OS upgrade - clean install or update?

[eoren1]

I'm on a jailbroken iPhone 3g using OS 2.2.1 on AT&T. I'm planning on upgrading to OS 3.0 and cannot decide on the most appropriate upgrade path.

Options:
1. Official OS 3.0 - to be able to see how well the system runs without the potential 'drag' of jailbreaking.
2. Upgrade current firmware to jailbroken 3.0 - benefit is to keep all my settings in place. I'm guessing that I should remove all apps from their current 'catagories' first though.
3. Clean install of jailbroken 3.0 - I've installed and uninstalled apps and wonder if they have done so cleanly (most suspect of iGPS and its large maps which I think are still somewhere in my file system).

I'm not sure how I would go about doing either option #1 or #3. Any suggestions on performing a clean install? I don't want to change my phone's name as I presume my purchased apps would no longer work then.

Advice is greatly appreciated,
E

 

[Bodah]

There are two ways you can go about upgrading.

1. Put the phone in DFU mode and reinstall. This will remove everything from the phone, and reinstall the OS. After its done, you will be prompted to set up as a new phone, or use your back up. If you set up as a new phone, you will not have any information like contacts, songs, high scores, SMS database, pictures, etc. If you use a backup, most of that should copy back over. Other things like jailbreak settings (hidden icons) also transfer over, so be careful. Just check the number of posts here about hidden icons after restore, there is a lot.

2. Plug the phone in and iTunes will prompt you for an upgrade. This will upgrade your phone, but not do a complete reinstall of the firmware like a DFU restore. All of your settings will transfer, just like using a backup. Same with jailbreak settings.


No matter what method you use, your paid apps should still sync, assuming you purchased them legally to begin with. IF you bought something from the cydia store, I have no idea how that works.

With either method, you will lose your jailbreak. You will need to rejailbreak to gain access to the phone.

 

[eoren1]

Thanks Bodah - very informative reply. I think I'll go with the DFU reinstall. I'll unhide all icons/apps first and uncheck all apps in iTunes so they don't get reinstalled automatically. Even though I'm almost 100% Mac now, can't help but have that lingering PC-ish feeling of wanting a clean install with a major OS update.
E

 

[anamznazn]

I was wondering the same thing. Glad to know!

 

[jonnos]

bah.. that sucks..
so if i backup my jailbroken iphone now it will backup everything including jailbroken stuff?
i wanted a clean iphone but i want to restore my damn game data..

 

[Bodah]

If you want a clean install, then do a DFU restore, and set up as a new phone, not from backup.

Thats what I do every time, The only thing that I don't like is losing my SMSs, the pictures I get off before.

I think there is a way to backup the SMS database, and restore it but I don't know for sure.

 

[iMrNiceGuy0023]

doing it as a new phone will backup contacts??

 

[LSUtigers03]

doing it as a new phone will backup contacts??

No if you set it up as a new phone it will be empty like you just bought it but your contacts can easily be restored if you sync them with itunes.

 

[jonnos]

i guess im going to lose my playmesh game data =\

 

[jcde7ago]

I think there's a bit of misconception here - jailbreak data DOES NOT get backed up alongside regular data when you do a "back up" and then subsequently do a "restore from back up" after a clean OS restore.

This is precisely why people were told not to just do an "update" whenever a new 2.0 firmware came out - because it would erase all jailbreak settings/data, which are stored in a separate partition. If you do a straight update to 3.0 from 2.2.1, all of your jailbreak date should be wiped clean. Also, when creating a back up, the back up does not save jailbroken data on it (this has been confirmed numerous times. If you have jailbroken apps/saves/data, they are gone with a restore or an update).