i Irritation - Error 3259

Written on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 by Deeze

Now that I got an iPhone, the set up has been an irritation!!!!!!!
I bought my iPhone from someone so it was already setup by the previous owner. I needed to update to the 2.0 software because I need to be able to use my work email (they pay my bill :)). I tried to download the software but no go.

I got error 3259 while trying to download. I called the Apple Store to see if they could help me. I was on hold for about 20 mins. Since I'm very tech savy, I already did everything they suggested over the phone already, so after all that they could only set an appointment tomorrow for me because they are not taking any walk-ins because of the 3G phone.

Since I felt waiting until tomorrow night was not an acceptable solution, I decided to figure this thing out myself. I did find out that I needed to get a new SIM card for the phone since it was previously owned. I went to AT&T - South Loop and they were really cool about it, and gave me a FREE SIM card ($24 value). I registered and activated my new phone, so I figured that may be the reason that I couldn't upgrade to 2.0 Software. After a few hours of trying no go.

I researched the web over and over and found dozens of things to try like changing the 'msconfig' settings, deleting IE7, and so forth. Then I read somewhere to open port 3689... still no go. Lastly I opened port 5353 and FINALLY success.

I wasted 4 hours of my life trying to set this thing up and it should have been on Apple's website. Since they didn't hopefully I'll help someone here.

These instructions are for a previously owned 1st Gen iPhone. If it was not previously owned skip steps 1 and obviously the activation step.


  1. Buy new SIM Card
  2. Go to Control Panel > Network > Change Firewall Settings > Exeptions > Add Port TCP 3689.
  3. Add Port UDP 5353 > Apply Settings (name the ports something unique like iTunes Download 1 & 2)
  4. Sync with iTunes.... DON'T TURN ON UNTIL CPU SYNC
  5. Go to iTunes >
  6. Activate Phone and follow on-screen instructions. Since I am an AT&T customer already, it was easy to transfer my service.
  7. Help > Check For Updates >
  8. Follow on-screen instructions
  9. Allow iTunes to update iPhone.. usually takes about an hour for this whole process.

That should eliminate the Error 3259

Now I have to set up my work email and I should be good to go.

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4 Comments

  1. Anonymous | August 10, 2008 at 2:40 PM

    nicely done but unfortunatly did not work for me, maybe because i have the 3g??either way its doin my head in as i have a bug on my iphone that needs the 2.0.1 software on to fix but just not having any of it!!if you manage to find any other solutions i could try please email me on geminiangel24@hotmail.com many thanks!!!!

     
  2. Cyport | August 12, 2008 at 5:51 PM

    Hey I get the same problem too, however in this part

    Sync with iTunes.... DON'T TURN ON UNTIL CPU SYNC

    I am not sure what you mean? Do I sync the iphone with iTunes or the network ports?

     
  3. Deeze | August 13, 2008 at 11:18 AM

    Sorry, I have the original iphone so these only work for 1st Gen phones.

    As far as syncing... I meant do not turn on the iphone until CPU syncs. In other words, leave the phone off, then plug it into the cpu.

     
  4. Anonymous | August 20, 2008 at 11:26 AM

    was the same for me.. I turned off my antivirus software, and in my firewall seting set all apple activities to allow..and it works for me with no probs...

     

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