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I keep getting 'Unknown Error occurred 21' while trying to restore

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Torben.Busk Torben.Busk Torben.Busk Torben.Busk
Apr 22, 2012 12:54 PM
It started with the apple logo just flashing on and off. So I went to reset my
daughters iPhone by pressing the on/off button and the menu button
simultaneously until the iTunes logo and the USB cable was shown on the screen.
At that point, iTunes wrote;

'iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode. You must restore this iPhone
before it can be used with iTunes.

I clicked 'OK' and then 'Restore'. ITunes then went on by 'extracting software...' for
a minute or two and then 'Preparing iPhone for restore...' The apple logo was then
shown on the iPhone and a message box i iTunes;

'The iPhone 'iPhone' could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (21)'
The message box leads to 'More Information' that says that the error 21 ' typically
occur when security software interferes with the restore and update process'

That's it. I have tried everything. (I think);

Checking for iTunes updates
Checking for OS (Win7) updates
Restarting the computer
Changed the USB cable
Changed the computer
Ensuring that I have administrator privileges and that iTunes has it as well.
Disabling the antivirus
Disabling the firewall

If you have any advice, please let me know.

Regards
Torben Busk
iPhone 4, Windows 7
This solved my question This solved my question This solved my question This solved my question by Torben.Busk on Apr 23, 2012 12:57 PM
Thanks for helping out, but I already tried these steps.

I even tried this on a iMac with similar results. The only difference was
that the errorcode was called 2001 instead of 21.

Today I took the phone to www.iphoneambulancen.dk. A guy (in
Aarhus, Denmark) that specializes in iPhone repairs. I figured, that
given his occupation he'd seen most errorcdes. Two hours later, he
called me back, and told me that he had replaced the battery.

So, it turns out that a broken battery can cause this behaviour.

But thanks again
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Categories: iPhone 4 (GSM)
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I keep getting 'Unknown Error occurred...: Apple Support Communities https://discussions.apple.com/message/18198103
1 of 4 3/11/2014 5:31 PM
ThatguyfromThatplace ThatguyfromThatplace ThatguyfromThatplace ThatguyfromThatplace
Re: I keep getting 'Unknown Error occurred 21' while trying to restore
Apr 22, 2012 2:40 PM (in response to Torben.Busk)
Have you tried the steps here?
TS3125 will help with anything security related.
If none of the steps work, i'd recommend reinstalling iTunes.
Removing and reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for
Windows Vista or Windows 7.
Like (0)
Torben.Busk Torben.Busk Torben.Busk Torben.Busk
This solved my questionRe: I keep getting 'Unknown Error occurred 21' while trying to
restore
Apr 23, 2012 12:57 PM (in response to ThatguyfromThatplace)
Thanks for helping out, but I already tried these steps.

I even tried this on a iMac with similar results. The only difference was that the
errorcode was called 2001 instead of 21.

Today I took the phone to www.iphoneambulancen.dk. A guy (in Aarhus,
Denmark) that specializes in iPhone repairs. I figured, that given his occupation
he'd seen most errorcdes. Two hours later, he called me back, and told me that he
had replaced the battery.

So, it turns out that a broken battery can cause this behaviour.

But thanks again
Like (0)
Fattycoats Fattycoats Fattycoats Fattycoats
Re: I keep getting 'Unknown Error occurred 21' while trying to restore
May 12, 2012 12:04 PM (in response to Torben.Busk)
Hey guys, after reading the posts and how this could be a problme with the
battery, I set out to test and investigate this claim.

What worked for me was I took off the back plate and disconnected the battery
from the iphone. The battery looked intact (no leaks or signs of damage), so I just
replaced the same battery and turned the phone back on. It allowed for me to do a
restore, and I was able to back up all my info from the cloud.

Hope any one else who has this problem has just an eaasy of a time fixing theirs
as I did.
Like (1)
emdad emdad emdad emdad
Re: I keep getting 'Unknown Error occurred 21' while trying to restore
Jul 18, 2012 6:00 PM (in response to Fattycoats)
Took the battery out and it restored fine, really stupid i think
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I keep getting 'Unknown Error occurred...: Apple Support Communities https://discussions.apple.com/message/18198103
2 of 4 3/11/2014 5:31 PM
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hareen_niley hareen_niley hareen_niley hareen_niley
Re: I keep getting 'Unknown Error occurred 21' while trying to restore
Sep 6, 2012 7:56 PM (in response to Torben.Busk)
Hi
I had the same issue, I replaced the battery then it allowed me to restore from my
backup. However, One day later I have the issue again. Could please share your
experience after fix it or share any one have clue to fix this issue.
thanks in advace
Like (0)
angelzero angelzero angelzero angelzero
Re: I keep getting 'Unknown Error occurred 21' while trying to restore
Nov 4, 2012 8:35 PM (in response to hareen_niley)
I was getting the exact same error while trying to restore my iPhone. I was able to
fix it by using reds0w to do the restore.
Like (0)
YTHGM YTHGM YTHGM YTHGM
Re: I keep getting 'Unknown Error occurred 21' while trying to restore
Jan 4, 2013 7:33 AM (in response to Torben.Busk)
I removed the battery and put it back again. Then the problem was solved. My
iPhone is back to normal.

If you have this problem, you can try it. Good luck.
Like (0)
charliethebear charliethebear charliethebear charliethebear
Re: I keep getting 'Unknown Error occurred 21' while trying to restore
Jun 24, 2013 7:50 AM (in response to YTHGM)
what if i have an ipod? what do i do?
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I keep getting 'Unknown Error occurred...: Apple Support Communities https://discussions.apple.com/message/18198103
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