I'm trying to update my iPad 2 but an error keeps popping up after the extracting part...

Question

im trying to update it to OS 5.0.1 or whatever, and it gets through everything until the extracting part and an error pops up. i have the most recent iTunes, i temporarily disabled the antivirus and firewall, and i reset my whole ipad... what now!

Answer 1

If you continue and you lose everything, you will be able to download most of the content again for free as long as you use the same Apple ID. You can read this about downloading past purchases.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519
But before you continue and lose everything, try this.
Eject your iPad, quit iTunes and restart your computer. Then launch iTunes and go to Edit>Preferences>Devices. See if you have mutliple iPad backups showing in there. If you have multiple backups, delete all but one of them. Also check the box at the bottom that turns off auto sync .... Prevent iPods ......Click OK and Then quit iTunes.
Connect the iPad again and launch iTunes. Right click on your iPad name on the left side of iTunes and select backup. See if the iTunes will create a backup. If it does, after it finishes, click on the Summary Pane on the right and click on check for update. Try to update again.
If it all goes OK, after you update the iOS you can back to Edit>Preferences>Devices and turn on atuo sync again - assuming that is how you want to sync.