How to REALLY backup the phone?

hinky · 07-16-2009, 09:41 PM

I got off the phone with Apple who told me that everything was backed up on my phone and I could wipe my 3GS and reinstall everything (and the update) to see whether my phone battery needed replacement. What a joy it was to find out that iTunes sucks miserably and that Apple still doesn't have full backup. Text messages, etc. all gone. I was lucky to have backed up photos and other things.

Now I realize it's too much to expect Apple to simply have a utility of its own to backup the WHOLE phone and all your data. It's only been around a little shorter a period of time as copy and paste. So, with the help of the people here because Apple is practically worthless when it comes to finishing the job properly, is there such a third party product which will backup ALL the files on my phone, including docs uploaded to various applications wirelessly, other bookmarks and items in Safari and programs, etc.????

(Yes, my sarcasm is because I'm really ticked off and can't believe that my "full" backup isn't close to that, even with an Apple technitian. Thanks for bearing with me and the loss of my data.)

shutter13 · 07-16-2009, 10:10 PM

Sorry, I'm not aware of any third party software to back up everything, I have not had a problem with iTunes backing up what I needed. If you restored, did you choose "restore from back up" after it finished restoring (you should have had a choice).

Is it possible your back up was not current?

If you backed it up, just prior to restoring, and accidentally set up as new...connect to iTunes, right click on your phone in the left tool bar and choose restore from back up, choosing the latest backup you have. This will take a bit of time, but should replace all your data, to include documents you've sync'd, your mail accounts, App data, etc....

Tinman · 07-17-2009, 12:43 AM

Unless the backup was very old, the restore should have brought everything back, including text messages.

But it's possible the tech had you setup as new, to get a clean start, in which case settings, SMS, etc., are not restored. The only things that come back in that case are things that are synced via iTunes.

--
Mike

Europa · 07-17-2009, 04:35 AM

And all the Whos in Whoville cried Boo Hoo!

I played with my Hanzo sword but you still sound like a spoiled brat.

Seriously, was a 35 page thread not big enough for you to voice your iPhone complaints so you felt compelled to start a new one? I mean you act like someone has a gun with the words Desert Eagle point five O on the side pointed to your head forcing you to use an iPhone.

We know it's not good enough for you, just move on.

iNinja · 07-17-2009, 05:51 AM

I have used an iPhone with iTunes for a LONG time now, and I back up and restore a lot. Ive never had an issue with iTunes losing information. Text messages etc are all there.

iTunes can't account for human error, and if you have failed to back up properly then its your own fault.

As Europa says, everyone here knows you dont like the iPhone, sell it and buy a pre. You know, ive heard that theres this great website you could go to instead of complaining to us...

http://www.everythingpre.com/

hinky · 07-17-2009, 08:48 AM

Just a bunch of pathetic, insecure jerks... Everyone should know everything about the phone, just as you do, right? And if an Apple rep tells you that sync should have backed up the entire phone, then it should have backed up the entire phone. That's what sync does on other phones. Yes, having an iPhone for a long time must make you feel good when you have little else to feel good about.

So all you did was come here to this thread to insult and pile on, nothing positive. The only human error made was by both of your parents.

iNinja · 07-17-2009, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by hinky

So all you did was come here to this thread to insult and pile on, nothing positive. The only human error made was by both of your parents.

Fingers crossed you get banned. If you back-up your phone then messages get saved. Simple as that. If you didnt back up properly, its your fault .

Take your insults elsewhere.

Have a nice day!

hinky · 07-17-2009, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by Croucher

Fingers crossed you get banned. If you back-up your phone then messages get saved. Simple as that. If you didnt back up properly, its your fault .

Take your insults elsewhere.

Have a nice day!

For all those talking about the nastiness on the Pre boards....

Fortunately I recovered all my necessary data but still peeved that, per the Apple rep's clear instructions while I was on the phone, it doesn't appear that iTunes syncs all the data in the phone. Yes, my fault for not haven't spent months of my life researching everything a human could know about the iPhone (before purchasing the iPhone) as I'm sure some of you have. Of course it has to be the consumer's fault, not Apple's fault, just as it is my fault that I can't turn off the device checking for email every time I just want to look at an email. Yes, I should have known this too. No, it is never Apple's fault.

My insults? Yes, I forgot that the insults that were started by these self-righteous posters don't count. Instigation by "experienced" iPhone users does not count, only the swat back, especially when it's wittier than the original reply which said posters thought was funny. Oh yes, I must remember that it is a privilege to be here amongst people who spend great amounts of time learning about the iPhone and remembering Kill Bill lines verbatim.

iNinja · 07-17-2009, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by hinky

For all those talking about the nastiness on the Pre boards....

Fortunately I recovered all my necessary data but still peeved that, per the Apple rep's clear instructions while I was on the phone, it doesn't appear that iTunes syncs all the data in the phone. Yes, my fault for not haven't spent months of my life researching everything a human could know about the iPhone (before purchasing the iPhone) as I'm sure some of you have. Of course it has to be the consumer's fault, not Apple's fault, just as it is my fault that I can't turn off the device checking for email every time I just want to look at an email. Yes, I should have known this too. No, it is never Apple's fault.

My insults? Yes, I forgot that the insults that were started by these self-righteous posters don't count. Instigation by "experienced" iPhone users does not count, only the swat back, especially when it's wittier than the original reply which said posters thought was funny. Oh yes, I must remember that it is a privilege to be here amongst people who spend great amounts of time learning about the iPhone and remembering Kill Bill lines verbatim.

The top and bottom of this is that the iPhone DOES backup data and that it DOES sync it back if you do it correctly.

If you dont like the way the iPhone handles emails. USE ANOTHER DEVICE. It really is that simple.

The reason you are getting peoples backs up is because you are spending far too long moaning about the iPhone, on an iPhone forum!!!! There are plenty of other places to go to criticise it, but what reaction did you expect doing it here?

Also, insulting members that have been here a long time such as Europa will do you no favours.

hinky · 07-17-2009, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by Croucher

The top and bottom of this is that the iPhone DOES backup data and that it DOES sync it back if you do it correctly.

If you dont like the way the iPhone handles emails. USE ANOTHER DEVICE. It really is that simple.

The reason you are getting peoples backs up is because you are spending far too long moaning about the iPhone, on an iPhone forum!!!! There are plenty of other places to go to criticise it, but what reaction did you expect doing it here?

Also, insulting members that have been here a long time such as Europa will do you no favours.

Ohhhhhh..... so being a long time member means you can hurl insults without punishment at those who have newly acquired their iPhones. Yes, we are certainly better behaved here than anywhere else.

Nobody else but you two clowns came here to spew venom. I wrote that I was understandably upset and frustrated at the moment. And you chose that moment to rub salt in the wounds. No suggestions, no applications, no recommendations - just coming here to swing high and hard.

The Apple rep said that I should use other programs in Windows to backup the phone such as importing my pictures onto the hard drive. This is not handled in iTunes. I see a library of media in iTunes for Windows for video, music, podcasts and TV shows (which I'd never use as frequently as photos) so iTunes as a backup tool appears incomplete. Any reasonable person would conclude so. The iPhone on Windows can be a challenging experience. But thanks for stopping by and letting me know you're an experienced iPhone user and letting us all know that everyone loves and reveres you here.

PS - Apparently this application has a photos interface for the iPhone. I have no idea why Apple doesn't just include it if third parties do. It's hard for all of us to gage what does and doesn't work well when fans like just gush madly over the iPhone leaving the rest of us to discover what you choose to overlook and deem how to finagle as "knowledge."