Earlyface

Do you get error 3194 when attempting to restore your iPhone or iPad to an earlier version? You will find a fix for that in this post.

First, let me say that you cannot just restore to an earlier iOS version. The only thing you can do is upgrade to the current version. For example, if you are using i0S 5 then you should upgrade to 5.currentversion
Don't ask me why, just read on.

Important!: You must be running the current version of iTunes for this fix to work.

1. Exit iTunes and disconnect your iPhone from the pc

2. From your pc, open your host file. On windows this file is located at c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
On Mac OS X, it's location is /etc/hosts
Open this file as administrator. If you still cannot get the file to open, here's what to do:

a) Double click on the file. (It doesnt have an extension)
b) When windows asks you for a program to use, choose notepad.
Alternatively, you can drag and drop the file in a notepad window.

3. Copy these and add them to the bottom of the contents of the host file.
#74.208.105.171
gs.apple.com
OR
#74.208.10.249
gs.apple.com
Just make sure that it's at the very bottom of the hosts file.

Note: If you already have any i.p address from Saurik's servers in your host file, then just put # in front of it.

4. Save the file.

5. Connect your iPhone back to the computer.
6. Re-Open iTunes
7. Put your iPhone in DFU mode (Recover mode). If you do not already know how to do this please see How to put your iPhone in DFU Recover mode.
8. Hold the Shift key and click on Restore
9. Click on the i0S 5.currentversion that you are trying to upgrade or "restore" to. You must have downloaded this earlier.
10. This most likely should work.

OTHER THINGS TO TRY IF THE FIX DIDN'T WORK FOR YOU
1. Try doing the fix without the # in front of the i.p address (This works for some)
Option 2: Try renaming the hosts file to something else e.g blablahosts. (This has worked for many people but make sure you rename it back to hosts when you are done with the iPhone restore)

Option 3: Try deleting the hosts file (Copy and save it somewhere else first!!). Put it back after your iPhone restore.

One of those must work. Please comment and tell us which one worked for you.
Cheers.

This seemed to fix my 3194 error pretty quick... howtofixstuff.bl ogspot.ca/2012/01/how-to-successfully-fix-itunes-error.html