I was having trouble getting Remote app to work (my iphone never showed up in the devices list in itunes) so I thought I'd try a restore on my iPhone 3G. Thats when my problems began. I've searched here and google for a fix without luck. Its got the most recent updates and was working fine until I tried to "fix it".

It all appears fine until I get to the end of the restore and the phone restarts. It then presents me with the set up screen and all I can do is restore again. I am in my 5th restore having tried everything I can think of. I have removed the sim lock (by putting the sim in my old phone and turning it off), I have tried using the most recent restore option and the oldest. I have tried ejecting the phone and turning it off after restoring.

Lots of threads about it. Force kill itunes or unplug your iphone WHILE it's restoring seems to break to cycle.

Worked for me when I had the problem

Funny, force kill itunes while restoring killed mine even worse, and from 1 restore I went into a 3 restore-cycle before it sorted itself out. So far so good. *touchwood*.

Check out my thread: Infinite Restore Loop

It might help. Let us know if it does.

The thread above and this could easily be merged. (My searching skills obviously need a going over).

I tried clicking the "setup as new phone" after about the 6th restore and it's all good now. I didn't have the nerve to force quit iTunes or pull the plug during the restore while there were other options available.

I didn't loose any sms's or settings but the sync took a while (12G will do that).

Thanks for all the replies.