How to REALLY backup the phone? - Page 3

hinky · 07-17-2009, 01:31 PM

I think the challenge has been that on a Mac, a lot works much more smoothly. Many more desktop applications are available and other more refined add-ons. When you get an iPhone after reading all these rave reviews, simple tasks, etc., you don't realize that many of them are Mac only. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. After time this will all work it's way out. Regarding the boys (or girls!), I've got a thicker skin and was just saying if ya are going to dish it out ya gotta be willing to take it.

The backup: I'm not doing a full restore because the Apple rep said that before they replace my phone for a potential defective battery, I needed to wipe it and then see how things worked after installing the 3.0 update on the 3GS (not that I think this would make any difference.)

The calendar and contacts data was all synced with Outlook so no problem.

My to dos are in Toodledoo so that's done - I think since the original database was Pocket Informant. Not major since I see what they are.

The photos - I think are all backed up and we had to use Windows to back up the photos which is why I was upset that the sync doesn't appear to simply back up all data all the time and it's certainly not easy to confirm that all your pictures were imported. Where do synced photos go exactly?

SMS and phone log - I was lucky to be able to pull out phone numbers from voice mail and texts were actually forwarded from my blackberry. I didn't yet port over my number. On a blackberry everything is contained in a folder and you can open in a text editor if you need to extract some of the text or phone log info. It's handy without having to do a full restore. Where are these stored?

Docs - Fortunately all are backed up but where are docs backed up, if at all? iTunes doesn't seem to manage any docs on Sync and it's as if every application fends for itself. If the developer doesn't write a good application, you can't depend upon sync to do the work. Where do those get backed up... or is it only on a per program basis? This isn't as difficult since you can't save attachments on the phone so I have local copies.

USB Drive area - Some of you have recommended applications to store them as a USB drive (I understand unfortunately not accessible by the phone, only that application.) I don't think iTunes will back this area up since it doesn't really know about it.

Databases - Where are the databases for each application stored, whether it's a flat file or other format? I assume those are also transferred to the phone during sync.

Right now I only have a rather bare iTunes folder in "My Documents" on Windows Vista. Thanks for your help guys.

psylichon · 07-17-2009, 01:37 PM

I think we're talking about two different things now. When you sync, a backup is taken of your phone... this backup contains every possible piece of data that's on your phone. Pictures, SMS, application data, everything. From your wording, it sounded as if you were faulting Apple for this feature not working properly, when it does. You are just being advised not to do that for troubleshooting purposes. That makes sense.

What you are talking about now is syncing data to external sources and applications so it doesn't matter if you restore as new. While it sounds like you've got a lot of this covered already, there are certain things that you cannot get back via syncing with external programs: SMS, camera roll pictures, save game data, and homescreen layout/apps come to mind... there are ways to back them up, but not necessarily return them exactly how they were automatically.

If you cannot restore from your backup, then you'll have to live without these items.

hinky · 07-17-2009, 01:41 PM

OK.... regarding iTunes and the music I uploaded here - I solved this issue. Nothing deleted here, iTunes just doesn't recognize some updates done on the hard disk.... and it also will rename your files on the Windows hard drive. Dammit... that means that a few hundred files I renamed are now a different file name.

psylichon · 07-17-2009, 01:42 PM

I'm sorry, mate, but the problems you keep bringing up are all over the map here. I'm not even sure where to begin.

Napoleon_PhoneApart · 07-17-2009, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by hinky

I've got a thicker skin and was just saying if ya are going to dish it out ya gotta be willing to take it. .

Now who does that sound like?

Sorry, couldn't pass it up.

hinky · 07-17-2009, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by psylichon

I think we're talking about two different things now. When you sync, a backup is taken of your phone... this backup contains every possible piece of data that's on your phone. Pictures, SMS, application data, everything. From your wording, it sounded as if you were faulting Apple for this feature not working properly, when it does. You are just being advised not to do that for troubleshooting purposes. That makes sense.

I did the sync. From what you tell me, the files should be located somewhere on my hard drive. Where would they be if not in the iTunes folder?

(Forget the music sync issue... I just noticed that iTunes sync renamed half of my music... shouldn't have said anything...)

psylichon · 07-17-2009, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by hinky

I did the sync. From what you tell me, the files should be located somewhere on my hard drive. Where would they be if not in the iTunes folder?

C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

hinky · 07-17-2009, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by psylichon

C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

That must be in XP. I just found what you might be referencing in Vista in the AppData/Roaming/Apple Computer/MobileSync/Backup folder. It didn't put it in the usual place.

Music, video, podcasts are stored somewhere on your hard disk and you can see them in the library. The MobileSync folder is only 12MB large. I assume the iTunes folder in there is backing up applications since it's about 300MB large.

How about photos and docs after sync? Where do those go?

psylichon · 07-17-2009, 02:18 PM

photos and "docs" (what docs are you referring to?) don't really sync on a PC (at least I don't have a compatible program to sync them). I transfer pics manually by dragging and dropping in explorer with the iPhone connected.

You are correct... applications themselves are stored in the regular iTunes folder. I think the only thing that is actually stored in your backup is what's contained in the "other" section on your data map in iTunes. Basically, pointers to which apps and music are on your phone will be saved and reloaded from your library when you resync your backup.

iNinja · 07-17-2009, 02:20 PM

I'm glad you two (dave and naps) have waded in to sort this out as Europa and myself obviously haven't been able too.