IOS 5 Install Instructions (How to restore apps with progress, how to install on a computer you don't normally sync with, etc.)

Question

This isn't really a question, but that doesn't matter, right?
First of all, you know how to upgrade, right? Install the new version of iTunes, plug in your iDevice, click on it on the sidebar, and click Update.
PRECAUTION: You should sync first, but it's not required at all, especially if you CAN'T sync because you're updating on a secondary computer. iTunes will create a backup for you during the update process.
If you are updating on a computer that you normally sync with...
Just click Download and Update!
If you AREN'T updating on a computer that you normally sync with...
You'll get a message that says it will erase everything on your iDevice.
Who cares? Just update!
Estimated download times:
Download Time: 30 Minutes
Backup Time: (Around 30 GB of data) 1.5 Hours (DON'T SKIP THIS STEP!)
Update Time: 10 Minutes
After the long wait, and something on your iDevice shows up about setting up a new device, jump right in and answer the 5-10 questions or so!
Then, you'll see your new iOS 5 iDevice for the first time.
WAIT, ALL OF THE APPS, MUSIC, and MORE are gone!
NO NEED TO PANIC!
This is normal, and WILL happen in 90-95 percent of users! There is a way to stop this from happening, but don't go that route... It takes DAYS to do... There are two ways to restore all of your apps, WITH THEIR PROGRESS TOO! (Angry Birds time!) Apple will NOT charge you for redownloading!
1. Just go into the App Store on your device, go into updates, and click the new purchased bar. From there, click the little cloud next to all the apps you need to download. They will redownload with their progress!
2. Or, you can go into iTunes, (Purchased tab), and from there redownload all of your apps.
This WILL happen whether or not you do this update on a computer you normally sync with or not. I did this update on a computer I don't normally sync with and it worked perfectly!
I waited four days researching what will happen if I update on a computer that I don't normally sync with, but with no avail, so I decided to bite the bullet, and this worked perfectly! Time to work on Angry Birds! iOS 5 is worth the 3 hour wait!
Any questions, feel free to ask!

Answer 1

This is not working for me. I synced to my computer first, then I did the upgrade on my iphone 4. Once the upgrade completed, my phone got an apple symbol with a line under it, and it is just frozen. I tried to sync back to my computer 3 times, and each time, it stops on step 3/4 for the sync. Under the apps, it says something like 'searching for apps to load.' It freezes there for hours. I waited 7 hours the first time, woke up, did it again and 11 hours later, come home from work, stuck on the same screen again. I restarted itunes, and it will not even let me press the sync button. It is like the sync button is already clicked, and it says - 'loading device.' It has been stuck on that for hours.
I am so disappointed with this 'update.' My phone worked fine yesterday. Can somebody tell me what to do to get my phone to work again? I do not even care if I keep the update or not. I just want a working phone. Just to be clear, I lost EVERYTHING. I lost the ability to even turn my phone on, and apparently, my computer lost the ability to 'read' my phone. I can see all of the info on my computer, but my phone will not power on, and the computer will not sync my phone to the info that is stored.