I'm trying to update my iphone 4s on ios 4 to ios 6.1?

I'm doing it on a Dell laptop with Microsoft student 2010 and the latest version of itunes which I've tried reinstalling several times and keep getting a message saying it's unable to load provider data from sync services. Please help, this is getting very frustrating!

Added (1). Unfortunately I do not have the update software button on my phone, that was IOS 5 and I'm updating from 4 so it needs to be done through the computer x

Go to Settings > General > Software Update.

You should see iOS 6 listed, with a Download and Install button below it. Tap the button, agree to Apple's terms and conditions, and either heed or ignore Apple's advice to connect your device to a power source during the download to save battery.

After iOS 6 installs, your device will restart, which was a rather lengthy process in my experience (20 minutes or so, after the roughly 45 minutes it took to download and install). After restarting, you'll be greeted by a shiny, new iOS 6 lock screen. Slide to open your device and click through the following four setup screens

Don't use your computer. You don't need it. Go to settings, general, software update, and then it will find it and you click download and wait for it to finish. (You need internet) And if you jailbroke your ipod, you will lose all your data when you update. If you didn't, don't worry.

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