itunes "set up as new ipad" question

Clicking "Set up as new ipad" will not erase it, it will only back it up to your computer. It scared me as well but I lost patience trying to find a way around it so I clicked it anyway and to my suprise it didn't get erased!

Not sure this is exactly what we want to do in this situation.

We want the iPad to retain its setup as it's been used for a while before ever being connected to iTunes. Now on first connection to iTunes, you don't want to either restore or set up as new (if this means losing all the customised content already on it).

So I'm going to follow a previous post and click the 'Set up as new' option and hope it doesn't restore it to factory default.... here goes...?

Neither. Turn off auto sync and then set up the iPad as you see fit.

Launch iTunes and go to Edit>Preferences>Devices>Click on the box at the bottom - Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from syncing automatically. Click OK. Quit iTunes.

Connect the iPad to the computer and you will have to launch iTunes on your own. Right click on the iPad name on the left side under devices and select Transfer Purchases. This will transfer all purchased content into your iTunes library. Now right click again on the device name and select Backup. After that completes, right click on the iPad name again and select Restore from Backup. Select the backup that you just created and restore.

Now go into all of the various tabs in iTunes and select the apps, music, photos - whatever you want to put on the iPad - including all of the items that you just transferred to the iTunes library - make sure that all of that content is select to sync again - click on Apply in the lower right corner of iTunes.

Refer to this as well for more.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3141

I have wasted almost half a day looking for solution. Should Apple modify the comment with the following message?

This action does not erase your iPad to factory default?

I can confirm -- I selected "Set up as new iPad" and it did not erase. Perfect! Thanks!

OK. Take a look at this blog. The one message that you are getting I think is similar to what this user was getting.

http://itsmichaelw.com/tutorials/this-computer-has-been-previously-synced-with-a n-iphone-or-another-ios-device/

Restoring form the phone backup would not be the end of the world. You can always go back in and select the exact content that you want to select by following what I posted above.

When you plug it in to iTunes, don't choose to sync anything and see if your iPad is listed under the device section of iTunes.

Right click your device name and choose to back up the device. It should let you do this without syncing. Once the backup is finished, you can then choose to set it up as a new device and restore it with your recent back up as soon as your iPad finishes the sync for the first time.

Hope this helps.

In case anyone still need a solution to this problem, what you have to do is

1. turn off your iOS device,

2. Un-plug it from your comupter.

3. Hold down the home button while it's turned off.

4. Plug it back into your computer while holding down the home button, (this will start it up in recovery mode)

From recovery mode you can completely restore the iOS device and erase all data on it allowing you to set it up as a new device (Be aware that if you have iOS 7 beta it will be erased along with all your data. This is the only way to remove an icloud account while find my iphone is on without the password for the icloud account in question.

From recovery mode you can set up the device as a new device no passwords required.

Hope this helps....

Ok so I've followed ozZySPLadvice above and yep it doesn't actually do anything to the iPad but rather sets it up in iTunes as a new iPad in terms of your library and sync options etc.

Note I didn't let it sync my iPad, also the default setting is to 'manually manage music and videos' - good idea to keep this setting until after your first backup of the iPad to the computer and transferring any purchases.

Hi there. Coming into this chat late but having the same issue and just wanted some clarification...

Have a phone that i've been using for a while and never bothered to plug it into the computer. But I'd like to back it up (as is) using iTunes. So what you are saying is I should choose "set up as new iPhone", then what happens? Will the phone just shows up in iTunes in the Summary page as it is? The iPhone will stay the same with all it's settings? What if in fact I did want to set it up as a new phone?

Well unless they changed the software in the iTunes update then it should not erase your phone. Once your iPhone is connected you just press set up as new iPhone and it will back it up, make sure that your syncing settings are either turned off or manual. I'm guessing by the last question you are asking what if you wanted to erase everything and start anew with your phone? If so then go to general settings on your iPhone and press reset, then press Erase all content and settings. Finally plug it into iTunes and set it up as new iPhone.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!

I was having the same problem - Apple really should make it clear that "set up as new" just means that you are setting up the ipad as a new device on itunes and NOT setting up the ipad as new...

I got this the first time and kind of panicked a little and unplugged it (without ejecting it first - I forgot) and it screwed up my itunes and other things on my computer. After two weeks of researcing and fixing the OTHER errors that caused and reinstalling itunes, I tried it again and got hte same screen. This time, I found your advice and VOILA! It worked!!!

Now I can plug in my ipad and sync the info to my computer.

Thanks!!

OK HELP PLEASE . .

Major ****-up, having come to this article far too late I have just tried to connect my sons iPad to the laptop and selected restore . . . from over 12 months ago :-( I have subsequently lost all his photo's this is the major issue, as no bck up has been done in over 12 months and its not registered on the CLoud . . does this mean they are all long lost now, or is there a glimmer of hope out there . .

PLEASE PLEASE HELP.

Thank you for this thread. I was confused with this question today when using iTunes 11. One of my co-workers needed to back up her iPad to my computer and, when I saw this message, I lied and, said don't worry about it, I'll take care of it and your iPad will be fine. In reality I was nervous I would mess up her iPad. I left the button alone🙂. I was reluctant when we ran out of time and, I backed up all of her pictures hassle free😊. I will take care of backing up her iPad when she returns and, be less afraid to click the set up as a new iPad button( A NEW iPad registered to computer with same data). 🙂