The iphone "iphone" could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (6), (13), (14)

During the week i was wanting to download an iphone application from the app store. After signing in i received an error message stating that my iphone required the latest update in order to install the app.

As soon as i could i tried to update my iphone. This is where my troubles began. I plugged the iphone into my pc and attempted the update. The update downloaded itself (approx 250mb) and just after that BAMMMM! I was hit with

The iphone "iphone" could not be restored.
An unknown error occurred (6)

followed shortly after by

The iphone "iphone" could not be restored.
An unknown error occurred (14)

It was jammed up good. My iphone virtually became unusable. It was now time to get into MR fix it mode and get the iphone moving again. After about 5 hours of reading and attempting a number of different fixes i thought i was doomed and thought i would definently need to contact apple.

I tried all of the following to no avail:
- Changing the usb port that connects the iphone to the pc
- Making sure i was using the original cable that came with my iphone
- Rebooted the computer
- Re-installed the driver

- Deleted the update download from
C:\Documents and Settings\"myusername"\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates prompting a fresh download of the software from itunes.

- Deleted the update download once again and downloaded the update from a direct link suggested in a forum - then threw this file into the
C:\Documents and Settings\"myusername"\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates folder.
- thought about removing itunes but i didn't end up doing this.
- updated itunes
- created a new user account on my computer prompting itunes to once again the update.

This was really starting to frustrate me now and i was seeing more and more forums saying to send the phone back to apple.

THIS IS HOW I FIXED My IPHONE
from recovery error 6 to 14 and 13:

I finally found a post that had the very same issue and mentioned using another computer with itunes to kick it along.

Having another pc at home i quickly jumped on to give it a go. This time itunes was not picking up my iphone at all. I realised that it was an old version of itunes which is why it wouldn't pick up my iphone. I removed it from the pc and downloaded the latest version. Another 70Mb.

I restarted the pc, launched itunes and the program finally recognised my iphone, automatically installing the iphone driver. The iphone was now prompting once again to go through the restore process. Great! Lets see if this works.

About 1 minute later after the process had started BAM another error. This time it was "The iphone "iphone" could not be restored. An unknown error occurred(13)". Error 13?? What the hell is error 13.

I did some quick research and found that iphone restore error 13 was not a common problem.

I was honestly thinking that's it. One more go and i am done with this. After 5 hours of messing around with all of the above. I restarted my machine and iphone, unplugged the ipod, did a hard reset on the iphone.(held down home button and top button together for 10 seconds).

Turn the computer back on, loaded up itunes, plugged in the usb cable and started again. Finally Success, itunes restored my iphone back to a factory state without any errors.......That's right without any errors...

After this, all i had to do was take the iphone back to my own pc where i originally got the error, plugged it back in and restored all the phone defaults from backup which was automatically made by itunes before i began the update. Itunes backed everything up and thank goodness it did. Contacts, emails, most settings. I lost all my applications but who cares, my iphone works with the essentials.

Iphone Lost Paid Applications

In case this ever happens and you experience lost paid applications, apple has done something right. Apple has cleverly programmed paid apps to only ever be paid for once by a user providing that you use the same user account.
Just navigate to the app you want back and download it like you did the first time. The screen will display a message saying that you have already bought the application and are entitled to an additional free download.