mode?

 

[tupelohoney]

its 32 bit and I can run in compatibility mode.