Update Failure 3194

[DTM]

Here is the summary:

IPod Touch 2G with 3.1.3 firmware acting flakey- random freezes, app crashes, etc. This is occasional, but getting worse. Multiple reboots failed to do much. Decided to do a restore to see if that helps. And then the real trouble started.

Wanted to do a sync and backup first, but it could not complete the backup. Got near the end and the iPod simply rebooted.

Had a backup that was only a couple of days old, so I decided to go ahead and do the restore without the backup. Each time it fails at the end of the verification step with a 3194 "Unknown Error". Apple says that means I need to update iTunes. Did that, no improvement.

Among other possibilities floated by Apple, I've tried:

Disabling the Windows firewall
Disabling my anti-virus software
Disabling my router firewall
Removing all USB devices except the iPod and mouse, connecting the iPod directly to a USB port
Updating Windows
Adding a particular line to my Hosts file

Then I decided as a last resort, I'd go ahead and update to 4.2. No dice.

So do I call this thing dead and bid Apple adieu? Or does anyone have another suggestion?

[RickAgresta]

The only thing that comes to mind is bring it in to an Apple store, if that isn't too inconvenient and let them give it a go. although my household has 2 iPhones & a jail-broken iPod touch, I've learned nothing beyond how to hate iTunes…good luck!

[r0k]

Here is the summary:

IPod Touch 2G with 3.1.3 firmware acting flakey- random freezes, app crashes, etc. This is occasional, but getting worse. Multiple reboots failed to do much. Decided to do a restore to see if that helps. And then the real trouble started.

Wanted to do a sync and backup first, but it could not complete the backup. Got near the end and the iPod simply rebooted.

Had a backup that was only a couple of days old, so I decided to go ahead and do the restore without the backup. Each time it fails at the end of the verification step with a 3194 "Unknown Error". Apple says that means I need to update iTunes. Did that, no improvement.

Among other possibilities floated by Apple, I've tried:

Disabling the Windows firewall
Disabling my anti-virus software
Disabling my router firewall
Removing all USB devices except the iPod and mouse, connecting the iPod directly to a USB port
Updating Windows
Adding a particular line to my Hosts file

Then I decided as a last resort, I'd go ahead and update to 4.2. No dice.

So do I call this thing dead and bid Apple adieu? Or does anyone have another suggestion?

I assume you've been to support.apple.com, but just in case, this article suggests updating to the latest version of iTunes.

While I prefer iTunes for browsing for music, I detest iTunes sync and I'm so happy to have all my iOS devices on iOS 5 and backing up to iCloud.

There is also another article that deals with identifying which version of iPod Touch you have. There is an error on the page in that both the 4th gen and 5th gen iPod Touch are labeled 4th gen.

If you really do have a second gen iPod Touch, it was introduced in 2008 so it's not entirely unreasonable that it's getting more difficult to update it. You mention bidding adieu to Apple over this. I can understand how dealing with iTunes might make you consider this. Just keep in mind that a newer generation iPod Touch (third gen and later) would be fully liberated from iTunes by iOS 5.0 and backup to iCloud is free. They are going for around $100 on ebay right now (completed listings search).

[DTM]

The only thing that comes to mind is bring it in to an Apple store, if that isn't too inconvenient and let them give it a go.

I'm thinking that's the next step, and there is one just a few miles away. Will probably hit that today.

I assume you've been to support.apple.com, but just in case, this article suggests updating to the latest version of iTunes.

I know that article well! When you get the error, the "More info" button takes you directly to it. I have most of it memorized by now. But I'm already at the latest version.

You mention bidding adieu to Apple over this. I can understand how dealing with iTunes might make you consider this.

Oh, it's more than just iTunes. Oddly enough, while iTunes is the one Apple product that even Apple fans seem to hate, it's well down the list of things that bother me.

Off to Somerset! (RA, you should remember that one!)

[RickAgresta]

I'm thinking....<snip>...

Off to Somerset! (RA, you should remember

No one forgets Big Beaver Road, Exit 69!!

[r0k]

Oh, it's more than just iTunes. Oddly enough, while iTunes is the one Apple product that even Apple fans seem to hate, it's well down the list of things that bother me.

For these points to make sense, you'll have to view the thread DTM linked above but things have gotten slightly better since his 6/10/2010 post:
1 - apps can't share data - still true however apps can send one another data and many apps have workarounds mostly involving dropbox. As for the sync mess, iCloud is a lot better.
2 - I have only had one app pulled on me in over 2 years of use. It was a wifi finder. With half a million apps, chances are the app you need is available without resorting to Cydia.
3 - iOS 5 removes iTunes from the equation.
4 - I've only experienced this a handful of times. Remember when MS was accused of sabotaging WP 6 for Windows? I sometimes wonder if Apple does wifi just a bit differently so their stuff all works flawlessly together but as soon as you add anything else, things begin to break down. I can't put my finger on it, but I've only had to reset an Apple router once in 3 years while I had to reset other brands of routers almost monthly. I lay these problems at the feet of Comcast who via DOCSIS can flash new firmware whenever the urge strikes and the "reset" incidents were almost always when Comcast decided it was time for me to have a new IP address on the internet.
5 - The duplicate core functionality rule has been somewhat relaxed.
6 - I like the results of Apple's review process though I must admit my OS X app would probably not pass muster. If you can't live in the walled garden, there are a handful of Android "TX-sized" non phone devices available. I saw one at Best Buy this past weekend.
7 - Flash is dog vomit. I can leave Chrome, Firefox, Safari or even IE running for days on either Windows or OS X without incident. When do those browsers crash? All Browsers Crash for flash. My biggest computer pet peeve is flash noisemakers. I browse to a web page in a meeting or at the library and all of a sudden my speakers are making motorcycle noises or choirs start singing and everybody turns and looks at me like I'm some sort of idiot. I never run any browser without a flashblock add on installed and active. What frustrated me about FF on Windows and finally drove me to Chrome? Flash. The plugin randomly quit working several times over the past semester and the only way to complete homework and take exams in Stanford's ai-class was in flash. To reinstall flash required manual workarounds as you needed adobe air running just to download the darn thing. Chrome comes with flash so I never had to deal with adobe's lame downloader again. The semester was only 10 weeks long and I swear flash seemed to break at least a half dozen times. Does it frustrate me when I can't view content because some webmaster used flash? You bet it does. But I'm not as upset at Apple as I am with the idiot who decided I had to have flash to use his site in the first place. This argument was posthumously won by Steve Jobs when Adobe announced they were dropping mobile flash development.

I'm sorry iThings haven't worked out for you, DTM but now that iOS 5 is available, an older gen iPod Touch is not the best evaluation platform on which to base your decision about Apple gear.

Off to Somerset! (RA, you should remember that one!)

No one forgets Big Beaver Road, Exit 69!!

The store recently expanded to absorb the Puma store next door and no longer feels crowded. I could swear I saw "Resistance is Futile" graffiti on the black partitions just before the store reopened...

[lelisa13p]

I also have an iPod Touch 2nd Gen & your thread prompted me last nite to go and have a look. I wanted to check how well the battery was holding a charge anyway. My Touch hasn't been plugged into iTunes since the last iOS upgrade (v.4.2.1). You may recall that was the upgrade that gave us Folders and was the last upgrade allowed. It did not come with the multitasking feature for this model of Touch that iPhones gained at that time.

That said, I've never had a moment of trouble so I'm inclined to think taking it into the Apple store is a good idea, too. Of course, it's easy for me to do because there are 3 of them within 30 minutes of my front door.

I'm interested to hear how this goes for you.

[Varjak]

Even I'm beginning to hate Flash. Until about 18 months ago, I never had issues (and mentioned that a few times here, which probably cursed me). Now,it crashes all the time. Fortunately, that doesn't bring anything down anymore (at least in Firefox, which isolates it). You just have to refresh the page. I do agree about sites that run stuff right away, whether it's advertisements or even actual video they want you to see. Even the Times starts its 'Timescast' without prompting sometimes.

DTM, I think the Apple Store is a good move. I hope it works out.

[DTM]

Flash is dog vomit.

C'mon, quit waltzing around and tell us what you really think! But there's one thing we all agree on: the world would (will) be a better place without Flash.

I'm inclined to think taking it into the Apple store is a good idea, too. Of course, it's easy for me to do because there are 3 of them within 30 minutes of my front door.

I have only one, but it's maybe ten minutes away.

Well I'm back up and running again. I never really noticed, but the "Genius Bar" really is set up like a bar. I kept looking for the scotch. They even have "high-top" tables for you to sit at while waiting for your appointment to come up. I nearly got carried away and tried to pick up the woman sitting next to me.

The guy who helped me said it sounded like corrupted firmware, put it in DFU mode and reloaded. (Apple's official story is that "DFU" stands for "Device Firmware Update". I've been around programmers long enough to bet the rent that it originally meant "Device F***ed Up", and they had to come up with another name for the public. By the way, *** is "oul"; surely you weren't thinking of something else?)

Anyway, after about ten minutes of that, I had a stable unit again, with a free upgrade to 4.2.1! His only concern was that I still might not be able to sync, but that went off without a hitch, and I appear to be good as new. I love happy endings.

I've since noticed several places online that show how to get into DFU mode so you can do that yourself and save a trip to the Apple store.

Thanks to all for your suggestions, and RA wins the Golden Zippy award for being the first to suggest the eventual solution.

[RickAgresta]

Aw, shucks! glad it worked out, D