Resolved Simple iPhone backup question...

[srexy]

So my iPhone is jailbroken and for whatever reason - the last few times I've restored from a backup I've been stuck with one that dates back to August 2010. Not the end of the world but a drag nonetheless.

I've been searching high and low for this and (in between the 50,000 hits on Jailbreaking) finally found this on the apple support site:

"Backing up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Your device is backed up by iTunes each time you:
Sync with iTunes (automatically on the first sync, every time you connect it to the computer)
Update in iTunes (occurs automatically without prompting)
Restore in iTunes (prompts you to create a backup before the restore process begins)"

My question - if I choose the 3rd option in the Apple list (prompts you to create a backup before the restore process begins) - will I be prompted to backup and have the option to cancel the restore before it starts wreaking havoc on my JB? I'm too far down the road to want to experiment and mess up my well organized JB phone now...

Thanks, Rex

Edit - I'm on 4.2.1 btw

 

[superflush]

My question - if I choose the 3rd option in the Apple list (prompts you to create a backup before the restore process begins) - will I be prompted to backup and have the option to cancel the restore before it starts wreaking havoc on my JB? I'm too far down the road to want to experiment and mess up my well organized JB phone now...

You realize that there is a difference between "Restoring" an iPhone, and "Restoring from backup" right?
If you "Restore" an iPhone, it will bring it back to factory settings (so, not jailbroken).
If you are just "Restoring from backup" you should lose your jailbreak.

 

[srexy]

You realize that there is a difference between "Restoring" an iPhone, and "Restoring from backup" right?
If you "Restore" an iPhone, it will bring it back to factory settings (so, not jailbroken).
If you are just "Restoring from backup" you should lose your jailbreak.

I understand that a a complete restore will "unjailbreak" the phone but restoring from a backup doesn't. My question is how to create a backup in the first place?

How do I know this? I just did a restore as new phone to 4.2.1 then jb'd my 4.2.1 phone then restored a backup from my august 2010 backup with the jailbreak intact (backup was a 4.0).

 

[srexy]

Crickets?

Who knew it was that hard to back up an iPhone 4?

 

[critic81]

If you are jailbroken, any type of restore, from a backup or set up as new phone, will remove the jailbreak.

If you do restore from a backup, all jailbroken apps and settings will be gone. You need to redo your jailbreak and reinstall all jailbroken apps and settings.

 

[Nevrsadie]

And with the recent updates to pkgbackup this process has become very easy. I love the dropbox option, it totally eliminates the need to sync contacts or use itunes in anyway.

 

[Small White Car]

This may be a dumb question, but have you tried to manually back it up by right-clicking the iPhone icon in the iTunes sidebar and selecting "backup?"

I'd think you'd have tried this, but there's no mention of it. So I'm just double-checking.

 

[srexy]

This may be a dumb question, but have you tried to manually back it up by right-clicking the iPhone icon in the iTunes sidebar and selecting "backup?"

I'd think you'd have tried this, but there's no mention of it. So I'm just double-checking.

I don't get that option. Not sure what I may have borked so that this isn't available but hence my initial question. (see attached)

critic81 If you are jailbroken, any type of restore, from a backup or set up as new phone, will remove the jailbreak.

If you do restore from a backup, all jailbroken apps and settings will be gone. You need to redo your jailbreak and reinstall all jailbroken apps and settings.
Today 10:47 AM

Ok - I may be confused about this bit - in hindsight I may have just been syncing with a backup which was dated back to August 2010. I'm still befuddled that it will never show any syncs more recent than that when I've been sync'ing regularly...

And thanks for the responses btw!

 

[critic81]

If you don't think you have the latest backup then do this.

Find where your backups are located

Mac OS: ~Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup

Windows XP: %AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

Windows Vista: %AppData%\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

Windows 7: %AppData%\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

Either copy or delete the backup folders and put them on your desktop for the time being.

Close and reopen itunes. go to the settings and then go to devices and if any backups are listed, delete them.

Now plug your iPhone in and perform a backup. Since it will be an initial backup it will probably take a while. Now you should have the most recent backup available and have fun restoring!

 

[srexy]

If you don't think you have the latest backup then do this.

Find where your backups are located

Mac OS: ~Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup

Windows XP: %AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

Windows Vista: %AppData%\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

Windows 7: %AppData%\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

Either copy or delete the backup folders and put them on your desktop for the time being.

Close and reopen itunes. go to the settings and then go to devices and if any backups are listed, delete them.

Now plug your iPhone in and perform a backup. Since it will be an initial backup it will probably take a while. Now you should have the most recent backup available and have fun restoring!

Ok - I did this and then when I right-clicked on my iPhone in iTunes there was no option to backup... which brings me back full circle to the question: how do I back up my iPhone 4!?

Have I borked something which has resulted in this no longer being an option?

See my last post for a screenshot of my options before deleting all backups and the one attached to this post for my options now.

 

[srexy]

Ok - I tried a different google search term and found the fix.

I had to open terminal and type the following:

"defaults write com.apple.iTunes DeviceBackupsDisabled -bool false"

Now the backup option is back when I right-click on my iPhone - phew!

 

[critic81]

Ya that was my next question I was going to ask you, if you disabled backups at somepoint. Glad you found the answer!