How do I just update the OS, no syncing?

Question

I haven't used iTunes for a month or so, but today I've just run it and accepted the option to update it to version 10.1. But before I connect my iPad could I get some advice please. It was probably due to unfamiliarity (I'm a long term Windows user but pretty new to all things Apple) but I got into quite a mess a few times earlier. Several times I lost apps I'd installed on my iPad. I want to ensure that doesn't happen again now, as I've installed a dozen or so new apps directly on the iPad since I last connected it to my PC with Itunes. What steps should I therefore take please?
Ideally, all I'd like to do is update to the new 4.2.1 OS, leaving everything else unchanged.
Any help would be much appreciated please.
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Answer 1

You can setup iTunes to sync specific material if you wish to do it that way, use the iPad Settings Panes in iTunes.
When I installed, I was asked if I wanted to sync from the backup...since I had purchased books in iBooks directly from the app store and not via the computer I said fine. All the books I had were backed up in iTunes then synced back to the iPad when it finished the installation of 4.2.1.
As you move through the update, read each option it gives you, they are pretty straight forward. Just take your time so you are sure of what it is doing.