Have iPhone (3G) but no computer...what to do???

[CarboysDesire]

I am asking this for a friend because she lost her computer in her divorce and cannot get it back. She has an iPhone 3G and when she had her computer she had songs in her iTunes that she transferred to the iPhone. Since she got divorced and lost access to the computer she has not updated her software. And she has purchased a bunch of songs using the iTunes app on her iPhone--they were directly downloaded. And of course she has added contacts and notes and whatnot.

What should she do?

I want to help her upgrade her software, at a minimum, but we are worried about syncing her computer on my computer (or anyone elses, even a new one) because we think she will lose all the songs that came from the old computer. But what about the ones she bought on the iPhone...will she lose those too?

We are confused.

If someone can help or direct me to where I can find the answer I would appreciate it. Thanks!



I am using a PC if that matters.

 

[-aggie-]

I am asking this for a friend because she lost her computer in her divorce and cannot get it back. She has an iPhone 3G and when she had her computer she had songs in her iTunes that she put on the iPhone. Since she got divorced she has not updated her software and she has purchased a bunch of songs using the iTunes app on her iPhone so they were directly downloaded. And of course she has added contacts and notes and what not.

What should she do?

I want to help her upgrade her software, at a minimum, but we are worried about syncing her computer on my computer (or anyone elses, even a new one) because we think she will lose all the songs that came from the old computer. But what about the ones she bought on the iPhone...will she lose those too?

We are confused.

If someone can help or direct me to where I can find the answer I would appreciate it. Thanks!

I am using a PC if that matters.

Once you plug it into the computer you can authorize that computer with your iTunes account and transfer all your purchases from the phone to the computer. Plug in the phone, and right click on it in iTunes, and choose "transfer purchases". It will also automatically do a backup of your iphone.

 

[leomac08]

Omg!!!!

man! use a friend's computer or macbook!

and be careful not to sync their itunes library.

 

[CarboysDesire]

Thanks!

Can you clarify? When it makes a back-up will it back-up all of her songs whether they were purchased on her phone or not? I would assume the answer is yes but I don't want to assume anything since it's her phone/data, not mine.

 

[AiralynRose]

I would be 100% safe and purchase a program that can transfer all of her info off the phone and onto a computer. For example: http://www.wideanglesoftware.com/touchcopy/

You might also want to sign up for a free mobile me trial and use it to backup her contacts/calendars if they're not already being synced with an email account.

And be prepared to lose some things.

 

[-aggie-]

Thanks!

Can you clarify? When it makes a back-up will it back-up all of her songs whether they were purchased on her phone or not? I would assume the answer is yes but I don't want to assume anything since it's her phone/data, not mine.

The transfer would only transfer your paid purchases, so no. What you need is a program called SharePod (it's free). There are others out there (iphonebrowser, I think for one), but sharepod is one that I know works. You can copy ALL the music to your hard drive, and just in case something goes wrong in the sync you'll have the music. Some of the other programs allow you to get other things besides music, but you'd have to search for them. If I run across one, I'll link it to you, but it's probably something you have to pay for).

Here's the link to sharepod:

http://www.getsharepod.com/

Edit: I see airalynrose provided another answer for you. You could do what they said as well.

 

[Macgic]

I would be 100% safe and purchase a program that can transfer all of her info off the phone and onto a computer. For example: http://www.wideanglesoftware.com/touchcopy/

You might also want to sign up for a free mobile me trial and use it to backup her contacts/calendars if they're not already being synced with an email account.

And be prepared to lose some things.

You can use podview for free to get the music off.

 

[After G]

The transfer would only transfer your paid purchases, so no. What you need is a program called SharePod (it's free). There are others out there (iphonebrowser, I think for one), but sharepod is one that I know works. You can copy ALL the music to your hard drive, and just in case something goes wrong in the sync you'll have the music. Some of the other programs allow you to get other things besides music, but you'd have to search for them. If I run across one, I'll link it to you, but it's probably something you have to pay for).

Here's the link to sharepod:

http://www.getsharepod.com/

Edit: I see airalynrose provided another answer for you. You could do what they said as well.

I second use of sharepod for the songs. I also suggest sync with Google/Windows Contacts for backing up contacts. Notes can be emailed ... you shouldn't lose them on an upgrade but it's better not to take chances. Applications purchases will transfer over, and the iPhone shows up as a camera so you can copy pictures off.

Even after all that, as AiralynRose says be prepared to lose some items as there always tends to be that one thing you forget to think of backing up before you lose it.

 

[AiralynRose]

and the iPhone shows up as a camera so you can copy pictures off.

Only camera roll pictures. If you have any pictures in folders/albums on the phone you'll need software to get them off.

 

[-aggie-]

Only camera roll pictures. If you have any pictures in folders/albums on the phone you'll need software to get them off.

Yeah, that's one thing I wished they'd add to sharepod. Maybe it's not possible, since the pics are not in the sandbox, but then again, I'm not sure how they get the music off like they do in sharepod.

Only camera roll pictures. If you have any pictures in folders/albums on the phone you'll need software to get them off.

Hey, I found this to transfer all photos. It's called pod photo transfer, is free, and works!

http://www.podphototransfer.com/about.html