User profile for user: FishingAddict
FishingAddict Author
User level: Level 4
3,774 points

Upgrading iPad 2 to iOS 8 Successfully

I thought that I'd report on the method that I used to successfully upgrade my iPad 2 to iOS 8. Although the following procedure did take me longer that just kicking off the standard over the air iOS update, I always think it worth extra effort when upgrading something that I rely on every day (such as my iPad, iPhone, Macs, PCs, etc.). I think that the following procedure is very reasonable and worked well for me. However, your results may differ so follow this procedure at your own risk. Note that I also have a colleague that just did a simple over-the-air iOS 8 upgrade of his iPad 2 and it also worked great. Therefore, you certainly don;t need to go to the lengths that I do below, but I think it's worth it to get a very clean install with as little "baggage" from prior installs as possible.


I have now used my iPad 2 for two days and nights since upgrading to iOS 8 using the following method. And, I am happy to say that my iPad 2 is working better than ever (iOS 7 prior), with no crashes of any kind, good performance, good battery life, and good WiFi and Safari performance. Here are the steps that I personally took to install iOS 8. I hope they help some of you that are having problems with your iPad 2s and iOS 8 and are looking for a solution.


I'm certainly no iOS expert so I hope to see some suggested improvements to this method from the many knowledgable posters on this forum. Here goes:


Cleanup and Prepare


  • Clean up your iPad including removing apps you do not use, clean up your photos and videos in your camera roll, and clean up the music and other content you sync to the iOS device.
  • Make sure that you KNOW your AppleIDs and passwords. Make sure you understand which Apple IDs that you are using for iCloud, iMessages, and the Apple Store.
  • Make sure that you KNOW what your settings are for all of your other cloud/mail/calendar/contacts accounts (Google, Microsoft, DropBox, etc...).
  • If you are still using POP email in 2014 then understand that you are going to either lose your email or need to download it all again once your upgrade is done!
  • If you use Google Authenticator app or a password manager then make sure that you understand the process of restoring these apps and their settings from a separate backup if something goes wrong during your iOS restore process
  • Make sure that iTunes is set to encrypt your iOS backups. Doing so allows iTunes to store and restore passwords that you have stored on the iOS device.


Prepare your iOS Device


  • iOS Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup > Back Up Now (this will be a secondary backup just in case)
  • iOS Settings > iCloud > Find My iPad > OFF
  • iOS Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Accounts > and Delete Gmail, Exchange, and other "cloud" accounts that you can add back later
  • iOS Settings > Wi-Fi > and "Forget" each remembered network


From iTunes on a Mac/PC


  • Make sure you have the latest iTunes version
  • Connect device by cable to iTunes on Mac (turn on the sidebar if not displayed)
  • iTunes > Sidebar > Right-click device > "Transfer Purchases"
  • iTunes > Sidebar > Apps > "Update All Apps"
  • iTunes > Sidebar > Right-click device > "Sync"
  • iTunes > Sidebar > Right-click device > "Back Up"
  • Identify iPad version from back of iPad and look up common name from Apple Site: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5452
  • Downloaded appropriate IPSW file directly from Apple: http://osxdaily.com/2014/09/17/ios-8-ipsw-download/
  • Install appropriate IPSW file to iPad by holding "Option" key when initiating a "Restore iPad" from iTunes, select downloaded .ipsw file, confirm intention to restore iPad to iOS 8: http://osxdaily.com/2010/11/23/how-to-use-ipsw-files/
  • WAIT ... until the firmware install is completed
  • WAIT ... until the iPad reboots itself and then ends on the "Hello" page
  • Finally, swipe the "Slide to Setup", choose your language, region, and WiFi network, enable location services
  • Then choose "Restore from iTunes Backup", then wait for iTunes to bring up the "Welcome to Your New iPad" screen
  • Choose "Restore from this Backup" (check the date and time), click "continue"
  • WAIT ... for restore to complete, for the device to reboot, and then for the iTunes "Sync" to complete
  • Swipe, then click "continue", then type in the password for the iCloud account listed
  • Agree to Terms and Conditions
  • Agree to turn on Find My iPad
  • Do NOT upgrade to iCloud drive yet (until Mac OS Yosemite is available and on your Macs)
  • iOS Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Accounts > add back your cloud/mail/calendar/contacts accounts (Google, Microsoft, etc...)
  • Enjoy your very clean iOS device
  • LASTLY ... Go to iOS Settings and go through nearly every setting to get familiar with the features of your iOS device. If you find a setting that you don't understand then Google it. If you don't need a feature, then disable it for better security and better battery life.

iPad 2, iOS 8

Posted on Sep 23, 2014 6:19 PM

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7 replies
User profile for user: debira
debira
User level: Level 1
4 points

Oct 5, 2014 10:24 AM in response to FishingAddict

THANK YOU!!


I upgraded my iPad 2 to IOS 8 and it was a disaster. I had originally connected to my MacBook Pro and upgraded through iTunes. I could hardly slide to open and was impossible to do much of anything. I found a way to revert back to 7.1.2. Whew! My iPad was restored.


Then I came upon this step by step guide after the 8.02 release. I followed each of the above steps and am happy and very grateful to report my iPad is working better than ever! I love the new iOS.


THank ink you so much, Tim!

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User profile for user: FishingAddict
FishingAddict Author
User level: Level 4
3,774 points

Nov 20, 2014 9:46 PM in response to Svcorpio_1949

I personally always clear out everything in Safari after installing any updates that include a new Safari version (most do).


Note that the instructions above should still work fine if required but you should update to the new iOS 8.1.1 instead of the version listed in my old post above.


Yesterday, I updated my iPad 2 (that I originally used when creating the post above) to iOS 8.1.1 using a simple over-the-air update. Everything works great and it seems even snapper when typing and when using safari.


Then, I took the plunge and updated my iPhone 4S from iOS 7.1.1 to 8.1.1 using iTunes. Everything went as expected, and my iPhone 4S works as well as ever with not a bit of slowness. In addition (and many will say I'm full of it) my battery life has improved! No kidding here, unexpectedly, my battery life is now better than ever. Its no secret that most reports of poor battery life on an iOS device are simply because the user will not take the time to look through the Settings of the device and turn off or adjust services that are battery hogs.


I know this is a long-winded reply but just wanted to let folks with older devices that iOS 8.1.1 works great with them if you take some care in updating and then adjust all settings to optimize for the balance of features, battery life, and performance that you need. My iPad 2 and my iPhone 4S now work better than when I bought them!

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User profile for user: Star Traveler
Star Traveler
User level: Level 4
1,755 points

Nov 20, 2014 10:12 PM in response to FishingAddict

Tim Snoots wrote:


I thought that I'd report on the method that I used to successfully upgrade my iPad 2 to iOS 8.



It's always excellent to hear a successful update account, for an iPad 2 with iOS 8 ... since many people who have been posting think this is impossible. From accounts like yours and the many others I've heard, it's entirely possible, if one does it the right way!


When someone is having trouble, though, after having already done the upgrade, I would recommend doing the following ...


Follow this procedure for a Troubleshooting Methodology ... basically reset to factory default condition -BUT- be sure to do the following methodically and also to follow the part with Apple Support!


First you want to make sure you have several backups of your data and done with a couple of "different" sources. Be sure to understand what data is backed up and what is NOT on iCloud Backup and iTunes Backup. Use a variety of methods for backup ... you might check into Dropbox, in addition to your Apple options.


Then turn off your desktop anti-virus software when using iTunes for this reset to factory default. After you do that reset, then leave your iPad in its factory default state and see how it operates then. If you encounter any problems in that factory default state, then take it to Apple Support, and let them know that you have just reset it to that state with iTunes and have not put any of your data back on and it is operating in this fashion (whatever the problem is) in that pristine state. Make sure you keep that trouble ticket number, because if it has to be escalated through Apple Support, you're going to find all communications tied in with that number. If the lower level help isn't able to help you, then escalate it to a higher level to examine the problem. Keep at it with that trouble ticket number until Apple Support arrives at a solution to that problem. Be methodical and keep at it.


On the other hand, if everything is okay with the factory default condition, then restore your backup. Some people have discovered that the problem resides in the apps or something in the restored backup. If that's the case, then it's going to be trying and difficult to find out which developer's app is causing you the problem. And ... it's true ... that a developer not following Apple's instructions and guidelines for his app can CAUSE YOU TROUBLE. This kind of thing does happen from developers, especially when a new system upgrade comes out, because some developers ignore what Apple tells them about changes coming, and what they do BREAKS SOMETHING.


This is a troubleshooting methodology that you are going through. See it through to the end.


Choosing an iOS Backup Method (Should I Use iTunes or iCloud to back up ...)

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT5262


Back up and Restore your iOS Device with iCloud or iTunes

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1766


iTunes: About iOS Backups

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4946


Create and Delete iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch Backups in iTunes

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4946


iOS: Troubleshooting Encrypted Backups

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5162


Use iTunes to Restore your iOS Device to Factory Settings

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1414

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Upgrading iPad 2 to iOS 8 Successfully

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