iPad backup: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766?viewlocale=en_US

Thank you: I had a look at the article you linked but, this one refers to synch and not backup. I will try opening iTunes first and see if I can get the backup going. I determined that the iMac is running OS X 10.6.8.

On another note, my wife has previously connected her iPhone 5 for synch through her iTunes account on this iMac. The iPad will be on my iTunes account. I told the fellow at the Genius Bar about the separate accounts and he said I'd get an option to add a new account. Fingers crossed....

OK: I got an option to 'Backup' and it ran for a couple minutes. It prompted me about transferring purchases, but I wanted them left on the iPad and not transferred off. There was another prompt as well which I declined. I guess I probably need the purchases and apps off if I'm going to put them back on a new iOS updated iPad. I chose 'Backup' again and this time, when prompted to allow transferring purchases, it asked to authorize the computer. I thought it was already authorized, but then, perhaps it's referring to the iPad, since it filled in my iTunes account email.

In any event, it authorized the 'computer' with a confirmation pop up, but then popped messages saying 'You do not have enough access privileges for this operation' referencing what I presume is the iMac. Maybe it's the iPad. Maybe it's because I backed up before authorizing the 'computer'

What I learned is, the instructions provided on the Apple support web site assume more than I know and, although I chose 'Backup', the progress indicator stated it was 'Synching'. Then why are there separate instructions for backup and synching?

I've made another Genius Bar appointment for next week. This is my iMac and I have full privileges.

Thanks for the clarification. I poked around Google a bit more for the differences between synch and backup and there appears to be a great deal of confusion amongst users. It doesn't help that the official support information from Apple doesn't offer a straight forward explanation of what each does and doesn't do. In fact, the usage is conflated. This strikes me as fairly fundamental.

The terms 'transfer' and 'copy' have radically different meanings and it is unfortunate that an incorrect term is used in the software prompts. From what I read, I'm not the only one misled by the terminology. Perhaps they could have called it 'iTransfer' to distinguish it from English. Does anyone know if the problem extends to other language versions of OSX?

The iMac is long past AppleCare expiration. I'll give it a reboot and try again as it might recognize the new 'computer' authorization if it's there at startup. Then it's back to the Genius Bar in 4 days. This time I'll bring the iMac. I'll post what happens...

At the Genius Bar I was directed to create a new log in account for the iMac in order to separate the iTunes accounts between myself and my spouse. The backup/transfer/synch apparently took place since it had a progress bar and indicated that it was transferring and copying content. When it got to the point of installing the updated iOS, it automatically started a new backup/transfer/synch. I don't understand why I needed to spend an extra hour doing this, but there was no option to skip the step.

The 'Genius' who was helping helped several others during the process but was going off shift so he told me he would have someone else check on me. No one ever did, but eventually, the iMac reported that the iPad had the upgraded iOS installed. The iPad prompted for set up asking for a WiFi password, but, as it was after closing time, despite the 50 odd people milling about the store, I decided to pack up and continue at home.

At home, I connected to my WiFi and chose a language and the device prompted me as to whether I wanted to restore from backup. I did, so I logged the iMac into my new account, plugged in the iPad, fired up iTunes and launched the restore.

It gave me a progress bar with multiple steps and got about 70% of 4 of the 4 steps, reporting apps and music as it proceeded, and I left it overnight. This morning, I fired up the iPad, still connected to the iMac, and it prompted me for a WiFi network and password again. Then it asked me whether I wanted to set up the iPad or restore from a backup; again.

What I'd like is to get the music and apps back on the iPad. Maybe that's not a restore, but I mentally associate backup with restore and thought that was the purpose of the backup before upgrading the iOS.

When I get home from work tonight, I'll try restoring again, after all, I had to back it up twice. Maybe you need to restore twice.

Do I need to find iTunes support, iPad support, iOS support or stay with Mac support now before I make another Genius Bar appointment?

Restored 3 more times. Asks me to select how to set it up each time. Made my 3rd genius bar appointment for Saturday. They broke it so I hope they can fix it.

No joy. New iPad. Old one was fine until iOS upgrade. New one won't pick up the restore. Looks like another appointment in my future.