If, like me, you spent days hacking your iPhone to make it work on an unofficial cell phone network, then you can understand how scary it is when iTunes tells you that it wants to restore the phone to factory defaults.
If I’d followed iTunes advice my phone would’ve been rendered useless. So, I was quite pleased when I discovered another fix.
It seems that my phone went on the fritz in the middle of exporting images to iPhoto. So I found a fix online where you delete the contents of the media folder, then when you reconnect to iTunes you get the option to load a the backup. No restore, no factory defaults, all is good!
If you have command line access to your phone you can use the following:
rm -R /var/root/Media
Otherwise you can connect via SSH or SFTP and delete the files manually.
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve just got the same message on my iPhone but this clue doesn’t work for me. What is your iPhone version? I have iPhone 8G (old generation) with software version 2.1.
I’m on an unlocked 8gb 1.1.2.
Do you have root access to your phone?
Yes, I have. Actually, I found what was the problem. Because I’m using a Custom Firmware which is created with symbolic links, I’ve had to remove the /private/var/mobile/Media/ as well.
Anyway, thank you for your effort! My explanation can be used from other people (or at least I hope so because this page comes at the first place in google result)
Kind regards,
Danail Petrov
Thanks for posting your findings, I too hope this will help others.
Just out of interest, where did you get the custom firmware and what benefits does it have?
Well, I’ve downloaded it from a website. I can’t remember what was actually it’s url address but I can find it if you ask to. There are lot of programs which allows you to create even your custom firmware with your favorite applications as well. So once you have installed all the thinks you need, you can create your own image/firmware. It works like old school software called “Norton ghost” (if you’ve heard it).
I have figured out more specific cure:
Instead of deleting entire “/private/var/mobile/Media folder”,
just delete “/private/var/mobile/Media/iTunes_Control/iTunes/iTunesDB” database file. Make sure also to remove (back up) media files from”/private/var/mobile/Media/iTunes_Control/Music”. Since database file is deleted these files will have no reference inside itunes anymore. You can add them again to iTunes later.
Next time you launch iTunes -will create new database file.
(I was using iphone 3G, Itunes
Danail, sounds cool, fire me the link if you find it.
bosaka, neat! 3g is my next purchase, just as soon as they iron-out those bugs.
thnx bosaka…this works for iphone 3G 2.1….
thank you
WOW!!! thanks a lot. i was going crazy here for a sec. works great.
thank you very much bosaka!!!
You guys are the shit. Thank you so much. I was actually able to grab the photos I thought that were lost when I started the 2.2 restore in itunes without syncing my pix. WOHOO!
yo boska boy…u fkin genius man….thanks it worked like butter….thanks
Bosaka…BOOYAKA! May ALLAH have Mercy on you for the advice. It was an immense help and provided much relief to me after over a month of being without my music and updates to my photo albums. JC, may the Most Gracious provide HIS Grace to you too for providing the forum on which this advice can be found.
PEACE!s
My appreciation to you.
Rgds
bosaka you are the best thank you very much .
Worked beautifully! Thanks very much!!!! especially bosaka! xxxx
Just a note to all the jailbroken 3.0 fw peeps out there…this fix will work for you too. I thought the jailbreak FUBAR’d my phone…but it was indeed this file that bosaka directs you to delete above.
1. Recover via iTunes.
2. Jailbreak
3. Use iFunBox or the like to delete the file above
4. Open iTunes.
5. Rejoice to the Deity of your choice.
Have a nice day =)
This saved me!!!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
Need help.. Mine is the 4GB software V. 2.1
I have this problem and I don’t know how to do the command thing, please provide full details.. Any help will truly be appreciated