Server issues preventing iOS 5 updates for many - TUAW recommends a dose of zen

After the initial "This device is not eligible issue" I had no problems upgrading.

Also got the error, but got it working this morning. Unfortunately in the process of getting it to work I committed cardinal sin #1 and failed to back up my phone beforehand. When it forced me to restore, I wound up restoring a backup from 2 months ago. Lost 2 months of photos and data. Beware! Make sure you back up your phone before upgrading!!!! Don't assume that part of the upgrade process includes a backup.

No, adding insult to injury is when the MobileMe web client becomes flaky and won't load. So now I get to read and reply to all of my emails on my phone. Luckily I'm not paying for this service! :-)

Wait. :-|...I am.

Ta dum dum...pshhhhh!

Persistence is key. I tried over and over and over...it finally worked. Also to note, iOS 5 update added audio ID3/metadata when streaming over bluetooth.

Sucks! Waited 7 hours and then it crapped out. Will try again next month now!

I was getting a 3002 error code all night. Then I did this and it worked.
http://www.smartin.in/fix-ios-5-0-update-error-3002/
Don't be afraid of terminal. Make sure your have the ipsw in an easy to find place. Then it's just alt + restore. Fo' rilla this worked.

Considering that Apple has put a hold on transitioning MobileMe users to iCloud ( http://www.apple.com/support/mobileme/system_status_more.html ) and the fact that it's taking forever to download the update, I think I'll put it off a day.

On the positive side, my iPhone 4S shipped according to AT&T. Since it comes with iOS 5 preinstalled, that might actually be the first device I get iOS5 on.

To add injury to insult, iTunes has made me download iOS 5 for each device I wanted it installed on. I'm on my third device (one more after this one), and each time I'm downloading another 707MB for each device. Why couldn't they just save it in my downloads instead of having to download it each time?

I had these problems myself, then I opted to restore. Big mistake! For about an hour, I thought my iPhone was bricked. I called AppleCare, but they were probably taking calls from other people with bricked iPhones. While I was on hold, the restore finally worked, and I'm happily on iOS 5 now. That was a close call!

Got the dreaded Error 3304. Which means now I have to master factory reset my phone. :(

MASTER FACTORY RESET (DO AT YOUR OWN RISK)
For those that are getting this and cant make it to the Apple store as long as you backed up all your pics/addresses etc ahead of time you can always do a master reset, which will take you phone back to original specs as you bought the phone. (you will lose all your pics, etc). The servers for downloading iOS 5 via itunes is at a snails pace, you want to do a direct download first. http://osxdaily.com/2011/10/12/ios-5-download-available.
Procedure, download iOS 5. And place it user/library/itunes/iPhone Software Updates. (make sure you remove any other .ipsw files from there as they may be corrupt). Now open itunes. Next attach the cable to your iphone, then hold down the home button, and while holding down the button plug your iphone into to the usb port on your computer. It will ask you to restore your phone. Hit ok, now you just have to wait. Mine took about 20min to load. When its ready youll get this: "Your iPhone has been restored to factory settings, and is restarting. Please leave your iPhone connected. It will appear in the iTunes window after it restarts". It will restart and then, in itunes it will go into restore mode. Which will only take about 4 min. as you dont have anything to restore as you are wiping it clean. After the phone is restored it will restart. After it loads again in itunes it will restore all the iphone apps. (this may take a while depending on how many apps you have. For me its taking a little longer due to all the GPS apps I have, and the only other thing left is it will restore all your music and videos and photos, which again I have a ton).

REMEMBER THIS IS IF YOU BRICKED YOUR PHONE (WITH THE ERROR 3304) AND CANT RESTORE VIA AN OLD BACKUP .ISPW FILE! THIS WILL ERASE EVERYTHING ON YOUR IPHONE AND DO A CLEAN INSTALL WITH iOS5 ON IT!!! DO THIS AT YOU OWN RISK!