"Replacement needed" appeared on my iPad 2 after software update

By the way I dont have apple care purchased. So how can we fix our problems now?

I reckon you could call any one of those countries, however please be aware that it may cost you extra to ring long-distance numbers.

I also did not have AppleCare purchased and still managed to talk to them.

What you can say when you're on the phone to them:

- iPad is showing Replacement Needed and cannot get past activation - explain that it was working fine before update/restore

- Ask how did this problem occur

- if they want you to purchase a replacement, talk to a senior advisor

I went twice to local Apple store (in US) and best they could offer me was replacement for $249. I did not like that solution. Called AppleCare (my ipad is about 1.5yrs out warranty), talked to senior advisor and he authorized replacement at no cost. Wish you all luck solving this!

That is exactly what I did! The retail stores are only there to turn a profit. You are better off speaking to AppleCare

youse123, thank you for your efforts, much appreciated.

While I'm pleased that there is finally a solution I believe that Apple should just attempt to fix this once and for all through whatever means that are available to them, instead of wasting the time of customers, and the people working in Applecare/technical support. Many people have not been able to use their iPads for an extended period of time, and I'm sure they are frustrated about this (I certainly am). Calling support will not necessarily fix it for some people if they reach an agent that does not understand the issue, so I am loathe to make a call because I don't have much time to deal with this. Please Apple, do the right thing, fix it without letting customers incur more frustration.

gltdx, I understand your frustration. However, the only solution is to conrtact AppleCare, because the serial number of your iPad is missing from Apple's database/servers and the engineers need to manually input your serial number into it - (I think that's what they have to do, I don't have the exact details). Without calling AppleCare, they would not be able to solve your problem, because to Apple, your serial number is inexistant, and there is no way for them to find out which serial numbers are missing from Apple's databases/servers.

I tried to call apple yesterday. The senior adviser said he cannot help me with this matter. He can only recommend replacement and it's noy free. And he want to have the replacement from my country. It's so frustrating. Even the senior advisor cant help. Because it is the first time he encounter this he said

Can you lead me to your advisor or even to talk to him for me? Because its seems he's the only one that can help my problem. The advisor that i called didn't believed me that many of us are experiencing the same problem

I don't think AppleCare in Australia are authorised to contact other countries. I'm afraid there's nothing that I can do. Sorry.

maybe you can do it because if the ios engineers submit my missing Serial No. to the apple server/database i can activate my ipad 2 gsm afterwards. because you submit yours right? thanks if it's possible!

The iPad is tied to your name and Apple ID, and that means that only you can do it. They ask for your details, etc.

can you atleast refer me to the senior advisor that you talked to? so i can fix my problem?

No help from apple. I tried to contact them twice but both of the senior advisora that i haved talked to says that my ipad has a problem and in need for a replacement. Even if i try to suggest to check my serial no. on their database and refer it to the engineers but he said no. Oh myim losing hope

I'm suddenly experiencing the same problem.

I'm using a cellular 3G model of ipad 2 in Korea.

Before ios update, I've successfully completed factory reset about a year ago.

I purchased Ipad Air last week so I thought I would give my ipad2 to my dad.

After factory reset...

It suddenly showed that it needs a replace ment, and cannot be activated...

I've tried number of times after taking out the sim card, and with the sim card but the same problem

kept on appearing.

I've been using the ipad2 perfectly well just before I did the factory reset...

and I think it's definitely not a hardware problem..

probably something wrong with ios7...

I find that number of people are experiencing the same problem but really surprised that

Apple still did not come up with a proper solution or official comment on the problem.

I went to the apple service center in Korea...

but they just tried factory reset, and that they cannot fix it and all they could recommend was

exchange with new one with a price of $330 or so...

Ha...ha...

So I asked them

"what's the problem.. can't you at least tell me what the problem is?"

and they said..

"pro....ba...bly.... um.. hard... ware... um...... .... ...."

I'm not much fan of Samsung products... (I don't like the perfection of their product..)

but this kind of service??

Not even imaginable...

is there anyone who came across a perfect solution for this problem??

may be the apple is tricking us to buy a new product since they are losing their place in maker share 😟

I have the same problem 😟 😟 😟 😟 😟 please help us !!