Are you one of the many unfortunate people to attempt Apple’s latest update on your Apple TV? Did you click the update button only to be met with an error message, an incomplete download, or a completely useless little black puck like all the folks on Apple Forums? Well, if this is not you, breathe a sigh of relief. If this is you, have no fear, Apple TV Hacks is here!

We have come across a fix posted by the folks at TidBITS, and the likely cause, of this little blunder. As usual, you can blame CABLE! No, not Comcast or Time Warner but the Ethernet cable! It would seem that this is happening to those of you whom are attempting to do the update via an Ethernet connection. To fix the problem, follow the steps below:

ITEMS NEEDED:

  • Apple TV
  • WIFI

STEPS

  • Use WiFi instead of Ethernet to update your Apple TV to 5.1.1

According to TidBITS:

The solution is to unplug the Ethernet cable and update over Wi-Fi. That has worked for many people for whom the update wouldn’t install. However, if your install failed such that the Apple TV won’t boot at all, you can manually restore the Apple TV by unplugging the power and HDMI cables, and connecting it to your computer with a micro USB cable (for a third-generation Apple TV, you’ll have to reconnect the power cable after this).

It is so easy, that it is insulting.

As always: if you are on jailbroken ATV2, stay away from this update for now if you don’t want to lose your jailbreak.

The iOS 5.1.1 firmware build number is 10A831.

You can download the firmware directly from here.