Iphone 7 unable to transfer photos to PC: A device attached to the system is not functioning.

UPDATE: I tried to call apple to discuss the issue and found their online support pretty near useless. It is understandable they want you to try the basic help on the webpage but there isn't an email address or place to go after that. There is no 'genius bar' near me. However, deep in the bowels of apple there is a phone number 133-622. I phoned and, OMG, somebody answered.

Level one support was nice. Edward tried to help but I knew he probably wouldn't be able to resolve my issue. And to my surprise when I asked him to send me up to someone who could help, he did it. Next level was someone who surmised my version 13.2.3 of my iPhone was causing issues with windows 10's recent update. Probably not, I said, since this has been happening for months. My wife's phone (version 13.1.3) does work but it is also a much more recent model. Thus began many attempts at fixing the issue: resetting the phone, trying on different PCs, trying different cords, backing up photos, etc. In the end we could't fix it. She told me she will talk to the engineers and I should call her back in a few days. Watch this space.

Apple has removed my previous post which updates this issue. They said it was 'speculation' but there was only actual events listed. So now I am now only using the email that Apple has provided to me through their tech support. I asked tech support to document what we were talking about so that Apple's position on this was clear:

"I understand that you are requesting for replacement because you are having issues when transferring photos from your iPhone to your computer. As discussed, our engineers are aware of the concern and are currently working to fix it. Unfortunately, we do not have a time for the fix."

Apple Forums please do not remove this. Many people have the same concern and want to know what is happening.

Update: Apple asked me to take into an apple repair place. He replicated the error and said Apple could speak to him about the issue. There was confusion as to how to log the issue (it didn't conform to any catagory on their online form). And the phone was a few years old so he wasnt sure about the warranty. Will update after call with Apple.

The call was supposed to be coming Monday to let me know what the engineers were going to say. No call. It is now Friday. I have 3 employees at the front desk answering calls and passing messages on. Nothing. Not a peep. Jason says they have rules that stop them from being able to email me. To me this comes off as a fear of accountability. I would vastly prefer an email contact so I don't have to sit on the phone for hours.

Now I have to spend even more time chasing this issue which may only result in me getting a phone that works. That is it. Square one. And that is only if Apple decides to make a decision that their product should perform as well as my old flip phone in storage in the garage. That is to say: take a picture and then get that picture off the phone onto the computer so you can use it. I will keep you updated.

Update: spoke with Apple support. Waited for him to read the file. Had some ideas for "work arounds". Many would have worked but involved multiple steps, icloud, using wife's phone, etc. Not really any solution exactly. I just want the pictures off my phone. Basic functionality I said.

He said this was a known problem due to 3rd party software (Microsoft). I said that Microsoft had over 85% of the market so it was hardly an outlier. He said it was a known problem that Apple engineers were working on but a resolution may not come for a while. Great. But that doesn't help me. And I have seen the issue in forums for a long time. He said I could send it in to apple repair but if it was not a hardware issue they would not do anything. Not how the law works I said. He asked what country I lived in. Australia, I replied. We have actual consumer protection here. Then he said he would discuss with his superiors and call back. I will keep you updated.