The good news – bug-fixing iPhone update 2.1 is available for download. The bad news is it might also kill your Windows Vista.

Maybe it’s some insider joke with Apple technicians that Windows Vista is just one big bug to kill. Though some might agree, the ones with Blue Screens of Death due to the update likely wouldn’t be as kind to the sentiment. And Microsoft isn’t the only one to feel the pain. Some of the users who have rallied to Apple’s boards to report the Vista-crashing also noted that disconnecting HP printers would help in some cases. Computerworld had the news out, and it quickly got the attention of Slashdot.

According to users, the BSOD screen would appear right after updating iTunes to Version 8.0. Over 300 messages have filled the complaint thread and views surpassed the 10,000 mark. Likely to triple, that, once the Slashdotters arrive.

A user named “Mike de Awesome” has this theory: "I think it’s safe to say then that either Apple’s USB driver shipped with iTunes 8 is broken on Vista, or it’s causing a problem with some other common Vista driver."

Tips to avoid the BSOD? Unplug every peripheral you have from your USB ports especially Hewlett-Packard Co printers and scanners. Even Logitech International SA peripherals were named as things to unplug. But some users disputed that claim, saying their machines had clean installs sans drivers for any of those products.

Most amusing comment of the day award goes to user “GogoGadget69": “It couldn’t be iTunes 8 could it? And by the way the entire world is getting fantastic 3G reception on the iPhone 3G. And MobileMe has always worked fantastic!!! I love how Apple owns up to problems… IT’S NOT US! IT MUST BE YOU! OR MICROSOFT! OR YOUR MOUSE! OR YOUR CHAIR!"

Hopefully Apple sorts this PR disaster fast. By attempting to fix the current bugs, seems Apple’s opened up a whole new can of worms.

Related:

iPhonebrowser for iPhone/iPod touch does not play nice with 64-bit Vista

iPhone 2.0.1 update fixes myriad bugs

How to dual boot your iPhone with multiple firmware versions

iPhone 3G: MobileMe offers Web 2.0, push email, & free 60-day trial

How to get music off an iPod Touch, iPhone in Windows

Entry was posted on Friday, September 12th, 2008 at 11:29 pm under Firmware, iPhone.  Print This Post

Read more entries by Erna Mahyuni.
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