HT201210 The iPad could not be restored - An unknown error occures (-1)

Question

Attempting to upate to iOS6 - update failed - messsage received was to restore the iPad - this process went as far as "restoring iPad firmware where it stopped and resulted in the message - "The iPad could not be restored - An unknown error occures (-1)" Went through all the recommended trouble shooting steops but the problem repeats each time.

Answer 1

Well, I did not think much about Hardware Error (1) becuase it had never happened to me.  Well, over the weekend, I decided to upgrade my iPad 2 32gb Wifi-CDMA to iOS 7.0.6.  I first attempted this OTA, not just once, but several times.  The device would download the software, began the process, reboot and began to apply the update.  It would reach about 60 percent and fail.  After the failure, the iPad would recover and reload the current 7.0.4 iOS.  It would then inform me I had an update.  Each time, I would try to apply the update OTA.  Each time, it would fail.  So, I tried to  complete the update via iTunes.  Well, each time, the process would get to 60 percent and fail.  iTunes would produce an error 3014 or error 1.  Looking through the logs, the problem would fail loading the firmware, and more specifcally, isolated to the modem.  I eventually tried so many times, I bricked my iPad.  I had it in recorvery mode and could not get out of it.  I read through all of the forums and the stories about driving to Apple stores, visiting the Genius Bars, calling Apple Support etc.  They all resulted in the samething, a hardware error of some kind.  Since I have taken hundreds of these iPads apart and repaired them, I figured that this one would get a new set of batteries and a logic board.  But before I decided I would do that, I tried to update and restore using several different cables, tried a desktop computer, two windows laptops, and a macbook pro and a macbook air, of course all with the same result.  So, knowing that iPads are built case down and that all of the connectors are either vertical or horizontal and that most of the horizontal connections are ribbons, I decided to try reseating all of the vertical connectors.  Know, before you read on, I would like to add a disclaimer to not try this at home or even try it at all, but I will tell you, it worked. 
I took the iPad and dropped it on floor 5 times.  I left the iPad in it's case and droped it on a very tight nap throw rug on top of a hardwood floor.  I dropped it from an elevation of about 3 to 4 feet.  I was hoping that the shock would compress all of the vertical connectors and give everything else a bump too. 
Nothing broke, especially not the display or digitizer.  Once I picked up the iPad, I connected it directly to a computer, went to iTunes and clicked on the upgrade and restore option.  The iPad loaded 7.0.6 without any issue.  The iPad is running great and I have not had a problem out of it at all.
I do not recommend you do this to your iPad, but reseating all of the vertical connectors worked for me and I recovered an iPad that would have otherwise been bricked until it was disassembled and repaired.