Q: My Ipad 2 is stuck in recovery mode after the update 6.1

Is this file for windows only? I downloaded the file and it won't do anything when I open it. Help? Same problem here with my daughter's ipad. She downloaded the new software update. iPad is dead, won't charge when being plugged up overnight.

Thank you!

I can't even get my ipad 2 into recovery mode.

I tried to update the other day to OS 6.01, but it said I couldn't and that I needed to connect to a computer.  I was away from my computer, so didn't worry about it.  I thought I'd do it later.  When I boarded the airplane, I shut down my ipad (which still worked) and then when I tried to turn it back on, I get the apple logo, then a flash and then the apple logo again.  I have tried putting it into recovery mode, but it won't go.  I push the home and power key to turn it off, then press the home key while plugging it in via USB.  I keep the home key pressed, but the Connect to Itunes never comes up. What do I do?

While connected, it goes from white apple to grey apple to black out flash and back to white apple about every minute or two.

I can't get itunes to even recognize that anything is attached.

Have been on the phone for 41 minutes with them so far.  Been escalated to Senior Support.  First rep said "You are the first call that I have had about this issue."  I suggested perhaps they should review the threads on their own company's website and see what the support/user community is reporting!  Still on hold while the current technician looks for other solutions.

This happened to us with the last update to my iphone.  I had to go to apple and they analyzed it and ended up giving me a new phone.  They said it was a glitch with the new updates.  It doesn't happen very often.  I hope you have synced with iTunes recently or use iCloud because they wipe out all your information.  I hope they get this fixed and it does not happen with every new update.  Makes me nervous updating!

They have sent 1 link to an update file directly.  Downloaded, did the "option" key to select it to install.  It failed with non-compatible firmware error.  Downloading a second file now.

Second download worked.  Restored to factory settings.  Thanks to the Senior Rep, Alex, who helped!

Hi KatieMac425. Could you share the update link please?

The link on p1 of this thread worked for me. So, do I update my other ipad? I'm scared. I don't want this craziness with that one too. I love having my ipad back, but would rather not have sacrificed all of my apps.

That link is for windows only?

Thank you very much for your help!

I spent hours trying this with no success. I thought I woud write what worked for me. If you are stuck in this loop of restore and then corrupted file message; download the restore file manually. Then connect your ipad2 to your USB on your windows PC. Then  Press SHIFT and Click Restore button in itunes. It will open a windows explorer window. Go to the place where you downloaded your restor*.ipsw file. The minute you click the restore button your iPad will start the iOS upgrade using your manually downloaded file.

The link on p1 of this thread worked for me with a Mac, but you press the option key instead of shift. I still don't have the upgrade. I think I'll download that to the computer first if possible.

Nothing is working for me so far. My ipad will not connect with iTunes to restore so there is no restore button found.

I am posting to say "me too", because I get the feeling that this is happening to thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of people and not only does Apple not acknowledge it (via Support or otherwise publicly), but they do not have some kind of fix available after several days of outage.  Apparently they have adopted the policy that unless people complain about it then it must be alright.  So I'm complaining, and I hope that everyone else who has this problem does too.

The firmware update in p1 that folks refer to here (iPad2,1_6.1_10B141_Restore.ipsw), is exactly the same update that iTunes downloaded for my iPad on January 31, 2013. It is the only firmware update in my iTunes update directory (~/Library/iTunes/iPad Software Updates/) and, in addition to a manual check of byte-sizes of each image, cmp(1) confirms that the two binaries are 100% the same.

Therefore, it is no surprise that the update performed by choosing the manually downloaded image when chosen (via SHIFT on Windows, Option on Mac)  fares no better than the default iTunes procedure that uses the same image in its own update directory.

I have verified with a packet sniffer that my Mac is successfully contacting the Apple servers (hosted by Akamai), and that there was no problem with my network, power or any other factor each and every time I have attempted to complete the update to IOS 6.1 on my ipad2.  The number of times is well over 30 times during the past three days.

My computer had run out of space earlier in the week so there is no backup image in my Mobile Backups directory, and the updater for 6.1 neither advised nor provided its own backup of the iPad before proceeding. Now I fully expect to have lost all of my recent data, but I would accept that in order to be able to use my product.

This is a genuine bug, it should be quite easy for Apple to reproduce and then acknowledge while they work on a solution.  I don't know how this made it past QA but it is now time for Apple to take some action, starting with communication to its ipad2 customers.