Preparing an iPad in Configurator without updating the iOS

Question

Hi all,
I work on a research study that uses iPads and an app to collect data. The app is a third party app and will not work if the iOS on the iPads is updated beyond iOS 7.0.6. I was trying to apply a backup via Configurator to one of the study's iPads and I got the error message that Configurator couldn't recognize the supervision status of the iPad and that the iPad needed to update the iOS for Configurator to work. I did some research on the interent and it seemed like people who didn't want to update the iOS created a custom iOS in Configurator then prepared their iPads using the custom iOS. I unsupervised my iPad and dowloaded the ipsw I wanted and put it in the custom iOS folder in Configurator but it doesn't work. Everytime I hit the Prepare button I get the same error: Unable to install iOS 7.0.6, unable to restor device with firmware found at file:///Users/DailyDiaryStudy/Library/Containers/com.apple.configurator/Data/Li brary/Caches/com.apple.configurator/UnpackedFirmware/iPad2,3_7.0.6_11B651_Restor e.ipsw/.
Personalization failed, error codes 4027 and 3194.
I've done everything the Apple support website and other websites recommend but it still hasn't worked. I also can't find any file called Unpacked Firmware in the location Configurator gives in the error message. The iPad is already on iOS 7.0.6 and I don't know if that's the problem or the firmware is the problem or if it's something else. I tried preparing the iPad with 7.0.4 and the same thing happened. I only use Apple technology for work so I really don't know anything about it beyond what I've taught myself. I've done some internet searches but I haven't found anything helpful. One person got error code 4027 and did something in the Host file but I don't know what it was. I know updating the iOS would likely solve all my problems but like I said, doing so would mean I would no longer be able to use the study's app on that iPad. I'm using the latest version of Configurator and I'm running Mavericks on the Mac. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

Answer 1

Another way to see this:  
Apple offers half price apps.  Configurator is not mandatory, but half price apps are almost useless to a school without Configurator.
Using Configurator means schools are forced to always use the most bleeding edge iOS.
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Imagine if Microsoft offered half price apps to schools, but only if the IT staff forced everyone to use windows 8. Oh my...
This affects many apps.  If you feel apple should not be so forceful and restricive please call and let them know you don't want configurator to force the new ios at the time of prep.   [phone]