How to avoid problems when upgrading iPad?

A few months ago I bought an iPad and have managed to learn how to use it quite well with the help of my husband. However, Apple advises that there is a software update conversion available. When I try to download it advises a time of 6 hours and to plug it into the mains, which I do, but it turns itself off after a period of approximately 1-2 hours with the message ‘error occurred’. I am stuck; can you give me with any pointers?

Pat Hill, by email

As the size of iOS updates grows so the risk of corruption, due to server, broadband or power interruptions, however brief, increases dramatically. The best way to avoid it happening is to download it first, on to your PC or Mac then complete the installation through iTunes. Make sure that you are using the latest version of iTunes then backup your iPad. When that has completed, and with your iPad still connected to the computer, select it on the Devices menu, click the Summary tab, click the Check for Update button, then click Download and Update and the process should begin automatically.

If your iPad will not turn on you may be able to get it back to its pre-update condition, without loosing any files or data, with a simple Reset. All you have to do is hold down the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons for at least 10 seconds or until the Apple logo appears. If the update crashed the system the only option is to Restore the device to its factory settings, which will result in the loss of data but hopefully you will be able to get most of it back from your most recent backup. There is a simple to follow tutorial on the Apple website.