As shown here, iTunes is stuck at "preparing iPad for software update."
It hsd been here for over 3 hours. The iPad itself seems normal and doesn't show a sync indication or anything else.
The is iTunes 11.1.3 (8) on Max OS 10.9 Mavericks.
The iPad is iOS 7.0.3.
I cannot quit iTunes, but as noted, the iPad appears to be normal, like nothing is really happening.
Suggestions?
After being stuck in iTune with status bar saying preparig iPad... I went to the iPad where settings had a red 1 and I press and went into settings. It said that there was an update to the software waiting. I thought that was strange because I had started it from iTunes. so I went head and pressed to start the update from the iPad and it did it and completed the update in about 2 mintues. I know if I had unplugged the iPad or stop iTunes or rebooted it would have corrupted the iPad and I would have had to reload everything again. That's because it happen once before like that. So I hope this works you someone else out there...
samuelsmac nailed it. While leaving my iPad connected to my computer - with iTunes stuck "preparing iPad for software update" - I initiated the updated from the iPad. The update was successfully installed and the endless preparation by iTunes was resolved. iTunes did throw an error after the update but I disregarded it because everything actually worked.
I'm having the same issue... iPad 2 running the same version, iMac running the same OS and same version of iTunes. Anyone have any ideas??
EDIT: It downloaded into the iPad and I was able to get it to update untethered from the Mac (just using General > Software Update).
The same iTunes had no problem updating my iPhone 5.
What I'm really worried about is I don't think I'de be able to recoveder the iPad if I had to.
I think it would get stuck at "preparing the iPad for restore"
iTunes stuck at preparing iPad for software update
