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Relieving the Headache of the iPhone on Windows Vista with iTunes

October 30, 2007 by Rob Bazinet

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So, I have my new iPhone in my hot little hands and crack open the beautifully designed box from Apple to look at the instructions.    The basic instructions are (8) 2″ x 4″ pages with very little writing and some pictures.  How hard could it be to get this thing working?

Well, obviously much longer than I expected otherwise I probably wouldn’t be writing this post.   The instructions are as follows:

  1. Download and install the latest version of iTunes.
  2. Connect iPhone to your Mac or PC using the included cable and Dock.
  3. Follow the onscreen instructions in iTunes to activate iPhone and sync your contacts, calendars, email accounts, bookmarks, music, photos, videos, and more.

That’s it.  That’s all there is to it….yeah right.

I was already using iTunes with my older iPod and it has worked great.  I am on Windows Vista (32-bit) and running iTunes 7.4.3.1, which is the latest at the time of writing this.  I plugged in the iPhone Dock to the USB cable back to a USB 2.0 port and sat the iPhone in the dock with iTunes running…..nothing.  After several failed attempts of unplugging the USB, connecting with iTunes closed and different USB ports but still nothing worked.

Thinking I may have received a dead iPhone, I unpacked my MacBook Pro and tried the same combination and it worked just fine and I was able to activate my iPhone with AT & T with no problems.   I still had the issue of using the iPhone with Vista since I use Windows for my day-to-day work and the bulk of my media content resides on Vista I really needed to get it to work.  So off to Google I went….

It turns out this not a uncommon problem on Windows at all.  The first article for the iPhone on Apple’s support web site is titled “iPhone not recognized in iTunes for Windows“.   This article is a good place to start but did not solve my problem.   At the bottom of the article it basically says if all else fails the reinstall.   Apple does give some nice detailed instructions about uninstalling iTunes.

The article says to try the following:

In some rare instances, it may be required to remove all traces of iTunes, QuickTime, and other essential software components from your computer. Use the following steps to remove all traces of iTunes, QuickTime, and associated software installed by the iTunes + QuickTime Installer.

 

Remove iTunes (Click for more)

Note: iTunes Store purchases or songs imported from CDs are saved in your My Music folder by default and are not deleted by removing iTunes.

  1. Quit iTunes.
  2. From the Start menu, click Control Panel.
  3. In Control Panel, click Uninstall a program. The Programs and Features control panel opens.
    Alternately, in Classic Panel of Control Panel, click Programs and Features.
  4. Select iTunes from the list of currently installed programs, then click Uninstall.
  5. When asked if you would like to remove iTunes, select Yes.
  6. After the uninstallation is complete, do not restart if you are prompted to.
  7. If other entries were present for iTunes remove those as well.
  8. In Programs and Features, remove any iPod Updater applications that are listed in the same fashion as iTunes was removed.
  9. Restart your computer.
  10. After the computer restarts, open Local Disk (C:) in Computer or whichever disk programs are installed on.
  11. Open the Program Files folder.
  12. Right-click the iTunes folder and select Delete and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Note: This folder may have already been deleted if iTunes was successfully removed in steps 1-7.
  13. Right-click the iPod folder and select Delete and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
  14. Right-click on the Recycle Bin and on the shortcut menu, click Empty Recycle Bin.
  15. Restart your computer.
  16. Install the latest version of iTunes from http://www.apple.com/itunes/download.

Remove QuickTime (Click for more)

Here is some content

  1. Quit QuickTime Player.
  2. From the Start menu, click Control Panel.
  3. In Control Panel, click Uninstall a program. The Programs and Features control panel opens.
    Alternately, in Classic Panel of Control Panel, click Programs and Features.
  4. Select QuickTime from the list of currently installed programs, then click Uninstall.
  5. When asked if you would like to remove QuickTime, select Yes.
  6. After the uninstallation is complete, do not restart if you are prompted to.
  7. If other entries were present for QuickTime remove those as well.
  8. Restart your computer.
  9. After the computer restarts, open Local Disk (C:) in Computer or whichever disk programs are installed on.
  10. Open the Program Files folder.
  11. Right-click the QuickTime folder and select Delete and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Note: This folder may have already been deleted if QuickTime was successfully removed in steps 1-7.
  12. Delete the QuickTime and QuicktimeVR files located in the C:\Windows\system32\ folder. Click Continue if Windows needs confirmation or permission to continue.
  13. Right-click on the Recycle Bin and on the shortcut menu, click Empty Recycle Bin.
  14. Restart your computer.
  15. Install the latest version of QuickTime from http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download.

Remove Apple Software Update (Click for more)

  1. Quit Apple Software Update.
  2. From the Start menu, click Control Panel.
  3. In Control Panel, click Uninstall a program. The Programs and Features control panel opens.
    Alternately, in Classic Panel of Control Panel, click Programs and Features.
  4. Select Apple Software Update from the list of currently installed programs, then click Uninstall.
  5. When asked if you would like to remove Apple Software Update, select Yes.
  6. After the uninstallation is complete, do not restart if you are prompted to.
  7. If other entries were present for Apple Software Update remove those as well.
  8. Restart your computer.
  9. Install the latest version of Apple Software Update by installing the latest version of iTunes http://www.apple.com/itunes/download.

Remove Apple Mobile Device Support (Click for more)

  1. Quit iTunes.
  2. From the Start menu, click Control Panel.
  3. In Control Panel, click Uninstall a program. The Programs and Features control panel opens.
    Alternately, in Classic Panel of Control Panel, click Programs and Features.
  4. Select iTunes from the list of currently installed programs, then click Uninstall.
  5. When asked if you would like to remove iTunes, select Yes.
  6. After the uninstallation is complete, do not restart if you are prompted to.
  7. If other entries were present for iTunes remove those as well.
  8. In Programs and Features, remove Apple Mobile Device Support in the same fashion as iTunes was removed.1
  9. Restart your computer.
  10. After the computer restarts, open Local Disk (C:) in Computer or whichever disk programs are installed on.
  11. Open the Program Files folder.
  12. Right-click the iTunes folder and select Delete and choose Yes when asked to confirm the deletion. Note: This folder may have already been deleted if iTunes was successfully removed in steps 1-7.
  13. Right-click on the Recycle Bin and on t
    he shortcut menu, click Empty Recycle Bin.
  14. Restart your computer.
  15. Install the latest version of iTunes from http://www.apple.com/itunes/download.

Notes

  1. Do not manually delete the Mobile Device Support folder located at C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple. Use Programs and Features as described in the steps above.
iPodService.exe Alert

Follow these steps if the message, “Cannot delete iPodService.exe: It is being used by another person or program” appears when you try to delete the iPod folder.

  1. Make sure that iTunes and the iPod Updater utility are not open.
  2. On your keyboard press Control-Alt-Delete. Select Start Task Manager.
  3. Click on the Processes tab.
  4. Locate the iPodService.exe in the list.
  5. Click on iPodService.exe and choose End Process.
  6. Quit the Task Manager.

I tried just uninstalling iTunes as instructed about but this did not work, so I followed all the steps including removal of QuickTime and also confirming all directories were gone as well.

The last piece of the puzzle was probably the root cause of the problem.   It seems Vista does a lousy job of installing various USB drivers and in this case the one for the Apple USB.   I needed to delete the folder beginning with USBAPPL_ in the C:\Windows\System32\DRVSTORE.

I then reran the iTunes setup, as Administrator, rebooted and tried the iPhone connection again and it all worked.

I hope this save someone from a headache or two and about 2 hours of time.

Technorati Tags: iPhone, Vista, iTunes

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Comments

  1. Topic Drivers » Relieving the Headache of the iPhone on Windows Vista with iTunes says

    October 30, 2007 at 11:24 pm

    […] [email protected] (enriquev): […]

  2. Topic Drivers » Relievin says

    October 30, 2007 at 11:24 pm

    […] [email protected] (enriquev): […]

  3. Windows Vista News says

    October 30, 2007 at 11:30 pm

    Relieving the Headache of the iPhone on Windows Vista with iTunes

    New post at rbazinet.wordpress.com

  4. Windows Vista News says

    October 30, 2007 at 11:30 pm

    Relieving the Headache of the iPhone on Windows Vista with iTunes
    New post at rbazinet.wordpress.com

  5. Peter Piotroski says

    January 16, 2008 at 11:46 am

    Thank you, thank you. I have been having this problem with every iTunes update I install. I run XP SP2 and it can never find the driver. I followed your instructions, even though I wasn’t using Vista and lo and behold when I pointed the “wizard” to that folder..It installed the USB driver and all is well..

    Regards,

    Peter

    PS-One of us should inform Apple of post it on their site…

  6. Peter Piotroski says

    January 16, 2008 at 11:46 am

    Thank you, thank you. I have been having this problem with every iTunes update I install. I run XP SP2 and it can never find the driver. I followed your instructions, even though I wasn’t using Vista and lo and behold when I pointed the “wizard” to that folder..It installed the USB driver and all is well..
    Regards,
    Peter
    PS-One of us should inform Apple of post it on their site…

  7. Rob Bazinet says

    January 16, 2008 at 12:16 pm

    @Peter Great! I am glad to have helped someone. This is a bug in how the iTunes installer sets up USB drivers.

    Sure, pass it along to Apple.

  8. Rob Bazinet says

    January 16, 2008 at 12:16 pm

    @Peter Great! I am glad to have helped someone. This is a bug in how the iTunes installer sets up USB drivers.
    Sure, pass it along to Apple.

  9. Blake says

    February 26, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    Hey Rob,

    I used your steps with my setup (iPhone + Vista) and it works great for the included USB cable, but not the dock itself (the thing the cable can connec to and have your iPhone stand up in). Whenever I plug that in, Vista tries to install an “iPhone” driver and fails that step.

    So, the cable alone works great and syncs with iTunes perfectly, however when I plug the cable into the dock, and then set the iPhone on the dock and have issues. Have you, or anyone else, heard of that sort of problem?

  10. Blake says

    February 26, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    Hey Rob,
    I used your steps with my setup (iPhone + Vista) and it works great for the included USB cable, but not the dock itself (the thing the cable can connec to and have your iPhone stand up in). Whenever I plug that in, Vista tries to install an “iPhone” driver and fails that step.
    So, the cable alone works great and syncs with iTunes perfectly, however when I plug the cable into the dock, and then set the iPhone on the dock and have issues. Have you, or anyone else, heard of that sort of problem?

  11. Rob Bazinet says

    February 27, 2008 at 11:49 am

    @Blake Sorry, I have not seen this issue. Once I had the iPhone working it worked fine in the dock too.

  12. Rob Bazinet says

    February 27, 2008 at 11:49 am

    @Blake Sorry, I have not seen this issue. Once I had the iPhone working it worked fine in the dock too.

  13. mike says

    April 7, 2008 at 7:38 pm

    iPhone not working on Vista SP1!!!!

    I called apple support after being frustrated not getting the iphone connected with iTunes.

    Did uninstalled/reinstalled all the software as it is explained above, with no success.

    The apple support did the same procedure with me and I followed the instructions, with only one exception that we turned of McAfee Security Center (Firewall, Virus scan) and Windows Firewall and it worked !!!!!!!!!!

  14. mike says

    April 7, 2008 at 7:38 pm

    iPhone not working on Vista SP1!!!!
    I called apple support after being frustrated not getting the iphone connected with iTunes.
    Did uninstalled/reinstalled all the software as it is explained above, with no success.
    The apple support did the same procedure with me and I followed the instructions, with only one exception that we turned of McAfee Security Center (Firewall, Virus scan) and Windows Firewall and it worked !!!!!!!!!!

  15. Rob Bazinet says

    April 8, 2008 at 8:04 am

    @mike Thanks for the info and your experience. I think this is crazy. The amount of time you wasted to get a solution Apple should have had out the door. They seem to not be concerned about Windows Vista users but they should. I hope you gave them heck.

  16. Rob Bazinet says

    April 8, 2008 at 8:04 am

    @mike Thanks for the info and your experience. I think this is crazy. The amount of time you wasted to get a solution Apple should have had out the door. They seem to not be concerned about Windows Vista users but they should. I hope you gave them heck.

  17. apple iphone installation disk vista says

    May 18, 2008 at 10:14 am

    RE: Relieving the Headache of the iPhone on Windows Vista with iTunes

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  18. apple iphone installation disk says

    May 18, 2008 at 10:14 am

    RE: Relieving the Headache of the iPhone on Windows Vista with iTunes

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  19. Gano says

    September 8, 2009 at 10:09 am

    Hi There,
    I am having a windows vista 32 bit. my iphone was working quite well till yesterday. i found my iphone 3G OS 3.0 restarting when I conncet it to the pc….and when it doesn’t restart it seems that the iphone is processing something!!! the brighting sign which comes over the "slide to unlock" becomes very slow and not smooth…..it takes sme time of that processing and then it becomes ok or it restarts….
    i unistalled the itunes and intalled again…but didnt help.
    i uninstalled the iphone driver (under portble drivers and under USB connectors) and then installed the driver under (c:/program files/common files/apple –> in subfolder you’ll find the drivers).
    The mobile is not restarting now and it doesn’t process anything….but another problem appeared …. now there’s no hard drive anymore for my iphone….i mean that drive whih contains the pictures….so i cannot copy my captured pictures now…. it’s fast, itunes read it….but i cannot copy my pictures:(
    it seems that it’s related to a driver …. and btw…i ddnt find that folder which starts by USBAPP in systems32 :((

  20. Gano says

    September 8, 2009 at 10:09 am

    Hi There,

    I am having a windows vista 32 bit. my iphone was working quite well till yesterday. i found my iphone 3G OS 3.0 restarting when I conncet it to the pc….and when it doesn’t restart it seems that the iphone is processing something!!! the brighting sign which comes over the "slide to unlock" becomes very slow and not smooth…..it takes sme time of that processing and then it becomes ok or it restarts….

    i unistalled the itunes and intalled again…but didnt help.

    i uninstalled the iphone driver (under portble drivers and under USB connectors) and then installed the driver under (c:/program files/common files/apple –> in subfolder you’ll find the drivers).

    The mobile is not restarting now and it doesn’t process anything….but another problem appeared …. now there’s no hard drive anymore for my iphone….i mean that drive whih contains the pictures….so i cannot copy my captured pictures now…. it’s fast, itunes read it….but i cannot copy my pictures:(

    it seems that it’s related to a driver …. and btw…i ddnt find that folder which starts by USBAPP in systems32 :((

  21. Gano says

    September 9, 2009 at 3:42 am

    Hi,
    I’m writing to you again with good news. The problem has been solved simply by uninstalling itunes, apple automatic updater, and mobile device support. then restarting my vista pc, then install the latest itunes which will download the last mentioned 3 items in one shot. Restart your pc….the mobile is not processing as before, not restarting and the portable device is there; can simply copy my pictures…..life is great now with my iphone and fixed windows 🙂
    Thanks,

  22. Gano says

    September 9, 2009 at 3:42 am

    Hi,

    I’m writing to you again with good news. The problem has been solved simply by uninstalling itunes, apple automatic updater, and mobile device support. then restarting my vista pc, then install the latest itunes which will download the last mentioned 3 items in one shot. Restart your pc….the mobile is not processing as before, not restarting and the portable device is there; can simply copy my pictures…..life is great now with my iphone and fixed windows 🙂

    Thanks,

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