Q: Itunes could not backup Iphone because it has not been set yet

Hi

I'm proper pi$$ed at Apple.

I have 8 apple devices in my home and have spent the last few years walking round saying 'the thing is with Apple - it just works'

Not anymore.

My iPhone 5 has gone to iOS9 and is now sluggish to the point that it can't even keep up with my passcode numbers.

My iPad is trashed like yours - I have got my photos off it - that is all.

I can't back up because 'it's not set up'

I can't transfer purchases - it just doesn't happen.

Not a happy bunny - has worked perfectly for the last 18months - thanks Apple.

What troubleshooting have you done so far?

In a nutshell

Daughter updates ipad2 from ios7 to ios9 (without permission)

I try to update it by holding power and home button for several seconds - but it just ends up on a 'swipe to upgrade' screen that you cannot swipe

I check this on google, and I'm not alone.

Apple says - backup your ipad - in the mid-update stage.

Itunes (for me) will not do this - I get a message saying 'Cannot backup as ipad is not set up' - or words to that effect.

(I've never understood why apple ask these questions everytime there is an update, as the settings are ALWAYS as they where before.

It's a never ending cycle...

Thanks

Tony (meenboli)

Meenboli wrote:

 

I check this on google, and I'm not alone.

 

 

Well, DUH! There are 700 million iOS devices in the world. No matter what issue you have, you will "not be alone;" every imaginable issue has happened more than once. Checking on Google is a complete waste of time for any statistic. "Abducted by aliens," for example, gets 973,000 hits.

It sounds like you didn't follow the instructions here: If the Slide to Upgrade screen won't go away after you update to iOS 9 - Apple Support but fortunately, Apple has released an update (iOS 9.0.1) to fix this known issue. You will need a computer with the latest version of iTunes installed on it. Connect the iPad to the computer with a USB cable. When it appears in the top bar as an icon click on it. Then click Check for Updates in iTunes.

Hi Lawrence

Obviously I'm not alone - it was just a figure of speech - I was highlighting how un-Apple like this situation is.

I followed the instructions to the letter - only they don't work. The original instruction was to back it up halfway through the update process and then restore that backup, and it will carry on with the update, but for me, that didn't work as I couldn't back up.

I have come to the conclusion (as you mention) that I need to install the latest version of Itunes.

My main PC is down at the moment, with my Ipad backup stuck on it (processor failure - waiting for a new one to arrive). So, I've installed itunes on to my old XP laptop - and upgraded it to the latest version - but, it's not the latest 64 bit version, it's the latest version for XP.

Anyway, it doesn't do what it should.

The backup simply fails, it just hangs - never gets going.

Also, my purchases won't transfer - so I'm buggered if apple think I'm going to pay for my apps twice for a problem they have created.

I'm trying to do everything to avoid losing what's already on there.

I'm at that point where I'm about to upgrade to iOS 9.0.1 - but I will have to lose my purchases to proceed.

I'm going to try it at work today, on the latest Itunes to see how far I can get.

Thanks for your help. :-)

Meenboli wrote:

 

... I was highlighting how un-Apple like this situation is.

I see you haven't been around these parts for any of the other iOS updates. :-) For those of us who have, every year we see mostly the same issues. Some with slight variations. This is software and there are ALWAYS problems, especially for those that update early rather than waiting for the kinks to be worked out. Search for "iOS 7 update", or "iOS 8 update" - or any previous update for that matter - and you'll find the sky was falling then too. Some issues are more serious than others, like the "use cellular data" switch issue we have now, but most are minor, have a work-around, or in your case a patch to fix it.

As for your predicament do you have access to an Apple Store? They can help you with the backup and restore using the latest version of iTunes. But you should figure out how you will manage it in future as it will continue to cause you problems.

You will not lose any purchases. You can always download again from the iTunes store so long as you use the same Apple ID.

Hi Alfred

I'm currently at work, and have just downloaded and installed the latest iTunes.

I'm in the process of what appears to be a successful purchase transfer...

Then I'll move on to the backup...

Looks like a bad combo of old XP software trying to communcate with iOS9 is part of my issue.

I'll update later on...

Cheers!

Ok - The Transfer 'appears' to have worked - however the backup doesn't as 'My iPad has not been setup yet'

I'm going to update it to iOS 9.0.1

I found a sort of answer in another thread:  change the language on your phone and then back and it fixes the issue.

I changed my phone from English US to English Canada and then back and it fixed the issue and I was able to back up my phone again.

Hi KB

I sorted it in the end - but only by fluke.

As I wasn't in a position to restore from my own backup (blown CPU on my PC) and none of the backup methods worked in itunes, I resorted to doing a factory restore.

I got the expected warning about losing all data and agreed reluctantly to press the button.

After 5 minutes of downloading and 'restoring' the iPad to factory settings - it burst back into life.

Only odd thing was nothing had been erase at all, and now it is back to how I would have hoped it would have been after the update.

So all's fixed and good.

(Apart from my iPhone 5 - which is so laggy on start-up that I miss the first number of my passcode - everytime - God it's annoying!)

Cheers

Tony.