iOS 7 Update and Configurator Problems

So ... what are the simplest steps for the fewest problems?

I have 18 ipads, no cart, spotty internet.

When I set them up initially it took me more than 40 hours, and they still pop up error messages and angry messages all the time.

iPad #1 is running iOS7. Apps are up to date. Settings are right. Never asks for passwords. Never sends angry allerts.

I want to use that as my master, but exactly.

How do I start?

Alert!!

I did the 1.4.1 update for Configurator and now when you plug the restored from iCloud iPad back into the sync station to refresh to try and get the supervision profiles back and each time I hit refresh it wipes the iPad. It is trying to re-supervise it even though I have set to never update and it is showing up under the Supervised tab. Will continue to do more testing tomorrow with combinations but as of right now if you update configurator do not plan to plug an iPad you do not want to start all over from!

The dev notes say it fixes an issue in which supervision profiles are removed after updates, which I'm assuming means that if students update OTA to 7, the supervision profile will not be removed. It's a little late for that but I'm afraid to tell my the rest of my users to update because there are other Supervision problems as well.

If you Supervise your devices and try to restore an iCloud backup onto a new device due to damage, loss, whatever, all profiles get wiped from the device during the restore. This did not happen in iOS 6. So the options are to manually restore data (may not be possible if you are in a remote location), give the student a wiped iPad that's supervised or give them an iPad with their data intact but it's unsupervised.

These are not good options for schools.

Scenario 1: Replacing a broken iPad and restoring from iCloud workflow:

- Broken iPad is at 6.1.3, 7.0, 7.0.2 or 7.0.3

- In Settings > iCloud, have the student disable Find My iPad on the iOS device

- Create a current iCloud Backup (Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup > Back Up Now)

- On the replacement iPad (supervised by 1.4.1), select the language, country, accept the terms, choose to restore from iCloud. Enter the student's AppleID information, choose the backup.

- After the restore completes, BEFORE completing the mini Setup Assistant, connect the iPad to Apple Configurator and Refresh

- Complete the mini Setup Assistant on the iPad

-The iPad will now be supervised with the students data intact. You will still need to re-enroll the iPad in your MDM though.

Scenario 2: Replacing a broken iPad and restoring from iCloud but you CAN'T shut off Find My iPad because the broken ipad is completely destroyed:

-I have been working with Apple on this one and the only solution so far involves 3 ipads! (broken ipad, replacement ipad 1, replacement ipad 2)

-First, make sure replacement iPad 1 has been supervised by Apple Configurator 1.4.1

-Then, restore student's iCloud to replacement 1's ipad.

-After the restore completes, have the student shut off Find my iPad and then perform a New Backup.

-Once the new backup completes, grab replacement iPad 2 (should also be supervised by 1.4.1) and restore from iCloud. Right after the iPad reboots, plug it into Apple Configurator and hit refresh.

-You will now have a supervised iPad with the students data intact. Again, you will need to re-enroll the ipad into your MDM.

After working with Apple support on these issues we found another bug. I was unable to restore an iCloud backup to the same iPad and re-supervise after restore completes. It always involved using multiple iPads. Apple engineers were notified about this issue and are looking into it. This case actually pops up more than you think. Sometimes students iPads need to be restored because of glitchy software or the iPad was erased and lost supervision so now I have to find a way to resuperivse and keep their data.

I hope this helps. Apple support was great working with me on this.

rps_1 wrote:

After working with Apple support on these issues we found another bug. I was unable to restore an iCloud backup to the same iPad and re-supervise after restore completes. It always involved using multiple iPads. Apple engineers were notified about this issue and are looking into it. This case actually pops up more than you think. Sometimes students iPads need to be restored because of glitchy software or the iPad was erased and lost supervision so now I have to find a way to resuperivse and keep their data.

I hope this helps. Apple support was great working with me on this.

Thank you, I appreciate your write-up.

For the same iPad scenario - have you tried wiping the iPad from Settings -> General -> Reset -> Erase All Content and Settings, after taking the final backup with Find My Phone off? I get a hint that it will Remove the device information from the iCloud account and am wondering if that would make a difference. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5661

chris

I am having trouble checking in Assigned iPads. When I check an iPad back in I recieve the error message "unable to switch users" even though I have selected "refresh" in preferences for all iPads being checked in.

It seems ridiculous to have to do all them steps to resolve an issue that i would of hoped been fixed in the latest AC update? is that really the only way to re-supervise the ipads that were updated to iOS7 OTA and now won't connect to Configurator?

The problem with mine is that the ones updated ota, when connected to the mac now won't connect to AC and display a message on the ipad saying "trust this computer?" if you say yes it then appears in Configurator but when refreshing doesn't transfer the latest apps or any other supervision settings.

Even after restoring a clean backup to some i had the same problem i had to completely wipe them and then restore which again is ridiculous and long winded.

Apple Configurator is/could be a great tool if it wasn't for what seems to be like constant bugs and tempermental behaviour, with profiles, using app codes and now the iOS7 issues, starting to loose faith in this software now!

It is beyond ridiculous, it's embarrasing for any IT department, and even more so, it's a horrible user experience.

Configurator is definitely not working as advertised.

I work for a school division and several schools have bought into the whole system of Apple computers and iPad carts full of iPads and they were planning to manage them by themselves (after I had trained them on how to do it).

Turns out I can't even get it working correctly anymore. With configurator and ios always breaking eachother.. so how is a teacher supposed to?

I'm at my wit's end with this stuff.

Now when I go and import VPP codes into configurator.. its a good bet that 5 out of the 30 codes will come up with an error saying they were used.. or "null". What the heck is going on? This used to work.

I agree with you there, i've set carts up in a number of Schools and have so far been unable to hand management over to them as i've yet to get them running smoothly with out the errors and bugs, it's embarrasing and even more shocking they expect people to jump through hoops to get a fix which is obviously a fault in the software!

I'm also having the same problem with code errors so if anyone has a fix for that too i'd like to know, deleting and readding the app or re-downloading the code spreadsheet doesn't seem to make a difference.

I completely agree - Configurator is a mess! The next time I have to call Apple for tech support on it, I want to ask if they've outsourced this product to the Windows guys! I've been an Apple user for about 9 years now, and I could count on 3 fingers the number of times I needed help with their products before I got an iPad cart. I really expect more from Apple, and it's just not happening. 😟

If Google came out with a Chrome tablet right now, I would dismantle the cart and go with that in a heartbeat... At least Google seems committed to making the education products work!

Since the Configurator was updated to 1.4.x and iOS to 7.0.x my problems with this piece of SW began. I am seriously considering throwing all iPads involved with the Configurator off the 3rd storey balcony. What a load of crap this piece of SW is. Please, please, please, Apple, can you employ a programmer who is competent enough to actually code the Configurator in such a way that it will consistently deliver a WIFI PROFILE to supervised iPads? It doesn't seem to be a big ask. The inability of the Configurator to do this relatively simple procedure is causing me grief beyond what any human should have to endure. And, no, it is not my problem. I had everything working perfectly under Configurator 1.3 and iOS 6.x.x. Some idiot at Apple has stuffed things up. Were Steve still here heads would roll for such incompetence. Apple's inability or unwillingness to fix the multiple problems associated with the Configurator is little short of appalling. Someone needs to be sacked.