IOS 5 update deleted everything

I updated to iOS 5 on Christmas Day. BIG mistake.

It wiped everything off my first generation iPad (restored it to factory settings, removing all my movies, music, books, and apps) and ALSO deleted everything from my iTunes library... including my backups. The backup folder was actually there, just completely empty. The update wiped away EVERYTHING.

The one bright, shining light in all this was that my iTunes purchase history was still there. So I thought, no problem, I'll report the problem to iTunes, with Order and Invoice numbers and they'll return all my movies, music, and books that I have records for (some music and books were not purchased through iTunes, so I had no way of recovering those items through iTunes, and I was okay with that).

This seems like something very basic, yes? Apple/iTunes released an update (which we, the users of their products, have to download in order for our Apple/iTunes products to work correctly), that update took my property which I paid for from me, so it is on them to restore my property to me. Simple. Basic.

Or so you'd think.

In reality, after several email exchanges with "Julian at Apple/iTunes", the answer I'm receiving is that they'll give me back my music and books, but I'm completely on my own with the movies. One movie is no longer available for purchase through iTunes (and they're refusing to reimburse the money I paid for it), and ten of the movies which were uploaded through iTunes via digital copy (and for which I can no longer use the original codes since I, you know, ALREADY DOWNLOADED them with the original codes) are just not their problem. If I want those movies back, it is on me to contact the companies to get new codes and redownload the movies. Me, the one who, THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN, had my property destroyed/deleted by the APPLE iOS 5 update. That APPLE released. That APPLE has known has issues since months before I updated and CONTINUES to have available as an update.

Yes, I'm beyond frustrated. I'm ANGRY.

Are you SURE that your backups were deleted? Thery're not stored in the iTunes library. You can confirm the loss of your backups by checking under devices in the iTunes preferences, although I suspect Julian already had you check.

Oh yeah, two different customer support reps had me check. The folders are there, but there's nothing in them.

Hello,

I too lost everything when I installed the 5.0 update. I freaked out, as sadly, my mom passed away 7 days ago. I THANK GOD I first, saved everything to my laptop and then applied the update. I went to the Apple Store in local Bridgewater Commons, NJ Mall and Jonathan was incredibly caring and helpful.

If you go to the Itunes app. on your device, you can reload each individual app that you had, however he told me a much easier way to do it from my home laptop.

Plug your ipod touch into your computer, via the appropriate cable. Log into Itunes. Click on the IPOD TOUCH icon on the left, then you will see on the top of your screen ALL your options regarding: Photos, Music, Videos, etc. Everything that was/is in Itunes can easily be reloaded back onto your ipod touch. It was incredibly simple and I'm so thankful that all my pictures and video, especially, the ones of my mom are back on my Ipod Touch.

I hope this helps you all and if I may ask, please spread random acts of kindness into the world as that's what my mom did everyday. I plan on starting a foundation someday whether it be a shelter to help feed homeless people and/or animals, I will be doing this in my mom's honor or like we call it: Momma's Love/Ella's Hope. You will all hear about Ella.

Thank you and God Bless.

Isabella

I had the same problem. I particularly lost photos that I had on a app called the secret folder but the photos in my album were intact after the update. So as you've done, redownloading and synchronising the purchased apps got them them back on my phone along with the data! Thank you very much for posting the correct answer to this frustrating problem.

my computer is crazy already, and i've done a bunch of backups and im trying to find one from before but i just cant!!!!!! S.O.S im freaking out

What about if the restore didn't work? The upgrade wiped my iTunes and iCloud clear and my computer only saved saved up until 2/14. I am missing almost a month worth of pictures from my newborn and apple can seem to "find why an upgrade would wipe my information off the face of the earth".

Restoring did not work for me and it actually made it worse. Months worth of pix are gone. I backed up this morning but it does not show up in my list of restore points. The latest restore point itunes gives me wipes my phone out to factory settings. The only restore point where I can get my phone back to somewhat normal is in November of last year. Apple, speaking from the heart, unless I get those pictures back, I will go out of my way to never buy an apple product again AND tell everyone and their momma's not to either.

Hey, I thought I lost all of my pictures too because I looked at my pictures after the update and didn't see them. But in fact, the pictures are still there, you have top plug it into your computer and access the phone files directly instead of through iTunes. If you do that, the pictures should still be there. I'm not sure if that's the case if you've already tried to restore them but it works straight after updating to iOS5.

Same thing happened here Ipad 2 resored to factory settings *** is wrong with Apple? I'm Soooo ****** off!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish I had checked this forum before trying to update to i0s5.

HERE IS A BRILLIANT IDEA FOR APPLE:

Where its asks if you want to restore, why dont you be more specific and let everyone know exactly what that means.

Also while I'm at it, how about a specific log in to my itunes - geez, you'd think this would be simple enough...

Of course, reading the manual is always an option when you don't know......

but my text messages were also deleted

There not going to do a **** thing. I had 2500 hundred songs and 5 movies deleted by an apple tech. My iPod classic was on lock and I called apple tech for help. She said that they can restore it to factory settings and that should work. I asked her if I should back up my music first. I was very concerned about losing my music. She responded noabd asked ne if I see my music on iTunes. I Said yes and then she insured me that itunes would never delete my music. In the end my ipod was still on lock and I lost all of my music and movies. She never apologized and just transfered me to a supervisor. Basically he said it wasn't there problem. The next morning I spoke with a supervisor. He said he would listen to the recorded conversation and call me back in a hr. When he called back he said she did two things wrong. One- she she should've made sure I click on library to see if my music was there. Two- she should not had told me not to back up my music. He explained to me that there are steps that every apple tech must take to insure customer's music is not lost. The supervisor contacted corporate and tried to get them to reimburse me for my music. He asked if they could credit me at least 500 on itunes. They told him no and when I called they said the same thing. I emailed mr cook and received a phone call from manager. He told me the same thing we are not responsible. APPLE WOULD NEVER TAKE RESPONSIBILITY EVEN IF IT'S THERE FAULT

No errors on Apple's part. Do you really think that Apple did this to create more headaches for themselves? Of course not, well maybe, if they're is a huge money scheme behind it! Reality is Apple makse millions if not billions of dollars and one little update wipes your entire collection of data?!!! Sounds very fishy to me... and I'm very upset that I spent months inserting CD after CD and built my iTunes music folder to where it was, and now it's gone! I have been an Apple customer for along time (since the PowerMac G4) and I loved them up to this point!!! My worst suspision is this: I think they have stold the belongings of the music we upload and wanting to sell you back your own collection AND then make more money by selling your music they stole to others. Please tell me I'm wrong because I am about to sell all of my Apple stuff. I can go without an Apple!

After having a laugh reading some of the posts in this thread I have come to the conclusion that there are some feckless users out there ready to blame others for their own shortcomings.

Honestly, rather than threatening to 'never buy anything Apple again' I think that you should 'Never buy a computer again' as you are obviously inept and unable to manage even the simplest of tasks.

Couple of recent points:

If you had spent 'months and month' ripping your CD's then you still have the CD's and have not lost anyhting have you? What, you dont have the CD's? then you are not entitled to get any of your now 'illegal' music back then are you.

Also, wy would apple need to give you a credit for your itunes music as you can now re-download your purchases?

There is so much BS in this thread. ******** statements like iOS updates deleted my entire library from iTunes on my computer ***.

haha