iPad 1, error 37 during iOS 5 upgrade, occurs at firmware restore

You may already have done this, but...

1. Try restoring as a new iPad

2. Try downloading a fresh copy of the .ipsw file from one of the Apple links listed here:

http://osxdaily.com/2011/10/12/ios-5-download-available/

These are direct to the Apple servers, and the ones I use for each upgrade.

Then, when you've downloaded them, Option-click (Mac) or Shift-click (Windows) the Restore button to open a file dialog so you can choose the downloaded file.

Hope that helps

I have the same problem, its been 4 days that my iPad 2 is a brick, Any help please?

Thanks

Did you get this resolved? I am having the same issue with my ipad 1 stuck in recovery moder error -37. I tried it on another pc with the same issue. This bites.

I am trying to update to iOS5 and keep getting the -37 error. In fact, I got this error on both my iPad2s. Have tried disabling Anti-virus, Firewall, removing cookies etc. nothing seems to work.

You might already have tried all of these, but just in case:

1. Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes.

2. If you're on a Windows PC, consider uninstalling iTunes and Quicktime, restarting the PC, then reinstalling. This sometimes fixes oddities.

3. Make sure you have no firewall or anti-virus running/active.

4. Try different USB cable; if you're using a cable via a hub, try connecting without the hub. On desktop PCs, the direct (non-internal-hub) USB sockets are usually at the back.

5. If yoiu haven't already done so, download the iOS5 update via the direct links I posted above

6. If using Update doesn't work, use Restore. Option-click (Mac) or Shift-Click (Windows) the Restore button in itunes.

7. Before you to the Restore, right-lick the entry for your device in iTunes and choose Backup from the drop-down menu. You may need this backup later.

If you're srtuck in recovery mode:

- There are some tips here for Windows users

http://thehowto.wikidot.com/ipad-stuck-recovery-mode

- If your device is stuck in Recovery mode, you can try putting it into DFU mode, from which iTunes should be able to Restore, as above. Details here:

http://www.tipb.com/2010/12/02/tip-put-iphone-ipad-dfu-mode/

- This link points to a utility that can help (Windows and Mac)

http://runningblind.com/post/2800674985/ipad-stuck-in-recovery-mode-for-no-reaso n

I hope something here helps

Nick (or anyone else who might have an idea what this problem is) I have tried all the suggestions I have read in this forum - nothing seems to work. I read one last night that seemed good about going into terminal (the hosts doc) and editing a line, but the line did not exist in my hosts doc.

How does one "restore" an diPad that is stuck in restore mode? It runs through the proces of extracting software, verifying, preparing, restoring software, verifying software and then gives up shortly before the firmware is restored and cheerily says, "the iPad "iPad" could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (37)" The iPad screen goes white. Then click OK and another dialog comes up saying, "iTunes has detected an iPad that is in recovery mode. You must restore this iPad before it can be used with iTunes". And start all over again to get thesame result.

Error 37 supposedly has to do with security software, but I have none installed other than the firewall setting on the laptop I am using and turning it off did not help.

DFU mode does not seem to make any difference. Some have said they finally got it to restore after trying 38 times - who can bother to count going through a failed retore process over and over again? The one thing I don't think I have read here is the description of geting a white screen when the restore fails - that is what I get each time. Any body out there with a new idea how to fix this problem?

Fortunately, for me the iPad2 doesn't enter the DFU mode. Just get the error -37 after an hour and a half of back-up. After I cancel, everything is back to normal.

I tried upgrading this on my Mac Air (the error -37 is coming up on a Win7 machine whereI normally sync the iPad with), however, it gave a warning that it will erase and sync....so was a non-starter.

Is there a way to upgrade the iPad2 on a different machine without syncing it with the machine?

This is a technique I've used myself, so I'm confident it's sound

Connect to the Windows PC, right-click the device in iTunes and choose Backup.

Connect to the MBA and, on the Devices tab of iTunes preferences, check the box "Prevent iPhones, iPods and iPads from syncing automatically"

Then, back in iTunes itself, go to each of the tabs associated with the device (Info, Music, Photos and so on) and make sure all the sync options are *unchecked*

Download the update to the hard disk of the MBA as per my earlier post, and do Option+Update and navigate to the .ipsw file.

If Update throws an error, do Option+Restore. When the ipgrade is dinished, reconnect the device to the Windows machine, right-click and do Restore from Backup, using the backup you made earlier

Have you tried a different PC? The problem is very likely to be some oddity on your PC/Mac (seems to be more associated with PCs than Macs), so if there's an option to use another machine, that might do it. If there's an Apple Store anywhere near you, they'd help you do it on one of theirs, but a firen'ds machine, work machine might do.

I posted details to SamuraiJack (below) on how to use a different PC without screwing up the data on the device - basically, do a backup on your normal machine, then do the update on another machine, then restore on your normal one.

Thanks Nick.

So as I understand - right click and back-up the iPad on to a machine (will this back-up all apps, pics, music and in-app data as well?).

Hmm...

The backup will back up settings, app data, SMS messages and the like; there's a full list here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4946

There's an in-built assumption in the iDevice backup process that content is being synced to a desktop (this changes a bit in iOS5, but that's not your issue yet 😟 ) and that therefore all your content (apps, music, videos, photos etc) is on your PC. Everything bar photos is synced to iTunes; photos are synced to whatever you use on the PC. With photos, the only stuff at risk is what you've created on the iDevice but not yet synced - any photos you've synced from the PC remain there.

So the way a Restore works is that all the data is cleared from the device, then the backed up stuff is restored, and finally there's a sync to get the content back to the device.

So... I'm recommending you do the backuop to your normal PC because that's where all your content is. You do the update elsewhere and when (😁) it's finished, you restore the backed up data and content from the usual place.

Does that make sense? I'm supposed to be sleeping the sleep of the just right now so I'm not sure whether I'm being coherent 😟

These links might help:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4137

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1414