All iPads iPadOS Restore from iTunes for Windows

[Yebubbleman]

Barring any change to iPadOS in 15.2, every time I do a DFU restore on the current version of iTunes for Windows to an iPad, I get errors saying that it couldn't connect to the iPad. I've had this problem with a third generation Wi-Fi only iPad Air as well as a third generation Wi-Fi only 12.9" iPad Pro. I've had this issue with these iPads on multiple PCs running the current version of iTunes for Windows, but not on any Macs. Incidentally, I didn't have this issue DFU restoring iOS 15.1 onto an iPhone 7 Plus (whereas I did for restoring iPadOS 15.1 to those iPads). A DFU restore of iPadOS 15.0.1 onto my fourth generation Wi-Fi only iPad Air from the same PC running iTunes for Windows also had no issue. Is there some bug for iTunes for Windows when it comes to doing DFU restores on iPads? I am all set to replace said 12.9" iPad Pro at my local Genius Bar, but this seems like an issue with iTunes and not my iPad(s). But a Google search yields nothing; Genius Bar staff don't seem to know anything about this; it's happening with multiple PCs running the latest version of iTunes for Windows and across multiple iPads. A call to Apple support leads to a cryptic "Apple has opened up an investigation to this" that sounds more like a cop-out from lazy level 1 and 2 staff than anything formal.

Before anyone gives me the "why are you restoring on a PC?" song and dance, this is something I SHOULD be able to do per Apple's own specifications. Anyone have any insight beyond this? Anyone else having this issue?

 

[Rafterman]

Why DFU? I simply reset the iPad to factory default via the iPad settings menu, then do an iTunes restore. Never had an issue that way.

DFU is usually for when your iPad is in a funky state and the normal ways don't work.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Why DFU? I simply reset the iPad to factory default via the iPad settings menu, then do an iTunes restore. Never had an issue that way.

DFU is usually for when your iPad is in a funky state and the normal ways don't work.

DFU restores both the data and the OS partitions - whereas a standard restore will only wipe the data partition (and maybe update the OS partition if it is out of date). In addition to a DFU restore being used as a last ditch effort to restore a troublesome iDevice, it will also provide the most thorough kind of wipe and restore to both the OS and the various firmware components on the iDevice itself. Also, I've tested with benchmarks and found that a DFU restore produces a few points higher on a Geekbench score and it's not like that isn't a depreciating element on any iPad or iPhone. Either way, you'd think I'd be able to do one of these restores without having an error.