What a pain… tried linux could easily see the photos, but then again I could also see that in Windows, so stuck with using Windows. Since it an older phone figured older OS would work just fine, I tried an older copy I had of CopyTrans manager but would constantly not show the phone in the app when connected.
I wanted to see if iTunes could see it, the latest download says to go to the Microsoft Store (gross), so you have to find an alternative download for 12.5 or something to grab an actual executable installer.
I was getting this weird error installing it about the service not starting and I read all these posts, here and here all full of advise that was useless, you check the service it shows up, do all the things shows up fine at boot but complains with iTunes. and I’d always get this annoying pop up
“This iPod cannot be used because the required software is not installed.”
Well what kind of rubbish lies is this, everything was installed just fine and for the proper version (x64), like what the heck gives. Then I stumble upon this random post from over 11 years ago…
“I got it. I just first uninstalled iTunes then this:
1.Open up the Command Prompt as an Administrator (Go to All Programs > Accessories and Right Click on Command Prompt and then choose Run as administrator)
2.Type cd C:\Windows\SysWOW64
3.Type regsvr32 vbscript.dll (This registers VB Script with your computer.)
4.Now install iTunes as you normally would by double clicking on the install program and wait for iTunes to finish installing.
5.Type regsvr32 /u vbscript.dll (This unregisters VB Script with your computer.)”
I followed the same steps and low and behold I saw my iPhone 4 in iTunes. I was like Woah… but also like… I don’t want this I wanted simple drag n drop with CopyTrans Manager.
If you grab the latest copy of it.. it’s now shareware with limited use, when running it.. I couldn’t even get a delete context menu when (this version even wanted to install drivers even though itunes was installed, and wanted to uninstall itunes in the process…. well don’t let me stop you). But still now the phone shows up in the app but I couldn’t delete. I managed to find an older copy I think version 1.2 or something. Will have to double check which I ran standalone after the most recent version install, and I was able to get the add and delete buttons to show up. And then updated my playlist and finally updated the phone and it worked!
I now created a backup of this VM for future use as is.