Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The file is not corrupted, if it was I wouldn't have been able to get mine to work eventually. My guess is that the problem is when the phone is about to get restored, it has to check in with Apple's servers. If a lot of people are doing it, you can't always make a connection with the server, so iTunes says there is an internal problem.
 
I'm in the same boat. Tried about 20 times now.

// edit - tried again and it seems to be updating; 21st try for the win!
 
I had the same issues! Re-booted phone and iMac and it's now working. must just be the numbers trying to do it.
 
I get this too on my iPhone 3GS running 4.3.5. Tried 3 times plus installing 10.7.2 and still doesn't work. If it's happening to this many people then it has to be more than a coincidence.

Steve
 
Had this issue as well. It seems to be an error when checking at Apple. Instead of updating I chose restore without backup ( did that already ). Tried like 5 or 6 times and now it works, iPhone is upgrading to 5.0.
 
Am I the only one getting the error "this device isn't eligible for the requested build"?

iP4, not jailbroken.
 
This is FUBAR - they must have predicted this in the download protocol and spread the time spread for verification if it needed to ping the server - ??
 
The word I am getting is that Apple's servers are swamped and rejecting half the update requests. Keep trying. Don't go and do something that'll screw up your phone!!
 
Am I the only one getting the error "this device isn't eligible for the requested build"?

iP4, not jailbroken.

Maybe worth backing up and doing a restore to current firmware then trying again?

My ipad is just restoring now, then onto my iphone :)
 
UPDATE: I think I found a workaround. Instead of just hitting restore or update in iTunes, press option and click restore. Then navigate to your .ipsw file which should be located in (your user name)/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates. I did this and it now is updating.
 
Ok Here's the scoop. I tried to reboot and still same problem with the Internal error occurred. I called Apple Care and they told me it is because the servers are way overloaded. She said just keep trying or try later when things calm down some. It may be like this for a few hours she said.

So will everyone stop trying so I can get mine updated? :p Wishful thinking.. LOL
 
The iPhone "iPhone" could not be restored. An internal error has occured.

WE have 4 iPhone 4's in our house (uk), 2 on windows 2 on mac. Not one will accept iOS 5. none will restore or back up? Am updating to os10.7 see if thats gonna help,don't know about windows tho???
 
I'm going to raise the spectre of heresy, but has anyone seen this problem when updating via windows? All of the posts here, that mention an OS, talk about OS X.

Edit 1: never mind: I see that macsidy has problems on windows.

I'm using win7 x64 to update my 32GB 3GS and, while I'm still waiting for the music and videos to be restored, the base OS5 firmware upgrade worked (version 5.0 (9A334)).

(So far, the entire upgrade process is now around 2 hours and counting. Restoring the apps took over an hour, and restoring the music/videos will probably take another 30-45 minutes. I hope there isn't much to restore after that.)

Edit 2: Upgrade complete, no problems. It did take around 2.5 hours, though.
 
Last edited:
Apple servers are slammed

LOL getting the same error but didn't read through all the comments...

Called Apple and the Tech told me that I needed to purchase Lion to get ios5 on my ipad and iphone4. What a joke! I told him that didn't sound right and he better check that out. I hung up while on hold because I finally got it to go through. I'm on snow leopard.

So keep trying!
 
Took three tries here after getting this error. Have new iTunes, old lion. Now I am slowwwwwwwly restoring iPhone apps...
 
LOL getting the same error but didn't read through all the comments...

Called Apple and the Tech told me that I needed to purchase Lion to get ios5 on my ipad and iphone4. What a joke! I told him that didn't sound right and he better check that out. I hung up while on hold because I finally got it to go through. I'm on snow leopard.

So keep trying!

I can confirm you dont need lion, im running snow leopard too.
 
Guess I was a little lucky then, it went through in the 3rd try!

It is actually doing it as I write this. Touchwood.

P.S.: First post!
 
I'm about to flip out. Failed for the 27th time and now NOTHING on my iPhone works. All the apps force close and I can't even open my email.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.