Do I need my pass code in order to backup my iPad?

Question

I forgot my password and have tried nine times to "guess" what I had previously set it at.  If it is required to lock the device to back it up, would shutting off suffice?
Thanks!

Answer 1

If You Are Locked Out Or Have Forgotten Your Passcode or Just Need to Restore Your Device
  1. iTunes 10 for Mac- Update and restore software on iPod, iPhone, or iPad
  2. iPhone, iPad, iPod touch: Wrong passcode results in red disabled screen
  3. iOS- Understanding passcodes
     If you have forgotten your Restrictions code, then follow the instructions
     below but DO NOT restore any previous backup. If you do then you will
     simply be restoring the old Restrictions code you have forgotten. This
     same warning applies if you need to restore a clean system.
A Complete Guide to Restore or Recover Your iDevice (if You Forget Your Passcode)
If you need to restore your device or ff you cannot remember the passcode, then you will need to restore your device using the computer with which you last synced it. This allows you to reset your passcode and re-sync the data from the device (or restore from a backup). If you restore on a different computer that was never synced with the device, you will be able to unlock the device for use and remove the passcode, but your data will not be present. Refer to Updating and restoring iPhone, iPad and iPod touch software.
Try restoring the iOS device if backing up and erasing all content and settings doesn't resolve the issue. Using iTunes to restore iOS devices is part of standard isolation troubleshooting. Restoring your device will delete all data and content, including songs, videos, contacts, photos, and calendar information, and will restore all settings to their factory condition.
Before restoring your iOS device, Apple recommends that you either sync with iTunes to transfer any purchases you have made, or back up new data (data acquired after your last sync). If you have movie rentals on the device, see iTunes Store movie rental usage rights in the United States before restoring.
Follow these steps to restore your device:
     1. Verify that you are using the latest version of iTunes before attempting to update.
     2. Connect your device to your computer.
     3. Select your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch when it appears in iTunes under Devices.
     4. Select the Summary tab.
     5. Select the Restore option.
     6. When prompted to back up your settings before restoring, select the Back Up
         option (see in the image below). If you have just backed up the device, it is not
         necessary to create another.
     7. Select the Restore option when iTunes prompts you (as long as you've backed up,
         you should not have to worry about restoring your iOS device).
     8. When the restore process has completed, the device restarts and displays the Apple
         logo while starting up:
           After a restore, the iOS device displays the "Connect to iTunes" screen. For updating
          to iOS 5 or later, follow the steps in the iOS Setup Assistant. For earlier versions of
          iOS, keep your device connected until the "Connect to iTunes" screen goes away or
          you see "iPhone is activated."
     9. The final step is to restore your device from a previous backup. If you do not have a
          backup to restore, then restore as New.
If you are restoring to fix a forgotten Restrictions Code or as a New device, then skip Step 9 and restore as New.