# OS6 Killed my iPad 2 -What to do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 21, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918 "2013-01-21T17:03:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andyleonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@andyleonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyleonard)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/1 "2013-01-21T17:03:28Z")
After weeks of avoiding the “Upgrade to OS6” prompts on my iPad 2nd Gen, I weakened and punched the upgrade button, remembering somewhere in the back of my brain that there was a “Revert to 5.1” button on there somewhere, so what’s the risk? Well, it seems OS6 uses up so much of the memory on the machine that it now won’t run several vital apps and - guess what - the “Revert to 5.1” button is gone and Apple is not interested in my problem. Yesterday the weasel at the Apple store suggested I sell my 14 month old iPad “as it still has some value” and buy a newer one. I suggested that it was pretty sleazy of Apple to kill my machine with their bloatware - when it ran fine before - and not allow me to revert to the successful software. There was a lot of eye-shifting and finally one of the lads offered that reverting was “not supported by Apple” but that if I went online, maybe there was something… What’s the SD on my situation? Ditch the machine or try something scary online? I have done all the obvious stuff short of a wipe and reinstall. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/2 "2013-01-21T17:07:59Z")
Apple still sells the iPad 2, new, with iOS 6 preloaded. Additionally, the new Mini essentially has the guts of the iPad 2. So, I would be surprised if the problem with yours is insoluble. Don’t listen to what the people at the Apple store say. They’re morons. What apps are you trying to run? Have you tried doing a total restore of the OS? ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/3 "2013-01-21T17:16:00Z")
[Click on this to jailbreak (which is legal to do)](http://rodingo.com/downgrade-from-ios-6-to-5-1-1-without-shsh-blobs/564/)and then downgrade back to 5.1.1. I’ve used jailbreak on all of my iPhones and have not had a problem. ---
**Author:** ![andyleonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@andyleonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyleonard)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/4 "2013-01-21T17:20:01Z")
I work with Scallop Imaging [www.scallopimaging.com](http://www.scallopimaging.com) and we make a really cool 180\* digital camera. Video Insight makes a wonderful free app called VI-Mobile that allows iPad PTZ movement inside our FullRes 7mp image…pretty intensive processing, but running well before the upgrade. OS6 will now not support the FullRes stream - app crashes after about 4 seconds - and the assumption is the nonsense-ware of OS6 has used too much of the iPad 2 processing juice up. ---
**Author:** ![andyleonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@andyleonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyleonard)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/5 "2013-01-21T17:23:19Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > [Click on this to jailbreak (which is legal to do)](http://rodingo.com/downgrade-from-ios-6-to-5-1-1-without-shsh-blobs/564/)and then downgrade back to 5.1.1. > > I’ve used jailbreak on all of my iPhones and have not had a problem. Uhmmmm…really? ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/6 "2013-01-21T17:33:30Z")
> [@andyleonard](#): > > Uhmmmm…really? Hmm, maybe not re: legality. I knew it was legal for the iPhones, but apparently the iPad is not. > [@](#): > > [Jailbreaking for iPhones but not iPads](http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/10/jailbreaking-now-legal-under-dmca-for-smartphones-but-not-tablets/)The new rules allow circumvention of “computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute lawfully obtained software applications, where circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of enabling interoperability of such applications with computer programs on the telephone handset.” In other words, jailbreaking is permitted for “telephone handsets,” as it was under the 2010 rules. > > What about tablets? No dice. The Librarian “found significant merit to the opposition’s concerns that this aspect of the proposed class was broad and ill-defined, as a wide range of devices might be considered ‘tablets,’ notwithstanding the significant distinctions among them in terms of the way they operate, their intended purposes, and the nature of the applications they can accommodate. For example, an e-book reading device might be considered a ‘tablet,’ as might a handheld video game device or a laptop computer.” > > The Librarian ruled that “the record lacked a sufficient basis to develop an appropriate definition for the ‘tablet’ category of devices, a necessary predicate to extending the exemption beyond smartphones.” Disregard my previous statement as I didn’t know that there was such a stupid delineation. ---
**Author:** ![andyleonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@andyleonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyleonard)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/7 "2013-01-21T17:36:56Z")
I’m less concerned about the legality than I am about the somewhat, er, fuzzy instructions. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/8 "2013-01-21T17:39:42Z")
Wipe it completely and reinstall OS6. You shouldn’t be having any lag or bloatware problems on an iPad 2. What specific apps are problematic? ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/9 "2013-01-21T17:44:09Z")
I haven’t had any issues with iOS 6 on an iPad 2. Try a reset. ---
**Author:** ![andyleonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@andyleonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyleonard)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/10 "2013-01-21T17:52:46Z")
> [@Rysler](#): > > Wipe it completely and reinstall OS6. You shouldn’t be having any lag or bloatware problems on an iPad 2. > > What specific apps are problematic? See above. ---
**Author:** ![andyleonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@andyleonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyleonard)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/11 "2013-01-21T17:53:46Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I haven’t had any issues with iOS 6 on an iPad 2. Try a reset. See OP. ---
**Author:** ![andyleonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@andyleonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyleonard)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/12 "2013-01-21T19:11:41Z")
> [@Rysler](#): > > Wipe it completely and reinstall OS6. You shouldn’t be having any lag or bloatware problems on an iPad 2. > > What specific apps are problematic? Blew it back to the stone age, reloaded 6.1, reloaded the app and same deal. Other similar machines here on 5.1 are fine. Newer machines on 6.1 are fine. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/13 "2013-01-21T19:22:55Z")
> [@andyleonard](#): > > OS6 will now not support the FullRes stream - app crashes after about 4 seconds - and the assumption is the nonsense-ware of OS6 has used too much of the iPad 2 processing juice up. Well, that’s a thorough technical analysis if I ever heard one! That damn nonsense-ware using up too much of the juice! iOS 6 running on iPad 2 hardware makes up the majority of the new devices Apple is selling today. If an app crashes while running on this configuration, you should talk to the app vendor and ask them to fix it. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/14 "2013-01-21T19:27:44Z")
If you install Skype on it are you then legally entitled to jailbreak it? ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/15 "2013-01-21T19:58:22Z")
> [@andyleonard](#): > > After weeks of avoiding the “Upgrade to OS6” prompts on my iPad 2nd Gen, I weakened and punched the upgrade button, remembering somewhere in the back of my brain that there was a “Revert to 5.1” button on there somewhere, so what’s the risk? No help now, but for future reference: reverting back to the previous OS is only supported by Apple (somewhat on the down-low) for about a week. ---
**Author:** ![andyleonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@andyleonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyleonard)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/16 "2013-01-21T20:46:06Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > Well, that’s a thorough technical analysis if I ever heard one! That damn nonsense-ware using up too much of the juice! > > iOS 6 running on iPad 2 hardware makes up the majority of the new devices Apple is selling today. If an app crashes while running on this configuration, you should talk to the app vendor and ask them to fix it. Sorry for the non-technical description. You, of course, have software to measure and assign the RAM in an iPad. I don’t. The hive mind agrees that the new OS is using too much RAM compared to the old OS…which processes are not known. We design digital camera software and work very closely with the app vendor. They are swearing it’s only my machine that’s malfunctioning…not the machines that came new with OS6…and specifically not my iPhone 4 which is fine on 6 with this app. I have an iPad2 on 5.1.1 which is fine, as was this one previous to upgrade. I have an ipad 3 on 6.1 that’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/17 "2013-01-21T22:15:02Z")
> [@andyleonard](#): > > Sorry for the non-technical description. You, of course, have software to measure and assign the RAM in an iPad. I don’t. The hive mind agrees that the new OS is using too much RAM compared to the old OS…which processes are not known. > > We design digital camera software and work very closely with the app vendor. They are swearing it’s only my machine that’s malfunctioning…not the machines that came new with OS6…and specifically not my iPhone 4 which is fine on 6 with this app. I have an iPad2 on 5.1.1 which is fine, as was this one previous to upgrade. I have an ipad 3 on 6.1 that’s fine. The app vendor should be able to provide you with instructions for sending them the crash report. They can tell you whether it really is running out of memory, or crashing for some other reason. Hell, follow these instructions and post the crash report on here if you want, I can probably tell you what is wrong with it. > **[Locating iPhone & iPad app crash logs](https://bjango.com/help/crashlog/)** > > Makers of iStat Menus, Skala and other great apps. ---
**Author:** ![andyleonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@andyleonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyleonard)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/18 "2013-01-22T00:49:48Z")
It’s crashing on “low memory.” Do you need the whole deal or just that data? ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/19 "2013-01-22T17:29:31Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Hmm, maybe not re: legality. I knew it was legal for the iPhones, but apparently the iPad is not. > Disregard my previous statement as I didn’t know that there was such a stupid delineation. Jail breaking an iPad is not illegal; it is just not specifically exempted as explicitly legal, as is the iPhone. There is a difference. Until tested in the courts, it remains in a legal grey area, but it is not illegal unless a court rules it so, which no court has done to date. And neither have they ruled it legal, which is where the conundrum lies. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918/20 "2013-01-22T17:33:00Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > [Click on this to jailbreak (which is legal to do)](http://rodingo.com/downgrade-from-ios-6-to-5-1-1-without-shsh-blobs/564/)and then downgrade back to 5.1.1. > > I’ve used jailbreak on all of my iPhones and have not had a problem. An iPad or other iDevice cannot be downgraded to a firmware that Apple has stopped signing (as is the case with iOS 5.x) unless the SHSH blobs were saved for that device previously while the signing window was still open. So the OP is out of luck here. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/os6-killed-my-ipad-2-what-to-do/647918.md?page=2)