A couple of days ago I posted about the original iOS 9.3 update “bricking” my daughter’s iPhone 4S. Still, no assistance from Apple in recovering use of the device. However, it appears that the problem is even worse than first suspected. Here is a comment posted by user “Mark_14” on COMPUTERWORLD’s site:

“But it does sound like some Apple geniuses aren’t following the script. Here’s the experience of Mark_14:

My iPhone is totally useless. [It] never gets past activation. I’ve spent 5 hours with the Apple technical support and time with ... Apple store technicians who all say they’ve never seen this ... problem before. ... One support tech did say they are getting many calls about ... the 4S.

The store technician diagnosed that for some reason ... instead of just going to the Apple activation server ... it also going to a second activation server, which it is not supposed to do. ...They are in agreement that it is software problem/bug in the 9.3 upgrade.

I had to do many power down resets, remove ... the SIM card, [we] even tried a new SIM card, completely erase ... and go through the recovery steps. ... multiple times - none of which worked. ... The 9.3 upgrade changed something in the iPhone that even a [factory reset] will not undo (my emphasis).”

What?

Holy Crow! This may well be the reason Apple refuses to, even at the least, wipe the 4S clean with a factory reset. The factory reset procedure may NOT reactivate my daughter's iPhone 4S at all!

If this is true, the only alternative Apple may have is to exchange every bricked iPhone for brand new devices. This could be a “Yuuuuuge” problem for Apple, and a costly one.

This sucks big time.

However, have you tried a restore in iTunes?

good luck and please keep us updated.

The latest update to the iPhone and iPad appears to have introduced a bug that causes apps and devices to freeze and crash.

[money.cnn.com]



Has iOS 9.3 broken YOUR iPhone? Software update is causing apps to crash when trying to open links in Safari


Read more: [www.dailymail.co.uk]
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My phone (5S), which was updated to 9.3, just told me that 9.3 was available as an update again...

Did they push the update and and pull it back from the phones remotely somehow? It seems very odd to me.

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MacResource User Map: [www.zeemaps.com]#

Have you tried to install the re-released new 9.3 version that supposedly fixes the bricking issue?

[www.idownloadblog.com]

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Athens, OH

send it in to the FBI

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billb
send it in to the FBI

don't, they may spill water on it

I feel your pain! I had this happen with a software update to my 4S about three years ago. My phone would hang right after boot (wouldn't even make it to the activation step).

This was extra stressful, because I was a fool and upgraded right before I left for a trip. As soon as I arrived at my destination I headed straight to an Apple Store and they gave me quite the runaround, saying that it was my fault. In the end, "even though they don't do that any more," I got them to replace my iPhone but it took over an hour. My phone was out of warranty and it horrifies me that Apple can remotely brick your phone and the only recourse is to *pay them another $600 for a new phone*!!! That was my real issue. Yes, I consented to the upgrade but I couldn't believe that there was no way to downgrade/reset/reinstall from scratch when things went wrong.

Why are we getting missives from Bcam but Bcam isn't confirming that he's done all he can to fix the issue?

Someone posted something on the Internet. Not news.

News is: Did reinstalling using the Apple-recommended way with iTunes work for you or not?

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deckeda
Why are we getting missives from Bcam but Bcam isn't confirming that he's done all he can to fix the issue?

The Missive is that the 4S gets to activation and stops.
No iTunes Restore or Reset works (tried several time).
Because of attempts at Reset phone is completely erased.
Can't apply "new" 9.3 because iTunes will not recognize bricked phone, and the phone itself, hung at activation, cannot connect with Apple servers.

Yes, decked, I've just been sitting here just looking at a useless device.
Really?

Apple Case # ******4472

someone said to sue them in small claims court (see previous threads).

Thanks for the update, I missed the mention of trying the rescue via iTunes.

I'm all ears about how Apple responds to this.

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BCam
The Missive is that the 4S gets to activation and stops.
No iTunes Restore or Reset works (tried several time).

Is this the procedure you followed, i.e. first put it into DFU mode?:

[www.youtube.com]

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BCam

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deckeda
Why are we getting missives from Bcam but Bcam isn't confirming that he's done all he can to fix the issue?

The Missive is that the 4S gets to activation and stops.
No iTunes Restore or Reset works (tried several time).
Because of attempts at Reset phone is completely erased.
Can't apply "new" 9.3 because iTunes will not recognize bricked phone, and the phone itself, hung at activation, cannot connect with Apple servers.

Yes, decked, I've just been sitting here just looking at a useless device.
Really?

Apple Case # ******4472

Hey now we're getting somewhere. I don't suppose there's a Genuis bar around you, if AA's DFU suggestion doesn't kick start it?

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space-time
The latest update to the iPhone and iPad appears to have introduced a bug that causes apps and devices to freeze and crash.

[money.cnn.com]

That's a separate issue with 9.3; probably wise not to confuse the two.

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ztirffritz
My phone (5S), which was updated to 9.3, just told me that 9.3 was available as an update again...

Did they push the update and and pull it back from the phones remotely somehow? It seems very odd to me.

It's a later build offered to a subset of "older" devices (iPad Air and iPhone 5S among them). If you've successfully updated to the original 9.3, you don't need to update again, but it won't hurt, either. Maybe just wait for the next update that addresses the URL issue above.


If Apple can issue a software update that works around the Error 53 hardware issue, they can probably also address this one.

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Bimwad

Quote
space-time
The latest update to the iPhone and iPad appears to have introduced a bug that causes apps and devices to freeze and crash.

[money.cnn.com]

That's a separate issue with 9.3; probably wise not to confuse the two.

Quote
ztirffritz
My phone (5S), which was updated to 9.3, just told me that 9.3 was available as an update again...

Did they push the update and and pull it back from the phones remotely somehow? It seems very odd to me.

It's a later build offered to a subset of "older" devices (iPad Air and iPhone 5S among them). If you've successfully updated to the original 9.3, you don't need to update again, but it won't hurt, either. Maybe just wait for the next update that addresses the URL issue above.


If Apple can issue a software update that works around the Error 53 hardware issue, they can probably also address this one.

I also have the prompt to (re)update to 9.3. Just a little reluctant to pull the trigger on this one right away. I think I'll just ignore it for a few days to make sure some new issue wasn't introduced with the re-rollout.

9.3 already working fine. No reason to upgrade to 9.3.

I'm so glad that this was posted. I just started Mavis on ber donated iPhone 5 and saw that there was an update. I had already picked up that there was an issue, from previous threads, but this clinches it.

It won't update on its own, will it?

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gl @ Dana Point, CA

My iPhone 5 is on 9.2.1 and I have not received any notices to update to 9.3. When I do Settings>Software Update it shows 9.3 as available.

A bit annoying that the info on the update says "With this update to your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch gain . . . a new feature called Night Shift . . ." which I understand requires an iPhone 5s or later.

and

"This release also includes additional improvements and bug fixes."

Even clicking "Learn More" doesn't mention limits on models before the iPhone 5s.

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Be seeing you.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2016 05:55PM by Winston.

Quote
BernDog

Quote
Bimwad

Quote
space-time
The latest update to the iPhone and iPad appears to have introduced a bug that causes apps and devices to freeze and crash.

[money.cnn.com]

That's a separate issue with 9.3; probably wise not to confuse the two.

Quote
ztirffritz
My phone (5S), which was updated to 9.3, just told me that 9.3 was available as an update again...

Did they push the update and and pull it back from the phones remotely somehow? It seems very odd to me.

It's a later build offered to a subset of "older" devices (iPad Air and iPhone 5S among them). If you've successfully updated to the original 9.3, you don't need to update again, but it won't hurt, either. Maybe just wait for the next update that addresses the URL issue above.


If Apple can issue a software update that works around the Error 53 hardware issue, they can probably also address this one.

I also have the prompt to (re)update to 9.3. Just a little reluctant to pull the trigger on this one right away. I think I'll just ignore it for a few days to make sure some new issue wasn't introduced with the re-rollout.

9.3 already working fine. No reason to upgrade to 9.3.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss?

Tried the DFU suggestion.
No Joy.

But thanks.

There's another 9.3 bug out there (and folks are posting about it); launch the update and it fails because the device is "not connected to the Internet" (even though it IS!).

Have not seen this problem addressed yet.

I had a new battery put in my iPhone 5 this afternoon and updated to 9.3. Everything seems fine so far.

I got a notice last night to update.

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Grateful11

I updated...again. No issues thus far.

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MacResource User Map: [www.zeemaps.com]#

We were just at Apple Store Genius Bar for Ethel's iPhone 5 issue. He said to just wait until the newer update comes out. iPhone still works, except for one thing, of which my head has rejected the memory. My iPhone 5 works great with the update.

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DeusxMac
There's another 9.3 bug out there (and folks are posting about it); launch the update and it fails because the device is "not connected to the Internet" (even though it IS!).

Have not seen this problem addressed yet.

This one happened to me. Solution is to go to Settings > Reset > Reset Network Settings. After I did that the update verified and installed.