HT4972 No matter which of your confusing directions I try to follow, I am unable to upgrade my iTunes to the latest version which "must be done" prior to upgrading my iPad 2 to IOS 5. PLEASE HELP!!

Question

Please help me to upgrade latest iTunes version so then I can upgrade to iOS 5 or 6. I have an iPad 2. Thank you.

Answer 1

You need to update iTunes on your computer (not the iPad) to the latest version in order to then update the iPad to iOS 5.1.1 (iOS 6 isn't released until the Autumn) - you can check if you are up-to-date (which will prompt you to update if you aren't) via, on a PC, 'Help > Check For Updates', and on a Mac 'iTunes > Check For Updates'
When you have that installed, connect the iPad to your computer's iTunes and copy any purchases off the iPad to your computer via File > Transfer Purchases (you may also want to copy photos off the iPad as well) and then force a backup of the iPad by right-clicking the iPad 'Device' on the left-hand side of iTunes and selecting 'Backup'. You may also want to copy off the iPad any important documents, notes, files etc e.g. via the file sharing section at the bottom of the device's apps tab when connected to iTunes, via wifi, email, dropbox etc - they should be included in the backup, but it's best to have a copy of them outside of the backup just in case.
You can then start the update by selecting the iPad on the left-hand side of iTunes, and on the Summary tab on the right-hand side clicking the Check For Updates button.
Updating to iOS 5+ : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4972