I want to do a factory reset. How can I backup my data safely prior to a reset?

[Silvergs]

I have an iPhone 3G with the latest OS. I have a Vista PC

I want to do a complete factory reset to original settings. My phone has become so slow, I want to a fresh install so that I can get back to how fast the phone was when it was new a year ago.

I want to backup my contacts, music, videos, photos and safari bookmarks so that after a complete reset to factory settings, I can easily get back my data.

What is the best and safest way to do this? Safest as in - it has been tried by others and works reliably.

I know that iTunes has a backup feature, however I don't want to backup all the apps on my phone, just my data. I can put the apps back later on.

I just need to be able to restore my contacts, music, videos, photos and safari bookmarks.

 

[JGruber]

use the iTunes backup feature, restore your phone to original settings, then go back into iTunes and restore from the previous backup, but don't select the Apps to sync back to the phone.

Or if you have MobileMe snycing on your iPhone, it's already taken care of. All your contacts, bookmarks, mail, and calendar's are backed up.

 

[Silvergs]

use the iTunes backup feature, restore your phone to original settings, then go back into iTunes and restore from the previous backup, but don't select the Apps to sync back to the phone.

Or if you have MobileMe snycing on your iPhone, it's already taken care of. All your contacts, bookmarks, mail, and calendar's are backed up.

I tried that
1. Backup
2. After an hour, I plugged it back into my pc and launched iTunes
3. Phone got activated
4. iTunes prompted me if I wanted to restore the phone and it had my last backup auto selected. I clicked on Continue and it just started doing a restore.

I could not select which apps to restore etc, it just started doing a full restore........

I ended the iTunes process as I did not want to do a full restore.

How can I selectively restore my apps and data back?

 

[JonHimself]

I tried that
1. Backup
2. After an hour, I plugged it back into my pc and launched iTunes
3. Phone got activated
4. iTunes prompted me if I wanted to restore the phone and it had my last backup auto selected. I clicked on Continue and it just started doing a restore.

I could not select which apps to restore etc, it just started doing a full restore........

I ended the iTunes process as I did not want to do a full restore.

How can I selectively restore my apps and data back?

I'm just wondering if it's a huge problem to just restore everything and then de-select the Apps/Data you wish to sync?

 

[JGruber]

I'm just wondering if it's a huge problem to just restore everything and then de-select the Apps/Data you wish to sync?

That's about as easy as it gets right there. I don't think there is a way to restore select apps/data when you go to restore your iPhone.

 

[Silvergs]

That's about as easy as it gets right there. I don't think there is a way to restore select apps/data when you go to restore your iPhone.

I guess I have no choice then.................

I am concerned some residual data not necessarily part of the apps and data will get back on the phone and I will be back to square one.

After the reset, my phone is now lightening fast and I absolutely love it. However my contact data is crucial - the rest I can manage by resynching to iTunes (music and video).

I wish there was a better way to do a restore other than putting everything back on and then taking it off..........

 

[Night Spring]

I guess I have no choice then.................

I am concerned some residual data not necessarily part of the apps and data will get back on the phone and I will be back to square one.

After the reset, my phone is now lightening fast and I absolutely love it. However my contact data is crucial - the rest I can manage by resynching to iTunes (music and video).

I wish there was a better way to do a restore other than putting everything back on and then taking it off..........

I think what you should have done is first delete all the apps from your phone, create a new backup, then done a restore.

Oh, and if you are using Vista, just sync your contacts with Vista's Contacts -- works very well. You can make contact groups in Vista and just sync selected groups, or you can keep all contacts synced between Vista and your iPhone.

 

[Silvergs]

So I ended up doing the restore and then un-checking the apps and did a sync................

I'll do an erase again and then pull down my contacts from Windows contacts and not do a restore. After that I'll just do a sync and pull down the music, videos and apps to the phone. That will be a cleaner way to reinstall everything back without any residual stuff by donig a restore.