Existing users, 
The iPhone sync debacle: Still not recognized by iTunes, “Other” taking up too much space
Posted 20 September 2007 @ 12pm in Uncategorized
We continue to be inundated with reports of problems with iPhone syncing apparent under all versions of iTunes 7.4.x (7.4, 7.4.1 and 7.4.2). To recap, here are some common symptoms:
- The iPhone is not recognized by iTunes, never appearing in the left-hand pane
- iTunes fails to transfer all music, contacts, calendar data, or other items to the device.
- iTunes times out when attempting to transfer data to the iPhone
- iTunes crashes while transferring data to the iPhone
In addition, we are exploring a new issue where storage capacity on the iPhone mysteriously disappears after sync sessions.
iPhone Atlas reader Mike Contreras writes:
“After I downloaded 7.4, about 3 gigs of my 8 iPhone gigs show up as being occupied, although it is only categorized as ‘Other.’ This is something that I did not upload to my iPhone.”
Reader Pam adds:
“My iPhone has been working great. Today I updated to the newest iTunes (version 7.4.2) and suddenly the memory is full. On the capacity bar at the bottom of the page, there is an orange bar representing Other that uses 5.95 GB. Audio uses 487mb and photos use 103 mb. It finally synced after I unchecked almost all playlists and photos.”
Fix for “Other” taking up too much space Unfortunately, the only effective fix for suddenly missing storage on the iPhone that occurs after a sync is to restore the device. Connect your iPhone to your computer, then in iTunes, select your iPhone and click the Restore button under the Summary tab. Restoring the phone will erase contacts, calendars, photos and other data stored only on the phone, but will restore automatically backed-up information including text messages, notes, call history, contact favorites, sound settings, widget settings, etc.
Fix for iPhone not being recognized Though we’ve already covered a number of potential solutions for this problem in our special report on troubleshooting iPhone sync issues, we’ve now happened upon another simple, if somewhat annoying fix: simply restart your Desktop system.
iPhone Atlas reader Chuck writes:
“I too have had difficulty syncing the iPhone after installing the most recent iTunes release. Most often, the device is not recognized at all. The only reliable work-around it to restart the computer. This results in the device being recognized, but the sync is incomplete.”
Meanwhile, iPhone Atlas reader Justin offers a step-by-step fix for instances of lack of recognition on Windows XP sytems:
- Right click on “My Computer”
- Select “Manage”
- On the right click “Device Manager”
- Expand (click the plus box) “Imagaing Devices” You should see Apple iPhone.
- Right click it and select “Update Driver…”
- Check the circle “Install from a list or specific location” at the bottom and click next.
- Next check, “Don’t search, I will choose the driver to install.”
- On the next page in the box under Digital still camera there should be something called Apple Mobile USB Device Driver (or something along the lines of that.
- Select that and click next to install (A message may appear about it not being an authorized windows driver, click install anyway.)
- Once the install is finished, open iTunes, connect your iPhone and your iPhone should be recognized by iTunes.
Fix for problems syncing calendars/contacts Users also continue to report, in great numbers, issues with syncing contacts and/or calendars to the iPhone.
iPhone Atlas reader Jim writes:
“Everything else syncs normally, but the calendar on my phone doesn’t update properly. In the “advanced” section of the iPhone sync window I choose ‘replace calendar’ and everything worked fine, but it would be nice for it to be a two-way affair.”
A variety of fixes for these issues can be found in our sync troubleshooting special report.
Feedback? info@iphoneatlas.com.
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7 Comments
Posted by daniel4510_dotmac
20 September 2007 @ 1pm
Yes, a system restart will (usually, but far from guaranteed) result in allowing the iPhone to be recognized and sync properly. One problem, however, at least for me: after syncing for the first time following a restart, my iToner ringtones get deleted.
Posted by Anita Murray
20 September 2007 @ 4pm
I caqn tell you exactly what the “other” is… it’s undeleted email.
You have to go to your email and delete your emails on the iPhone. Even if you delete them on your mac, they are still in your iPhone and must be trashed on a regular basis, especially if you have been sending and receiving large pdfs by email.
It’s true!
Posted by daniel4510_dotmac
20 September 2007 @ 4pm
Well now it turns out that I don’t necessarily have to restart my computer before iTunes decides to delete my iToner ringtones. If I have problems syncing (either freezes, the phone not being recognized, incomplete syncs, etc.), there’s at least a slight change the ringtones will be removed, as has just occurred.
But, I haven’t seen any other mention of this issue, so maybe it’s just me.
Posted by jgott
20 September 2007 @ 5pm
I wonder if you could track how many syncing problems are on iPhones that have been hacked in some way, and how many are affecting “virgin” iPhones. I have had no issues on my virgin iPhone.
Posted by daniel4510_dotmac
21 September 2007 @ 9pm
jgott….
My theory exactly but it’s no excuse. I paid $600 for this piece of garbage and at the very least I expect it to sync properly. I’d be more than happy to use “legitimate” ringtones purchased from iTunes if 100% of them weren’t greyed out. This is nonsense. There are plenty of songs in the public domain (not to mention original songs produced in Garageband) that should be syncable, with iToner or whatever. If Apple would be as quick to give us an iTunes version that wouldn’t freeze every time we tried to sync as they are to break work-arounds for syncing so-called illegal ringtones, I’d be happy. Apple…get with the program.
Posted by daniel4510_dotmac
21 September 2007 @ 9pm
Not so, Anita…
I have no emails in my trash and for the first time I’m seeing 2.22 gigs of “other” on my iPhone. The issue gets worse every day of the week. I just want to sync the darned thing. How hard can this be with Apple’s OWN software? Apple…get it right or get out of the phone business.
Posted by Anita Murray
22 September 2007 @ 6am
Sorry it didn’t work for you Daniel 4510…
Twice I have had so much “other” that I couldn’t sync my movies, and twice I have deleted the read mail in the trash and gotten all my iPhone space back again!