Update from IOS 5.1.1 to IOS 6.1.3

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Jerom3 Author

Level 1

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Update from IOS 5.1.1 to IOS 6.1.3

Hello,

* Issue/question in brief

I own an iPad 2 Wifi 64gb running IOS 5.1.1 + iTunes on Windows 7.

iPad is an office tool for me, so it has never been patched, tampered with or anything...

I wanted to upgrade to IOS 6 - not IOS 7 because of reported performance issues with this iPad version.

After trying to do so with iTunes, my iPad is now blocked.

What can I do to 1/ Unlock my iPad, 2/ Update to IOS 6?

* More details

For several months I have been postponing the update to ISO 6, because my personnal IT policy is "if it's not broken, don't fix it".

Recently, I discovered that some apps (eg. Scoop.it) now refuse to install on 5.x and require a more recent version of IOS... Well, I told myself : now it's broken, let's fix it.

Reading articles and checking various forum, I've understood that IOS 7 is not well suited for my iPad 2 and that I'd better stick to IOS 6.

All right no prob. I've downloaded the file called "iPad2,1_6.1.3_10B329_Restore" from Apple servers and launched a restore from iTunes with the Ipad connected with USB.

After my first attempt I got an error #3194. I've updated iTunes to its latest version and rebooted the PC and the iPad.

I got the same error message, but now the iPad is locked to a strange screenshot showing an iTune logo and a USB cable! And in iTunes it says that my iPad is in recovery mode (actually it's in french "mode de récupération") and it must be restored.

I must restore to restore?! Mmm... Looks like I am stuck.

Any idea?

iPad 2, iOS 5.1.1, Update to IOS 6.1.3

Posted on Jan 5, 2014 6:38 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 5, 2014 6:43 AM in response to Jerom3

Youcanmpt upgrade to anything but iOS 7.0.4...Apple does not make intermediate iOS version files available, only the latest versions.

Why is your iPad disabled? If due to misentry of a passcode you must first restore via recovery mode, see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1808 for recovery mode instructions.

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Answer 2

Jerom3 Author

Level 1

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Jan 5, 2014 7:46 AM in response to Ralph Landry1

Hi Ralph!

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer. But actually the IOS 6.1.3 is available from Apple : I have downloaded it again from their servers 1 hour ago (http://appldnld.apple.com/iOS6.1/091-2397.20130319.EEae9/iPad2,1_6.1.3_10B329_Re store.ipsw) - in my 5th failed attempt to upgrade.

It makes sens to assume that Apple makes these downloads available for older iPads or iPhone, right? 😐

My iPad is in fact in "recovery mode" right now (that's what I meant by "is locked"). It went automatically into this mode right after my second attempt to restore to IOS 6 from iTunes.

When I click on "restore" whithout pressing shift to select the right ipsw file, a dialog box says that it's going to updat to the latest iPad version (aka IOS 7), and I don't want to do that.

Hence my two questions:

1/ How can I leave this "recovery mode" and be able to use my iPad again (with IOS 5.1.1 at least, better than nothing)?

2/ How can I update to IOS 6? Shall I try with other 6.x version available on Apple servers? Must I go to my Apple Store to get it done there?

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Answer 3

kb1951

Level 10

126,173 points

Jan 5, 2014 7:57 AM in response to Jerom3

If you are in recovery mode, the only way to resolve that is to restore in iTunes which will load iOS 7.0.4. You cannot get anything else. Not sure where you got iOS 6.1.3 from since Apple no longer authorizes it. Anyhow, it is iOS 7 or nothing.

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Answer 4

Jan 5, 2014 8:09 AM in response to Jerom3

I am not sure what that site is doing because it keeps locking up my iPad and MacBook Pro when I go there.

Apple has been very adamant about only the latest iOS version being available for iOS devices...no intermediate versions are authorized. So it is not clear what that site is trying to do.

If you are in recovery mode, you have already erased all content on the iPad and only restoration to the latest iOS is possible. You might try entering DFU mode if you continue to have difficulties:

1. With iPad turned off, conntect to comptuer with iTunes

2. Press and hold for three seconds, Power button

3. Continuing to hold Power button, press Home button and hold for 10 seconds

4. Continue to hold Home button and release Power button

5. Hold Home button for another 20 seconds or so until iTunes says the iPad is in ready to restore.

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Answer 5

Jerom3 Author

Level 1

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Jan 5, 2014 8:30 AM in response to kb1951

Hi kb1951.

I got iOS 6.1.3 from Apple for sure. If you check the link in my answer to Ralph just above, you can see it's from an apple.com domain.

😮 I can't believe Apple would make iOS 6.1.3 available for download from their servers, if it wasn't possible to install it on a device!

Everywhere on the web it's written that it is not possible to downgrade from iOS 7 back to iOS 6. That's why I want to play it safe. I don't want to upgrade from iOS 5.1.1 to iOS 7... and risk to be stuck with decreased performances. I use the iPad for face to face customer slideshows and brainstorming sessions : it can't be sluggish.

Thank you for trying to help me though.

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Answer 6

Jerom3 Author

Level 1

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Jan 5, 2014 10:50 AM in response to Ralph Landry1

Raph, I have tried the DFU trick but it seems I can't turn the iPad off!

I press the power button until the screen goes dark, but as soon as I plug back the USB cable, the dreadfull recovery screen shows up. Doing the sequence you suggest and plugging the USB cable after that (with of a third helping hand!) did not help.

BTW from what I have read on the net trying to find a solution, it seems that DFU mode is what is used by jailbreakers. Are you suggesting that jailbreaking my iPad is my only way out? (not an acceptable solution for me, security-wise...).

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Answer 7

Jan 5, 2014 11:57 AM in response to Jerom3

No, I am not suggesting jailbreaking...but the same thing, DFU, can be used to restore when all else seems to fail.

This may get to the point of having to disconnect and take the iPad to an Apple store genius bar and see if the techs can force a restore.

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Answer 8

Jerom3 Author

Level 1

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Jan 5, 2014 12:27 PM in response to Ralph Landry1

Thank you for the tip. Actually it happens that tomorrow I need to have my device ready.

So I have decided to take my chance with IOS 7.

Clicked "restore"/ok... And now iTunes says 74 minutes left for the update...

I hope I'll manage to have the iPad back to life later and to restore my backup.

This has really been a very unpleasant upgrade experience. 😠

Thanks for your support (technically and emotionally).

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Answer 9

Jan 5, 2014 12:37 PM in response to Jerom3

You are welcome...we are all fellow users and have been through some of these problems and hand wringing ourselves.

iOS 7 is not a bad operating system...there are things I like and things I don't like...same is true for every operating system I have ever used.

In a way I am glad my iPad 1 cannot go beyond 5.1.1, but there are other features I like using on my iPhone that does have iOS 7.0.4. It actually is pretty quick so I cannot complain too much.

Watch what you do after iOS 7.0.4 downloads and installs...when it goes through the setup proceedure it should ask about setting a passcode...unless you want that just tell it to continue and not set one. Some users set one and then forget what they set and get into serious trouble.

Take your time with the setup to get just what you want.

Also keep in mind that with iOS 7, if you turn Find My ON in iCloud, the iDevice cannot be restored without entering the Apple ID and password...a security feature that is very good but the user needs to be aware of it.

Best of luck with the restoration and install.

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Answer 10

Jerom3 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 5, 2014 3:24 PM in response to Ralph Landry1

All right. I've managed to get my iPad running again with IOS 7 now.

As an additional tip for anyone who might need the intel : I had to click on "restore" in iTunes 3 times to get it done. First time to launch the process, then a second time after a 75 min download, and a third time after whatever task iTunes/iPad had just finished doing... All this without any prompt. I mean iTunes did not give me any clue what to do next. It just stopped doing anything each time.

Thanks again Ralp for the password tip : I have skipped everything as advised.

Let's hope using this new OS won't be as painfull as installing it.

Take-away:

ℹ It is not possible to upgrade an iPad 2 from IOS 5.1.1 to IOS 6.x. All the web is chatting about the impossibility to downgrade to IOS 6, yeah, yeah... It's impossible to upgrade too.

⚠ Attempting to do such an upgrade from iTunes, using shift+restore with a genuine ipsw file downloaded from Apple servers will make your iPad unusable (locked in "recovery mode"), with no other choice but to upgrade to IOS 7.

⚠ There's no early warning from iTunes about all that. It starts the upgrade process then aborts it, leaving the iPad gets locked into "recovery mode". Period.

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Answer 11

Jan 5, 2014 3:52 PM in response to Jerom3

Good to hear you are operational again...hope it now works well for you.

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