Quite often when I plug in my iPad 2, iTunes goes to the "Set Up Your iPad" screen and makes me restore it. Any way to stop this?

Question

I have had my iPad 2 since the start of June 2011. There are a lot of times when it works great, but I have had trouble sometimes when I sync. Prior problems were with SQLite3.dll, but got help copying that file to the right place. I have also completely uninstalled and re-installed iTunes. However, my biggest problem is that sometimes when I plug it in to sync with iTunes, it automatically goes to the "Set Up Your iPad" screen. It only allows me to set it up as a new iPad, or restore it from a backup. This is happening more and more. So much so that everytime I plug it in and it actually does work, before disconnecting I will right click on the iPad on the left hand bar and do a backup. This is really starting to get on my nerves. I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary with my iPad. Just playing some games and having a few other apps. It's so hard when playing some games like Angry Birds, getting 3 stars in all levels, only to plug the iPad in again to sync and have to restore it and lose all progress! Does anyone know why it goes to this screen? It doesn't happen all the time, but I'd say once every 4 times I connect. Also, I'm using Windows 7, and yes, all windows updates are done, and iTunes always is on the most up-to-date version. Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

Normally, I would suggest restoring the iPad and uninstall and reinstall iTunes but you have done both of those things - more times than you ever imagined!
Have you thought about turning auto syncing off?
Without connecting your iPad to your laptop, start iTunes. Click on Edit. Click on Preferences. Click on Devices. Check the box next to "Prevent your iPod etc. from automatically syncing." Click OK.
If you do this you can backup the iPad right away before it syncs. You may want to go into all of the iTunes tabs and just make sure that all of the current content on the iPad is selected to sync before you actually do sync.
This doesn't solve the problem, but it would prevent the automatic sync and erasing content. Hopefully, in the next few days- when iOS 5 is released - you will also be relieved of this weird iPad behavior - since the iOS devices are supposed to become PC free.
BTW - and this is no excuse for what you are experiencing, but I have found that some of the game apps that I had on my iPad turned out to be quite troublesome and after I removed them, my problems went away. I know that is almost sacrilege with regard to the Angry Birds addiction .... But I'm just saying ...